Sorainen

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

Partner, co-head of the Estonian Dispute Resolution & Risk Management team.

Having interpreted law as a judge, Chancellor of Justice and attorney-at-law since 1991, Allar Jõks has a unique perspective on the Estonian legal system. He contributed to developing the Estonian court system as a judge of the Courts of First Instance and Second Instance as well as the chair of the Estonian Association of Judges. As Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice from 2001 to 2008, Allar stood up for a better culture of governance and constitutional legislative drafting. When Estonia joined the European Union, the country’s constitution was supplemented upon his initiative with the “protective clause”, which stipulates that the application of EU law may not come into conflict with the fundamental principles of the Estonian constitution.

Developing government relations. Allar can proudly say that since joining Sorainen in 2009, he has contributed to creating one of the most talented legal disputes and government relations teams in Estonia. As a former Chancellor of Justice, he mostly commits to disputes between the state and the individual as well as assisting clients in their relations with the state. Several legal disputes won by him have considerably changed the legal culture and practice of governance in Estonia.

Active and vocal in society. An attorney should never be a part of the silent majority. Anyone who cares for Estonia should boldly speak up about important issues and use their clout, so Allar tries to step forward. The Good Election Practices developed by him in 2009 and supervision over compliance with election practices by the public has positively affected Estonian election culture. In order to make Estonian legislative drafting more competitive, he initiated the Best Legislation Practice and the annual Best and Worst Law competition in 2011. To implement his understanding of a better Estonia, Allar participated in the presidential elections of 2016 as a politically independent candidate, winning the first round in the electoral body.

Acknowledgements for work. The President of Estonia awarded Allar the Order of the White Star, 3rd Class, for improving Estonian legal culture, and he also received the Friend of the Press award from the Estonian Newspaper Association in 2002 and 2010. A survey conducted by the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht in 2015 ranked him as the most influential lawyer in Estonia.

Believing in the young. Allar loves instructing his colleagues, and is happy when he sees the development of younger colleagues, the sparkle in their eyes, and their ambition.

Estonian, English, Russian

Estonian Bar Association Estonian Bar Association Fundamental Rights Commission Estonian Lawyers’ Union, Council Member Estonian Academic Law Society Water of Tallinn (member of the audit and corporate governance committees)

University of Tartu, Estonia (MA in Law) University of Tartu, Estonia (BA in Law)