Sander Kärson

Sander Kärson

Managing Partner
Co-Head of M&A Practice Group
Tallinn, Estonia

Reputable international legal directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 recommend Sander Kärson as a Corporate and M&A expert saying he is "solution-oriented" and has the ability to "put things into perspective and foresee problems that might arise in everyday business and tackle them all in great detail".

 Recommended Lawyer. Sander Leonid Peeter Chirag Mari Liis   chambers europe 44    chambers global 44 v2   iflr 44

  • About

    Sander Kärson, Managing Partner and a co-heading the M&A practice, is involved in most of the firm’s transactional work, while his special focus is on IT and pharmaceuticals. In addition to transactional work, he often advises both local and foreign investors regarding their cross-border operations.

    Sander is a member of the Ministry of Justice’s corporate law audit committee that has been set up to review all legislation regulating the corporate/commercial field. Also, he co-authored the suretyship and guarantee sections’ commentaries on the General Part of the Law of Obligations Act. He teaches contract law, company law and M&A in the University of Tartu, the main legal education provider in Estonia.

  • Major Projects
    • 12.09.2023

      TGS Baltic advised Värska Originaal, the leading mineral water producer in Estonia, on a buyout of its minority shareholders and refinancing of the company

      TGS Baltic acted as a legal adviser to Värska Originaal and its shareholders. Our team advised on negotiating the terms of the transaction in which the client acquired additional shares of Värska Originaal.

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    • 02.06.2023

      TGS Baltic advised the Estonian national postal service provider Eesti Post (Omniva) on the purchase of certain assets from Parcelsea.

      TGS Baltic advised the Estonian national postal service provider Eesti Post (Omniva) on the purchase of certain assets (network of smart mailboxes and related IP rights) from Parcelsea (Estonian based startup concentrating on developing innovative delivery solutions). TGS Baltic advised the client during the entire transaction, from assisting the client during due diligence exercise until drafting, negotiating and closing of the transaction documents.

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    • 02.06.2023

      TGS advised shareholders of Eesti Digiraamatute Keskus (EDRK) on the sale of a minority stake in EDRK to PE fund BaltCap

      EDRK is the absolute market leader in digitalizing books in Estonia. TGS advised the client during the negotiating the transaction documents and closing the transaction.

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    • 01.06.2023

      TGS Baltic advised the shareholders of one of the oldest and most well-known furniture manufacturers Standard on the sale of their shares to a strategic investor Green Estonia.

      TGS Baltic advised the client during the entire transaction, from assisting the clients during the due diligence exercise (conducted by the Buyer) until negotiation and finalisation of the transaction documents.

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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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    • 21.09.2022

      TGS Baltic advised on a EUR 11.6 million investment transaction in Estonia

      TGS Baltic advised the venture capital fund Inventure on leading the financing round by which EUR 11.6 million was raised for the startup Jobbatical, which provides relocation and immigration services for international companies.

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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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    • 10.04.2022

      TGS Baltic advised LHV Pension Funds on the acquisition of the first office building in Estonia designed according to the Green Building concept

      TGS Baltic experts advised LHV Varahaldus AS which manages LHV Pension Funds on acquiring the registered immovable located at Sõpruse pst 157, Tallinn, Estonia.

      Varahalduse Kinnisvarainvesteering 004 OÜ, which belongs to LHV Varahaldus AS, entered into a contract with OÜ Sõpruse 157 to acquire the registered immovable located at Sõpruse pst 157. The owner of Varahalduse Kinnisvarainvesteering 004 OÜ is LHV Group, which is listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange, through LHV Varahaldus.

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    • 17.03.2022

      Cybernetica sells its digital air traffic management tower technology to Adacel

      TGS Baltic advised Cybernetica on selling their digital air traffic management tower technology to Adacel, a global leader in providing air traffic management technology and services.

       

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    • 20.09.2021

      We advised LHV pension funds on acquiring a production building from Ensko Ensek AS

      The purpose of the transaction was to grow the rental property portfolio of LHV pension funds, managed by LHV Asset Management, incl. to increase the percentage of storage and industrial area in the current property portfolio. 

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    • 10.09.2021

      TGS Baltic advised Estateguru on raising series A round investment of EUR 5.8M

      Founded in 2013, Estateguru is the leading Pan-European marketplace that facilitates property-backed loans for developers/SMEs and investment opportunities for their global investor base. 

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    • 10.05.2021

      We advised FitSphere on raising seed-round investment from various investors

      TGS Baltic drafted the relevant transaction documents and advised the client on the whole process from negotiating the shareholders’ agreement with the lead investor to finalising the capital raising.

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    • 22.01.2021

      We Advised One of Baltics’ Largest Real Estate Companies Kapitel on Acquisition of 50% Holding in Logistics Property Company Nordassets

      The main area of activity of Nordassets is development, acquisition, management and leasing of industrial property. The enterprise owns logistics centres with approximately 59,000 m² space for rent and a registered immovable with a detailed plan in Rae Rural Municipality in Harju County, the main lessee of which is Smarten Logistics. The transaction will take effect after obtaining approval from the Estonian Competition Authority.

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    • 21.12.2020

      TGS Baltic advised the sale of one of the newest and most modern fuel terminals in Estonia

      We advised the sale of AS Kroodi Terminal, one of the newest and most modern fuel terminals in Estonia and MK Kamion OÜ, a fuel wholesaler, to Terminal Oil OÜ.

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    • 29.10.2020

      TGS Baltic Latvia and Estonia provided legal support to joint global co-ordinators and joint bookrunners with respect to IPO of 20,000,000 shares of AB “Ignitis grupė”, as part of which EUR 450 million were raised.

      TGS Baltic Latvia and Estonia provided legal support to joint global co-ordinators and joint bookrunners with respect to the initial public offering (IPO) of 20,000,000 shares of AB “Ignitis grupė”, a leading utility and renewable energy company in the Baltics, as part of which the company raised capital in the amount of 450 million euros.

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    • 30.09.2020

      We advised Estateguru’s equity fundraising campaign on Seedrs

      TGS Baltic advised Estateguru’s equity fundraising campaign on Seedrs, an equity crowdfunding platform based in London, UK, raising approximately EUR 900,000 from more than 1,100 Seedrs’ investors, accompanied by another investment of EUR 100,000 from Estonia and converting loans from previous rounds into the equity of the company.

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    • 02.06.2020

      TGS Baltic advised international company Iron Mountain Inc., which provides worldwide services on data and records management

      Our team have provided an overview of the time limits for the preservation of documents, and active obligations regarding the submission of documents to public authorities.

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    • 09.04.2020

      TGS Baltic advised a producer of precast concrete products AS Framm on the acquisition of AS Lasbet Tootmine, an undertaking operating in the same field

      With the help of TGS Baltic team, a producer of concrete elements and products AS Framm entered into a transaction by which it acquired an undertaking operating in the same field AS Lasbet Tootmine, making AS Framm the largest producer of concrete elements and products in Estonia.

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    • 20.01.2020

      TGS Baltic advised client in acquiring headquarter of Danske Bank

      Our team advised real estate company KEK Arendus OÜ belonging to Rondam Group, on buying the office building of the branch of  Danske Bank A/S located in Tallinn city centre and on concluding a lease contract with the current user of the building branch of Danske Bank A/S. TGS Baltic helped the client in conducting negotiations regarding transaction documents (incl. contract of sale and lease contract) and on carrying out merger clearance.

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    • 31.12.2019

      TGS Baltic advised Veho on selling its subsidiary

      TGS Baltic advised the largest car dealership in the Scandinavian and Baltic region Veho on selling its subsidiary Veho Eesti AS. In addition, we advised in the sale of two registered immovables where Veho car show rooms operate. Established in 1992, Veho Eesti was, until now, engaged in import of Citroën passenger cars and utility vehicles and retail sale of Honda.

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    • 10.11.2019

      TGS Baltic advised the shareholders of OÜ Eesti Digiraamatute Keskus in selling a majority shareholding to a leading Russian publisher OOO “LITRES”

      TGS Baltic advised the shareholders of OÜ Eesti Digiraamatute Keskus in selling a majority shareholding in OÜ Eesti Digiraamatute Keskus to OOO “LITRES”, a leading Russian publisher as well as no. 1 ebook distributor and seller in Russia.

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    • 24.10.2019

      TGS Baltic advised Global Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd in purchasing the shares of Nortire OÜ

      TGS Baltic advised Global Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd in purchasing the shares of Nortire OÜ, a leading distributor of speciality tires in the Baltics, Belarus and Western Russia.

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    • 10.04.2019

      Advising Ares Management regarding USD 120 million financing agreement with Teligent

      TGS Baltic's team, led by Partner Sander Kärson, advised Ares Management, a global alternative asset manager, on Estonian law matters for a USD 120 million financing agreement with Teligent, Inc., a U.S. Nasdaq-listed specialty generic pharmaceutical company active in the United States, Canada and Estonia.

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    • 07.02.2019

      Advising Proplastik on selling its business to Vink Group

      TGS Baltic’s cross-border M&A team led by partner Sander Kärson advised the owners of Proplastik in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in selling their business to Europe's largest plastic wholesaler Vink Group.

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    • 30.10.2018

      Advising Astel Group on acquiring 95% ownership in Rakvere Metsamajand

      Estonian M&A team of TGS Baltic led by partner Sander Kärson advised Astel Group on acquiring 95% ownership in the oldest timber log houses manufacturer in the Baltics, Rakvere Metsamajand (acting under the trademark Nordic Timber Homes).

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    • 21.08.2018

      Advising Ermitažas in acquiring Bauhof

      TGS Baltic advised UAB Ermitažas, a major Lithuanian chain offering finishing goods, gardening items, and construction materials, in the acquisition of the Estonian company Bauhof, which is a leader in the same sector. After the acquisition UAB Ermitažas became the third largest merchant of construction materials and household items in the Baltics.

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    • 02.04.2018

      Advising Eesti Ühistukapital in acquiring 5% ownership in Coop Pank from Inbank

      Inbank and Eesti Ühistukapital signed an agreement, as a result of which Eesti Ühistukapital will acquire 5% of Coop Pank's shares from Inbank.

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    • 16.03.2018

      Euroapteek completed the transaction to acquire Ülikooli Apteek pharmacy network

      Estonian M&A team of TGS Baltic led by partners Kadri Kallas and Sander Kärson advised Euroapteek on the acquisition of Ülikooli Apteek pharmacy chain in Estonia.

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    • 28.02.2018

      Advising EstateGuru in funding its largest ever P2P loan and entering the Finnish market

      TGS Baltic advised property lender EstateGuru in a cross-border financing transaction where EstateGuru provided a 1,6 MEUR loan to Finnish based printing house Libris Oy for purchasing real estate. With funding the platform’s largest ever loan in the country’s capital, the peer-to-peer platform entered in Finnish market.

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    • 01.02.2018

      Advising Euroapteek on the acquisition of Ülikooli Apteek pharmacy chain in Estonia

      Estonian M&A team of TGS Baltic led by partners Kadri Kallas and Sander Kärson advised Euroapteek, part of the Nordic and Central and Eastern Europe’s leading pharmacy group Euroapotheca, on the acquisition of Ülikooli Apteek pharmacy chain in Estonia, after which Euroapteek integrated 13 Ülikooli Apteek branded pharmacies to its network of 73 pharmacies.

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    • 10.07.2017

      Advising LHV Pension Funds on investing into Lithuanian based cable TV and internet services provider Cgates

      The cross-border team at TGS Baltic led by associate partner Kadri Kallas (Estonia) advised one of the largest Baltic pension fund managers LHV Pension Funds on investing in Cgates, a leading Lithuanian provider of cable television and internet services, together with consortium partners Livonia Partners, a pan-Baltic private equity firm, and Ambient Sound Investments.

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    • 07.03.2017

      Advising Citypark Eesti in selling its shares to Modus Group

      The firm’s M&A team led by associate partner Kadri Kallas advised Citypark Eesti, one of the largest parking services providers in Estonia, on selling its shares to a Stova which belongs to the Lithuanian headquartered Modus Group.

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    • 29.11.2016

      Advising Cybernetica on selling navigation systems business unit to a Canadian corporation

      The firm’s M&A team led by associate partner Sander Kärson advised Cybernetica in selling its navigation systems business unit, including EKTA branded products and contracts, to Carmanah Technologies Corporation.

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    • 21.11.2016

      Advising AK Systems in selling IT services business to Telia Estonia

      The firm’s M&A team led by associate partner Sander Kärson advised IT company AK Systems in selling its IT services business to the largest IT and telecom company in Estonia, Telia Estonia.

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    • 29.09.2016

      Advising Viru Haigla on the acquisition of Karell Kiirabi

      The firm’s M&A team led by associate partner Sander Kärson advised the strategic investor Viru Haigla on the acquisition of Karell Kiirabi from U.S. Invest.

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    • 19.09.2016

      Advising the sale of GoAdventure to Avia Solutions Group

      The firm’s M&A team led by associate partner Sander Kärson advised Avia Solutions Group, a Lithuanian capital-based aviation holding corporation listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, on the acquisition of the Estonian tour operator GoAdventure.

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    • 19.06.2014

      Advising Cybernetica on entering into cooperation agreement with Smartmatic

      The firm's corporate law team has advised Cybernetica, the Estonian R&D lab that built the original Internet voting system used in Estonia, on entering into a cooperation agreement with Smartmatic, the leading international company producing automated election systems.

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    • 05.06.2014

      Advising the sale of Cinamon cinema chain

      The firm's M&A team advised on the sale of shares in the Cinamon Group of companies from GILD Arbitrage venture capital fund to DLT Capital.

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    • 23.04.2014

      Advising Pigu, the largest e-commerce company in the Baltics, on acquiring DLB e-shops

      The firm's M&A team advised Pigu, the largest e-commerce company in the Baltics, on the acquisition of DLB e-shop operating in Estonia and Finland.

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    • 16.01.2014

      Advising Cloutex that raised 500 000 EUR in seed round funding

      The firm's corporate law team led by Sander Kärson has advised Cloutex, an Estonian startup that has raised nearly half a million euros from private and corporate investors in order to engage in product development and expand into the U.S.

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    • 11.11.2013

      Advising Spark Asset Management on the sale of Konesko shares to Konecranes Finance

      The firm’s M&A team, led by partner Ants Mailend, represented Spark Asset Management in the process of selling its shares in Konesko, a mechanical engineering company, to Konecranes Finance, a leading company in the global lifting business.

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    • 18.10.2013

      Advising Europcar Baltic master franchise holder in selling its shares to Hansa Grupp

      The firm’s M&A team lead by Partner Ants Mailend and Senior Associate Sander Kärson advised the shareholders of Baltic Mobility, Europcar master franchise holder in the Baltics, in selling its shares to an Estonian transportation group Hansa Grupp.

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    • Advising Prima Pet Premium on the acquisition of Pandivere L.T.

      Advising Finnish pet food producer Prima Pet Premium Oy on the LDD and acquisition of Estonian pet food production factory Pandivere L.T.

    • Advising on the sale of shares in the Cinamon Group of companies

      Advising on the sale of shares in the Cinamon Group of companies, owning multiple cinemas in the Baltics, from the GILD Arbitrage venture capital fund to DLT Capital.

    • Advising MSD Estonia regarding the merger between Merck Sharp & Dohme and Schering Plough.

      Advising MSD Estonia on local legal aspects in connection with the merger between Merck Sharp & Dohme and Schering Plough.

    • Advising Kevelt in selling its IP rights to oncologic drug candidate Virexxa to Xenetic Biosciences

      Advising pharmaceuticals producer Kevelt, a subsidiary of MSE listed company, in selling its IP rights to oncologic drug candidate Virexxa to a listed US biopharmaceuticals company Xenetic Biosciences in the first and only transaction of its kind in Estonia.

  • CV

    Memberships

    2009
    Estonian Bar Association

    Professional career

    Since 2020
    Managing Partner (Estonia), law firm TGS Baltic
    2018
    Partner, law firm TGS Baltic
    2017–2018
    Associate Partner, law firm TGS Baltic (formerly Varul)
    2016–2017
    Associate Partner, law firm Varul
    2013–2016
    Senior Associate, law firm Varul
    2011–2012
    Associate, law firm Raidla Ellex
    2011
    Associate, law firm Sorainen
    2009–2010
    Associate, law firm Glimstedt
    2007–2009
    Junior Associate, law firm Glimstedt
    Since 2007
    Supervisor of Seminars, Institute of Private Law, University of Tartu
    2006–2007
    Advisor, Ministry of Justice, Legislative Policy Department, Private Law Division
    2006
    Intern, law firm Glimstedt
    2006
    Intern, Estonian Ministry of Justice
    2006
    Intern, law firm Glikman, Alvin & Partnerid

    Education

    Since 2009
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, pursuing PhD
    2010
    International Summer University “Summer Course on Mergers & Acquisitions”, School of Tax and Business Law, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)
    2008
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, MA
    2005
    Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Erasmus Student Exchange Program)
    2004
    University of Salzburg, summer program on private international law
    2004
    University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, BA
    2001–2002
    Estonian Business School, Public Administration
  • Publications