Aivar Taro
Aivar Taro is a Partner at COBALT and Head of the fields of Real Estate, Construction and Energy.
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Anna Kosar
Anna Kosar has been an Estonian patent attorney in the field of trade marks, industrial designs, and geographical indications since 2012. She has been the official representative of the European Union Intellectual Property Office in the field of trade marks and industrial designs since 2015.
Anna has extensive knowledge in the field of intellectual property as well as data protection. Before joining COBALT, she worked as a patent attorney at Koitel Patent & Trademark Agency, and then as a legal counsel at a firm practicing commercial law. Anna has been engaged in legal protection related to copyright, registration of trade marks and industrial designs, and related procedures (renewals of the term of legal protection, transfers, pledges, licensing, etc.). She has also represented clients before the Estonian Industrial Property Board of Appeal, in court proceedings, before the Domain Disputes Committee, and at the European Union Intellectual Property Office in relation to trade mark disputes. In addition, she has represented clients in connection with seizure of suspected goods by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.
In terms of data protection, Anna has been counselling clients in various business sectors since 2017. She has also acted as a data protection officer for some clients. She has also, for example, represented clients before the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate and the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman.
Annika Peetsalu
Annika Peetsalu is one of the most experienced professionals in the fields of restructuring, insolvency and arbitration in Estonia.
She has advised companies who are undergoing reorganization and creditors in different complex insolvency proceedings in recovering their claims. Annika further advises companies in complicated economic disputes in national courts and both in national and international arbitration courts.
Annika’s work in advising distressed companies has helped to turn around businesses of national importance and save jobs. Her work has influenced the legal practice in the field of insolvency law, helping to interpret the law and trigger amendments in the legislation.
In addition, Annika has experience working in the position of Head of Legal at an international fintech company, advising mainly some of the group’s foreign subsidiaries.
Egon Talur
Egon Talur is a Partner at COBALT Estonia heading our Tax and IP-IT teams.
Elo Tamm
Elo Tamm is a Partner and the Head of EU and Competition practice in COBALT Estonia, heading Healthcare practice and co-heading the Energy.
Greete-Kristiine Kuru
Greete mainly advises on venture capital investments, other financing transactions as well as fund formation matters and mergers and acquisitions. She has advised several international and local venture capital funds on investing in promising startups in Europe, the USA, and elsewhere.
Greete-Kristiine is experienced in all types and at every stage of venture capital transactions, from an angel, seed, and other early-stage investments, through late-stage investments and mergers and acquisitions. She also advises on various corporate matters, investor-startup relations and provides general counseling for startups.
Heili Haabu
Heili is specialized in company and employment law. She is an experienced expert in both fields.
Heili advises companies in all aspects of managing employment relations, including choice of contract type, immigration matters of foreign employees, use of temporary agency staff, preparation of employment contracts, issues relating to bonus systems, relations with trade unions, occupational health and safety matters, supervisory proceedings of the Labor Inspectorate, community-scale involvement of employees and termination of employment. Heili also prepares service agreements for members of managing bodies and advises companies in different corporate proceedings such as holding meetings, adopting resolutions, mergers, divisions, and reorganizations.
In addition to the above, Heili also advises companies engaging in retail, life sciences, and medicines in compliance issues. Heili assists clients in preparing standard terms and advises clients in issues relating to consumer protection, producer liability, and advertising.
Heleri Tammiste
Heleri Tammiste is one of the most experienced Senior Associates in M&A practice group in COBALT Estonia, focusing on advising complex M&A and private equity transactions. Heleri has been involved as project manager and coordinator in a significant part of the high-profile M&A transactions advised by COBALT, including establishment of the pan-Baltic Luminor banking group by DNB and Nordea, and subsequent sale of majority stake in Luminor to consortium led by Blackstone.
Heleri is a long-time member of Estonian Bar Association’s Business Law Committee (comprising a selected group of highly skilled practicing attorneys), where she contributes to legislative processes impacting Estonian Business Law. She is also one of the very few members of the Estonian Bar Association holding a degree from Harvard Law School. In 2022 Heleri was elected to the Board of Harvard Law School Association of Europe.
Jaanus Mody
Managing Partner Jaanus Mody heads the Dispute Resolution and Insolvency practice areas at COBALT Estonia.
Jesse Kivisaari
Jesse is experienced in M&A and private equity transactions and also advises companies in corporate law matters. He is focused on cross-border business activities, especially on projects related to Finland as his native language is Finnish. Jesse’s knowledge of cross-border legal aspects and multiple cultures enable him to provide services for Finnish companies with respect to the Baltics and vice versa.
Kaarel Eller
Kaarel has extensive experience in the public sector, including long experience in the Ministry of Finance, where he held various positions in the Financial Markets Department and later on as the Head of the Legal Department. There he was tasked with drafting some major legislative acts for the Estonian financial sector, including the first Estonian covered bond act and transposing PSD2 into the Estonian payment institutions and e-money institutions act. Prior to joining COBALT, Kaarel worked for an international law firm.
Kadri Michelson
Kadri Michelson is mainly specialised in dispute resolution. She represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings and has over fifteen years of experience in leading law firms in the field. Kadri has successfully represented distinguished clients in the fields of contract law, non-contractual law, property law and administrative procedure both in extrajudicial negotiations as well as in court proceedings.
Kadri has specialised on, among other things, various administrative disputes related to state subsidies and disputes related to the publication of incorrect data and values. She also has vast experience in the field of joint property division, representing clients in large and legally complex property division disputes. In addition, she is a well-known expert in high-level labour disputes, including cases involving breaches of confidentiality and non-compete obligations. Clients highly value her concreteness and punctuality with respect to representation in court proceedings
Karina Paatsi
Karina Paatsi is a Partner at COBALT Estonia and Head of the fields of Employment and Corporate Law.
Karli Kütt
Karli advises and represents clients mainly in indirect taxes and tax proceedings. He has extensive experience advising clients on tax matters related to value added tax, excise duties and customs duties.
In addition to counselling the clients on indirect tax matters, Karli is also valued as a skilful representative in tax proceedings and litigations. He and his litigation team recently achieved a significant Supreme Court ruling, overturning the previously established practice of value added tax deductions in court proceedings and reshaping jurisprudence on property taxation. As a well-known and recommended representative in tax audit proceedings, he is continuously involved in several significant tax audit proceedings in Estonia.
Karli’s experience also includes advising in corporate law matters and he takes the lead in advising clients on legal matters related to the gaming industry. His commercial and corporate law competence allows him to provide tax-efficient solutions for restructuring companies.
His area of research is the imposition of value added tax on electronic commerce and digitally supplied services. In addition to advising clients, Karli gives lectures in business and tax law.
Kristel Raidla-Talur
Kristel Raidla-Talur is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Banking & Finance practice group at COBALT Estonia.
Liina Linsi
Liina Linsi has extensive experience in litigation and is an internationally recognised real estate expert with over 35 years of experience in the field. Liina has represented clients in civil and administrative disputes as well as in arbitration. Her client portfolio includes leading regional and international construction companies. Liina is a member of the supervisory board of several leading local construction and real estate companies.
Marina Kotkas
Marina Kotkas is a Partner and co-chair of the Banking & Finance practice group at COBALT Estonia.
Mart Blöndal
Mart has advised clients in all areas of competition law, including merger control, dominance, and prohibited cooperation issues. In the field of state aid, Mart has advised clients on various complex state aid issues, including various proceedings with administrative bodies and the European Commission. In addition, Mart is focused on energy and information technology sectors. Mart’s work in advising clients has contributed to the creation of significant players in the Estonian market and the clarification of key state aid principles.
Martin Simovart
Martin is a Partner at COBALT Estonia, the Head of the Pan-Baltic M&A practice group and the Head of Global Relations at COBALT.
Monika Koolmeister
Monika is a Partner and Head of Financial Regulatory Practice Group at COBALT Estonia
Ott Aava
Ott has extensive experience in Estonian and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, advising private equity transactions and investors and companies in fundraising. In addition, Ott has focused on advising start-ups and technology companies. Ott has extensive experience in corporate law matters and shareholder relations.
Ott regularly advises on important purchase and sale transactions and investments in companies, including the sale of shares and assets, financial and strategic investments, and restructuring. Ott has led several long-term projects and complex international transactions involving teams from different jurisdictions. His work has led several projects to a successful closing.
Peeter Kutman
Peeter Kutman, a Partner at COBALT Estonia, heads the Mergers and Acquisitions team.
Rauno Ligi
Rauno Ligi stands out with his extensive experience in different supervision and court proceedings.
Rauno has successfully defended clients in diverse misdemeanor and criminal proceedings concerning, for example, alleged bribery, fraud, embezzlement, corruption, and other economic crimes. He advises clients on an everyday basis on various legal issues, from money laundering to competition offences, in order to avoid initiating and/or continuing proceedings against clients. With his extensive experience in advising clients on internal investigations, initiating criminal proceedings, and submitting claims against the perpetrator, he also trains clients on how to prevent abuses and how to act in different proceedings.
Rauno has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of competition law disputes. He has represented clients in Competition Authority proceedings, and in filing claims in civil and administrative courts. He has been involved in several precedent-setting cases involving abuse of a dominant position. He has also wide experience in defending and representing clients in different supervision and criminal proceedings regarding cartels.
Rauno has extensive experience in advising clients on issues of EU law as he has also practiced law in the General Court of the European Union.
Sandra Sillaots
Sandra is specialised in construction and planning law, as well as in matters pertaining to environmental and energy law. She advises clients on comprehensive, thematic and detailed plan procedures and disputes regarding the building and operating permits.
Before joining COBALT’s team, Sandra has also worked in the public sector.
Tõnu Kolts
Tõnu Kolts specializes in tax law, equity compensation plans, and company restructuring.
Internationally recognized as a tax expert, Tõnu possesses extensive experience advising both domestic and international clients. He has played a pivotal role in advising on several recent major transactions in Estonia from a tax perspective. Tõnu’s comprehensive background in tax law allows him to provide clients with tax-efficient solutions for company restructuring.
In addition to his tax expertise, Tõnu brings substantial knowledge and experience in equity compensation plans, offering clients tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of businesses navigating the complex landscape of employee incentives. Whether you are looking to create a stock option plan or seeking to implement global equity compensation strategies, Tõnu is dedicated to delivering results that align with your unique business objectives.
Prior to joining the COBALT team, Tõnu worked as a tax advisor for one of the BIG4 audit firms in Estonia.
Viive Kaur
Viive Kaur is mainly advising clients in intellectual property matters. Viive advised the establishing of an organisation for a new collective representation system for authors in Estonia, participated in drafting the Copyright Act in an expert group of the Ministry of Culture and has participated in several European Union intellectual property projects.
She also has extensive experience in representing clients in court disputes involving various private law fields, including in disputes pertaining to intellectual property and family law. Viive has also successfully advised and represented clients with respect to false claims and inaccuracies published in the media in which she has managed to reach out-of-court settlements.