About me

My primary focus as a head of the Real Estate & Construction sector group in Estonia is on environmental building and planning law, in the role of both advising and representing clients in court disputes. I have been advising clients on environmental matters since 2007, currently specialising in ESG topics.

Professional highlights

Educated in environmental management. I received a MA degree (cum laude) in landscape protection and management from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and have long worked with environmental projects mainly related to evaluating the environmental impact of projects and planning, applications of environmental permits and drafting waste management plans.

Public, private and third sector experience. I have worked with environmental law in the public, private and non-governmental sectors. For over five years I was employed by a private company offering environmental consultations. After that I worked for the planning department at the Ministry of the Interior. As the ministry advisor, I dealt with questions regarding planning law and was also involved in drafting legislation. Additionally, I have interned at the NGO Estonian Environmental Law Centre, which primarily advises private persons and third sector groups.

Complicated disputes. I represented a client in a court dispute regarding maritime spatial planning, which the Estonian Supreme Court has acknowledged to have been one of the most complex environmental cases in the country’s history. The case concerned maritime spatial planning in areas bordering on Hiiu and Pärnu counties, and resulted in the Supreme Court declaring that plans for wind energy production areas were void.

Disputes involving manufacturing firms. I have participated in environmental disputes primarily involving manufacturing companies (eg, hydroelectric plants, water companies) , and also advised companies applying for environmental permits and in need of advice on environmental tax and environmental liability matters.

Environmental expert at large. I am called upon to collaborate with all the Sorainen teams who encounter environmental issues in their work, be it real estate, energy, M&A or public procurement practices.

Academic background

  • University of Tartu, Estonia (MA in Law)
  • University of Tartu, Estonia (BA in Law)
  • Estonian University of Life Sciences (MA in landscape protection and management, cum laude)
  • Estonian University of Life Sciences (BA in landscape protection and management)

I am a member of

  • Estonian Bar Association