Presumably many of us have watched Bonanza when they were younger. Bonanza is an American Western TV series about the Wild West of the 1860s. It wasn’t an easy life – lawlessness reigned, and justice was only for the strong.However, in 2024, it’s a different story – the laws are in place and being effectively enforced. The development and use of artificial intelligence is no longer a lawless environment. Existing regulations remain in place, and now a new Artificial Intelligence Regulation has entered into force, carrying hefty fines of up to €35 million or up to 7% of a company’s global turnover. So, the answer to the question in the headline is already a pre-emptive 'no'.

Ellex has advised Infotark on reacquiring 14% of its shares from Finnish shareholders.

TGS Baltic has successfully represented Estonian fishing company Porgukass in a dispute concerning compensation for damaged fishing equipment.

Pohla & Hallmagi has advised Karmsund Group on its acquisition of industrial property in an industrial park close to Tallinn airport.

Pohla & Hallmagi has advised Restate on its sale of industrial real estate to EfTEN for approximately EUR 5.9 million.

People, as individual sources of evidence, are crucial in criminal cases. In more complex cases, even hundreds of people may be interrogated. So it is not uncommon in Widen’s practice to receive a concerned phone call from a client who has been called in for questioning. What to expect in such a case?

Cobalt has advised Change Ventures on co-leading a EUR 700,000 round for Certific, alongside Firstpick and Heartfelt VC.

It is not new that originator pharmaceutical companies try to block generic competitors from entering the market. Considering the recent developments in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), originators should tread carefully when defending their patents. Having a strong patent is crucial, and the consequences of failing to vet the strength of a patent could end up costly.

TGS Baltic has advised 2C Ventures and AS SmartCap on a EUR 6.1 million investment round for AIO that also saw Nordic Foodtech VC and Voima Ventures participate. Triniti reportedly advised AIO.

GIde and Ellex, working with Ashurst, have advised Rivage Investment, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Norway's Kommunal Landspensjonskasse on a EUR 300 million IPP financing for the construction of 1.3-gigawatt of solar PV, wind, storage, and hybrid parks in the Baltics and Poland, provided to Sunly. CMS and reportedly White & Case and Sorainen advised Sunly.

TGS Baltic has successfully represented Elering in two renewable energy support cases before the European Court of Justice and the Estonian Administrative Court.

Cobalt has advised Karma Ventures on leading the USD 5 million series A investment round for Estonian cybersecurity startup Patchstack which also saw the participation of G+D Ventures and Emilia Capital. Triniti reportedly advised Patchstack.

In Estonia, the push toward renewable energy, particularly offshore projects, is gaining momentum, with recent developments in grid connections and government support schemes, according to Njord Partner Triinu Hiob who also reports on tax changes and judicial reforms on the horizon.

Cobalt has advised BonVenture on its investment into Fairown as part of a EUR 5.7 million seed extension round.

TGS Baltic, working with Gernandt & Danielsson and Lupp + Partner, has advised TUV SUD on its acquisition of Carspect Group Holding and its subsidiaries in Sweden, Estonia, and Latvia from IK Partners group company Arwen International and minority sellers. Sorainen reportedly advised IK Partners.

Cobalt, working with Watson Farley & Williams, has advised NORD/LB and Swedbank on the EUR 87 million financing for Aidu Wind Park’s development of 67.5 megawatts of the 75-megawatt Aidu wind farm in Estonia.

CMS has advised TurboVolt on its sale to Eleport. Ellex advised Eleport and, reportedly, Schoenherr advised Eleport on Austrian, Croatian, and Slovenian law.

Ellex has advised Hansa Medical on its acquisition of Weissmed.