Hannes Snellman acted as counsel in two precedential cases determining the invalidity of intra-EU arbitral awards in Sweden. Both cases concerned the application of EU law principles expressed in the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) Achmea judgment and the case law following the judgment. Hannes Snellman successfully represented the Republic of Poland in the Swedish Supreme Court, where the arbitral awards were declared invalid on the basis of Section 33(2) of the Swedish Arbitration Act. We also successfully represented the Kingdom of Spain in the Svea Court of Appeal regarding an application to invalidate or set aside an intra-EU arbitral award under the Energy Charter Treaty.

Acting for a EU member state in the proceedings for the setting aside of an investment treaty award before the Svea Court of Appeal and Swedish Supreme Court, Stockholm

Acting for an international manufacturer against a Nordic company in a multibillion SEK dispute arbitrated in Stockholm under the SCC Rules and Swedish applicable law.

Acting for a Central European company against a Russian corporation in a multimillion dollar dispute arbitrated in Stockholm under the SCC Rules and Russian and Swedish applicable law.

Acting for an EU member state in proceedings for the setting aside of an investment treaty award under the Energy Charter Treaty.

Acting for a contractor in arbitral proceedings against the employer regarding a large infrastructure project.

Acting for a global crane manufacturer in a product liability claim.

Acting for a listed pharmaceutical company in several litigation and arbitral proceedings regarding inter alia board liability.

Acting for a global gas and engineering group in several arbitral proceedings under the SCC rules as well as ad hoc proceedings concerning construction and gas supply.

Acting for an employer in arbitral proceedings regarding infrastructure investments.

Acting for a transportation service provider in arbitral proceedings regarding rolling stock.

Acting for a global insurance company in relation to environmental damage claims.

Acting for a Nordic insurance company in litigation proceedings regarding a collapsed railway bridge.

Counsel to one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies in contesting the decision of the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board on the reimbursement of the company’s key product. As a result of the appeal made to the Supreme Administrative Court, the Board amended its negative reimbursement decision.

Counsel to a major telecommunications company in three closely related court and arbitration proceedings in which certain other telecom companies claimed damages exceeding MEUR 500 from our client. They alleged that our client had abused a dominant position. All three private enforcement actions were successfully settled out of court.

Counsel to clients in a number of large pending public and private enforcement procedures.

Counsel to a bankruptcy estate of a limited liability company in its pending claims against the managing director, Board members and auditors of the company regarding compensation for losses caused by the respondents.

Counsel to Microsoft Corporation in a domain name dispute before the Market Court regarding domain name onedrive.fi. The case was settled on terms favorable to our client and the disputed domain name was transferred to our client.

Counsel to a financing company in an arbitration against a bankruptcy estate concerning the reservation of title to machinery under a major supply contract

Counsel to a globally leading consulting and engineering company in court proceedings regarding the application of a limitation on a structural engineer’s liability contained in a consultancy agreement in a situation where the damage had occurred to a third party. After the District Court had ruled in favour of our client, the adverse party withdrew its claim and accepted to compensate all legal costs incurred by our client.

Counsel to auditors of a bankrupt company in a dispute relating to managerial and auditor liability, including issues concerning the correctness of the closing of the accounts in bankruptcy. The interests at stake were significant in these cases, which were settled to the client’s satisfaction.

Counsel to a multinational telecom company against two other telecom companies in convoluted court and arbitration proceedings in which the counterparties claimed damages exceeding MEUR 500 from our client based on purported abuse of dominant market position.

Counsel to one of the world’s leading manufacturers of medical equipment in an ad hoc arbitration against Kuwaitian and Portuguese companies over the termination of a distributorship agreement, involving complicated questions of applicable law.

Counsel to a manufacturer of fibre solutions, who had purchased the business of another company, in an ad hoc arbitration against the seller company regarding the significance of false business prognoses. The case ended in the parties settling it on terms favourable to the client manufacturer.

Counsel to a sports magazine in an alleged trademark infringement and industrial property crime case. Following our successful defence, the client was acquitted of the charges. 

Counsel to a major Swedish company as plaintiff in a civil case where the defendants had copied a database and extracted some of its contents for their own database. The case involved extensive research of technical evidence and its legal implications. The client’s claims were successful and the defendants were found liable for the infringement. 

Counsel to a major US corporation in a criminal case concerning copyright crime and misappropriation of proprietary information, where the information and material protected by copyright were acquired in connection with an acquisition of a technology company. Following the completion of the transaction, part of the material was transferred to a new competing business entity established by some of the former shareholders of the acquired company. The case involved extensive investigation of a large amount of detailed technical evidence and its legal implications. Based on our prosecution, the main defendants were found guilty of copyright crime and misappropriation of proprietary information. 

Counsel to a major Swedish company in its criminal claims regarding industrial espionage, misappropriation of proprietary information, copyright crime and misappropriation of technical examples. The case involved extensive research of technical evidence related to back-up systems, databases and alike. Based on our prosecution, the defendants were found guilty and received prison sentences.

Obtained an ex parte temporary seizure of the counterparty’s database with a prohibition for the counterparty to use the information contained in the database. In practice, the seizure resulted in the complete ceasing of the counterparty’s business operations.

Obtained an injunction against the counterparty in a dispute over the IP rights to a software. The counterparty was ordered under penalty of a fine to refrain from making claims of ownership to third parties either directly or indirectly.

Obtained an injunction against a shareholder/seller of a company, prohibiting him from being employed by a competitor on the basis of a non-compete clause in a Share Purchase Agreement. 

Obtained a precautionary measure whereby a contractor was obligated under penalty of a fine to continue executing his obligations under a construction contract.

Counsel to a director of a motion picture in an application to prohibit the distribution of the movie which violated the director’s IP rights. The case was settled soon after the application was submitted. 

Obtained an injunction prohibiting a trade union from continuing its strike that was claimed to be illegal.

Obtained a precautionary measure prohibiting the counterparty from presenting allegations to third parties that our client was violating the counterparty’s intellectual property rights.

Counsel to a reinsurance company in an ad hoc arbitration against a direct insurer who declined its payment obligation. An award was issued in favour of the client reinsurer.

• Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s Global Green Guide 2024 edition as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.

• "Hannes Snellman's dispute resolution team is remarkable. It successfully incorporates the expertise of both young talent and partners for optimal and cost-efficient legal services."
• "Hannes Snellman proactively consider the client's position and offer great availability. The team have the courage to provide advice even when no straightforward legal answer exists."
• "The law firm's dispute resolution practice is highly skilled and can deliver successful tactics in complex and sophisticated matters. The lawyers really drive the cases efficiently and with the customer's best interest in mind."

• "Hannes Snellman is one of the few firms able to handle highly-complex matters."

• Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s Global Green Guide 2023 edition as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.

• "Service orientation, availability, quality of service, easy collaboration."
• "Professional expertise, customer service."
• "Skillful and efficient way to handle legal assignments. Partners involved where needed, various levels of lawyers used wisely."
• "Plenty of experience in domestic litigation – out of the box thinking – well formulated and thought-out strategies for litigation – Professionals one can rely on."
• "Great full service law firm."

• "Hannes Snellman has a strong understanding of issues and the differences between local standards and international ones."

• "The dispute resolution team works in close cooperation with specialists in other teams to attain the best results. The knowledge in various fields of law of each individual is astonishing."

• "The dispute resolution team has proven to have very high quality in its legal assessment, also drafting of documents is at a particularly strong professional level. No mistakes, timely, and high quality deliveries."
• "The dispute resolution team of Hannes Snellman Attorneys has provided extremely valuable support to us in multiple cases. Not only from the legal resolution aspect but also from broader perspective; very good discussions, brainstorming, consultative process development support, etc. Working with them makes you feel they would be your in-house department, not external service supplier."

• Hannes Snellman is recommended in Legal500’s inaugural Global Green Guide as one of the key firms in the EMEA region advising on issues around climate change and sustainability.

• '"We use Hannes Snellman in cross-border actions," reports a client, adding: "Their strength is the high knowledge of international and EU-level legislation."'
• 'One source comments: "Hannes Snellman has high-calibre expertise in-house and their network is of very good quality," as another adds: "I have been pleased with the firm's ability in multiple countries."'

• "Dedication, commitment and deep understanding and knowledge of the topic – these would be the words I use when describing this practice. We always felt that we were a top priority. Absolutely a great customer experience at our side and a fantastic customer understanding on their side."
• "I have worked with a number of law firms over the years, and Hannes Snellman is separated from the others by a truly customer-oriented and solution-oriented approach. It has been easy to work with Hannes Snellman and together we have been able to find solutions to really challenging situations."
• "The company has an extremely professional team. I especially appreciate their ability and genuine will to serve the customer as well as possible. I also greatly appreciate the fact that the company utilises the expertise of different fields from within the house to achieve the best result for the Customer."