The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Estonia > Real estate and construction

Cobalt's team specialises in real estate transactions, acting primarily for real estate investors and funds on both the buyer and seller-side. The firm also assists clients in the retail and infrastructure industries, as well as working on development projects. The practice is led by Aivar Taro, who has extensive experience advising on domestic and cross-border transactions, alongside Liina Linsi, who works on construction and development matters. Raul Keba left the firm.

Ellex combines a strong presence in high-value real estate transactions with a focus on infrastructure and construction projects, acting for notable regional clients including Eesti Energia and Rail Baltic. The team notably advised Kildare Partners on its €730m acquisition of workspace provider Technopolis. Environmental and planning lawyer Martin Triipan leads the practice, which also includes commercial real estate specialist Martin Käerdi, retail and M&A lawyer Risto Vahimets, and counsel Jaanus Ikla, who focuses on infrastructure work. Senior associate Triin Frosch is also noted.

WALLESS (former Derling Primus) works primarily on infrastructure and construction projects within the energy sector, particularly renewable energy, and is also active in disputes in the space. The team also advises on transactions and construction projects for manufacturing and agriculture clients, including the acquisition of developmental land and establishing factories. The 'remarkable' Piret Blankin leads the practice; she has considerable expertise in construction and environmental law.

Maivi Ots and Toomas Pikamäe lead the practice at Eversheds Sutherland, which primarily advises on construction and development projects within the public sector, notably advising the city of Tallinn on its public procurement contracts for infrastructure developments. The team also handles transactions, with Ots, Pikamäe and Tambet Toomela, focusing on transactions, planning and zoning, and construction respectively. Other clients include real estate investors.

The 'flexible and solutions-oriented' Minni-Triin Park leads the practice at FORT, which focuses on commercial real estate transactions, construction developments and residential work. The firm has gained several new clients in the field of hotel management, further expanding its client base. Working closely with the corporate and M&A practice, the real estate team assisted with the real estate elements of the firm's high-profile work for LHV on acquiring Danske Bank's private loan portfolio, which included over 25,000 mortgages. Associate Margus Kõiva is also noted.

Kaido Loor leads boutique real estate firm Loor, where he is ably by Carry Plaks. The firm focuses on complex development and financing arrangements for a range of Estonian and overseas clients, including constructors and property developers, with work including transactions, development projects, planning and zoning, and the tax aspects of real estate matters. In recent work, the team developed an alternative investment and financing structure for Hepso's development projects, establishing €10m in financing through a silent partnership arrangement as opposed to traditional SPVs. The firm is praised by clients for its partner focus and 'superb commitment'. 

Veikko Toomere and Jelizaveta Rastorgujeva lead the practice at NJORD Law Firm, which primarily advises on commercial real estate acquisitions, particularly in the retail and manufacturing sectors. The firm also brings its tech focus to bear in assisting innovative clients within the construction industry with public procurement proceedings.

TARK acts for a number of longstanding clients in industries including construction, sports, and agriculture, as well as being the long-term advisers to state-owned real estate company Riigi Kinnisvara on its day-to-day operations. Allar Aru and Hannes Küün are the practice heads. Other clients include Vaklak, Tallinn Airport and Bauhof group.

Advokaadibüroo KPMG Law has a particular strength in public procurement work for a variety of construction projects, thanks to the extensive procurement experience of new practice head Kristina Laarmaa, who joined from TGS Baltic in January 2019. Outside its strong work in procurement matters, the team also represents clients in construction disputes, advises on long-term real estate development projects and is involved in several public sector projects.

LEADELL Pilv represents clients in real estate and construction-related disputes, including breach of contract, access to land and transactional cases. The team is led by the 'extremely committed' Merilin Ojasaar and Pirkka-Marja Põldvere, both experienced litigators and transactional advisers. The team also provides advice to clients on day-to-day considerations, rental contracts and infrastructure acquisitions. Britta Oltjer is now with Cuesta Law Office.

Magnusson focuses upon the key areas of transactions, development, and construction within the renewable energy industry. Kaider Sultson  and Toomas Mälberg lead the practice, specialising in transactions and infrastructure projects respectively. Clients include real estate investment funds, and retail, hospitality, manufacturing and renewable energy businesses, notably Baltania, which the firm advises on the construction of a bio-fuel refinery.

NOVE primarily handles construction-related matters for clients within the energy sector, alongside advising commercial clients on land acquisitions and leasing. Practice head Kristjan Tamm, who has previously worked as a civil engineer, has notable industry experience in construction matters, with a particular strength in the negotiation of construction contracts.

The transactional strength of RASK Attorneys-at-Law is evident in its real estate work, where it advises investment funds on acquisitions and development matters. Lumi Capital is a notable new win in this space, while Elle Capital and Johnny are also clients. Transactions specialist Ramon Rask leads the practice, assisted by business and contract specialist Timo Kullerkupp, who advised Procedo Capital on acquiring 100% of the shares for the development of a private medical centre in Tallinn.

Siret Siilbek leads ALTERNA's real estate and construction work, primarily representing construction companies in disputes relating to insolvency, contracting and public procurement.

The practice at newly established Cuesta Law Office is led by Britta Oltjer, who was previously at LEADELL Pilv. The 'customer-oriented' team primarily advises corporate clients on construction and relocation matters, including advising Chemi-Pharm on all aspects of the construction of its new factory, from sourcing a location, to financing, to overseeing the completion of the project.

Glikman Alvin LEVIN works across a range of matters including turnkey real estate projects, restructuring of real estate holdings, financing, and sale-and-leaseback agreements. Pille Pettai and Ain Alvin lead the practice, focusing on transactions and complex contentious and non-contentious real estate work, ably assisted  by the firm's experienced litigators for disputes work.

'Professional' senior associates Karin Marosov and Imbi Jürgen lead the practice at Advokaadibüroo PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal OÜ, focusing particularly on public sector, environmental and zoning work. The team is also sought out by several large property developers, notably Capfield and Baltic Real Estate. Viljar Kähari led a team advising the former on the construction of a new office in Prisma, alongside handling a series of other development and leasing matters for the same client.