About Me

I am a partner in our Helsinki office and the head of our Finnish Dispute Resolution group and the co-head of our international Trade Secret group. I have a lot of experience in demanding litigations and arbitrations and trade secret matters.

I work with a broad range of company litigations, arbitrations and white-collar crimes. I also act as an arbitrator, as nominated by parties in disputes, or by the arbitration institutes. I advise our leading domestic and international clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters in several sectors.

From the beginning of this millennium I have specialised in matters related to trade secret protection. I am the author of 'Trade Secrets and Non-Disclosure Agreements', Finland's only legal handbook on the subject. A new, totally updated third edition of the handbook came out in 2019. In trade secret matters I have worked as a member of a task force preparing Finland first trade secret law, and as a member of the ICC's Task Force on Confidentiality Agreements, which created an international Model Confidentiality Agreement. I have also advised multiple companies in trade secret matters and represented clients in court in trade secret violation cases.

I have written many articles and I regularly lecture at legal seminars on dispute resolution, trade secrets and contract law.

In addition to dispute resolution, I am especially active in contractual matters such as distribution, purchase and sale, co-operation, joint ventures, leasing, employment, intellectual property, IT and non-disclosure agreements.
Education

Studied

  • Master of Laws, University of Helsinki 1993

Admissions

  • Attorney-at-law, the Finnish Bar Association 1997
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Testimonials

'Tom is clever, astute and all-round excellent. His analysis and insightful assessment of the situation, options and potential outcomes were instrumental in leading us through a long and difficult process.'

Chambers Europe, Dispute resolution 2023

'Clients value his extensive experience in court proceedings'.

Chambers Europe, Dispute resolution 2018

'Tom Vapaavuori's practice covers disputes regarding distribution, employment, IT, IP and non-disclosure agreements and he is additionally noted for his strong focus on trade secrets cases.'

Chambers Global 2017

Latest insights

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The Opportunities and Challenges of Confidentiality Protection in Employment Contracts – a Cross-Border View

Dec 10 2020

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Implementation of the Trade Secret Directive – some comments from Finland

Sep 30 2019

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Trade Secrets: protecting the future prosperity of your business

Feb 21 2019

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News & Deals

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Final judgment in Nokian Tyres' giant trade secret trial

Nov 06 2019

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We assisted Nokian Tyres in the biggest trade secret trial in Finland

Jun 30 2019

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Tom Vapaavuori and Juha Ojala contribute to the Arbitration 2016 publication

Mar 01 2016

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Second edition of Trade secrets and non-disclosure agreements released in Finland

Feb 16 2016

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