Maris Vutt

Maris Vutt

Counsel, Senior Associate
Co-Head of Corporate Practice Group

Tallinn, Estonia

Maris Vutt specialises in dispute resolution and corporate law. Maris has wide experience in the resolution of various civil disputes and she specialises in the settlement of corporate law disputes, most importantly in relation to the contesting of resolutions and shareholders’ right to information. Maris advises clients also on various corporate legal issues in connection with the balanced protection of shareholders’ rights.

  • About

    Maris Vutt specialises in the resolution of civil disputes and in corporate law. Maris has wide experience in the resolution of various civil disputes and she specialises in the settlement of corporate law disputes, most importantly in relation to the contesting of resolutions, shareholders’ right to information and liability of members of the management board. Maris advises clients also on various corporate legal issues in connection with the balanced protection of shareholders’ rights. Maris has also represented clients in different contractual and media disputes.

    Maris teaches a corporate law course at the University of Tartu and is mostly engaged in the field of shareholders’ rights in research work as well. In her Master’s thesis, Maris covered the possibility of substituting shareholders’ votes with judicial decisions, which has led to several precedent-setting court judgments in the Estonian judicial practice both in the Supreme Court and in lower courts. At present, Maris is pursuing a Doctoral level degree at the University of Tartu and her field of study includes exercise of shareholders’ rights in a digital form.

  • Major Projects
    • 26.06.2024

      TGS Baltic lawyers represented a client in a precedent-setting lawsuit

      The Supreme Court of Estonia clarified for the first time the rules for distributing dividends and the conditions under which dividends can be distributed disproportionately among shareholders.

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    • 26.06.2024

      TGS Baltic advised "Rulonas" on the acquisition of "IMS Baltic" companies

      "Rulonas", one of the largest suppliers of stainless steel and aluminium in the Baltic region, has completed the acquisition of "IMS Baltic" companies operating in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (formerly known as SCHMOLZ+BICKENBACH Baltic and Swiss Steel Baltic). 

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    • 31.05.2023

      TGS Baltic senior associates Martti Peetsalu and Maris Vutt represented Jetoil AS in court.

      The dispute revolved around the performance of fuel quality control and the courts agreed that the fuel supplied by Jetoil met the quality requirements.

      The court case demonstrates that the validity of special agreements between parties largely depends on the area of activity in which they operate. In the transport sector, it is permissible for parties to agree on shorter notice periods for raising claims to ensure the normal functioning of the sector.

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    • 18.04.2023

      TGS Baltic advised the Estonian Museum Association on developing the Museum Card service

      On 11 April 2023, the foundation Muuseumikaart began operating, providing culture enthusiasts with a simpler way to visit various museums located in Estonia. Purchasers of the innovative Museum Card can visit over 100 museums and 500 exhibitions an unlimited number of times within a year.

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    • 12.09.2022

      TGS Baltic advised on the sale of shares between esteemed Estonian companies

      The TGS Baltic team advised Sulev Sisask, the majority shareholder of Ordi AS, one of the oldest IT hardware companies in Estonia, on the sale of shares to Klick Eesti AS, the process that lasted for two months was led by Sander Kärson, the managing partner at TGS Baltic.

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    • 26.04.2022

      Sunly acquired Polish solar power developer Alseva

      TGS Baltic senior associates Sander Kärson, Maris Vutt, and Kärt Raud advised the renewable energy producer Sunly on its acquisition of a 100% holding in the Polish solar power business Alseva Group.

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    • 01.02.2022

      TGS Baltic advised BaltCap on the sale of BPT Real Estate, one of the largest property management companies in the Baltics, to Newsec

      TGS Baltic advised BaltCap, the largest private equity investor in the Baltic region, selling one of the largest property management companies in the Baltics – BPT Real Estate.

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    • 16.07.2021

      We advised Nõo Lihatööstus on repurchase of 29% holding

      TGS Baltic’s partners Leonid Tolstov, Kadri Kallas, Helmut Pikmets and associate Maris Vutt advised Nõo Lihatööstus – Estonia’s largest enterprise operated with local capital – on the repurchase of a 29% holding from a competitor with whom they have been engaged in several disputes over the years.

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    • 01.07.2021

      TGS Baltic again represented successfully La Campana General Trading LLC, a company of Dubai

      TGS Baltic again represented successfully La Campana General Trading LLC, a company of Dubai, in a EUR 325,000 dispute against Cryotech Nordic AS regarding claims arising from an exclusive distribution agreement.

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    • 09.02.2021

      TGS Baltic Successfully Represented Toomas Tamm, the Former Owner of Kiviõli Keemiatööstus, In a Dispute That Concerned a Claim Arising From a Guarantee Issued by AP-Terminaal

      We successfully represented entrepreneur Toomas Tamm, the former owner of Kiviõli Keemiatööstus, which deals with oil shale extraction and production of shale oil, thermal energy, and power, in a dispute that concerned a claim arising from a guarantee issued by defendant OÜ AP-Terminaal.

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    • 02.02.2021

      TGS Baltic Successfully Represented Dubai Company La Campana General Trading in Dispute Against Cryotech Nordic

      TGS Baltic successfully represented La Campana General Trading LLC, a company of Dubai, in a dispute against Cryotech Nordic AS regarding claims arising from an exclusive distribution agreement.

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    • 22.12.2020

      Successful representation of Pipes Building OÜ in a dispute against Narva Vesi AS

      We successfully represented Pipes Building OÜ, one of the largest companies providing services of water utilities construction in the region of Ida-Virumaa in a dispute against Narva Vesi AS, a municipal company belonging to the City of Narva. The case concerned payment for two building contracts and damages.

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  • CV

    Memberships

    2018
    Estonian Bar Association
    2013
    Estonian Law Students Union (EÕÜL)

    Career

    Since 2024
    Counsel at law firm TGS Baltic
    Since 03/2022
    Senior Associate, law firm TGS Baltic
    Since 02/2021
    Editor-in-Chief of Äripäeva teabevara
    Since 03/2020
    Adjunct Lecturer of Company Law, University of Tartu
    03/2020-2022
    Associate, law firm TGS Baltic
    2018–03/2020
    Lawyer, Associate, law firm Glikman Alvin LEVIN
    2016-2017
    Specialist and analyst in civil law, Supreme Court of Estonia
    2016
    Intern, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
    2015
    Intern, Supreme Court of Estonia
    2015
    Intern, Southern District Prosecutor's Office
    2014-2015
    Research Assistant, Faculty of Law at University of Tartu
    2014
    Advisor, Student Law Office at University of Tartu
    2014
    Intern, Tartu County Court

    Education

    Since 2018
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, pursuing PhD
    2017
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, MA
    2015
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, BA
    2015
    Salzburg Summer School of European Private Law

    Most important work

    Successful representation of AS KredEx Krediidikindlustus in relation to a claim of a beneficiary arising from a credit insurance contract for ordering payment from the client.

    Representation of Danske Bank A/S and the bank’s Estonian branch in various judicial proceedings against debtors in connection with claims under the law of obligations and property law arising from loan agreements and security agreements.

    Representation of AS Eesti Meedia (currently AS Postimees Grupp) and journalists in a claim for the refutation of inaccurate data and compensation of non-patrimonial damage.

    Representation of one of the largest media publications in Estonia in a claim for the refutation of inaccurate data and compensation of non-patrimonial damage.

    Successful representation of the largest airline in Finland Finnair Plc against Lennuabi OÜ. The action of the opposing party included the claim of 16 different persons in connection with the payment of flight compensation in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004. The action was denied in full.

    Representation of the management board of a public limited company which operates as one of the market leaders in its area of activity in contesting a resolution of the general meeting. The resolution was about imposing a special audit upon the company which did not comply with the statutory purpose of a special audit. The matter was complex and extraordinary since, usually, resolutions of general meetings are contested by shareholders. The valid Commercial Code stipulates the possibility of contestation for the management board of the company as well; however, it is very rarely used in practice.

    Successful representation of AS Saarte Liinid against a debtor in connection with a claim arising from an agreement entered into between the parties.

    Carrying out the cross-border merger of companies Deca Games OÜ and Deca Live Operations GmbH which provide support and consultation services for online video games and preparing necessary documentation. As a result of the merger, the client will continue its economic activity in Germany.
  • Publications