Customs Law Firm of the Year Estonia

Firm Profile

Aivar Pilv Law Office was founded in 1993. During our more than 17 years of activities we have thoroughly explored the wishes and needs of our clients. Our main aim is to render high-quality legal assistance on an internationally recognised level, which can be characterised by flexible and client- orientated service. Aivar Pilv Law Office has rendered legal assistance to Estonian and international enterprises, as well as to public institutions. Different international publications have recognized Aivar Pilv Law Office as a leading Estonian law firm in the areas of litigation and tax law. In addition, the office has gained recognition in corporate and contract law, real estate and building law, banking and financial law, intellectual property and telecommunication law. Aivar Pilv Law Office (currently employing 17 attorneys and 3 lawyers as well as 4 paralegals), is represented in two of the largest cities in Estonia – Tallinn and Tartu. The Law Office has a long-term cooperation experience with different law firms in Baltics (Latvia and Lithuania), in Scandinavia (primarily in Finland and Sweden), but also elsewhere in Europe. Since December 2002 we belong to the international law offices’ chain TAGLaw.

Areas of Expertise

• Civil Law (Contract Law, Property Law (including Real Estate), Corporate Law, Private International Law, Insurance Law, etc);

• Litigation and Arbitration; • Bankruptcy and Reorganisation; • Mergers and Acquisitions;

• Intellectual Property and Trademarks;

• Tax and Customs Law; • Building and Planning Law;

• Public Procurement and Competition Law;

• Administrative Law and Administrative Proceedings.

Notable Legal Work

• Usually, we advise and represent private sector entities in our tax practice. However, there is one significant exception to that rule. We have advised and represented the Estonian Tax and Customs Board in the biggest tax dispute in recent history where the disputed tax sum amounts to more than 7 million Euros;

• We have advised and represented six different retailers and distributors of liquid fuels as well as logistics companies in audits undertaken by the Tax and Customs Board;

• AS Silvano Fashion Group (stock exchange company). We continue to counsel and represent this major client and also its group in different corporate and commercial issues;

• We are continuously counselling and representing Czech company SANS SOUCI, s.r.o. in the dispute regarding the construction and installation of the Monument of the Independence War (also known as Monument of Liberty) to Tallinn city centre;

• Tallinn City Government continues to be our loyal client after more than 15 years of client – attorney relationship. Their pending cases vary from real estate disputes concerning the city centre to everyday advice in administrative, corporate and contract law.

Aivar Pilv

Attorney at law Aivar Pilv is the founder and managing partner of Aivar Pilv Law Office. He has been repeatedly acknowledged as a highly-experienced specialist on international level. In 2011, the most remarkable acknowledgments are following: • Legal 500 (2011) has recognized Aivar Pilv as the most renowned tax lawyer and as a leading litigation lawyer in Estonia.

Aivar Pilv Contact Aivar Pilv Law Office

Vabaduse väljak 10, 10146 TALLINN, Estonia

Switchboard: +372 6 191 630 Fax: +372 6 404 653 Email: info@apilv.ee

Turu 2, 51014 TARTU, Estonia (Tasku Centre) Switchboard: +372 7 312 272 Fax: +372 7 312 274 Email: tartu@apilv.ee

Website: http://www.apilv.ee

• Chambers & Partners (2011) has named Aivar Pilv as a leading litigation and arbitration lawyer in Estonia

• The PLC Which Lawyer? 2010 has recognized Aivar Pilv as leading litigation and arbitration lawyer and also as an outstanding specialist of restructuring and insolvency.

• The Tax Directors Handbook 2011 has recognized Aivar Pilv as a leading tax law lawyer in Estonia.

• Corporate Intl Magazine recognized Aivar Pilv as a leading dispute resolution attorney in Estonia. Aivar Pilv is a long term member (15 years) of governing bodies of the Estonian Bar Association. He has been the Chairman (President) of the Estonian Bar Association from 2004 – 2010. Prior to that, he served as the vice-chairman and a member of qualification committee. Mr. Pilv has also published numerous articles in Estonian and foreign publications (e.g. The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Litigation & Dispute Resolution).

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2011

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