Emma Niemistö

Partner / Helsinki

About Emma

Emma and her team advise our clients on construction and project law assignments. She focuses on major industrial and infrastructure investments, construction and engineering mandates, as well as real estate development and dispute resolution. A large part of her work also includes advisory services relating to EPC(M) projects, under the FIDIC suites or similar international forms of contracts.

Emma has long-standing experience in negotiating and drafting complex project agreements and providing risk and claims management advice relating to our clients’ critical projects and strategic investments. She benefits from her unique technical background in her advisory role; with a Master of Science degree in Construction Economics and Management from the Helsinki University of Technology, she draws from her understanding of project management and industrial/technical processes to get a strong handle on contract risks in demanding projects.

On contentious mandates Emma represents clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings, and also acts as arbitrator in construction and supply contract disputes.

Emma has also authored books on construction management contracting and contractors’ guarantee liabilities and is a sought-after speaker on topics related to construction law and dispute management.

Emma heads the firm’s Projects & Construction team.

Rankings

Chambers Europe

  • Real Estate & Construction

Chambers Europe

“Emma is an outstanding lawyer, who helps in tight negotiations with very limited time frames.”
“She offers a straightforward service with great commercial awareness.”

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Construction – Thought Leader
  • Construction – Global Leader

Client Choice Award

  • Construction

Selected References

  • Advised Metso on EUR 150 million investment in a modern technology center in Tampere
  • Advised Renewable Power Capital Limited on establishing a joint venture with Finnish solar power developer Aurinkokarhu Oy
  • Advises Evli on investment in large-scale battery energy storage system
  • Advised Encavis on the acquisition of the Illevaara Wind Farm from ABO Wind
  • Advised Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing on project financing
  • Industrial and wind power plants; acting for Finnish and foreign investors and contractors.*
  • Advising EPCM consultants in several recently initiated plant construction projects.*
  • Infrastructure contract and dispute work relating to projects such as The Ring Rail Line and West Metro in the greater Helsinki capital area.*
  • Real estate development advisory concerning e.g. Pasila Tripla and Kalasatama Redi malls in the greater Helsinki capital area.*
  • Advisory during construction of the Nokia Arena and hotel complex in Tampere.*
  • Acting for the consortium winning bids for all Finnish public private partnerships (PPP) carried out in the past decade, and advising project companies during construction and maintenance period.*

*prior to joining Borenius

Career

  • Partner, Borenius 2023–
  • Partner, Merilampi 2017–2023
  • Counsel, Castrén & Snellman, 2009–2016
  • RIL Conciliation Ltd., 2007–2009
  • NCC Construction Ltd., 2004–2009

Education

  • Bar admission, 2014, Helsinki, Finland
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.), 2010, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • Master of Science (Construction Economics and Management), 2007, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Languages

  • Finnish, English, Swedish, German