On August 1, 2024, the Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, AI Act) came into effect, establishing several regulations concerning artificial intelligence systems within the European Union. Although the regulation is already in force, its requirements will gradually come into effect: the first deadlines are set for February and August 2025, while most of the requirements will apply starting August 2, 2026.

Fort Legal has advised EfTEN Capital and its managed fund, Kinnisvarafond II AS, on the EUR 18.2 million sale of Kaunas Terminal to the PREF IV fund. Cobalt advised PREF IV.

Cobalt has advised Linstow Baltic on an agreement with Snabb to operate parking services at the Origo shopping center, Radisson Blu Latvija, Radisson Elizabete, and several open-air locations in central Riga.

Cobalt has advised Apollo Group's Estonian subsidiary Treeland on increasing its ownership in the Latvian restaurant chain Lido AS to 96% via share acquisition from KE Projekti.

Cobalt has advised German defense company Rheinmetall on a joint project with Lithuania’s EPSO-G Invest and Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla to establish a 155-millimeter artillery ammunition manufacturing plant in Baisogala, Lithuania. TGS Baltic reportedly advised EPSO-G Invest. Sorainen reportedly advised Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla.

Cobalt, working with Dentons, has advised AirBaltic on the sale of a minority stake to Lufthansa Group. Eversheds Sutherland Bitans advised Lufthansa Group.

Cobalt has advised SmartCap on launching a EUR 100 million Defense Fund.

KWKR and Cobalt have advised Luxembourg-based investment fund Radix Ventures on its investment in Naco Technologies.

Over the summer, numerous major employers in Lithuania had either terminated or tightened their hybrid work policies, mandating employees to be present in the office for at least three days per week. This shift is in line with global trends, particularly among technology companies, which have largely abandoned remote work arrangements. Since the pandemic ended, many companies have gradually moved their workforce back to the office, citing decreased productivity and employee engagement as primary reasons for this shift.

TGS Baltic, working with Vinge, has advised Bergs Timber on the sale of its Latvian sawmill business Vika Wood to Nextwood One, part of the Austrian HS Timber group. Schoenherr advised HS Timber on the deal. Cobalt reportedly advised HS Timber as well.

Cobalt has advised CybExer Technologies on a EUR 1.5 million investment from SEB via the Baltic Venture Debt investment program.

Walless has advised InMedica on its sale to Mehilainen. Cobalt advised Mehilainen.

Cobalt has advised Hanza on the acquisition of the Leden Group.

Cobalt has advised Inbank on a synthetic securitization transaction involving the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund.

It is without a doubt that, like the economy in general, the legal market was also affected in recent years. Though the economy has been turbulent for a longer period than during the crisis that started in 2008, this time, the number of large disputes has remained constant. Despite the growing legal costs, high-value disputes rarely dropped due to costs. Smaller law firms, however, seem to have more problems when navigating in this economy – there are cases of closing businesses or consolidating to survive. 

Debt pushdown structures have become a prevalent strategy in Estonia for company acquisitions. However, up until now, the absence of clear regulatory guidance has left companies and their legal advisors navigating uncertain terrain, particularly concerning the tax implications. The (at the time of writing) soon-to-be-published guidance on the taxation of debt pushdowns is poised to provide much-needed clarity.

Cobalt has successfully represented Estonian environmental NGO MTU Eesti Roheline Rist on its appeal leading to the revocation of a construction permit for a planned soybean oil factory in Muuga port.

Cobalt has advised Decathlon on a new lease agreement with Spice Home shopping center in Riga, Latvia. Azanda & Associates reportedly advised Spice Home.