Law firm DEM
Read about our law firm
Introduction
The establishment of a joint law firm was a natural extension of our long-term cooperation. Everyone had their own reasons and expectations, but we were sure from the beginning that with such experience, mutual compatibility and customer trust, it is possible to create something truly valuable both for ourselves and our customers.
The name DEM is an abbreviation for deus ex machina, which means an unexpected solution or a quick saviour. The Latin saying itself derives from the technique used in the ancient drama by which the appearance of god on stage resolved the conflict. A suitable name for a law firm that aims to resolve a client’s situation quickly and successfully by “appearing on stage”. We will do our best to be worthy of the name.
Kalle-Kaspar Sepper
I have always considered myself primarily as a trial attorney. I have more than 20 years of experience in civil, criminal, and administrative court proceedings and in disputes of very different content. I consider it important to keep my life interesting and developing, which is why I advise clients in a wide range of fields starting from everyday business law issues up to inheritance and family matters. I´m a member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2009 and I provide legal assistance in Estonian, Finnish and English. I also speak some Russian.
Janne-Liisa Ottis
I have been working as an attorney since 2017 and I mainly represent clients in civil matters. My strength is a considerable experience in family, employment, and law of obligation disputes, but I can find a solution for my client in any field. As a person, I am straightforward and solution oriented. I advise clients in Estonian and English.
Alo Pormeister
Client has the right to get rid of stress and focus on its principal job, entrusting legal advice and the protection of interests to an attorney. I have been a member of the Bar Association since 2000 and have several decades of experience working as an attorney and providing legal advice to clients. I specialize primarily in civil law, including the law of obligations, property, commercial, bankruptcy and labour law and court proceedings. I also provide legal assistance to clients in the foundation, acquisition and restructuring of companies, as well as in real estate transactions and the division of property in common ownership and joint ownership. In addition to the above, I have long-term experience in counselling of clients on matters of family law, including divorce of marriage, division of joint property, and in disputes related to parents’ right of custody over children. I advise clients in Estonian, English, Russian and Finnish.
Janno Kuusk
I have been a member of the Bar since 2005 and during my career I have been involved in numerous civil disputes as well as advising clients on transactions, contract and commercial law.
In recent years, I have rarely been involved in court procedures and have focused on advising clients on a day-to-day basis including contractual issues, and transactions.
I have advised both Estonian and foreign clients on the establishing, acquisition, merger and division of companies, both locally and cross-border.
On my free time I cruise over Estonia and enjoy the unlimited freedom that being a pilot allows.
I can fluently service clients in Estonian, English and Finnish. Also I am able to communicate in Russian.
Kristel Viru
I have been working in the legal field for over 15 years, of which almost 10 years as an attorney. My main area of work is litigation.
I deal with civil and administrative matters daily, but I also advise clients on a wide range of other legal issues, such as employment law, insolvency law, company law, and I have also advised clients on commercial litigation. My result-oriented approach and willingness to work in the best interests of my clients have enabled me to deal with large and very complex precedent-setting disputes.
My aim is to find the best solution for the client and to protect the client's interests.
I communicate in Estonian, Russian and English.
Liis Mäeker
I specialize in private law and my main areas of expertise are contract law and property disputes, including issues concerning joint or common ownership. Also since the beginning of my professional career I have contributed an important resource to the resolution of disputes under family and succession law. I have been involved in the legislative process of family law issues and have been a member of the Family Law Committee of the Estonian Bar Association for two consecutive terms. In addition, I have participated in large bankruptcy and commercial law cases and advised clients in enforcement proceedings.
I have extensive and versatile knowledge and thanks to high analytical skills, every dispute can be solved. I advise clients in extrajudicial proceedings, in transactions and in litigation, the latter of which accounts for the largest part of my work.
My interest in the work of an attorney at law comes from the diversity of fields and diversity of disputes, which is why I contribute an important resource to my development in every area of private law.
I obtained master's degree in law from the University of Tartu in 2012 and since 2013 I have been a member of the Estonian Bar Association.
I advise clients in Estonian and English.
Kristo Kallas
I have been a member of the Bar Association since 2013. I spent my previous professional life in the rapid development phase in the Viimsi Municipal Government as a lawyer and municipal (legal) secretary for 10 years, which provided a good specific basis for advising today's clients all over Estonia. I have long been considered as "our administrative law specialist". It is true, administrative law is one of my fields of activity, but not only. The statistics of the works done so far tend to be inclined towards civil law, so I feel at home in this wide playing field. However, a large part of the worktime is spent on various disputes related to construction law and planning, various legal issues related to real estate, related to disputes and administration, including relations with local government officials and state bodies, both out of court and in court. In addition, I deal with ongoing consulting for companies, labour relations and contracts, issues related to housing associations and property, as well as public procurement. I always try to find an easier solution for the client and avoid a long and burdensome dispute. Simplicity is the charm! In addition to Estonian, I also advise clients in English.
Silvia-Anna Gerontidi
As an attorney, my primary areas of expertise include debt collection, labour law, corporate law, and civil litigation. In addition, I have compentence in consulting clients on competition law. I do my work meticulously and strive to provide the client with the finest possible outcome. I advise clients in Estonian, English and Russian.
Liis Puidak
I have been working in the legal field for over 20 years and I am a member of the Bar since 2013. I have a long experience as a lawyer and HR manager in a construction company, so construction and real estate law has become an area close to my heart.
On a daily basis, I advise clients on construction, real estate, planning, debt and commercial matters, as well as other civil law issues such as employment, family and bankruptcy.
My long experience as an in-house lawyer has given me, among other things, a valuable insight into the workings of business organisations, which helps me to have a broader understanding of the needs of businesses and to provide practical solutions to even the most complex situations.
My aim is to be a trusted partner to my clients, helping them to prevent problems and achieve their goals in an honest, thoughtful and effective way.
I advise clients in Estonian and English, with some communication skills in Russian.
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Latest news
Kristel Viru, attorney-at-law at DEM Attorneys-at-Law, successfully represented a client in a dispute with a credit institution regarding the regular termination of a payment service agreement by the credit institution. The credit institution is obliged to continue providing the service to the client.
On 22.11.2023, the Harju County Court rendered an important decision, in which it analysed whether the regular termination of the payment service agreement concluded by the credit institution with the company was lawful. The credit institution had cancelled the contract on an ordinary basis on the grounds that the customer no longer met the bank's risk requirements.
The Harju County Court held that the circumstances on the basis of which a payment service provider may terminate a contract on an ordinary basis can arise primarily from the payment service provider itself, for example in a situation where the terms of the payment service provider's contract have changed and the person no longer meets the new conditions. In the case of ordinary termination of a payment service, account can only be taken of the circumstances existing at the time of the termination and not of circumstances which may arise in the future. The Court also referred to the earlier case-law of the Supreme Court, according to which an ordinary termination of a current account contract cannot be without justification, since it may be contrary to the principle of good faith and without action to terminate a contract with a person with whom the payment service provider has a legal obligation to conclude a payment service contract.
The termination of a payment service contract cannot be subject to ex post justification. In addition, it cannot be done in legal proceedings on new grounds. The Court of Justice stated that the statement in the application for termination of the contract that the customer was not covered by the risks set out in the general conditions of the credit institution should be justified. This means that the credit institution must already indicate in the termination notice the reasons for which risks it considers to be uncovered and in what way. The Court also noted that, although the application of the rules relating to the avoidance of international sanctions is based on doubt and need not be based solely on irrefutable facts, the credit institution has the obligation to give sufficient and reasonable reasons and evidence for its doubts.
Hopefully, this and similar litigation will result in a clear case law that credit institutions may not terminate contracts so lightly as there is no alternative for a legal entity - it cannot continue to do business without a payment services contract.
N.B. The judgment has not yet entered into force.
Another specialist joins our team!
As of 02.10.2023 we are happy to welcome attorney-at-law Kristo Kallas to our law firm. Kristo mainly deals with disputes related to construction law and planning and various real estate issues. He is also a good specialist in administrative law and advises clients on public procurement and civil law issues. Kristo is fluent in Estonian and English. Welcome Kristo!
Attorney-at-law Kalle-Kaspar Sepper among the nominees for the Bar Association's Diamond Award!
On 22.09.2023, the annual party of the Estonian Bar Association took place, where two colleagues were awarded with the honorary title of the Bar Association Diamond for their outstanding work in the field of law. We are proud to announce that Kalle-Kaspar Sepper, attorney-at-law at DEM Law Office, was among the nominees.
Law firm DEM is growing again!
Our wonderful team has been joined by our esteemed colleagues, attorneys-at-law Liis Mäeker, Kristel Viru and Janno Kuusk.
Liis and Kristel specialise in civil law and litigation. Janno advises clients primarily on commercial and litigation matters and, as a pilot, also on aviation law.
Liis advises clients in Estonian and English, Kristel in Estonian, English and Russian and Janno in Estonian, English, Russian and Finnish.
Welcome Liis, Kristel and Janno!