COBALT is a full legal-services law firm with 73 lawyers in Estonia and 200 lawyers across their offices in the Baltics and Belarus. The firm is a member of a number of international associations, including the International Bar Association.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is strong across all practice areas and, particularly, in banking and finance, M&A and project development.
In financial and corporate the firm has a track record of deals in banking and finance, working on various sorts of financing, as well as, in M&A where it advises foreign and local companies, private equity funds and investors mainly on the acquirer’s side but also on the seller’s side in acquisitions and mergers.
In project development the firm advises on renewable energy projects, providing full legal support that includes everything from EPC-contracts to land acquisition and due diligence. It also advises on TMT, manufacturing and traditional energy.
Key clients
Among their clients in financial and corporate are Apax Partners, First Sentier Investors, Luminor Bank, European Investment Bank, Swedbank, SEB Bank, LHV Bank, BaltCap, Goodyear Dunlop, IFC. On projects they have experience working with Graanul, Van Oord Offshore Wind, Raunistal, Rail Baltic, Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
The firm has been active in financial and corporate and project development.
In financial and corporate the firm has advised on various transactions such as acquisition finance, venture capital, syndicated loans and revolving loan facility agreements. It advised on projects in energy, crypto, fintech, technology and real estate.
In project development they were active on projects in the renewable energy sector, manufacturing, TMT, transport and traditional energy.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
E-Piim $120 million financing
Luminor Bank $541 million bond issue
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Banking and finance
"Cobalt was very efficient in communicating with its clients. Emails and inquiries are always answered promptly. Never a delay. Their advices and services are of top quality comparing to other consulting companies who provide similar services. Their quotes were clear and reasonable. Their professional knowledge on topic is impeccable."
"Speed of execution and thorough understanding of underlying core business"
Investment funds
"They are an army of professional lawyers. Highly experienced, punctual, and meticulous."
Leveraged finance
"They have very good capabilities to handle to large complex work. They have strong commercial awareness and provide overall value for money. We also appreciate that the partner in charge is always involved in the matter."
M&A
"Cobalt was very quick and hands-on. They are following a very commercial approach without letting technicalities slip."
Project development
"They have a wide range of knowledge and experience in different fields (energy, taxation, state aid, construction etc) that is necessary to advise on a complex matters. They are willing to organise their employees to help in a short period of time and they are reliable, trustworthy and see a wider and more business related picture that is of the essence to advise a company on the transactions."
Ott Aava
"Responsiveness, quick thinking, good to spar ideas with."
Jesse Kivisaari
"Very good technically, solution-oriented lawyer; cuts reliably straight to the commercially relevant points."
Monika Koolmeister
"Monika is very knowledgeable in the area of EU and Estonia laws for digital and crypto assets. She is not only an expert on legal questions, but also a very business oriented person who can understand how a start-up operates and the difficulties and challenges that it faces every day. Because of her thorough understanding, it was possible for her to propose adequate and suitable solutions to us."
Marina Kotkas
"We have worked with Marina for several years and she is our go to lawyer for all financing work in the Baltics. She is very responsive and coordinates work with the other Baltic countries very smoothly. She has excellent understanding and knowledge of the local market and is a good negotiator."
Greete-Kristiine Kuru
"She is a highly capable lawyer that has great communication and team management skills as she has been the lead in all of our conversations."
Siim Vahtrus
"Very well at communicating, having great ideas, thinking forward. Reliable and representing us very well. Great juridical knowledge and experience."
