Risto Agur, a leading expert with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, and finance, has joined NOVE as Partner and Head of Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance.
Risto Agur has worked in Estonia’s leading law firms for more than 20 years. For 13 years he worked at SORAINEN, one of the largest law firms in the Baltic region, where he practiced Banking & Finance and led the Corporate Advisory, Employment and Restructuring & Insolvency practice areas. After that, he was the Founder and Managing Partner of Advokaadibüroo KPMG Law, where he grew the firm to be one of the 15 largest law firms in Estonia within five years, and where he initially led the M&A, Construction & Real Estate and Banking & Finance practice areas and thereafter Data Protection, Intellectual Property and Information Technology and Commercial Contracts. Risto Agur has provided advice on a number of large and complex M&A and B&F transactions and projects in Estonia and the Baltic region, acting on behalf of local and international strategic investors, investment banks, private equity firms and other financial institutions. He has also provided advice on the establishment, restructuring and liquidation of several credit institutions, credit providers and payment institutions, and to a number of insurance undertakings, fund management companies, investment firms, listed companies, telecom companies and other large corporates on local and cross-border transactions and regulatory issues.
Risto Agur holds a degree from the University of Tartu and a Master’s degree from Georgetown University where he studied as a Fulbright scholar specialising in Securities and Financial Regulation. He is a member of the Estonian Bar Association, the Association of US Alumni in Estonia, the Fulbright Alumni Association and the Georgetown University Alumni Association.
“We are convinced that the new practice areas and the extensive work experience in transactions which Risto brings with him will create synergy with NOVE’s current team and benefit all our current and future clients,” commented Kristjan Tamm, NOVE’s co-founder and partner.
“I am very happy to join the partnership of one of the strongest legal teams and highly regarded law firms in Estonia! We share many common values, such as excellence of service, expert experience, uncompromisingly client-focused approach to service, and efficiency. I also value the great mutual trust and respect which we developed with the team through long and fruitful cooperation in one of the leading law firms in the Baltic region, and the fact that all the partners and associates of NOVE, with no exception, are top experts in their fields. I am joining NOVE because of the wonderful people in the firm and because I see great potential for synergy: while NOVE is currently primarily specialised in Dispute Resolution, Construction and Real Estate, Insurance, as well as Data Protection, Competition, Medical and Public Procurement, I will complement the value offered by the firm with my considerable expertise and extensive experience especially in the area of Mergers & Acquisitions and Banking & Finance. In addition, having 15 years of experience in the business development and management of law firms, I will be able to enhance NOVE’s capacity and synergy between its practice areas across the region. There is a very good energy in NOVE that attracts both clients and colleagues. I am sure that our cooperation will make it even stronger,” added Risto Agur, commenting on his decision to join NOVE.
Over the years, Risto Agur has been recognised by a number of international guides to law firms, such as The Legal 500, Chambers, and IFLR. The clients have pointed out the following about him:
- “Agur’s ability to assess the big picture and attention to detail are invaluable”; “Practice head Risto Agur has the ability to analyse each situation like a professional entrepreneur” (The Legal 500 – Commercial, Corporate and M&A).
- “‘Sharp and business-savvy’ managing partner Risto Agur provides “a holistic business solution on a cross-border basis” (The Legal 500 – Banking, finance and capital markets).
- Clients describe Risto as a “very pleasant and commercially smart” professional with a “hands-on approach”. They also appreciate his ability to “take the lead on the Project” and “make sure everything runs smoothly” (Chambers Europe – Corporate and Commercial).
- “He provides very business-focused advice that you can really use and always aims to meet or exceed clients’ expectations” (The Legal 500 (2018) – Banking, Finance & Capital Markets; Corporate, M&A; Dispute Resolution, and Construction & Real Estate).
Founded in 2016, NOVE is a fast-growing new generation law firm which has expanded in the practice areas of M&A, real estate, corporate law, data protection, medical law and competition law, in addition to its original focus on litigation. Our attorneys are experienced and widely recognised top experts who are dedicated, through their personal approach and focused efforts, to resolving even the most complex disputes and completing smoothly even the most complicated transactions. Other partners at NOVE include Urmas Volens, Andrus Kattel, Veikko Puolakainen, Arsi Pavelts, Mari Matjus and Kristjan Tamm.