Estonia > EU and competition
EU and competition
Competition clients of Glikman & Partnerid benefit from the firm’s top litigation capability, attracting major Estonian bodies and companies, including Estonian Post, which the firm defended against allegations of discriminatory pricing, and Mootor Grupp, the operator of Tallinn’s central bus station, in an abuse of dominant position. Senior associates Risto Rüütel and Silja Elunurm are ‘supportive, accommodating and always on time’.
As expected of a top corporate practice, LAWIN’s competition work is of the highest level, representing clients such as Estonian Post, Coca-Cola, Electrolux and Schering Plough before the Estonian and European competition authorities. Lead lawyers Elo Tamm and Katri Pass-Mohando are well-known in the field and are ‘very good professionals’ with ‘good communication skills’.
Attorneys at Law Borenius provides a ‘quick and competent’ service to a host of top-drawer clients, acting for Swedbank in market analysis proceedings on multilateral interchange fees following the EU’s Mastercard ruling. The firm was also involved in the drafting of legislation for Estonia’s new leniency programme to combat cartels, which came into force in 2010. Kaja Kallas heads the practice.
Widely-admired Raino Paron leads a high-calibre competition practice at Raidla Lejins & Norcous, combining top corporate support work with major litigious matters for leading domestic and international companies. Typical instructions included acting for the State Agency of Medicines in a dispute concerning prescriptive drug advertising, a case with EU-wide implications, and the competition aspects of Orkla’s acquisition of leading confectioner Kalev Chocolate Factory.
Sorainen’s has leading expertise in litigator Carri Ginter and practice head Kaupo Lepasepp, who has ‘a high IQ, professional standards and appreciates the client’s time’. The firm is acting for Fortum in a constitutional review matter, and Eesti Gaas in a dispute over regulated pricing. Toyota Baltic and Skype are just two of many new clients brought into the firm by its competition team.
Senior associate Rene Frolov leads the practice at Tark Grunte Sutkiene, described as ‘young but very professional with good communication skills, both to the client and the competition authority’. The firm counts Phillip Morris Estonia and domestic alcoholic beverage leader Liviko as clients, advising the latter, together with its CEO, in court proceedings for alleged price fixing.
VARUL advises on all aspects of competition law, from merger control to high-end litigation and state aid matters, acting for Estonian Air in the latter. Other current instructions include acting for Estonia’s first digital television provider, a subsidiary of AS Starman, on the competition aspects of broadcasting infrastructure access. Clients rate senior associate Vaido Põldoja for ‘prompt, clear, and accurate answers’.
MAQS Law Firm is able to call upon colleagues in its Baltic and Scandinavian network for multinational clients with competition needs. Evelin Pärn-Lee is lead advisor in Estonia, acting on a variety of matters including disputes and merger control.
Senior associate Martin Männik at Pohla & Hallmägi has a growing profile and client list, including at least two global pharmaceuticals, advising one on competition issues before the ECJ. Support from the firm’s heavyweight litigators is on hand for contentious work.
The deal stream at Tamme Otsmann Ruus Vabamets ensures plenty of competition instructions for the firm, such as merger control proceedings on behalf of Pristis, while disputes work includes acting for electricity network operator Tallinna Sadama Elekrivõrk before the Competition Authority concerning connection charges.
Mihkel Tasa and senior associate Raul Palmaru advise on competition matters at Concordia Attorneys at Law, for example, acting for IT company Helmes and Austrian casino corporation Novoloto in merger control. Disputes included advice to KPK Teedeehituse regarding construction-related public procurements.
Law Office Eversheds Ots & Co handles a variety of corporate support issues as well as noteworthy contentious matters, acting for Veolia in the Supreme Court concerning public procurement and landfill issues. Toomas Pikamäe is the firm’s expert in domestic and European competition law.
The significant caseload at Law Firm Glimstedt included acting for Estonian Railways in state-aid matters, among other competition issues, and representing the Estonian Competition Authority in all judicial proceedings concerning the telecoms sector. Marko Tiiman and managing partner Priit Lätt lead the advice.