Aivar
Taro
Partner / Estonia
 
about

Aivar Taro is a Partner at COBALT and head of the fields of real estate, construction and energy. Aivar has long-term experience in large-scale real estate transactions with both domestic and international companies, including the acquisition and sale of commercial, industrial and other types of real estate as well as development projects. He also has extensive experience in advising real estate developments, which renders him able to offer valuable counsel to clients during the entire course of the development process, including the planning procedure, construction process, matters pertaining to lease, financing, and the completion of the project. Aivar has participated in advising numerous lease transactions, including sale and leaseback transactions, leasing build to suit lease objects and managing the lease portfolios of shopping centres. He additionally has impressive experience in the energy sector, including advising renewable energy projects, acquisition transactions of energy companies and projects for creating new generation capacity. Some of his works include advising the sale of the Baltic real estate portfolio of Geneba Properties N.V to Laurus S.a.r.l, development and sale of Mustamäe Centre to East Capital, acquisition of Solaris and Bauhof by Partners Group, and advising Nelja Energia, the leading renewable energy company in the Baltics, upon the acquisition, construction and operation of various wind farms.

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

 
recognition
  • Chambers Europe, Energy, Ranked Lawyer – 2019
  • Chambers Europe, Real Estate, Ranked Lawyer – 2019 / 2022
  • IFLR 1000, M&A, Notable Practitioner – 2021 / 2022
  • IFLR 1000, Real Estate, M&A, Notable Practitioner - 2019
  • Legal 500, Real Estate and Construction, Hall of Fame – 2020 / 2021 / 2022
 
cv
Languages
  • Estonian, English, German, Russian


Membership & education
  • Member of the Estonian Bar Association (since 2004)
  • MA cum laude, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, Estonia (2002)
  • University of Konstanz, Erasmus exchange programme, Konstanz, Germany (2001-2002)
 
experience
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  • 2021 — 01 — 25
    COBALT advised on sale of 50% of logistics company Nordassets
  • 2020 — 11 — 26
    COBALT advises Flügger on gaining the majority stake in Eskaro group
  • 2020 — 11 — 10
    COBALT advises Ardian on acquiring Nevel Oy
  • 2020 — 07 — 31
    COBALT advised Capfield on receiving a loan of EUR 85 million
  • 2020 — 07 — 02
    COBALT advised a joint venture of the clients of Partners Group and Northern Horizon Capital in the sale of SEB’s head office to East Capital
  • 2020 — 04 — 16
    COBALT advised Steel Import Finland Oy on acquiring FinEst Metallid
  • 2020 — 04 — 08
    COBALT advised Baltic Agro Machinery OÜ on the sale of John Deere business
  • 2020 — 02 — 20
    COBALT advised Laurus S.a.r.l. on the sale of Valge Maja office building
  • 2019 — 12 — 09
    COBALT advised Danske Bank in sale of its main building in Tallinn
  • 2019 — 09 — 24
    COBALT advised Silberauto on selling its business in Estonia and Lithuania
  • 2019 — 01 — 16
    COBALT advised Corum Origin on acquiring Harmet’s production facility in Estonia
  • 2018 — 12 — 11
    COBALT advises MCF Group Estonia on developing a data centre in Estonia
  • 2018 — 11 — 28
    COBALT advised European Diversified Infrastructure Fund II on investment in Utilitas, leading private Estonian energy group
  • 2018 — 11 — 05
    COBALT advised Pirita Tee Development OÜ on the sale of Kadrioru Ärikeskus in Tallinn to EfTEN
  • 2018 — 06 — 14
    COBALT advised Port of Tallinn on its IPO and listing on Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange
  • 2018 — 02 — 19
    COBALT advised AS Gildhall on sale of Marienthal commercial centre in Tallinn
  • 2018 — 02 — 14
    COBALT advised Baltic Horizon Fund on acquisition of Postimaja shopping center
  • 2017 — 06 — 22
    COBALT advised French real estate fund Corum on the acquisition of Prisma shopping centre
  • 2017 — 05 — 02
    COBALT advised Laurus S.à r.l. in the sale of Hobujaama 4 office building to Colonna
  • 2017 — 03 — 27
    COBALT advised Arvo Pärt Centre regarding the construction procurement of the new building
  • 2016 — 12 — 20
    COBALT advised Baltic Horizon Fund on acquiring Pirita shopping centre
  • 2016 — 03 — 31
    COBALT advised Geneba in sale of Baltic real estate portfolio to Laurus
  • 2016 — 02 — 19
    COBALT advised development of Mustamäe Keskus and its sale to East Capital for EUR 27.5 mln
  • 2016 — 01 — 28
    COBALT advised a joint venture of Partners Group and Northern Horizon Capital in the sale of Vesse retail park in Tallinn to East Capital
  • 2015 — 05 — 29
    COBALT counseled Nelja Energia, the largest producer of renewable energy in the Baltics, in issue of bonds in the amount of 50 million euros
  • 2015 — 03 — 12
    COBALT counselled Nelja Energia in relation to increase of holding by majority shareholder Vardar Eurus by 17%
  • 2015 — 02 — 11
    COBALT counselled sale of 50% holding in Apollo store chain
  • 2015 — 02 — 10
    COBALT counselled developers of Mustamäe Centre in sale of leisure and shopping centre with the most modern multiplex in the Baltics to East Capital
  • 2014 — 11 — 04
    COBALT advises the developers of Mustamäe Centre in the development of a shopping and recreation centre with the most modern multiplex cinema in the Baltics
  • 2014 — 07 — 02
    COBALT advised the purchase of Annelinna Prisma
  • 2014 — 03 — 11
    COBALT advised sale of Telliskivi Loomelinnak
  • 2013 — 03 — 22
    COBALT advised AS Forum Cinemas in a sale and leaseback transaction of Coca-Cola Plaza
  • 2012 — 08 — 09
    COBALT advised Baltic Agro on the acquisition of the bankrupt Werol Tehased
  • 2012 — 03 — 27
    COBALT advised Estonia´s largest wind farm companies Freenergy, Vardar Eurus and Nelja Energia in the merger under the single name of Nelja Energia
  • 2009 — 06 — 15
    COBALT acts as legal advisor to innovative venture capital investment
  • Sources praise him as a "well respected" and "excellent and experienced professional."
    CHAMBERS EUROPE 2021, REAL ESTATE