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State Aid

State aid regulations mark out boundaries for state and municipal support for businesses. These rules aim to prevent the misuse of public funds and the distortion of competition. Illegal state aid must be repaid; therefore, businesses that receive support and public authorities must recognise state aid and ensure its compatibility with the EU internal market.

Our team of experienced experts successfully guides clients through the various stages of state aid control procedures, starting with the planning of a potential state aid measure or programme or applying for state aid, and ending with the representation of clients in formal and informal investigations by the European Commission as well as in private enforcement state aid cases before national courts.

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+372 512 0573

+371 2632 8671

Rasa Zaščiurinskaitė (lt)

Partner

+370 655 38008

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Estonia

Latvia

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Managing Associate (ee)

Justinas Šileika

Specialist Counsel (lt)

Mārtiņš Tarlaps

Specialist Counsel (lv)

Kristīne Rāviņa

Senior Associate (lv)

Kristo Pullerits

Associate (ee)

Austėja Nevulytė

Assistant Lawyer (lt)

Simona Liuimienė

Managing Associate (lt)

Povilas Lekarauskas

Assistant Lawyer (lt)

Emilija Kuncytė

Assistant Lawyer (lt)

Michelle Kiik

Assistant Lawyer (ee)

COBALT conducted an analysis which found no unlawful state aid in State Forest Management Centre`s (RMK) large contracts

2025 - 03 - 06

No tenfold increase in land rent charged to the Riga Olympic Sports Centre

2024 - 11 - 14

Latvijas Nacionālais sporta centrs receives additional funding to build a team sports hall in Riga

2023 - 09 - 25

COBALT advises Neo Performance Materials Inc. upon development of magnet manufacturing plant in Estonia

2022 - 11 - 24

Estonia: Salary subsidies extended to March (2021 - 03 - 09)

COVID-19 in Latvia: FAQs by taxpayers (2021 - 02 - 25)

COVID-19 Estonia: Coronavirus in employment relations – payment of salary subsidies extended, employees return to workplaces (2020 - 06 - 01)

COVID-19 in Latvia: Law on measures for the management of national emergency and its consequences, state financial aid (2020 - 05 - 11)

COVID-19 in Estonia: The coronavirus in employment relations & taxes – April update (2020 - 04 - 03)

COVID-19 in the Baltics: What State measures are available or are being planned for your company in each of the Baltic States? (2020 - 03 - 25)

COVID-19 in Estonia: The coronavirus in employment relations & taxes – March 20 update (2020 - 03 - 20)

COVID-19 in the Baltics: State aid – how can the State help companies affected by COVID-19? (2020 - 03 - 17)

Specialist Counsel Kadri Matteus: the private sector could provide more innovative solutions to solve Estonia’s problems (2019 - 09 - 04)

The Competitive Dialog in Lithuania (2018 - 02 - 22)

The Principle of Effectiveness in Lithuanian Public Procurement Law: this way or no way (2016 - 07 - 25)

The government plans to implement a classification system for construction undertakings in public procurements (2016 - 01 - 11)

The New Public Procurement Directive Clarifies the Takeover of Public Contracts (2014 - 06 - 18)

Winds of Change in Public Procurement Law (2014 - 04 - 02)

Enforcement of EU State Aid Law at National Level 2010. Latvia chapter (2010 - 01 - 04)

Procurement and “Shadow Directors” in the State Companies (2009 - 11 - 26)

"Cobalt’s EU and competition practice stands out for its combination of deep technical expertise and pragmatic, commercially informed advice. What makes this team unique is its ability to navigate complex EU competition law issues while maintaining a clear focus on clients’ business objectives. The lawyers bring not only a thorough understanding of regulatory and competition frameworks, but also a practical sense of how legal strategies align with broader commercial and policy considerations."

Legal 500 2026, EU and Competition, Estonia office

"COBALT provides not just legal analysis but actionable recommendations. The team anticipates potential risks and regulatory changes, allowing us to plan strategically rather than reactively."

Chambers Europe 2026, Competition/Antitrust, Estonia office

“COBALT is my first choice in Riga. We like the team very much. The lawyers respond quickly and are open minded and super flexible. The team provides perfect responses when the situation requires that.”

Chambers Europe 2025, Competition/Antitrust, Latvia office

"COBALT Estonia has one of the strongest EU and competition teams in the country. Commercially sound legal advice."

Legal 500 2025, EU and Competition, Estonia office