About
Rauno Ligi is a Partner at COBALT Estonia and Co-Head of the White-Collar Crime and Competition Disputes practice groups. Rauno stands out for his extensive experience in all types of proceedings. He is also a member of the Estonian Bar Association’s Procedural Law Committee.
Rauno has successfully defended clients in various misdemeanor and criminal proceedings involving, for example, alleged money laundering, bribery, fraud, embezzlement, prohibited cartel agreements, the application of sanctions, and other economic crimes. For instance, he successfully defended Swedbank in a criminal money laundering case based on unfounded suspicions.
Rauno has extensive experience advising clients on conducting internal investigations, initiating criminal proceedings, and filing claims against wrongdoers. For example, he has represented clients in filing various civil claims and initiating criminal cases where the opposing party used complex schemes and frontmen, with claims reaching up to 9 million euros. He also provides training for clients on how to prevent abuses and how to act in different types of proceedings.
Rauno has successfully represented clients in a wide range of competition law disputes. He has acted for clients in various proceedings before the Competition Authority, in civil courts when filing claims, and in administrative courts when lodging appeals. He has been involved in several precedent-setting court cases concerning the abuse of a dominant market position. Additionally, he has defended clients in state supervision proceedings and misdemeanour cases related to prohibited agreements, both during pre-trial investigations and in court.
Rauno has practiced at the General Court of the European Union and has diverse experience advising clients on various EU law matters. For example, he has represented a client in a claim for damages against the state for breaches of EU law, in which the damages amounted to 11 million euros.
In addition, Rauno has extensive experience in handling complex commercial disputes, advising financial institutions in various proceedings, and representing companies in disputes concerning energy and environmental law.
Practice
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Competition
- Competition Law Disputes
- Corporate Disputes
- Data Protection & Technology, Media and Cryptocurrency Disputes
- EU Law
- Energy Law Disputes
- Environmental Law Disputes
- European Union Law Disputes
- Intellectual Property & Pharma Disputes
- Internal Investigations
- Litigation
- Other Civil and Commercial Disputes
- Public Administrative, Constitutional & Tax Disputes
- Restructuring & Insolvency
- Transport Disputes
- White Collar Crime
- EU and Competition – Leading Associate, The Legal 500 2025
- EU and Competition – Rising Star, The Legal 500 2024
- EU and Competition – Next Generation Lawyer, The Legal 500 2019
Languages
- Estonian, English, French
Membership & education
- Procedural Law Committee of the Estonian Bar Association (2024)
- Estonian Bar Association (2010)
- Master of Arts, University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Estonia (2009)
- Université de Savoie, France (2007-2008)
