Leading Associates

Shipping and transport in Estonia

Ellex Raidla

Ellex Raidla‘s transport team has an excellent reputation in the Estonian legal market. The group continues to handle a high volume of matters in the railway sector, often for the Estonian government and its ministries. Shipowners and shipbuilders are also prominent in the department's client roster. Dispute resolution is a core area of strength for the team; practice head Toomas Vaher is well-versed in advising on bankruptcy and shareholder disputes in the shipping industry. On the non-contentious side, Martin Käerdi and Jaanus Ikla are highly regarded for their expertise in assisting shipping and transport clients with M&A deals and transactional cases, often involving infrastructure elements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Toomas Vaher


Autres avocats clés:

Martin Käerdi; Jaanus Ikla


Principaux clients

Operail OÜ


E.R.S. AS


Estonian Government via Ministry of Finance


Government of the Republic of Estonia


Taali Grupp OÜ


Infortar AS


Sorainen

Shipping and transport matters are an area in which Sorainen is prominent, and the group is highly regarded for its niche focus on cross-border dry shipping matters, as well as advising on broader international maritime law issues. At the helm of the practice is Kaupo Lepasepp, a very experienced practitioner in the space, who routinely handles port operations and railway sector mandates. Carri Ginter is equally strong in assisting with port operations matters. Additionally, the team is sought after for its expertise in advising on prominent rail infrastructure projects and regulatory issues in the automotive industry. Cathriin Majas is a key contact for dispute resolution.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kaupo Lepasepp


Autres avocats clés:

Cathriin Majas; Carri Ginter


Les références

‘The team is dynamic and approachable.’

‘Cathriin Majas is always eager to help. Her legal skills are top class.’

Principaux clients

CARIAD Estonia


ELMO rent


Bolt


Tallinn Airport


Rail Baltic Estonia


Auto 100


Toyota


Saaremaa Laevakompanii (in bankruptcy)


Lux Express


Baltic Workboats


Tallinn City Transportation, (Aktsiaselts Tallinna Linnatransport)


Petromaks


Eckerö Line


Tallinna Sadam


MyDello


Nissan Nordic Europe


PRIKE


Milrem


SEBE


HHLA TK


TEGOS (Formerly TGS Baltic)

TEGOS (Formerly TGS Baltic)‘s workload often features shipping industry mandates, such as acting as counsel to the Port of Tallinn on contentious matters. Under the leadership of Martti Peetsalu, the group is well-versed in handling a broad range of maritime law cases, including assisting public and private entities with prominent regulatory issues concerning the shipping industry. Triin Kaurov, whose ‘breadth of expertise is exceptional’, garners praise for her ‘deep knowledge of shipping and transport law‘. The practice has seen an uptick in mandates from the aviation industry, often relating to public procurement and insolvency issues, in which Erki Fels has particular expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

Martti Peetsalu


Autres avocats clés:

Triin Kaurov; Erki Fels


Les références

‘The team has in-depth knowledge of the logistics sector.’

‘Martti Peetsalu’s communication is always clear. He responds quickly.’

‘Martti Peetsalu stands out as a very pragmatic, knowledgeable lawyer. He is very nice and very easy to work with.’

Principaux clients

Bolt Technology Ltd


Alfons Hakans


LHV Pank


AS GoBus


Hertz International


Inchcape JLR Finland Oy


Estonian Road Administration (ERA)


Caterpillar Financial Ltd


Auto-Bon (Autohalle)


Timbeco


Elering AS


Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture


Ministry of Climate


osaühing Rail Baltic Estonia


SRC Group AS


Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (EIC)


Nordic Aviation Capital


Red-Tail Aviation Limited


NAC Aviation 2 A/S and NAC Aviation 3 A/S


Environmental Investment Centre


Port of Tallinn


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing the Port of Tallinn in a civil claim brought against its former directors.
  • Advising Environmental Investment Centre on the design and implementation of a support measure for Estonia’s shipping and maritime industries.
  • Acting for NAC Aviation 2 A/S and NAC Aviation 3 A/S in bankruptcy proceedings connected to the insolvency of Nordic Aviation Group and Regional Jet.

Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co

Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co has a solid track record in representing transport entities, shipowners, airlines, railway companies, and public companies in mandates. Toomas Pikamäe leads the team, which is equally adept at advising on cases involving domestic and international maritime law issues. Competition law specialist Risto Rüütel is well-versed in assisting shipping companies, and Artjom Luik routinely advises on transactions and regulatory matters in the maritime sector.

Responsables de la pratique:

Toomas Pikamäe


Autres avocats clés:

Artjom Luik; Risto Rüütel


Principaux clients

Turkish Airlines Inc. Estonian branch


MTÜ Eesti Jäätmehoolduskeskus


Eesti Keskkonnateenused AS


Estonian Transport Administration


Epler & Lorenz AS


Eesti Varude Keskus AS (Estonian Stockpiling Agency)


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented MTÜ Eesti Jäätmehoolduskeskus (EJK) in a dispute against AS Ragn-Sells, one of the largest waste transport companies in Estonia.

RASK Attorneys-at-Law

RASK Attorneys-at-Law is perhaps best known for its expertise in the aviation sector. The group has an established track record in advising on passenger claims against airlines, and is equally well-versed in representing aircraft operators and financing companies in licensing cases and financing work, as well as regulatory matters. Timo Kullerkupp is at the helm of the practice and routinely acts on transactional matters in the aviation sector. Bankruptcy cases are prominent in Tarmo Peterson's workload. Other key practitioners include Mikk Ilves and Kai Villemson, who 'consistently combine deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach'.

Responsables de la pratique:

Timo Kullerkupp


Autres avocats clés:

Mikk Ilves; Kai Villemson; Ramon Rask; Tarmo Peterson


Les références

‘RASK team’s clear communication style and responsiveness have made working with them consistently smooth and efficient. Their professionalism and deep legal knowledge ensure that every matter is handled with precision and confidence.’

‘Kai Villemson and Mikk Ilves have been invaluable throughout our collaboration, consistently combine deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach. Their responsiveness and reliability have given us full confidence in every engagement, ensuring we always felt well supported and expertly guided.’

‘The team is energetic, agile and can deliver exactly what is required.’

Principaux clients

Air Baltic Corporation AS


SmartLynx Estonia


Magnetic MRO AS


Ridango AS


Rally Estonia / Estonian Autosport Events MTÜ


IUNO LAW FIRM


Kihnu Veeteed AS


Triniti

At Triniti, the team has been kept busy advising on bankruptcy disputes in the aviation and railway sectors and railway infrastructure projects. The group is equally well-known for representing transport asset management companies, national airlines and shipping entities in mandates. Ain Kalme and Tõnis Tamme co-head the practice, in which Ergo Blumfeldt is a key contact for assisting with financing matters in the aviation sector.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tõnis Tamme; Ain Kalme


Autres avocats clés:

Ergo Blumfeldt


Les références

‘Ergo Blumfeldt and Tõnis Tamme are experienced, knowledgeable and well-connected in the industry.’

Principaux clients

Maersk Line AS


Ministry of Climate


Transpordi Varahaldus OÜ (TVH)


AS Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn)


AS Fort Aero


Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ


PriceWaterhouseCoopers


Auve Tech OÜ


ELMO Rent AS


Norton Rose Fulbright


Estonian Air Navigation Services AS


Norton Rose Fulbright


City of Tartu


SJSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš” (Latvian State Railways)


Clevon AS


Maersk Line A/S


KrattWorks


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting Transpordi Varahaldus OÜ with the sale of its fleet of Bombardier CRJ900NG passenger jet aircrafts.
  • Assisting the City of Tartu with a complex cross-border PSO air connectivity procurement.
  • Acting as counsel to Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ on the new Rail Baltica railway from Tallinn to the Lithuianian-Polish border.

WALLESS

The team at WALLESS regularly acts for high-profile companies in the shipping, railway and aviation industries, as well as assisting regulators and handling disputes. The group is very experienced in representing public and private companies in litigation against Estonian public authorities, as well as handling contractual disputes for transport sector companies. Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff has an excellent track record in assisting with M&A cases involving transport companies; he co-heads the practice with Karl-Erich Trisberg, who is sought after for his strength in contentious matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff


Autres avocats clés:

Karl-Erich Trisberg


Principaux clients

Tallinn Airport AS


ALD Automotive Estonia


Bolt


Ministry Of Economic Affairs and Communications


Hansabuss Group


Teede Tehnokeskus AS


Balti Bussi Grupp


NTG Nordic Transport Group A/S


Magnetic MRO AS


Fort Aero AS


Hansa Technologies


Avolon Aerospace


Turnit


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments on the development of Estonia’s inaugural Defence Industry Park.
  • Advising Hansa Technologies OÜ on digital transformation matters in the passenger transport sector.