Ellex in Estonia welcomes new Partner Martin Mäesalu
Happy New Year!
We are starting the new year with a dignified addition in the circle of owners – our long-term colleague and the undisputed top of Estonian competition law, Martin Mäesalu, has become a partner! As of January 1, 2021, Ellex in Estonia has 14 partners.
Martin Mäesalu is one of the few attorneys in Estonia with international work experience in both law and business management. The skills and experience of a new generation of experts bring new energy, new ideas and, under Martin’s leadership, the best competition and state aid law team in the Estonian law firms to our team. Martin will continue as the leader of a team of top specialists, which he has helped to create and shape and who advises clients on a wide range of issues in Estonian and European Union competition and state aid law. Our competition law team has successfully advised clients on the most important merger control but also supervisory proceedings of recent years.
Martin himself explains that what makes competition law interesting is its close connection with everyday economic activities. The sector itself is also in a constant state of change due to both the changing regulatory environment and the changing economy itself. “There are not many areas where at one moment you have to delve into the details of energy issues and at the next into the soul of Estonian start-up flagships,” adds Martin. He also points out that while 2020 brought with it a wide range of issues on state aid law, it is probably not a fast-moving trend: “Broader public intervention in the economy is clearly continuing… whether we like it or not. At the same time, no one has abolished state aid rules, and we will probably see many disputes in this area in the coming years.”
In terms of his experience at Ellex in Estonia, Martin emphasizes the importance of teamwork: “There were once orange coffee cups in the office with the words No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. Although the light green cups have a slightly more laconic text, the same principles still apply, apparently it was already clear enough without having to be remembered on a daily basis.”
Interesting facts about Martin:
- Has worked at Ellex in Estonia for 9 years
- Member of the Competition Law Committee of the Estonian Bar Association
- Thinks he has advised clients in about 70-80 merger control proceedings, but not quite sure anymore
- In addition to Estonia, he also has work experience in Germany and Poland
- In addition to competition and state aid law, he also has long-term experience in the field of banking and finance
- Hobbies: tennis, running, reading
- Married, father of 2 children
We are ready for the challenges of the new year!
