The Legal 500

Attorneys at Law Borenius is ‘especially good’, and its comprehensive service has IP expertise and TMT sector specialisms – the team ‘covers almost every field very well’. Practice head Peeter Kutman worked alongside UK-based Wragge & Co LLP to advise Estonian IT and software company Proekspert on international licensing issues.

Glikman & Partnerid’s tech, media and telecoms clients include Elisa, international online gambling software developer Playtech, and Fox International Channels. Practice head Silja Elunurm is advising the Estonian Broadband Development Foundation on the development of a national broadband network.

Law Firm Glimstedt is representing Sanoma Baltics in a copyright and database dispute, and handling a trade mark infringement case for Lexmark International. Oracle and Webmedia are also clients. Priit Lätt and experienced associates Hele Karja and Triin Tuulik have a ‘very good knowledgebase’ and provide ‘service at the highest level’.

Lawin’s new clients include a pharmaceuticals company and a consumer electronics company. Pan-Baltic practice head Toomas Luhaäär and his team know their clients. Viive Näslund is an IP specialist, whose work includes trade mark filing for Statoil, and contractual and IP matters for data integrity service provider Guardtime.

Raidla Lejins & Norcous is a leading firm in IP, and notably fields the market’s only full-time pharmaceuticals and biotech IP partner in Ants Nõmper. The team has handled patent infringement disputes for Bayer and AstraZeneca, including the very first patent litigation in Estonia, and acted for TV3 in a landmark case concerning copyright protection of TV show formats.

Sorainen’s IP and TMT practices represent a range of domestic and international companies, and ‘knows how to handle international clients’. These include a global telecoms service provider, which the firm is advising in trade mark proceedings before the Estonian Board of Appeal of Industrial Property. Carri Ginter and Indrek Eelmets are ‘outstanding IP professionals’.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene’s clients include Hewlett-Packard and Sony Corporation, which the firm is advising in trade mark infringement and customs interception matters. It is also representing Oracle America in an Estonian trade mark and brand name case. The ‘excellent’ Toomas Taube leads the practice.

Varul advises pharmaceuticals, telecoms and technology clients including Tele 2, Fujitsu and Estonian R&D company Cybernetica, and is advising the latter on data processing technology for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Ants Mailend has ‘pronounced IP knowledge’, and a long track record in IP litigation.

Pan-Baltic boutique AAA Legal Services is a leader in the IP market and fields an unrivalled five specialist partners handling contentious and non-contentious work including trade mark and patent prosecutions. The group advises a host of global brand names on IP matters in the Baltics. Managing partner Urmas Kernu and fellow partners Almar Sehver and Tõnu Nelsas head the trade mark, copyright and patent practices, respectively.

Aivar Pilv Law Office acts for TMT clients in prominent litigation and arbitration, and also advises on regulations. Ilmar-Erik Aavakivi is representing the Estonian subsidiary of Bertelsmann regarding data protection and telecoms law.

MAQS Law Firm’s clients include Coca-Cola and Siemens, and it is advising Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on creating an online market portal, used by Estonian and international film foundations to present local films. The IP and technology practices are led by Karolina Ullman and Evelin Pärn-Lee, respectively.

Associate Karmen Turk at Triniti Estonia is forging a successful practice, particularly in the media sector. The group advised VIASAT on several media law matters, and acted for the government-sponsored Archimedes Foundation on public procurement for scientific TV programmes.

Mihkel Tasa at Concordia Attorneys at Law is ‘highly competent in business law’, and advises retail clients such as House of Brands and Catalogue Shop on e-commerce issues. Associate Teele Lember advises Filmimees TV production company on IP.

Eversheds Ots & Co’s has broad IP capability and a sizeable list of technology company clients. Tambet Toomela heads the team.

‘Very discerning lawyer’ Karl Kask leads the practice at Lextal, supported by associate Mari Männiko. Biotech expert Kristi Sild is ‘persistent and creates a good atmosphere’.

Pohla & Hallmägi represents various technology companies, including a global IT consulting company, and is advising a major telecoms company’s local subsidiary in a dispute with a shipowner.

Sirel & Partners’ broad practice includes instructions to reclaim internet domain names from cyber-squatters, including recently winning back Renault.ee; and representing IT solutions developer Smartlink in a dispute over termination of its contract to develop public ID card systems. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘open-mindedness and sense of obligation’.