Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Shipping and transport

LEXTAL have over eighteen years of experience in shipping and transport matters and is particularly knowledgeable of insurance-related matters.

Shipping and transport in Estonia

Ellex

Ellex offers a service revolving around aviation, shipping, railway and road,  working with both public and private sector clients. The team regularly engage in cross-border mandates including contracts, taxation, regulatory compliance, environmental law, competition, insurance and financing-related matters. Toomas Vaher is a leading litigation and arbitration expert, having advised clients in a number of large and complex cases in relation with the shipping and transport sector. Jüri Raidla has led some of the most complex projects in infrastructure, transport and transshipment, while Jaanus Ikla is a former general counsel to the Port of Tallinn, acting on a wide range of projects including purchase, sale and expansion of port terminals.

Practice head(s):

Toomas Vaher


Other key lawyers:

Jüri Raidla; Jaanus Ikla


Key clients

Biofuel OÜ


Oiltanking Europe B.V


Auto-Bon Oy


Operail AS


Daimler AG


Magnetic MRO


The Port of Sillamäe


Elke Grupi AS


Graanul Invest AS


AS Tallink Grupp


BLRT Grupp AS


E.R.S. AS


Work highlights


  • Advising the Government of the Republic of Estonia on matters pertaining to the Rail Baltic project–an international rail connection that will connect Estonia with Central and Western Europe and its neighbours.
  • Advising Tallink and its main shareholder on development of new passenger port with conference center, concert hall and commercial and shopping area in central Tallinn.
  • Advised Operail on starting business operations in Finland with Finnish-Russian transit.

Sorainen

Sorainen operates a leading transport practice in the Baltic regions, often handling demanding projects that have cross-border and international elements. The team calls on the expertise of the wider firm including corporate regulatory, dispute resolution and commercial contracts. The group has strong EU law expertise and interdisciplinary capabilities, being able to combine transport knowledge with other fields of law. Kaupo Lepasepp leads the team and advises in the energy and utilities sector on a wide range of competition law questions, including strategies for interacting with the Estonian Competition Authority. Carri Ginter has extensive knowledge on transport law and is a leading expert in procurement disputes, representing both bidder and buyer in challenging large-scale procurements. Cathriin Torop is a specialist in transport and maritime distribution and trade practices.

Practice head(s):

Kaupo Lepasepp


Other key lawyers:

Carri Ginter; Cathriin Torop; Kaspar Endrikson


Testimonials

‘Absolutely competent and reliable team.’

‘Sorainen’s service standards are very high.’

Key clients

JAS Worldwide


Certares


ELMO Rent


Bolt


Tallinna Lennujaam


Rail Baltic


Finest Bay Area Development


Auto 100


Toyota Baltic


Eurovia


Novatours


Inchcape Motors


Lux Express


The Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority


SEBETallinna Linnatransport


Petromaks Spediitori


Škoda Transportation


Eckerö Line


Work highlights


  • Advised Bolt on raising $709m in a funding round.
  • Advising Tallinn City Transportation on the Tallinn Public Transport Green Revolution project, and assisting with all public procurement matters aimed at procuring new trams in Tallinn.
  • Advised Certares on acquiring a stake in Avia Solutions Group.

TGS Baltic

TGS Baltic has a well recognised shipping and transport practice group which has experience in railway, aviation, road, shipping, industrial fishing and passenger transport. Head of the group Martti Peetsalu has suggested amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act. The firm has become more active in transactions and advising in competition and state aid matters, whilst continuing to offer advice on new modes of transport. The team has an expansive reach into real estate, such as ports property management services, financing and dispute resolution. Triin Kaurov has long term experience in advising clients on administrative and regulatory matters in the transport industry and providing representation in related disputes.

Practice head(s):

Martti Peetsalu


Other key lawyers:

Triin Kaurov


Testimonials

‘Very good understanding of all pieces of local legislation concerning shipping and transportation. Able to match and connect the regulations from different legislative acts, including those which are not clearly regarded as maritime law, into one entirety to serve the case being worked on.’

‘Correctness, living up to their promises, achieving targets in time with good quality.’

‘The TGS Baltic team is always able to provide high quality legal assistance and we appreciate their quick rational solutions in our matters. They are excellent in shipping and transport matters, but also in other fields and it gives the right combination for a great law firm. In addition, TGS Baltic has good contacts abroad and if we urgently need legal advice abroad, we are sure that in cooperation with TGS Baltic we are safe.’

‘Partner Triin Kaurov is our main contact. We have worked with her for a long-long time. She is committed, responsive, solution-oriented and trustworthy. She has remarkable experience in wide range of practice areas (she understands our business shipping and transport, but also dispute resolution, public law, regulatory matters, and employment matters).’

Key clients

Port of Tallinn


Operail


Hellmann Worldwide Logistics


Kevelt


TS Laevad and TS Shipping


Swedbank (Estonia)


DenizBank A.Ş.


Jetoil


ATKO Group


Taxmal Limited (Malta)


Alfons Hakans


LHV Pank


Shedfish Oy


Eesti Loots


The Association of Estonian International Road Carriers


Eesti Traat OÜ


CityBee


Hertz International


Work highlights


  • Representing Swedbank in a complex and voluminous case over transport of metal goods with an approximate value of 18 MUSD and a warranty given to Swedbank to secure Swedbank’s financing of the goods.
  • Representing SOE Port of Tallinn against its former directors in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent years.
  • Representing SOE Operail in several high-profile cases over the legality of rail infrastructure fees with SOE Estonian Railways and the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.

Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co

Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co‘s shipping and transport team includes valued experts who advise both local and international clients in transport related court proceedings and waste shipment and management. Toomas Pikamäe is noted for his specialist knowledge in drafting transport agreements and representing clients in transport related court proceedings. Pikamäe’s clients include administrative bodies such as the Estonian Transport Administration to private corporations and entities.

Practice head(s):

Toomas Pikamäe


Other key lawyers:

Raiko Lipstok; Kaarel Berg


Work highlights


Magnusson

Magnusson handles complex cross-border assignments across the Baltic regions in a wide range of assignments including transport disputes, insolvency and international arbitration. Denis Piskunov  has a focus within commercial disputes, corporate insolvency, debt collection proceedings and international arbitration.

Practice head(s):

Denis Piskunov


Key clients

Keystone Group


Ferroline Group


Flixbus


Avia Solutions Group


R.E.D. Trailer Rental


Work highlights


  • Assisting a large German intercity bus transport group in entering the Estonian market.
  • Representing Ferroline Group in several disputes over carriage fee and compensation for damages with customers, carriers and carriers’ insurers.

RASK Attorneys-at-Law

RASK Attorneys-at-Law offer a wide portfolio of work within the aviation and shipping industries, consulting clients on sector-specific issues, complex transactions and litigation. The team has been offering legal counsel to a majority of main airlines operating in Estonia, such as Air Baltic including services such as legislative impact assessments, addressing infrastructure, permitting and staffing issues. Timo Kullerkupp leads the team,  and has more than eight years of experience with on-call legal consulting for the aviation and shipping industries. Keidi Kõiv stands out for her work in dispute resolution, having helped in a number of matters this year alongside procurement matters.

Practice head(s):

Timo Kullerkupp


Other key lawyers:

Keidi Kõiv


Testimonials

‘RASK Attorneys-at-Law have a very professional and responsive team. You can always count on them, even under the tightest deadlines. Their lawyers have excellent knowledge in the aviation and transport areas.’

‘The team at RASK Attorneys-at-Law is truly full service, displaying an innovative approach to the subject of collaboration. Not only have they been of assistance in several areas of expertise, but they have continued to provide fast and practical answers and solutions.’

‘Timo Kullerkupp is a very knowledgeable and experienced attorney-at-law. He is very accessible, making his assistance secure and reliable. The same goes for RASK’s helpful attorney-at-laws: Ken Kaarel Gross, Karl Erik Esko and Keidi Kõiv.’

Key clients

Air Baltic Corporation AS


Smartlynx Estonia OÜ


Magnetic MRO AS


Ridango AS


Estonian Autosport Events MTÜ


Vok Bikes


Pärnu Sadam AS


Kihnu Veeteed AS


Work highlights


Triniti Estonia

Triniti Estonia stands out in transport and infrastructure matters, advising different entities ranging from large national and international clients such as the European Commission and Rail Baltica. The firm also deals with matters in aviation and shipping, with mandates relating to dispute resolution and impact assessments. Tõnis Tamme has been advising in shipping, aviation and other transport sector clients for over twenty years and has advised various entities including the Government of Estonia upon its incorporation of a new national airline. Ergo Blumfeldt advises government state entities with various legal matters and has been elected to the supervisory board of the Estonian Aviation Cluster.

Practice head(s):

Tõnis Tamme; Ain Kalme


Other key lawyers:

Ergo Blumfeldt


Testimonials

‘Very dedicated team, best in IP, AI and logistics. Partners very much focused on client relations and finding best solutions. Proactive if needed.’

‘Tõnis Tamme – highly appreciated partner, very much oriented on finding solutions.’

‘Karmen Turk – best AI expert.’

Key clients

Nordic Aviation Group AS (Nordica)


Ministry of Economy and Communications


Transpordi Varahaldus OÜ (TVH)


AS Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn)


AS Fort Aero


Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ


Regional Jet OÜ (Xfly)


Auve Tech OÜ


ELMO Rent AS


Norton Rose Fulbright


Magnetic MRO


Work highlights


  • Advised the state-owned aviation assetco Transpordi Varahaldus OÜ in the refinancing of its bonds with LHV bank and LHV managed pension funds (23 MEUR).
  • Representing AS Tallinna Sadam – the port of Tallinn, in a significant court dispute with AS Tallink Group regarding the application of port fees and related competition and shipping law issues (20 MEUR).
  • Advising an Ilse of Man company in the sale of its Hawker 850XP Business Jet to Fort Aero AS.

FORT

Shipping and transport forms a core area for FORT, with the team working closely with the dispute resolution, M&A and competition practice. Kuldar Jaan-Torokoff has more than twenty years of experience in assisting major transport and shipping companies in contractual matters, as well as disputes. Margus Kõiva stands out for her work advising clients in high-profile public procurement cases in the bus transportation sector.

Practice head(s):

Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff


Other key lawyers:

Margus Kõiva


Work highlights