Table of Contents
Updated on 24.04.2024
Over the years, we have been recommended and nominated amongst the best Estonian law firms. Here is a summary of our achievements through the years.
Hedman achieves multiple category rankings in the Legal 500’s 2024 Guide
We have been recognised yet again as a leading law firm in The Legal 500’s 2024 Guide, securing top rankings across multiple practice areas. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to excellence in the legal field, both in Estonia and internationally, and marks another milestone in our journey of providing top-tier legal services.
In Commercial, Corporate, and M&A, we demonstrated our prowess by advising significant transactions such as Planet42’s $18 million equity raise to fuel its global expansion, and Elevator Ventures’ investment in Bob W, a tech-driven hospitality provider. Under the leadership of Merlin Seeman, with key attorneys Toomas Seppel, Kati Pino, and Taavi Kõiv we continue to navigate complex transactions that have a profound impact on the market.
Our Fintech practice received a Tier 2 ranking, reflecting our pivotal role in shaping industry-leading transactions and legal frameworks. Noteworthy projects include advising the establishment of a Decentralized Autonomous Organisation (DAO) for Unlockd and assisting Striga with obtaining a virtual currency services license, showcasing our innovative legal solutions in the fintech sector.
In IP, IT, and Telecoms, we continued our support for technology startups, achieving a Tier 2 ranking. Notable engagements include advising UniTartu Ventures on an intellectual property transfer to UP Catalyst, a sustainable carbon material producer, and advising MTÜ Filmi Esmasalvestuse Tootjate Ühing, a collective representation organisation for film producers, in its negotiations with telecommunication companies to conclude license agreements for the respective rights. Our work across the Baltics and Scandinavia cements our reputation as experts in IP strategy, data protection, and trademark law.
The continued recognition by The Legal 500 is a testament to our team’s hard work and the trust our clients place in us.
Hedman ranked among the best in Chambers Europe Guide 2024
We are delighted to announce our recognition in the Chambers Europe Guide 2024 in Estonia. We have been ranked in the Intellectual Property practice area as Band 3, reflecting our strong expertise and experience in advising clients on intellectual property matters.
Chambers and Partners, a prestigious global legal directory, acknowledged Hedman Law Firm’s skillfulness in handling IP transfers, trademark disputes, licensing matters, and contractual agreements. The guide highlighted our popularity among media clients and startup companies, particularly in the technology sector, while also recognising our client-centric approach.
Additionally, our partner Toomas Seppel was individually ranked in Band 3 for his diverse expertise in trademark and copyright-related disputes, licensing issues, contractual negotiations, and IP transfers. As one of our clients shared with Chambers, “Working with Toomas Seppel is fruitful. He explains the work very well to those who do not know the law.”
We are grateful to our clients for their trust and to Chambers and Partners for this esteemed recognition. This achievement motivates us to continue providing high-quality legal services and innovative solutions to our clients in Estonia and beyond.
Hedman Law Firm earns top ranking in Chambers’ FinTech Guide 2024
We have once again been ranked in Band 2 for FinTech Legal in Estonia by Chambers and Partners, a leading global legal directory. This recognition reflects our strong expertise and experience in advising FinTech clients on various aspects of their business, especially in the emerging fields of cryptocurrency and decentralised finance (DeFi).
Our FinTech team, led by partner Toomas Seppel, who was also highlighted as a Notable Practioner ranked individually in Band 3, has been involved in some of the most innovative and complex projects in the FinTech sector. For example, we advised Unlockd, on the creation and structuring of a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) to govern the protocol. Similarly, we advised Cocone, a global leader in avatar and digital fashion creation, on obtaining a virtual currency services license in Estonia.
We are grateful to our clients for their trust and to Chambers and Partners for this recognition. We look forward to continuing to provide high-quality and cutting-edge legal services to our FinTech clients in Estonia and beyond.
Hedman earns a prestigious gold label for prioritising mental health in the workplace
For the very first time, Peaasi.ee has introduced a series of recognition labels for organizations that prioritize mental health. These badges have been categorized into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers, and we are thrilled to announce that Hedman has been honoured with the prestigious gold label. A total of 126 organizations have been recognized through these badges.
Among the recipients of the gold label, a distinguished group of 41 organizations stands out. This includes SEB Bank, Enterprise and Innovation Foundation, Fontes, Playtech, Testlio, Swedbank, Eesti Energia, and more, all of whom have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to mental health.
Organizations underwent a rigorous evaluation process to earn this esteemed label and based on the evaluations, they were classified into three tiers: Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Over the years, Hedman has continually prioritised employees’ well-being through diverse avenues, and we are grateful to have been recognised for our efforts with this gold label. We intend to continue on this path.
Hedman Law Firm once again recognised by IFLR1000
IFLR1000 recently unveiled its highly anticipated Europe 2023 rankings, and we are elated to share that Hedman Law Firm has once again earned a place among the elite in the Financial and Corporate category. IFLR1000 stands as a premier international legal directory, renowned for its annual rankings of the world’s foremost law firms in domestic and cross-border financial and transactional matters.
With a mission to empower buyers of legal services with informed strategic decisions in the selection of external counsel, IFLR1000 has earned its reputation as a trusted industry guide. Currently, IFLR1000 evaluates and ranks over 5,000 law firms and more than 21,000 lawyers spanning 12 practice areas and 250 jurisdictions, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the legal landscape.
We are delighted that our dedication to excellence extends beyond firm recognition, as the outstanding work of our attorneys was also highlighted by the IFLR1000. Our Managing Partner, Merlin Seeman, was once again been named Highly Regarded in the M&A jurisdiction category, while Kati Pino, our Senior Associate, retained her status as a Notable Practitioner in this year’s rankings.
Women in Business Law Awards 2023 EMEA: Hedman once again listed among the best
Hedman Law Firm has again been shortlisted for the Women in Business Law Awards 2023 EMEA in the Jurisdiction category, recognising outstanding law firms that promote women empowerment in their regions. We are one of the seven law firms from the Baltic region!
As the Awards note, this year’s awards highlight the achievements of leading female individuals and firms across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa who have demonstrated top-rated policies and initiatives over the past year. The shortlist includes lawyers from a spectrum of practice areas, jurisdictions, and sectors, showcasing the most advanced teams in the legal profession today.
At Hedman, we are committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within our firm and the broader legal industry. We are honoured to be recognised for our efforts in supporting women founders, leaders, and workers, both within our team and at a national and legislative level.
Hedman Law Firm achieves top rankings in The Legal 500’s 2023 Guide
Hedman law firm once again ranked as a top law firm in The Legal 500’s 2023 Guide. We ranked high in multiple practice areas, demonstrating our commitment to providing top legal services in Estonia and beyond. Also, for the first time ever, we ranked in the Fintech practice category.
In the Commercial, Corporate, and M&A category, our dedication when representing technology and digital businesses was highlighted. The practice’s team, led by head Merlin Seeman and key attorneys Toomas Seppel and Kati Pino, was praised for industry knowledge, swift communication, and efficient task delivery time. Clients have described us as “knowledgeable and experienced,” with a keen eye for detail and consideration of indirect risks.
In Fintech, we ranked Tier 2 and got recognised for our work with Estonia’s legislative bodies, ensuring up-to-date advice on new laws and initiatives, assisting the government in creating these laws and co-founding the Digital Assets Union. Practice head Toomas Seppel was recognised as a leading individual, advising on areas like tokenising assets, obtaining permits for modern financial or payment services, offering blockchain solutions for gaming, and more. Meanwhile, our associate Vladislav Linko is a name to watch, thanks to his experience in regulatory advice and cryptocurrency licensing.
For IP, IT, and Telecoms, we also ranked Tier 2, noted for helping technology startups establish licensing models and robust IP portfolios. Likewise, we were praised for our expertise in trademarks, terms and conditions, and data protection across the Baltics and Scandinavia.
We are grateful for the support of our clients and are committed to continuing to deliver exceptional results for you.
2022 – Hedman is among the top 1% of Estonian companies according to the business daily “Äripäev”
Hedman law firm has entered the top 1% of Estonian companies and achieved Äripäev’s “Gasell” (a gazelle in Estonian since gazelles are the fourth-fastest land animals) status. A company’s growth speed, business flexibility, and innovation courage are considered in attributing this status.
“Estonia is considered one of the leading digital societies in the world, with 99% of public services accessible online. This means that our clients require more from us than would have been the case in a less digital country. This taught us to always be on our toes, think far ahead, and see where the shoe pinches our clients and partners even before they realise it,” says Hedman’s Managing Partner Merlin Seeman.
2022 – Women in Business Law Awards 2022 EMEA named Hedman law firm among the best in the Baltics
Hedman law firm has been shortlisted as one of the top five in the Baltics in the EMEA jurisdiction category of the Women in Business Law Awards 2022.
This year’s Women in Business Law Awards EMEA have nominated law firms from a wide range of practice areas and jurisdictions. The awards recognize leading female individuals and firms that have shown a mix of top-rated policies and initiatives from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa over the past year.
The Jurisdiction category recognizes law firms that are outstanding role models in promoting female entrepreneurship and equality in their region. The finalists of the award have been judged by an independent international panel of judges to have achieved a remarkable track record in supporting women entrepreneurs and workers, both within their own teams and at a wider national and legislative level.
2022 – Chambers ranks Hedman among the best law firms in Estonia in the IP category
Chambers and Partners have released their 2022 Europe rankings and our team is once again recognized as the top advisors in the Intellectual Property (IP) practice area in Estonia.
According to Chambers “Hedman is a popular choice of counsel among media clients and startup companies in the technology and software sectors. The team handles IP transfers and trademark registration and has additional expertise in GDPR and data protection-related matters.”
Partner Toomas Seppel is described as a notable practitioner, who handles a diverse range of work including copyright and trademark disputes, as well as non-contentious mandates. A client of ours has emphasized his very strong commercial awareness and thoroughness.
2021 – Hedman assures its high ranking for the second year in a row in Chambers FinTech Legal
Chambers and Partners have released their 2022 FinTech Guide Rankings and we are proud to be highly ranked on the tables for the second year in a row!
Chambers states that „the Hedman team is known for serving disruptive FinTech startups and helping them navigate Estonia’s regulatory regime, often through obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. Financial compliance, crowdfunding platforms, STOs, and data protection remain key areas of focus for the firm at this point. Hedman is a member of the FinTech working group FinanceEstonia and maintains close ties with local industry and legislators.“
One of the work highlights that has been brought up by the ranking is advising online trading platform Admiral Markets on its acquisition of the full issued share capital of Moneyzen OÜ, an online peer-to-peer lending platform.
Partner Toomas Seppel has been highlighted as a Notable practitioner, as he heads the FinTech department at Hedman. He is experienced in handling regulatory compliance, intellectual property, big data processing, and cryptocurrency licensing issues, among others. He is heavily involved with FinanceEstonia and has recently been advising on upcoming FinTech laws relating to crowdfunding and cryptocurrency.
2021 – The Legal 500 ranks Hedman Partners among the top law firms in Estonia
We are glad to announce that Hedman Partners was once again ranked in IP, IT, and Telecoms as well in Commercial, Corporate, and M&A practice areas in The Legal 500 2021 edition.
According to the guide, Hedman Partners is particularly recommended for start-ups, with specific experience advising Real Estate and Fintech clients. The team’s key areas of work include funding and capital raising, partnership arrangements, and international expansion, and the practice is being led by Merlin Seeman.
Being ranked in Tier 2 in IP, IT, and Telecoms, the guide states that Hedman Partners focuses on assisting start-ups in industries including banking, real estate, and legal services. Practice head Toomas Seppel is key to this area of work. Other strengths for the practice include copyright and audio-visual matters. The team also handles a good deal of data protection and privacy work.
Furthermore, our clients have stated that “Hedman Partners are the lawyers who you can rely on, they 100% have your back and do their best to protect clients’ interests” and „Lawyers are very careful about details, always investigate related indirect risks which may arise. Knowledgeable and experienced team.“
2021 – Hedman Partners recommended by Chambers Europe 2021
Proud to announce that our law firm is recommended again by Chambers Europe 2021 edition in the Intellectual Property practice area.
The guide states that the team is known for – a “Popular choice of counsel among media clients and startup companies in the technology and software sectors. Handles IP transfers and trademark registration, and has additional expertise in GDPR and data protection-related matters.”
“Strengths – An impressed client lists the team’s strengths as “their strong expertise in corporate and IP law, their transparent and swift communication, their ability to work well with our team members across jurisdictions and, on the soft skills side, their ability to make you feel cared for.””
Also, a market source singles out our practice as a “go-to firm for startups.”
One of our work highlights that have been brought out is advising the Estonian Film Institute on the licensing model for the distribution of its audiovisual content.
Our head of the IP department, partner Toomas Seppel, is highlighted as a notable practitioner. The edition states that he garners praise from sources for his “good advice on copyright matters,” in addition to his “excellent grasp of GDPR-related matters and trademark-related questions.”
Toomas handles a diverse range of work including registration, enforcement, and contractual matters.
2021 – Merlin Seeman, Toomas Seppel, and Dmitri Tšimpoaka have been recommended by Chambers and Partners, the Legal 500 and IFLR1000 through the years
IFLR1000 highly recommends Hedman Partners’ professionals Merlin Seeman and Dmitri Tšimpoaka. Merlin Seeman has been repeatedly recommended as a Highly Regarded in M&A, Corporate, and New Business Models.
Dmitri Tšimpoaka handles matters in Corporate, M&A, and Crypto practice areas.
Partner Toomas Seppel, who is also highly ranked year-by-year by different legal guides, is focusing on Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Data Protection, and also New Business Models matters.
2020 – Hedman Partners ranks top of Chambers FinTech Legal in Estonia
According to Chambers rankings, Hedman Partners is one of the few top law firms in Estonia in FinTech Legal. Spotlight list of ranked individuals highlighted our partner Toomas Seppel.
Our assistance to FinTech start-ups continues throughout their lifecycle, from VC funding and mergers with other companies, through to public offerings—but always maintains a focus on meeting the regulatory requirements at each stage.
To ensure that our clients always receive the most up-to-date regulatory advice, we maintain close ties with Estonia’s legislature that passes new laws and are even involved in initiatives to assist the government in developing such new laws; for example, we are members of a FinTech working group in FinanceEstonia, a public-private enterprise that was set up in part to enable Estonia to maintain its position as a global hub for FinTech companies and start-ups.
Notable Chambers feedback on Hedman Partners
- Hedman Partners specializes in serving disruptive FinTech startups and helping them navigate Estonia’s regulatory regime, often through obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. Financial compliance, crowdfunding platforms, STOs, and data protection remain key areas of focus for the firm at this point;
- The team has spent the last twelve months assisting a range of clients, including cryptocurrency exchange platforms, crowdfunding platforms, lending companies, and online brokers.
What our clients say
- Hedman is very strong with startups. The team there made an early and big entrance into the sector and I think they’re doing good work with those disruptive clients;
- They’ve been efficient, responsible and I’d definitely recommend the team to others;
- Toomas Seppel is the main man for FinTech at Hedman. He’s known for this field and especially in crypto.
About Chambers
Chambers FinTech is a comprehensive guide to the leading Fintech professionals across the world. FinTech 2021 features the top professional advisers with their fingers on the pulse.
Often referred to as ‘the gold-standard’, Chambers delivers insight and analysis on the global legal profession that is unrivaled in its reach and depth.
2020 – IFLR 1000 recognizes Hedman Partners in its latest rankings
IFLR1000, a guide to leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers, has freshly released its annual Europe rankings.
We are pleased to announce that we are once again highly ranked in the Financial and corporate category.
In addition to the firm rankings, the guide also recognizes the work of our outstanding individuals. Dmitri Tšimpoaka and Kati Pino were entitled as Rising Stars and our managing partner Merlin Seeman was once again named as Highly Regarded.
2020 – Hedman Partners once again earned high rankings from The Legal 500 in Corporate and IP
Hedman Partners law firm has once again been recommended by The Legal 500 in Commercial, Corporate & M&A as well as in IP, IT and Telecoms practice areas.
The edition states that “Hedman Partners is active in the start-up market, advising a range of car sharing, real estate, and fintech companies on financing, restructuring, and corporate partnerships. The team, which is led by Merlin Seeman and Valter Võhma, is well known for advising on innovative techniques of raising capital including crowdfunding, coin offerings, and traditional bond issues.
In recent work, the group advised Autolevi on raising €225,000 in investment via crowdfunding platform Funderbeam. Other clients include StayCool and Endover Development.”
In addition, Hedman Partners was recognized in IP, IT, and Telecoms category. It is stated that “Hedman Partners ‘understands start-ups better than anyone else in Estonia’ and has a core focus acting for Estonian start-ups in numerous industries, including legal services, transport, banking, and real estate.”
“The practice also handles data protection and IT services matters, and also receives a steady stream of instructions relating to the music industry. On the litigation side, Hedman Partners is representing the Estonian government in a copyright dispute against Estonian authors and performers societies. The ‘hands-on’ Toomas Seppel, who was promoted to partner in 2019, heads the team.
2019 – Hedman Partners and Merlin Seeman highly regarded by the IFLR1000
Hedman Partners is glad to continue to be recommended by the international guide to the world’s leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers in the Financial and Corporate practice area.
We are recognized for our financial and corporate advice to entrepreneurs and investors within the technology sector and for specializing in working with start-ups and small venture capital firms, advising on formation, expansion, and fund raising.
The guide also states: „The firm has recently been particularly active on cryptocurrency matters, representing issuers on ICOs and on securing licenses. The firm is also working on deals for international clients, representing them on angel investments and bond issues.“
Additionally, managing partner Merlin Seeman continues to be recommended as a Highly Regarded lawyer, meaning that the lawyer is highly acclaimed by their peers and possesses a strong transactional record and positive client feedback and partner Dmitri Tšimpoaka also continues to be recommended as a Rising Star.
2019 – Chambers Europe 2019 recommends Toomas Seppel and Hedman Partners
Toomas Seppel from Hedman Partners Attorneys-at-Law joins the rankings due to substantial market feedback. Toomas is experienced in working within the tech, music, and film industries.
Specialist areas include intellectual property, privacy law, and IT-law. Toomas works with novel business models, growth, tech and online gaming companies, e-commerce, e-sport, and SaaS. He also covers matters related to companies with crypto-based business models and ICOs.
One client lauds him for “his knowledge in software development and a good understanding of what we do.”
Chambers Europe has listed Hedman Partners among the best law firms in Estonia in the area of Intellectual Property.
2018 – Hedman Partners once again recommended by the latest IFLR1000
Hedman Partners is once again recommended among the country’s leading law firms in Financial and Corporate by the latest IFLR1000.
The newest directory states that Hedman Partners is recognized for its banking and M&A advice. Through its Hedman Lift platform, the firm has specialized in working with start-ups, advising on entity formations, expansion plans, and fundraisings.
In finance, the firm notably worked for Taxify to finalize an extensive investment and strategic partnership deal with DiDi Chuxing, a Chinese transportation platform. In highlight work for start-ups, the firm represented SprayPrinter as it prepared to raise venture capital investments in Silicon Valley and Guaana on its investment round.
The clients highly appreciate the team commenting: „I am very satisfied with Hedman Partners’ work. It is competent, available, reasonably priced, and goes the extra mile when needed.”, as well as „It is very responsive and has a personal touch. Professional and efficient are the two keywords that best describe the firm.”
Furthermore, Partner Valter Võhma is highlighted as “Competent, available, and goes the extra mile when needed.” and Partner Dmitri Tšimpoaka as „Very efficient and resourceful. Always delivers quality work in time.”
In addition to ranking law firms, IFLR1000 highly recommends Hedman Partners’ professionals Merlin Seeman and Dmitri Tšimpoaka.
2018 – Hedman Partners awarded Leading Firm 2018 title by Legal 500
We are pleased to announce that Hedman Partners Law Firm has been newly ranked and recommended for the 2018 Legal 500 EMEA edition in the following two practice areas: Commercial; Corporate and M&A, and IP; IT and Telecoms.
Merlin Salvik has been highlighted as ‘very proactive’ and as someone who ‘really takes the time to understand her clients’ business’. Dmitri Tšimpoaka is considered to be ‘very resourceful and knowledgeable’ based on client feedback. Toomas Seppel is featured in the IP, IT, and Telecoms practice area as ‘extremely knowledgeable and quick’.
The Legal500 edition stated that “Hedman Partners excels at corporate work for medium-sized companies and was recently active in a number of local and cross-border corporate transactions. Hedman Partners’ overall levels of service are ‘excellent and beyond expectations’. The group’s core strengths lie in the music and tech sectors and it has a broad range of start-up clients.“
2018 – Hedman Partners named as the Best Partner of EstBAN 5 years
Estonian Business Angels Network celebrated its Five Year Anniversary last week at the White Hall of Museum of Tartu University. EstBAN gave out Appreciation Awards to its partners and Hedman Partners was named as the Best Partner of EstBAN 5 Years. We are very honored to receive this recognition. Thank you! Looking forward to the future cooperation!
2017 – Hedman Partners is now on the Chambers Europe recommended list
We are proud to announce that this year Chambers Europe has listed Hedman Partners among the best law firms in Estonia in the areas of Corporate/Commercial Law and Intellectual Property.
Chambers has been ranking the best lawyers since 1990, and now cover 185 jurisdictions. No other organization has the strength-in-depth as Chambers editorial and research team when it comes to assessing the world’s business lawyers.
2017 – Hedman Partners has been recommended also by IFLR1000
We are pleased to announce that besides Chambers Europe, Hedman Partners has been recommended by the IFLR1000 in the fields of Financial and Corporate.
IFLR review of our firm: Hedman Partners is primarily known for its work in corporate and commercial matters. It has a small team of experienced partners in this field and a record of assisting start-ups, notably within the tech industry.
The recent example of the firm’s work saw Merlin Salvik lead a team advising Monese, a London-based tech start-up, on raising $1.8 million from Acceleration Fund Seedcamp, Estonian venture capital fund smartCap, and a selected group of notable individuals. Salvik was also in charge, alongside Dmitri Tšimpoaka, in assisting the Rain Lõhmus in connection with investing €100,000 into the development of a mobile parking tech start-up.
2014 – Hedman Partners has been recognized by the IFLR1000
We are pleased to announce that Hedman Partners Attorneys-at-Law has been recommended by the IFLR1000 and ranked as “Recognised Firm” in 2014.
Our partners Merlin Salvik and Kalle Pedak are being mentioned as leading a very qualified team and being very professional in their work.
The Estonian office of Finnish firm Hedman Partners is able to offer a pan-Baltic service through its network with Skrastins & Dzenis in Latvia and Motieka & Audzevicius in Lithuania. The firm, led by partner Merlin Salvik, is described by one client as having “very fine quality in the team”.
One international partner was impressed with the work of partner Kalle Pedak, describing him as “extremely timely, very quick” and “to the point”. They say: “I’ve cherished the co-operation I was able to get from them. I really think they’ve delivered quality work and all under the leadership of Kalle.”
2013 – Hedman Partners has been recommended by The Legal 500
We are pleased to announce that Hedman Partners Attorneys-at-Law has been recommended by The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa 2013’s editorial in the following two practice areas: Corporate and M&A and dispute resolution. Also, our attorneys Kalle Pedak, Merlin Salvik and Urmas Kiik are recommended experts.
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