Cobalt as a firm is reputed for its strong grasp of competition law. Its expertise extends to a broad range of competition and antitrust areas, covering horizontal practices, public enforcement and merger control. Experienced competition lawyer and group head Elo Tamm is an important practitioner in this regard, regularly assisting clients in complex transactions that need to be cleared by the Estonian Competition Authority in order to proceed. Special counsel Mart Blöndal is another key contact in the department, and is highlighted for having ‘a hands-on approach to find any solution'.
EU and competition in Estonia
Cobalt
Practice head(s):
Elo Tamm
Other key lawyers:
Mart Blöndal
Testimonials
‘I believe it is the teams’ total strength and capability to find the right lawyers based on the needs.’
‘Mart Blöndal is very professional and always has a hands-on approach to find any solution. Solution oriented with great enthusiasm for matters involved.’
Key clients
Alexela Varahalduse
Balti Gaas
Schwenk Latvia
HKScan Oyj
BaltCap
Huawei Technologies Oy (Finland) Co. Ltd.
Kapten Grant
Porto Franco
Viru Keemia Group and group company VKG Oil
Neo Performance Materials Inc
Star Cloud
Ekspress Group
Mirrow Institute
Port of Tallinn
G4S Estonia
Ragn-Sells AS
Apollo Kino
Energiasalv Pakri
Work highlights
- Representing Prenton in supervision proceedings and court proceedings.
- Advising HKScan on the sale of its Baltic business to a close competitor (AS Maag Grupp) in cooperation with DLA Piper (Finland).
- Assisted Schwenk Eesti (a sister company of Schwenk Latvia) with structuring and obtaining merger clearance regarding the acquisition of Betoonimeister.
Ellex
Ellex fields a ‘very knowledgeable and professional team’, which has a strong background in EU and competition law, often representing clients before the European Court of Justice. Indeed, practice head Martin Mäesalu, a ‘superb, business-oriented lawyer‘, is a member of the Estonian Bar Association’s Competition Law Committee. The group has the size and resources to handle multiple matters at the same time, leveraging teams across the Baltic jurisdictions and further afield to advise on complex mergers. On the regulatory side, Raino Paron is a name to note.
Practice head(s):
Martin Mäesalu
Other key lawyers:
Raino Paron; Triin Frosch
Testimonials
‘Martin Maesalu is a great lawyer, knows the market, and has the necessary personal skills to deep dive into business specifics and adapts very quickly. We value his hard work.’
‘They are very easy to approach and “down to earth”.’
‘A very knowledgeable and professional team.’
Key clients
Tallink AS
Eesti Energia AS
Baltic Classifieds Group PLC
AS Eesti Gaas
Maag Group
Telia Eesti AS
Elering AS
OÜ Skeleton Technologies
Coca-Cola HBC Eesti AS
Henkel Balti OÜ
Paulig Estonia AS
Work highlights
- Advising Maag Group on the competition aspects of the acquisition of HKScan’s Baltic businesses.
- Represented Elering before the European Court of Justice in preliminary ruling proceedings pertaining to the compatibility of the Estonian renewable energy support scheme with EU law.
- Aadvising Eesti Energia on setting up a joint venture with Orsted to build an offshore wind park in the Baltic Sea.
Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co
The ‘accurate, quick and very communicative' team at Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co specialises in competition law and utilises its network of offices to work on complex merger control matters internationally. State aid matters and litigation also feature in the team’s workload. Risto Rüütel is an extremely experienced competition lawyer in Estonia and is well supported by associate Maarja Junti in all areas of antitrust law. Managing partner Maivi Ots is another key practitioner and is often engaged in M&A-related competition law issues.
Practice head(s):
Risto Rüütel
Other key lawyers:
Maarja Junti; Maivi Ots; Toomas Pikamäe; Artjom Luik
Testimonials
‘Very professional team that has helped us during the whole acquisition process.’
‘They are accurate, quick and very communicative.’
Key clients
AS Tallinna Tööstuspargid (City of Tallinn)
Tallinn City Office (City of Tallinn)
OÜ EKT Ecobio
United Partners Group OÜ
Enersense International Oyj
Estonian Government, the Estonian Stockpiling Agency
AS Eesti Keskkonnateenused
A food delivery platform
Work highlights
- Successfully represented AS Eesti Keskkonnateenused in a landmark administrative court case relating to prohibition of a merger.
- Advised the Estonian Government (acting through Estonian Stockpiling Agency) on the acquisition of a floating LNG terminal and state aid issues relating to construction and investing into the terminal.
- Advised United Partners Group on acquiring pan-Baltic merger clearance which enabled the client to acquire one of the biggest heavy machinery dealers in the Baltics.
Sorainen
Kaupo Lepasepp
and Mihkel Miidla head the growing team at Sorainen, which is highlighted for its ‘profound knowledge and excellent service‘; the group handles a range of competition law issues across the Baltic countries, such as merger control and state aid matters. Another notable team member is Kaspar Endrikson, who ‘has exceptional communication skills and a business-minded approach’ and is proficient in the energy and infrastructure industries. Lise-Lotte Lääne, who was promoted to counsel in 2023, is prominent in the healthcare and life sciences sector, which is an area of interest of the wider group.
Practice head(s):
Kaupo Lepasepp; Mihkel Miidla
Other key lawyers:
Kaspar Endrikson; Piibe Lehtsaar; Lise-Lotte Lääne
Testimonials
‘Profound knowledge and excellent service. Sorainen manages the project itself, so the client doesn’t have to ask for the status of the project but enjoys the reminders and updates from Sorainen instead.’
‘Kaupo Lepassepp has exceptional communication skills and a business-minded approach.’
‘Kaspar Endrikson keeps his knowledge up to date and proactively shares relevant news with the clients.’
‘Very professional people. As a team they are able to offer the best possible solution.’
‘They understand needs of the client. They are interested in the best possible solution and they are very friendly.’
‘Very skilled and pleasant team.’
‘Always very structured, and the information is provided to the client on time.’
‘Good availability, good professional knowledge.’
Key clients
Hõbevara
Glassense
Milrem Robotics
Unifiedpost
Elering
Livonia Partners
Sunly
Tallinn Airport
Toyota Baltic
RB Rail
Bolt
BaltCap
AstraZeneca
City of Tallinn
Work highlights
- Advised Milrem Robotics on all aspects of the merger with EDGE Group, including competition law questions related to the transaction.
- Advising Unifiedpost on challenging the pricing principles of the dominant postal services provider, Estonian Post.
- Advised the City of Tallinn on all legal issues related to the creation of a joint venture in the field of district heating with Utilitas.
NOVE
NOVE offers a broad range of competition and EU law advice to both private and public clients, including governmental organisations. In the words of one client, ‘what truly stands out about this team is its approach to analysis’, and this analysis is done within a plethora of sectors, including retail, IT, medicine and construction. Accomplished competition and EU lawyer Mari Past oversees the group, and Veikko Puolakainen is a well-established litigator in these areas, so is key for the group’s work in contentious matters.
Practice head(s):
Mari Past
Other key lawyers:
Veikko Puolakainen
Testimonials
‘From my perspective, they have shown remarkable professionalism and an impressive dedication to delivering precise and valid assessments.’
‘What truly stands out about this team is their approach to analysis. They focus on providing accurate and insightful evaluations, which I find highly valuable. Their commitment to maintaining high standards and integrity in their work is truly commendable.’
‘What sets them apart is their extraordinary flexibility, prompt responses, and their ability to explain complex legal matters in a simple and understandable manner. They are quick to respond to inquiries and provide clear and concise explanations. Their approach is refreshingly straightforward and devoid of unnecessary complexity, making it much easier to grasp legal intricacies.’
Key clients
Innopolis Engineering
Montonio Finance
Civitta International
ValueSpace
Tulika Group
EG Ehitus
ADM Interactive
Solaris Centre
Fontakt
Medicum and its group companies
Tartu University
HansaFilm
INF INFRA
Bank of Estonia
Tamro
West Tallinn Central Hospital
BLS International Services
Medemis
Estonian Authors Association
LEI Register
Work highlights
- Advised Estonia-based start-up ValueSpace on the competition aspects of completing a successful and oversubscribed second close of its seed round investment.
- Represented Bank of Estonia, a procurer, in a public procurement dispute concerning a tender for developing a new IT system.
- Advised two subsidiaries of the Infortar Group, as joint bidders, on the EU and competition law aspects of a major public tender for the design and construction of a new road bridge in the city of Pärnu.
TARK
The group at TARK maintains a presence in the public sector in Estonia. Tanel Tark leads the team and is well versed in cartel investigations, complex merger cases and state aid issues. In addition to its expertise in cartel cases, the team also advises clients on regulatory compliance such as competition compliance audits, and also represents clients before the Estonian Competition Authority.
Practice head(s):
Tanel Tark
Key clients
Barrus
Latvenergo
Gren Eesti
Notorious
Velos IoT
Krulli Kvartal
Hundipea
Ideal Baltic (Avis, Budget, Payless)
Baltic Horizon Fund
Adven
Lietuvos Energija / Ignitis
Rudus (CRH)
Ober-Haus
Enlabs
Arbonics
Vienna Insurance Group
DAW Baltic
Bauhof
Haljala municipality
Kesko Senukai
Tallinna Lennujaam (Tallinn Airport)
Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways)
Optiwin
Linas Agro Group
Vespia
Work highlights
- Advised Notorious on its investments into several large-scale real estate development projects, including pre-transaction merger clearance.
- Advised Velos IoT on the competition aspects of the acquisition of Top Connect and on subsequent contractual matters.
- Advising Rudus daily on all legal matters.
TGS Baltic
TGS Baltic has ‘very good experts who are doing good work to understand the aims of the client’. Triinu Järviste heads the team and is a ‘real expert in competition and state aid questions’. Another key team member is Triin Kaurov, who has ‘remarkable experience, is very committed, and gives rational and well-considered solutions’. As a whole, the group has been involved in many of the major competition law investigations in recent years, and recently won a state aid case in the European General Court. Triinu Järviste is another name to note for competition law matters.
Testimonials
‘TGS Baltic has very good experts and they are doing good work trying to understand the aims of the client. They are looking for the best solution and understand business well. We received very good results surprisingly fast.’
‘They have very professional knowledge about complicated legal questions. At the same time they are very solution-oriented and have good communication skills.’
‘We like the expertise, correctness, and adherence to deadlines of TGS Baltic’s lawyers. Time and opportunities for constructive meetings are always found. We love their ability to put together the most competent teams of experts for a particular matter. And in addition to their expertise in solving our matters, it is pleasant that trainings, information mornings are organized for clients.’
‘TGS Baltic’s attorneys are great professionals who are not only highly experienced but also can show remarkable teamwork. Our main contact is Triin Kaurov. She has remarkable experience, very committed, and gives rational and well-considered solutions. I would like to highlight Triinu Järviste and Vitali Šipilov. Triinu is a real expert in competition and state aid questions and Vitali is very analytical.’
‘I find the firm to be very business-minded. They give very straight/black and white answers despite the fact that competition law is very grey with its rules. This is something that businesses greatly appreciate. I also feel that they know business very well and are not just lawyers.’
‘Triinu Jarviste is our main contact and the reason we use TGS Baltic services. Very professional.’
Key clients
Auto-Bon
Unilever
Phillip Morris International
Inchcape
Sunly
SEB Pank AS / SEB bankas AB
Eesti Post AS
LHV Varahaldus
Elering AS
Port of Tallinn
Operail AS
ERGO Insurance SE
City of Tallinn
Rimi Eesti Food
Estonian Authors’ Society
City of Tartu
Rickman Trade
Autohalle AS
Environmental Investment Centre
Bigbank AS
Merko Ehitus Eesti
Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Estonia
Cultural Endowment of Estonia
Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications
MTÜ Eesti Muuseumiühing
Tallinna Kaubamaja
Work highlights
- Represented Tartu Agro in the European Union General Court in disputing the European Commission decision finding illegal state aid being given to Tartu Agro.
- Represented Auto-Bon, a Bassadone Automotive Nordic group company, in the merger proceedings in the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Competition Authorities.
- Advising Eesti Post (Omniva) on several high-profile competition law cases before the Estonian Competition Authority and everyday activities.
WALLESS
Following the firm's merger with FORT in early 2024, WALLESS has an impressive client base in Estonia, acting for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Talinn Airport, among others. Practice head Rene Frolov ‘delves deeply into every topic that needs to be resolved‘ and ‘has broad-based knowledge’, covering antitrust investigations, complex mergers and, increasingly, state aid, which is a growing area of focus for the broader group. Elsewhere, experienced associate Liina Käis is active in highly regulated industries, predominantly energy and transport.
Practice head(s):
Rene Frolov
Other key lawyers:
Liina Käis
Testimonials
‘Rene Frolov is cooperative, has broad-based knowledge and is a sympathetic specialist who delves deeply into every topic that needs to be resolved and does his work with great dedication.’
Key clients
Elisa
Neste
Tallinn Airport AS
Nordic Aviation Group AS
IIZI
Alfons Hakans
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Hansabuss
AS Viru Keskus
EfTEN Capital
Work highlights
RASK Attorneys-at-Law
RASK Attorneys-at-Law is skilled in state aid cases and is able to handle disputes in this area while also providing contract and regulatory services. At the helm is founding partner Tarmo Peterson, who is renowned for his expertise in complex legal disputes. Birgit Aasa is another name to note in the team, covering an array of work in EU, constitutional and international law.
Practice head(s):
Tarmo Peterson
Other key lawyers:
Birgit Aasa
Key clients
Põltsamaa Uus Apteek OÜ
Rally Estonia / Estonian Autosport Events MTÜ
Hepta Group Airborne OÜ
Tallinna Teaduspark Tehnopol SA
OÜ Flaperon
Paide Vee Tänava Apteek OÜ
Ettevõtluse ja Innovatsiooni Sihtasutus
MTÜ Eesti Proviisorite Koda
Work highlights
Triniti
At Triniti, practice head Tanel Kalaus, who has almost three decades of experience, is ‘among the best practitioners in this area’ according to one client. At the associate level, Sandor Elias is active in the energy sector, and often works on competition law matters in this field. He also often represents local government and other state entities in state aid matters, which is a strength of the broader group.
Practice head(s):
Tanel Kalaus
Other key lawyers:
Sandor Elias
Testimonials
‘Tanel Kalaus is among the best practitioners in this area.’
‘Tanel Kalaus quickly grasps the topic. He delivers timely advice with good precision.’
Key clients
Utilitas
OÜ Transpordi Varahaldus
AS Nordic Aviation Group
Tamro
KredEx
Eesti Energia
Enefit Power
Tallinna Vesi AS
Tallinna Sadam AS
AS Express Post
Work highlights
- Representing AS Express Post in a significant battle with a state-owned market leader Omniva.
- Representing Tallinna Vesi in a large number of civil disputes initiated by the customers of the client on the basis of allegedly unfairly high prices for water and wastewater services.
- Representing AS Tallinna Sadam in proceedings at the Estonian Competition Authority where a company has filed a claim against the client concerning fees for the use of port infrastructure.