Sorainen

Sorainen

Maria Pihlak

Senior Associate

M. +372 55 660 163
T. +372 6 400 976
maria.pihlak@sorainen.com

Language

Estonian, English

Services

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

Sectors

Finance & Insurance
Real Estate & Construction

Country

Estonia

About me

With a background as a dual-qualified dispute resolution attorney ‒ having received higher education in both the civil law and common law systems, and being licensed to practice in Estonia as well as in the United States ‒ my professional drive and curiosity lie in international arbitration.

Professional highlights

Representation in international arbitration. Clients include the first Estonian investor to file a claim in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (Washington, DC) against a foreign state for failure to enforce an international arbitration award. Another major client was an Estonian state-owned company in an international arbitration dispute concerning Estonian energy security.

Interests of minority shareholders. I am seasoned in litigating for the interests of minority shareholders in Estonian companies against wrongful acts by majority shareholders.

Lectures on investment arbitration. Every year, I lecture on investment arbitration in the Sorainen Student Academy and am happy to say the topic has been on the students’ “most popular” list for years.

Academic background

  • Georgetown University Law Center, USA (LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law with a certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, graduated with Distinction)
  • University of Vienna, Austria, (exchange student, spring 2013)
  • University of Salzburg (summer school in European private law)
  • University of Tartu, Estonia (MA in Law)
  • Howard University, Washington DC, USA (exchange student, fall 2010)
  • University of Tartu, Estonia (BA in law)

I am a member of

  • Estonian Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Young Arbitrators Forum of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC YAF)
  • International Council for Commercial Arbitration (Young ICCA)
  • Young International Arbitration Group of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA YIAG)

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