TGS Baltic

More informationMore information

TGS Baltic is active in financial regulatory matters, especially innovative and new financial service-related matters, and counts crowdfunding platforms among its key clients. Practice head Kirsti Pent is highlighted for her strength in new technologies. Elina Varendi and Olger Kaelep are also key team members, and are regularly engaged in regulatory work, a strength of the broader group. The team adopts a multidisciplinary approach and is therefore able to advise on areas of law which are often connected to fintech matters such as IP and data protection.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'My contact for all fintech, finance and regulatory matters in Estonia.'
  • 'Kristi Pent is most knowledgeable in new technologies.' 

Key clients

  • Estateguru
  • Crowdestate
  • Tallinna Kaubamaja Group
  • Tuleva
  • Finora Bank
  • Fundwise
  • Bondora Group
  • Eleving Group
  • Starship
  • Income Company
  • Truffle Capital
  • Mifundo
  • Stebby
  • Primero Finance

Work highlights

  • Advised Crowdestate on obtaining the first crowdfunding licence in Estonia.
  • Advised Bondora Group on product development.
  • Advised TKM Finants (part of TKM Group) on obtaining the necessary authorisations and launching its credit services.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Elina Varendi
Elina Varendi is a member of the firm’s banking and finance and IT law practice groups focusing mainly on alternative financing methods, start-up financing, and advising fintech companies. As a member of the banking and finance team, she has advised multiple clients in financing matters, mostly involving bond issue or loan financing transactions in Estonia and other Baltic states. She has also advised a client in being admitted to a multilateral trading facility. In addition, she has considerable experience in assisting both local and international clients with licensing proceedings before the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority in obtaining and accessing activity licences, credit institutions, payment service providers, lenders and loan intermediators. Elina Varendi also has experience with alternative fund management structures, having advised an Estonian real estate development on setting up an alternative fund management structure, advising crowdfunding companies on regulatory matters and setting up a cash-box alternative fund management structure for pre-financing crowdfunding projects. Among her main areas of expertise are international anti-money laundering rules and the implementation of the fourth anti-money laundering directive to the Estonian legislation, which was also the topic of her master thesis. In addition to banking and financial law, Elina Varendi has broad knowledge in IT-law and data protection, having assisted clients in concluding privacy policies, cookie policies, terms and conditions for websites and in other regulatory matters. She has also advised clients in software licensing. She has participated in the IT-law programme at the University of Tartu while obtaining her masters degree.
Olger Kaelep
Olger has advised credit institutions, fintech and crowdfunding companies, insurers and payment service providers. He has assisted in the restructuring, including cross-border mergers, of several financial sector companies. Olger has also advised ICT companies in various legal matters, such as copyright and intellectual property issues. Through his work experience at SEB Bank, first as a credit lawyer, later in a managerial role, he has extensive practical knowledge of a wide variety of credit and collateral contracts, as well as complex financing deals.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Kirsti Pent
Partner Kirsti Pent heads the Banking & Finance practice group. Kirsti has long-term experience specialising in advising various financial institutions on regulatory matters (incl obtaining licenses from the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, answering questions about daily activities as well as during remote and on-site inspections), as well as drafting standard contracts and advising on financing transactions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kirsti Pent

Other key lawyers

Elina Varendi, Olger Kaelep