Sorainen

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

Partner

With a background as a dual-qualified dispute resolution attorney ‒ having received higher education in both the civil law and common law systems, and being licensed to practice in Estonia as well as in the United States ‒ Maria Pihlak' professional drives and curiosity lies in international arbitration.

Cross-border disputes and arbitrage. Owing to her international experience and academic background, she brings value to clients in cross-border disputes. In this context, the needs may vary from applying for interim measures, conceiving and carrying out a strategy for court or arbitration proceedings, working towards a compromise, to enforcing decisions in local and foreign jurisdictions. Maria represents the first Estonian investor to ever launch an international investment arbitration case against a foreign country at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, a part of the World Bank Group. In addition, she has adviced a number of Estonian state and private enterprises in arbitration proceedings in connection with M&A transactions as well as transactions in the fields of infrastructure, construction and real estate, financing and trade under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, SCC, FAI and UNCITRAL.

Arbitration and Estonia. Maria Pihlak regularly represent clients in the Court of Arbitration of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in national ad hoc arbitration disputes. She values the opportunity to develop the field of Estonian arbitration through awareness-raising and training activities, closer involvement of young generation, building a national community as well as fostering international cooperation networks. Maria gives advice to the Estonian government agencies on the implications of international conventions and past arbitration cases.

Developing attorney profession. It is her strong conviction that the profession of attorney should develop in conjunction with market trends which would make it an attractive career choice despite its highly regulated character. Therefore, Maria serves on the Committee of Ethics and Methodology of the Estonian Bar Association where matters of professional ethics are addressed. Maria is also actively involved in the Estonian Young Lawyers’s Association where she aims to create an environment for young lawyers where they can freely exchange ideas and experience as well as learn from one another.

Estonian, English

Estonian Bar Association New York State Bar Association Young Arbitrators Forum of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC YAF) International Council for Commercial Arbitration (Young ICCA) Young International Arbitration Group of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA YIAG) Estonian Arbitration Association (founding member)

Georgetown University Law Center, USA (LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law with a certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, graduated with Distinction) University of Vienna, Austria, (exchange student, spring 2013) University of Salzburg (summer school in European private law) University of Tartu, Estonia (MA in Law) Howard University, Washington DC, USA (exchange student, fall 2010) University of Tartu, Estonia (BA in law)