The Legal 500

Aivar Pilv Law Office’s top-drawer dispute resolution practice includes leading litigator Aivar Pilv, who provides ‘guaranteed quality’. Clients also recommend the ‘extremely dedicated’ Pirkka-Marja Põldvere. The team advised Sans Souci of the Czech Republic in international arbitration concerning construction of Estonia’s new war monument, and is acting for the City of Tallinn in a dispute over construction of Viru Square in Tallinn city centre.

Attorneys at Law Borenius fields one of the largest teams in the market and has a broad caseload that includes acting for Estonian insurance broker IIZI Kindlustusmaakler in a dispute with ERGO, and continuing to represent the Ministry of Justice in claims relating to frozen Russian bank accounts. Marti Hääl and practice head Jaanus Mody are ‘very good at seeing the bigger picture’.

Glikman & Partnerid is a go-to firm for high profile and complex litigation, and Leon Glikman is renowned nationally for his expertise. Clients include the Port of Tallinn, which the firm is advising in numerous public procurement disputes concerning a terminal construction at the Port of Muuga. Danska Bank, Tallink Group and Merko are also clients.

Lawin is ‘very professional with an in-depth knowledge in various areas’. It is representing Riigi Kinnisvara AS, the Estonian state real estate agency, in public procurement and construction disputes, and the Ministry of Education and Research as defendant in a Supreme Court case concerning study loans. Experienced partner Liina Linsi heads the Baltic-wide real estate group.

Strong individuals and an extensive caseload make Raidla Lejins & Norcous a leading firm for dispute resolution. Recent work includes advising DnB Nord Bank and Swedbank in disputed restructuring plans. Managing partner and litigator Toomas Vaher is president of the Estonian Bar; Ants Nõmper is developing a reputation for IP and TMT disputes; and practice head Arne Ots is expert in public procurement and white-collar crime cases.

Sorainen’s talented team has a bulging caseload that includes representing the City of Tallinn in a €12m public procurement dispute concerning the renovation of the city’s new Cultural Cauldron, and defending the Ministry of Agriculture in the ECJ regarding excess stock fees following accession to the EU. Carri Ginter heads the team, which is ‘quick and able to produce amazing results within a short time’.

Varul’s Paul Varul is a litigator and arbitrator, and ‘someone you can trust to handle your most complex matters’. For one satisfied client, ‘the overall experience has been flawless’. The team acted for Sanofi-Aventis Estonia in a dispute with the Ministry of Social Affairs over the pricing of medicinal products. Helmut Pikmets has three white-collar crime cases in the ECHR.

Concordia Attorneys at Law is a regular in the Supreme Court, acting on behalf of some major domestic and international clients. Kaidar Sultson is advising pan-Baltic investment bank Gild in litigation concerning the squeeze-out of minority shareholders at SEB. The team is ‘easy to communicate with’.

Most of the dozen attorneys at Eversheds Ots & Co handle disputes for domestic and international companies. Toomas Pikamäe and Raiko Lipstok are key figures.

Clients at Law Firm Glimstedt appreciate the ‘high level of innovative thinking and quick resolultion of problematic issues’. In particular, Indrek Leppik provides a ‘very pleasant service’. The group defended Estonian Railways in a €2m claim brought by the government concerning an EC-funded infrastructure project.

Lextal fields a strong team led by Üllar Talviste and Karl Kask, the latter of whom is ‘perceived as a nightmare by adversaries’ and ‘keeps the dispute clear and easy to understand for the court’. The firm successfully represented a real estate investor in a landmark tax dispute in the Supreme Court.

MAQS Law Firm provides an ‘excellent level of service’, and is advising on contentious issues amid intense media scrutiny arising from the restructuring of dairy farm Väätsa Agro, and continues to act for Allied Irish Banks’ Estonian branch in numerous court actions against debtors. Ene Mõtte heads the team.

Disputes work is a core practice at Pohla & Hallmägi, which represents international and large domestic clients in a broad range of matters including representing a major pharmaceuticals company in an ECJ dispute with the State Agency of Medicines. Asko Pohla is recommended as a litigator and arbitrator, and is assisted by Toivo Viilup.

Dispute resolution dominates the work at Sirel & Partners, which is acting for the country’s largest political party, Estonian Central Party, and the City of Tallinn in a legal challenge to the e-voting system used at the 2011 parliamentary elections. ‘We have not lost a single case using them and, believe me, we have had a lot’, reports one client.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene’s growing team handles insolvency and bankruptcy issues for international clients, and is advising Swedbank in several business and insurance disputes. Erki Kergandberg and Margo Lemetti are ‘highly qualified professionals able to see any case from different angles to provide the best possible solution’.

Triniti Estonia’s prominent instructions include representing media company Eesti Ekspress in a precedent-setting case before the ECHR regarding the liability of internet intermediaries. Erki Vabamets, Taivo Ruus and Villu Otsmann are the key partners.

Aare Raig Advokaadibüroo is best known for disputes in the finance sector, particularly through experienced litigator and name partner Aare Raig.

Arvisto & Koch’s recent work has included public procurement and construction cases. Paavo Koch and Margus Arvisto have substantial contentious experience.

Hansa Law Offices provides ‘a high-quality service’, and is noted as a leader in the field of tax litigation although it also handles non-tax disputes, such as representing metal products company Naprosaks Trading in a Supreme Court appeal. Siiri Malmberg is recommended.

Hedman Partners’ collegial team provides ‘inventive solutions and compromises’. Urmas Kiik and Merlin Salvik are leading a damages claim by agricultural company Linas Argo against the state.

New firm Red Legal, Attorneys at Law ‘focuses on the goals for the client, with the outcome being the most important, not the hours billed’. Anton Sigal is representing Latvian road construction company SIA Binders in arbitration against the Estonian Road Administration regarding early termination of a €20m construction contract.

Law Office Tehver & Partners provides ‘efficient and appropriate advice’, say clients. Toomas Laanemaa and Jaanus Tehver are acting in a significant construction dispute between two construction companies and a government body.