Experts / Jesse Kivisaari

Jesse Kivisaari

Partner / Estonia

About

Jesse Kivisaari is a Partner at COBALT Estonia, leading the Estonian Defence and Security industries and the firm’s Finnish Desk. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate law matters. With extensive experience in cross-border business activities, Jesse focuses on multi-jurisdictional projects, especially the ones connecting Finland and the Baltics, leveraging his native Finnish language skills and deep understanding of the legal and cultural aspects of both regions.

Jesse’s expertise spans a wide range of industries. His work reflects a strong commitment to guiding clients through intricate cross-border transactions and legal processes. With his unique combination of legal expertise, defence and security knowledge, cultural insight, and cross-border focus, Jesse Kivisaari is a trusted advisor for navigating the complexities of international affairs.

A member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2015 and the Finnish-Estonian Chamber of Commerce since 2011, Jesse is also a reserve officer and a military enthusiast. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Law from the University of Tartu and has completed EEA exams (equal to Bachelor of Laws degree) in the Universities of Helsinki and Turku, Finland.

Practice

Recognition

Experience

Publications

Commercial Corporate and M&A – Next Generation Partner, The legal 500 2025
Rising Star – IFLR1000 2024

Languages

Estonian, Finnish, English

Membership & education

EEA exams (equal to Bachelor of Laws degree), University of Helsinki and Turku, Faculty of Law, Finland (2018)
Master of Arts in Law (MA), University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Estonia (2015)
Finnish-Estonian Trade Association (2017)
Estonian Bar Association (2015)
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (B.A.), law, University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Estonia (2013)
Finnish-Estonian Chamber of Commerce (2011)

Aspo sells Leipurin to Lantmännen

Tele2 and Manulife IM-backed GCI partner to create the first pan-Baltic tower company

HANZA acquires Milectria Group to strengthen its position in the defence sector

RINA acquires Foreship

Hansab acquires majority stake in C2 SmartLight

European Lingerie Group acquires Baltika

HANZA AB acquires Finnish manufacturer Leden Group

Balti Autoosad AS acquires AS Automeister

KMG OÜ sells the road marking and traffic sign production businesses

Mirova invests in Baltic Storage Platform, a joint venture between Corsica Sole and Evecon

Nord Terminals AS acquires a sole shareholding in Nord Terminals Kotka Oy

The sole owner of Avalanche Laboratory OÜ sold the company to Insuro Technologies

The shareholders of TMB Element sells its shares to INHUS

Alexela acquired an additional 50% stake in Rohe Solution OY from Haminan Energia Oy

COBALT advises the majority shareholder of AS TOODE, Amber Trust II S.C.A. in the sale of its shares to Kingspan Group

COBALT advised international business group Indutrade on the acquisition of Labema Oy

COBALT advised the division of KMG OÜ

The majority shareholder of Hansab sells its majority stake to BaltCap

HellermannTyton acquires Estonian microduct manufacturing company Höhle

COBALT advises on the sale of HKScan’s Baltic business to AS Maag Grupp

COBALT advised Mirova Energy Transition 5 S.L.P on signing a contract with renewable energy developer Evecon OÜ

COBALT advised the sale of district heating network company VKG Soojus to Gren

COBALT advises AS PRFoods in selling its Swedish business

COBALT advised Asuntosalkku Oyj in the listing to the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland

COBALT advises MEKO on the acquisition of Koivunen

COBALT advised PRFoods regarding the sale of Heimon Kala Finnish business

COBALT advised Avena Nordic Grain on selling its grain trade business to Scandagra Group

COBALT advised Nordtreat on raising a 4 million euro investment

COBALT advised OÜ Mirrow Institute on acquiring a majority stake in DAS Group OÜ

COBALT advised Asteria Group on the acquisition of Nordic Label and Data Print

COBALT advises Acino shareholders on the sale of shares to ADQ

COBALT advised European Lingerie Group on raising a 27-million euro loan and investment

COBALT advised KMG Inseneriehitus and its shareholders in the acquisition of a 100% stake at YIT Teed

COBALT advises Entain in the public takeover offer for Enlabs AB

COBALT advised Alexela Logistics on acquiring a stake in Kotka Tank Storage Oy

COBALT advises Flügger on gaining the majority stake in Eskaro group

COBALT advised Fortumo on selling its business to Boku

COBALT advised Algeco on the acquisition of Wexus

COBALT advised Steel Import Finland Oy on acquiring FinEst Metallid

COBALT advised Baltic Agro Machinery OÜ on the sale of John Deere business

COBALT advised DA Agravis Machinery Holding on acquiring 55% of AS Konekesko Eesti

COBALT advises Zeppelin Group on acquiring Baltic Marine Contractors

COBALT advised Silberauto on selling its business in Estonia and Lithuania

COBALT advised shareholders of TMB Group on selling a major part of its business to Consolis

COBALT advised Scope on acquiring lingerie brand Miss Mary of Sweden

COBALT advised European Diversified Infrastructure Fund II on investment in Utilitas, leading private Estonian energy group

COBALT advised the sale and purchase transaction of Merit Tarkvara to Oslo-based Visma

COBALT advised subsidiary of Alexela Group in acquisition of a Finnish company Helon Kuumasinkitys

COBALT advised shareholders of TMB Group on selling its business to Consolis Group

COBALT advised BPM Capital on financing the acquisition of Corle

COBALT advised Karma Ventures on its investment in Minut, Inc

COBALT advised BPM Capital on financing the investment of Tahe Outdoors

COBALT advised Korona Invest Fund in an investment to the digital agency Wunder

COBALT advised venture capital funds Creathor Venture and MTIP (MedTech Innovation Partners) in financing the Finnish startup Blueprint Genetics.

COBALT advises DAVA Agravis Machinery Holding on acquisition of 45% of shares in Konekesko Ltd

COBALT advised AS TMB, one of the largest manufacturers of concrete elements in the Baltics, on its acquisition of Betonimestarit-Group

COBALT advised Hanza Holding AB in the Estonian aspects of the acquisition of Metalliset Group

COBALT advises RSA Insurance Group on the sale of businesses

COBALT represented AS Toode, an Estonian roof manufacturer, in an acquisition of a Finnish company, JanLa Oy

Cross-Jurisdictional Guide on the Implementation of the Mobility Directive in EU Member States

Brief Guide to Private Placement of Funds

Brief Guide on Conditions to Passporting Alternative Investment Funds within the EEA

Shortly about prohibition on business – when will it be applied?

We are driven by your recognition

"Very good technically, solution-oriented lawyer; cuts reliably straight to the commercially relevant points."

IFLR1000 2024

"The experts of COBALT are really easy-going and they are always available to assist. They are pragmatic and their advice is accurate. I very much like Jesse Kivisaari's approach and pragmatic advice and of course Sten Luiga is an excellent transactional lawyer and very well established in the Estonian market (private and public)."

Legal 500 2024, Commercial, Corporate and M&A

"Jesse Kivisaari has excellent language skills (both Finnish and English) and high-quality client service. Very bright and engaged."

Legal 500 2024, Commercial, Corporate and M&A

"Jesse Kivisaari is a clear communicator, with a good commercial touch and excellent language skills. He is a lawyer you can feel comfortable introducing to your clients as you know they are going to be well looked after."

Legal 500 2022, Commercial, Corporate and M&A