` Monika Koolmeister | COBALT
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Experts / Monika Koolmeister

Monika Koolmeister

Partner / Estonia
+372 665 1888

About

Monika Koolmeister is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Banking & Finance practice group in COBALT Estonia. In addition Monika co-leads the Banks and Financial Institutions industries.  She has a 15-year track record as a Banking & Finance attorney. Monika also has valuable experience from a leading commercial bank in Estonia, operating as Head of Compliance and member of the Extended Management Board. Monika has also been in charge of keeping good working relationships with the financial regulators – as Head of Compliance she has served as a contact person to the European Central Bank and the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority.

She has been a member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2004.

Practice

Recognition
CV
Experience
  • Banking, Finance and Capital Markets – Next Generation Partner, The Legal 500 2025
  • FinTech – Next Generation Partner, The Legal 500 2025
  • Banking & Finance – Band 4, Chambers Europe 2025
  • Banking & Finance – Rising Star Partner, IFLR1000 2024
  • Banking & Finance – Ranked Lawyer, Chambers Europe 2024
  • Banking, Finance, and Capital Markets/Fintech – Next Generation Partner, The Legal 500 2024
  • Banking, Finance, and Capital Markets – Rising Star, The Legal 500 2022

Languages

  • Estonian, English, German, Russian

Membership & education

  • Member of the Estonian Bar Association (2004)
  • Master of Laws (LL.M), with merit, London School of Economics & Political Science, United Kingdom (2008-2009)
  • Master of Laws (LL.M), magna cum laude, University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg), Germany (2004-2005)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Law / officially equivalent to M.A., University of Tartu (Tartu Ülikool), Faculty of Law, Estonia (1999-2003)
  • Exchange student, University of Latvia (Latvijas Universtitate), Latvia (2002)
  • Distance course Legislative Drafting for Democratic Social Change, University of Boston (2001-2002)
  • Summer university, University of Bremen (Universität Bremen), Germany (2000)

AS LHV Pank successfully defended its position in proceedings with the Financial Intelligence Unit

Inbank signs its first synthetic securitisation with the European Investment Bank Group

Coop Pank AS received an additional license for issuing covered bonds

BonVenture invests in Fairown, supporting EUR 5.7 million seed extension for German expansion

C.D Holding Internationale acquires a majority stake in Stebby OÜ

AS Terminal defends its rights in the liquid fuel market regarding violations committed by Olerex

COBALT successfully defends Swedbank in an alleged money laundering criminal case

Monemon AS received an e-money institution activity license from the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority

Binalyze raised 19 million dollars in a Series A financing round

COBALT advised Change Ventures on creating their €20M Fund III

COBALT advised Quickbyte Global in several aspects of the licensing process for renewal of a licence of a virtual currency service provider

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

COBALT advised Wise (TINV Europe AS) in several aspects of the licencing process for receipt of a licence of an investment firm

COBALT advised Fortumo in Press Council complaint

COBALT advised Swedbank on evaluating structural changes at the Baltic level

COBALT advised SEB life insurance undertakings on cross-border merger in the Baltics

COBALT advised Luminor, Nordea and DNB on closing transaction with Blackstone

COBALT advised Luminor on EUR 1 billion majority stake acquisition by Blackstone

We are driven by your recognition

"Monika is a very knowledgeable, experienced and well-connected lawyer. She is solution-oriented and keeps a close eye on industry developments."
Chambers Europe 2025, Banking and Finance
"Monika Koolmeister is exemplary in her work. She is thorough and delivers output in a swift manner.’
Legal 500 2024, Fintech
"Monika Koolmeister is very easy to talk with and has a strong knowledge of the law. She is very passionate about her work and thinks on her feet."
Legal 500 2024, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets
"The collaboration with Monika is excellent: she is always readily available to provide her know-how, advice and solutions to the matters we have at hand. She is undoubtedly an expert in her field and brings value to any of the tasks we tackle.“
Chambers Fintech Guide 2024
"She is always readily available to provide her know-how, advice and solutions to the matters at hand."
Chambers Europe 2024, Banking and Finance
"Monika has delivered us a team which is very well put together and covers all our needs. Her overview of the case and the professional manner in which she advises is insuperable."
Chambers Fintech Guide 2024
"Monika is very knowledgeable in the area of EU and Estonia laws for digital and crypto assets. She is not only an expert on legal questions, but also a very business oriented person who can understand how a start-up operates and the difficulties and challenges that it faces every day."
IFLR1000, 2023