Borenius

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Specialising in cartel investigations, private enforcements, merger control work, state aid issues and public procurements, Borenius‘ EU and competition practice has recently been involved in major competition, antitrust and state aid cases and complex competition and public procurement matters. Leading the team is Ilkka Aalto-Setälä, who is praised by clients as ’one of the most experienced competition law specialists’, comfortably handles antitrust and merger control investigations and advises companies and governmental agencies on competition issues at the domestic and EU levels. Henriikka Piekkala is an expert in state aid issues and regulated markets, including the telecoms and postal industries, and also handles competition neutrality issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Borenius, led by Ilkka Aalto-Setälä, always provides hands-on, no-nonsense advice with the client's ultimate goal in their eyes. Their experience of handling competition matters is profound and detailed.’
  • ‘Ilkka Aalto-Setälä processes strategic considerations, and is still the curious and careful adviser that he always was.’

  • ‘The Borenius team has excellent knowledge of competition law. They are also very customer-oriented and easy to reach.’

  • ‘Ilkka Aalto-Setälä has excellent knowledge on competition law. Henrik Koivuniemi is very customer-oriented and keeps timelines very well.’

  • ‘Ilkka Aalto-Setälä has strong experience, he can come up with innovative and creative solutions, an excellent and pragmatic lawyer. Henrik Koivuniemi is an analytic and pleasant person to work with, the right attitude to handle any kind of challenge.’

  • ‘Borenius team has solid expertise in the areas of EU, competition, state aid, and public procurement laws. They are always a pleasure to work with. Very recommendable.’

  • ‘Ilkka Aalto-Setälä is one of the most experienced competition law specialists in this country.’

  • 'Ilkka Aalto-Setälä acts in an exceptionally professional way. I can recommend him with good conscience.’

Key clients

  • Finnair Oyj
  • Finavia Oyj
  • City of Turku
  • The Social Insurance Institution of Finland – KELA
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Netflix, Inc
  • Viljava
  • Lifenation
  • Uponor Oyj Oy
  • L’Oréal Finland
  • The Finnish Real Estate Management Federation
  • Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District
  • Raisio Plc
  • Danfoss
  • Semikron
  • Stadler Rail AG
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Jackon
  • Disney Corporation
  • Sanomalehtien liitto ry
  • Huawei Technologies Oy
  • The Finnish Emergency Supply Agency
  • Nouryon
  • TietoEVRY
  • Toyota Finance Finland/Toyota Auto Finland
  • CapMan
  • Vaaka Partners
  • Intera Partners
  • Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd)

Work highlights

  • Representing the incumbents Uponor Suomi Oy and Uponor Infra Oy before the Finnish Market Court regarding an alleged cartel in the market of plastic infrared pipe products in 2009-2016.
  • Advising fully state-owned Suomen Viljava Oy vis-à-vis the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority and the European Commission on investigations stemming from a state aid complaint concerning the establishment and operations of Viljava’s subsidiary Oat Mill Finland Oy.
  • Secured €350m before the European Commission in support of Finavia’s activities.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Ilkka Aalto-Setälä
Partner Ilkka Aalto-Setälä has worked over 25 years with antitrust and merger control matters. Ilkka has defended successfully the client against the Finnish Competition Authority’s first attempt (Digita/Yle/Telia) to prohibit the deal. Ilkka advises companies and governmental agencies on competition and marketing law issues at national and EU level, including merger control, abuse of dominant position, cartels, state aid and public procurement. Ilkka also litigates on a regular basis before the Finnish Market Court and the European Commission. Ilkka has advised numerous domestic and foreign clients on M&A transactions and cooperation arrangements. Important authority bodies, such as National Emergency Supply Agency have also been among his clients. He heads the firm's Competition & Public Procurement team.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Henriikka Piekkala
Counsel Henriikka Piekkala advises on legal issues related to regulated markets and competition law. She has wide knowledge and experience in telecom, postal, media and energy regulation related antitrust issues and policy matters, and in pricing issues in particular.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ilkka Aalto-Setälä

Other key lawyers

Henriikka Piekkala, Henrik Koivuniemi