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Banks and Financial Institutions

Our clientele includes a wide range of companies operating in the financial sector: both local and international credit institutions, credit providers, investment firms, fund managers, funds, e-money institutions, payment institutions, insurance providers, as well as innovative Fintech companies entering the market.

Our team, dedicated to the needs of the financial sector, advises clients on all industry-specific legal matters to ensure the success of financial sector companies in serving their clients and achieving their business objectives, including:

Starting operations

  • Establishing and a financial e institution
  • Licensing , including those with national banks, European Central Bank, as well as cross-border service provision issues
  • Creating internal policies and processes

Financing

  • Secured and unsecured loans, including syndicated loans
  • Initial public offerings (IPO’s) and stock market listings
  • Bond issuances
  • Issuance of covered bonds
  • Financing of FinTech companies by angel investors and venture capital funds
  • Shareholder loans
  • Raising capital through securitization

Supporting core business operations

  • Financial sector client agreements and product terms and conditions, including investment services
  • Establishing and implementing anti-money laundering and international sanctions compliance systems
  • Cross-border offering issues related to products and instruments
  • Regulatory legal analyses, including classification of products/services, whether they require a license/registration, and the applicable conditions
  • Issues related to operating in the securities market
  • Factoring and leasing solutions
  • Data protection and IT governance matters

Transactions, including business expansion and restructuring

  • Complex international restructurings, mergers, divisions, and branch establishments
  • Acquisitions of stakes in financial sector companies, including necessary background analyses (due diligence), transaction documentation, and related regulatory approvals

Proceedings

  • Supervisory relationships (including administrative and misdemeanour proceedings, remote and on-site inspections)
  • Court disputes and criminal proceedings
Experts
Deals & cases
Publications
Recognitions
"All the partners at COBALT are super hands-on. They review everything and ensure nothing is missed. In my opinion, they are probably the best banking team in Estonia."
Chambers Europe 2026, Banking & Finance, Estonia office
"As a client, I value our partner law firm for their exceptional professionalism, strategic insight, and collaborative approach. Their team consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of both legal complexities and the practical realities of our business environment. What sets them apart is their ability to combine legal precision with a pragmatic mindset, which makes their advice not only legally sound but also actionable."
Legal 500 2026, Banking, finance and capital markets, Estonia office
“The COBALT team's practical knowledge is exceptional, and it maintains a client-oriented culture.
Chambers Europe 2026, Banking & Finance, Latvia office
COBALT is the most experienced team in the market and provides high-quality output.
Chambers Europe 2026, Banking & Finance, Latvia office