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.

Publications
Recognitions
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition/Antitrust, Latvia office
“COBALT's ability to cover the Baltics is convenient. The lawyers are practical and offer good practical advice, they are good at summarising and know the local authority well. The team is attentive to detail, and has solid knowledge of Latvian and EU case law.”
Legal 500 2024, EU and Competition, Latvia office
“Casefile management is very organised and easy to follow.”
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition and Antitrust, Estonia office
"I appreciate that COBALT provide me with concise, to-the-point opinions, without overly lengthy analysis."
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition and Antitrust, Estonia office
"The lawyers are open-minded, know how to work with data, and help to frame our input and the information we give to the authorities."
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition and Antitrust, Lithuania office
“I have always received well-argued answers to our questions.”
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition and Antitrust, Lithuania office
“The lawyers solve complex legal issues competently, efficiently and within the agreed time.”
Legal 500 2024, EU and Competition, Lithuania office
"Qualified competition law experts who understand business, its processes, do tasks on time, and are available."
Legal 500 2024, EU and Competition, Lithuania office
"Professionals in their field, responsibly performing their work, offering concrete solutions. They listen, pay attention, delve into each question."
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition and Antitrust, Lithuania office
“I particularly enjoy the project management of COBALT.”
Chambers Europe Awards 2024
According to Chambers, COBALT is a clear market leader in the Baltics. It is unsurpassed in its number of rankings and unrivalled in its number of top-tier departments. Furthermore, the law firm has more top-ranked practitioners than any other firm in the region. This Baltic powerhouse consistently acts on the largest transactions and disputes across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Chambers Europe 2023, Competition and Antitrust, Lithuania office
"COBALT attorneys are able to provide clear guidance in complex antitrust matters, providing both the relevant legal framework and the practical guidance taking into account local laws and authority practices."
Legal 500 2023, EU and Competition, Lithuania office
"They are on top of their specialisation and efficient in providing this service."
Chambers Europe 2023, Competition / Antitrust, Latvia office
"COBALT delivers a high standard of work. There is no question that the bench strength is good."
Chambers Europe 2022, Competition/Antitrust, Latvia office
One client lauds COBALT as "a big law firm with versatile practitioners with different areas of expertise," further highlighting: "It is very good internationally".
The Legal 500 2021, EU and competition, Latvia office
"The team is highly knowledgeable and dedicated to its mission to support clients. The team maintains exceptional ethical standards, keeping a humble and positive attitude. They also are keen to learn about the client’s business to offer better service. The managing partners are very well connected in the country and understand the legal, political and business aspects of cases."
Chambers Europe 2021, Competition/Antitrust, Latvia office
A client enthuses that the team's "ability to explain matters in a business and commercial context is just unsurpassed."
Chambers and Partners 2021, Competition, Estonia
An impressed client endorses the "business-oriented" team, who are "strong on the subject matter and up to date on developments in the market," going on to add: "Another quality that stands out is their proactivity, in giving heads up to the clients on matters which may interest them."
Chambers Europe 2018, Estonia office
Clients highlight "business values and expertise on state tendering law disputes."
Chambers Europe 2015, Latvia office
“Leading firm with a well-established group of competition law practitioners. Held in high regard for its representation of clients at European Commission level.”
Chambers Europe 2015, Latvia office
“[COBALT] maintains a particularly strong reputation for its work regarding dominance, merger clearance and compliance cases.”
The Legal 500 2015, Latvia office
“Lauded for its ‘excellent value for money and ability to deliver on time in spite of complexities’ […].”