Finland's civil courts have applied updated procedural rules since January 2025. The amendments affect how disputes are filed, how interim relief is obtained, and how judgments are enforced. International companies with pending or anticipated litigation in Finland face concrete deadlines – missing them carries significant procedural and financial risk.
Finland's reformed civil procedure rules alter the format and content requirements for a statement of claim. Tighten the timetable for pre-trial written exchanges. Additionally, expand the conditions under which courts may grant an interim injunction on an expedited basis. Companies conducting business in Finland must audit active cases and adjust filing practices before the transitional period expires in mid-2025.
This alert sets out what changed, which business categories are directly affected, and the five immediate actions international litigants should take now.
What changed – the amended procedural rules and their effective date
Finland's civil procedure legislation – oikeudenkäymiskaari (the Code of Judicial Procedure) – was amended through parliamentary reform effective January 1, 2025. A transitional window applies to proceedings already underway; those cases must conform to the new rules by June 30, 2025.
The principal changes fall into three areas.
Statement of claim requirements. A statement of claim must now specify the factual and legal basis for each head of claim with greater precision than previously required. Courts in Finland have consistently held that vague or omnibus pleadings justify early dismissal without substantive examination. Under the amended civil procedure rules, that threshold is applied more strictly from the outset.
Pre-trial written exchange. The timetable for written submissions between the parties has been compressed. The initial response to a statement of claim is now due within a shorter window than the previous default. Courts retain discretion to extend, but practitioners note that Finnish district courts – käräjäoikeus (courts of first instance) – exercise that discretion sparingly in commercial matters.
Interim injunction procedure. The amended rules codify an expedited track for interim injunction applications in commercial disputes. An applicant must demonstrate a well-founded claim and a concrete risk of irreparable harm. The court may issue a decision within days of filing if those conditions are met. Equally, the threshold for opposing an injunction has been clarified – a respondent who fails to file a timely substantive objection risks the injunction being confirmed by default.
Judgment enforcement. Changes to the enforcement chapter of civil procedure legislation mean that foreign parties seeking to enforce a Finnish judgment abroad. Alternatively. To enforce a foreign judgment in Finland, must now comply with updated procedural requirements at the court filing stage. Errors at that stage delay enforcement by weeks or months.
For context on how comparable procedural reforms have unfolded in neighbouring civil law jurisdictions, see the related alert on court procedure developments in Portugal.
Who is affected – threshold criteria and business categories
The amended rules apply to all civil and commercial proceedings before Finnish courts. No minimum claim value threshold excludes smaller disputes. The following categories of international business face the most direct exposure.
- Exporters and importers with Finnish counterparties – contract disputes over goods, services, or payment obligations are the most common commercial claims before Finnish courts.
- Companies with Finnish subsidiaries or joint ventures – shareholder disputes and intra-group claims fall squarely within the amended civil procedure regime.
- Financial institutions and lenders – enforcement of security and loan recovery actions are directly affected by the updated judgment enforcement rules.
- Technology and IP licensors – injunctive relief applications in IP disputes now follow the expedited interim injunction track.
- Companies subject to Finnish jurisdiction clauses – any contract designating Finnish courts as the forum is subject to the new rules from the date the claim is filed.
The compliance deadline for transitional cases is June 30, 2025. New proceedings commenced after January 1, 2025 are subject to the amended rules immediately upon filing.
To assess how these changes interact with your existing dispute exposure in Finland, contact our litigation team at info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
What to do now – immediate actions for international companies
International companies should treat the following as a priority checklist before the transitional deadline.
1. Audit all pending Finnish proceedings. Identify every active case before a Finnish court. Confirm whether each proceeding falls within the transitional window and what the applicable compliance date is. Failure to update pleadings to meet the new statement of claim standard in a transitional case can result in the claim being struck without substantive review.
2. Review and redraft statements of claim. Any statement of claim filed before January 2025 that relies on broad factual pleading should be reviewed immediately. Counsel familiar with Finnish civil procedure should assess whether supplementary submissions are required before June 30, 2025.
3. Map all active jurisdiction clauses. If your standard commercial contracts designate Finnish courts as the forum. The legal team should be aware that the amended court filing requirements apply from the moment a claim is lodged. Clause reviews are low-cost; re-litigation after a dismissal is not.
4. Reassess interim injunction strategy. The expedited interim injunction track presents both an opportunity and a risk. If your business may need urgent interim relief in a Finnish court – for example, to freeze assets or restrain a breach of a non-compete obligation – the new procedural conditions must be met precisely. Equally, if your business is a likely respondent, a defence strategy for urgent injunction proceedings should be prepared in advance.
5. Verify enforcement documentation. Companies holding Finnish court judgments for enforcement abroad, or holding foreign judgments for enforcement in Finland, should verify that their documentation meets the updated court filing requirements. Submitting non-compliant enforcement documentation restarts the filing clock.
Engaging a lawyer in Finland with cross-border litigation experience is particularly important for international companies managing disputes across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. Our commercial disputes practice covers both Finnish proceedings and parallel enforcement actions in other EU member states. For a preliminary review of your litigation exposure in Finland, reach out to us at info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
About Ferraz & Whitmore
Ferraz & Whitmore is an international law firm based in Lisbon, advising business clients across 46 jurisdictions. Our commercial litigation practice supports international companies in managing court proceedings, enforcement actions, and interim relief applications across European civil law systems, including Finland. As a law firm in Finland matters and cross-border disputes, we combine Portuguese civil law expertise with English common law tradition to deliver coordinated strategies across multiple legal systems. Our litigation team has advised on corporate disputes in Finland and parallel proceedings before courts in other EU jurisdictions. The firm's Lisbon base provides direct access to EU procedural frameworks, while our common law expertise supports enforcement strategies in English-speaking jurisdictions. Clients include international entrepreneurs, institutional investors, and in-house legal teams who need results-oriented counsel. To discuss your situation in Finland, contact us at info@ferrazwhitmore.com.
Disclaimer: This publication is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information herein should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel tailored to your specific circumstances. Ferraz & Whitmore assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this material. For advice regarding your particular situation, please contact info@ferrazwhitmore.com.