Cobalt‘s highly experienced team regularly handles complex financing transactions, capital market projects and financial regulatory matters. Evidence of its market leading work recently came as practitioners, including Marina Kotkas, Marrja Tambet and Ivo Cimdinš, advised Goldman Sachs International, Barclays Bank of Ireland Plc, and Royal Bank of Canada on the financing of Apollo Global Management Inc’s acquisition of Graanul Invest. Kristel Raidla-Talur has extensive experience advising clients financing transactions and fund formation and serves as a member of the Legal Committee of the Estonian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Greete-Kristiine Kuru has advised several international and local venture capital funds on investing in promising start-ups in Europe, while Monika Koolmeister has been responsible for maintaining good relationships with the financial regulators, owing to her previous role as head of compliance at a leading commercial bank in Estonia.

The ‘experienced and versatile‘ experts at Ellex remain leaders in financial regulatory matters, having supervised a wide range of banking and financial institutions. The firm has advised on a large number of IPOs in Estonia, as well as a plethora of restructuring and acquisition transactions. The team is regularly involved in large financing transactions and cross-border work, for both European banks active in the region and top financial market players. Raino Paron has experience in regulatory advice and transactions, with significant matters including advising on the regulatory aspects of the acquisition of Luminor Bank by Blackstone. Helen Ratso is noted for her expertise in advising fund managers on day-to-day matters and in transactions.

Sorainen‘s team, which is headed by Kätlin Krisak , regularly advises clients on significant transactions. A prominent example of its prowess was the recent representation of Swedbank, Nordea and Citigroup, where Krisak, Paul Künnap and Krista Ševerev  were involved in advising the book-runners of the IPO on the successful offering and listing of the shares on the main list of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. Jane Eespõld has been involved in and led numerous complex banking and finance cases, with experience in advising major international and local financial institutions. The firm has focused on innovation, charting a clear path for ambitious ideas revolving around blockchain finance, ICOs and capital raisings in Estonia. Other examples include being the only firm in Estonia who has developed an automated share pledge agreement alongside other document automation tools. Hetti Lump, who previously led the practice at KPMG, joined the team as counsel in November 2022.

WALLESS (former Derling Primus) fields an experienced and trustworthy team, acting for many leading international banks and law firms in cross-border transactions. These include trade finance in the energy trading sector, acquisition finance and project finance. The team is backed by long term banking and finance practitioners such as Hannes Vallikivi and Andres Siigur, both of whom have pioneered several landmark cases.

Advokaadibüroo PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal OÜ fields a strong team of 7 lawyers, in addition to tax and financial consultants from various offices. The firm’s one-stop-shop style approach provides a combination of legal advice and support in areas such as strategy, consulting and assurance to help clients efficiently address their local and global challenges. Kirill Ležeiko provides in depth knowledge on the needs of corporations in financial matters. Since research concluded, Viljar Kähari left the firm.

RASK Attorneys-at-Law is well known for its advisor liaising services with regulators, in addition to permitting matters such as acquiring creditor activity licences, bond issues, establishment of funds and fund management vehicles. The team is led by Timo Kullerkupp and Karl Erik Esko . Kullerkupp is active in consulting investment companies and credit institutions overseen by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority for over ten years. Esko is a strong partner for entrepreneurs in developing financing structures and raising capital through funds, private investors or crowdfunding platforms. Both are described as ‘very practical‘ and ‘a pleasure to work with.’

FORT advises clients on complex financial regulatory issues, in addition to setting up innovative new financial services and fundraising structures. Katrin Alliksaar, Andreas Veeret and Riin Rehepapp provide daily corporate advice to Nordea Bank on banking and finance regulations, including currently on the development and implementation of the banking group’s anti-money laundering and international sanctions policies and processes.

KPMG Law in Estonia has the ability to address cross-border legal, regulatory and compliance issues through its access to the integrated KPMG Global Network. The firm has practitioners with expertise within advising fund managers, insurance providers and credit institutions on preparing authorisation and passporting applications, including business plans and shareholder documentation. Karin Oras is the managing partner and has extensive expertise in advising clients on complex financing transactions and collateral arrangements, capital raising projects for growth and start-up companies. Katri Remmelgas is noted for her prior experience acting as legal counsel at Notary Public and specialises in the financing of medium-sized and large corporations.

TARK is known to many international financial institutions and market players for its cross border financing work, which involves both transaction and regulatory advice. Allar Aru has over twenty years of experience in advising clients in various financing and banking matters, while Tanel Küün specialises in regulatory questions in the banking sector and has acted as the liquidator of Snoras Bank in Estonia.

Triniti works with a number of longstanding banking and financing clients which includes payment institutions, e-money institutions and providers of virtual currency. Valter Võhma has increased the firm’s focus and expertise on venture capital, private equity and the startup sector. Ergo Blumfeldt is the head of the transactions department and is focused on M&A, private equity and security agent services.