Risto Rüütel

Risto Rüütel is an expert in competition law with extensive experience, heading the competition law, trade, and foreign investment practices at the firm. He has over 20 years of experience advising and representing clients on competition law matters, both in Estonia and internationally.

Risto has thorough knowledge of all aspects of competition law, including merger control, state aid, prohibited agreements, and abuse of a dominant position. He has extensive experience representing and defending clients in numerous supervisory, administrative, and criminal proceedings conducted by the Competition Authority and the Prosecutor’s Office, addressing anticompetitive practices across multiple sectors of the economy. Risto has unique experience representing a company during a European Commission dawn raid.

Risto is among Estonia’s most experienced lawyers in merger control. Since 2011, he has prepared over 75 merger clearance filings and successfully represented clients in more than ten complex second-phase (Phase II) merger cases. Over the course of his career, Risto has coordinated more than ten multi-jurisdictional merger control filings.

Risto’s practice also includes civil disputes concerning damages arising from competition law infringements and landmark cases in administrative court proceedings.

In addition to competition law, Risto advises on international trade matters, ranging from the structuring of distribution agreements to foreign direct investment, foreign subsidies, export control, and the implementation of international sanctions.

In addition to his legal work, Risto has been a guest lecturer at Tallinn University of Technology, teaching competition law to future legal professionals.