Maarja is a Senior Associate in our Tallinn office.
Maarja advises clients in the field of European Union and competition law and financial services, including in matters concerning blockchain and virtual currencies.
In civil service Maarja worked on competitiveness, international trade and digital affairs and was part of organising the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Maarja has extensive experience in advising entities that would like to obtain activity licences and/or provide their services on a cross-border basis or globally, mainly in the sphere of cryptocurrencies. Maarja annually analyses tens of different white papers concerning tokens and related business plans from the financial regulatory and AML compliance point of view and helps the clients apply for the required licences. This also includes advice on creating a suitable corporate structure. She has advised various business structures from single entities established in Estonia and wishing to operate locally to more complicated group structures where group entities include regulated companies in jurisdictions within the EU/EEA as well as in third countries that wish to provide their services globally. The latter has included advice concerning the EU passporting regime.
In addition to her work in the sphere of cryptocurrencies, Maarja has also advised clients in the processes of obtaining licences for operating as a credit intermediary and e-money institution. She has assisted financial services providers in various proceedings before the Financial Supervision Authority and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Career
2018 -… Law Office Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co
2016 - 2018 Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, European Union and International Cooperation Department
2014 Reyker Securities Plc
2013 Eurojust, internship
2011 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, internship
- Advising the clients who are an AIFM and a limited partnership. Our instructions covered performance of a full review of its business (from the LPA to compliance with regulatory requirements to compliance with AML rules); preparation of fully updated internal rules (including in view of the developments in AML regulations); advising the client in conjunction with new investors joining the fund.
- Advising a consumer credit service provider licensed by the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority. During last year we have advised the Client on several substantial regulatory matters: drafting of and submission to the EFSA of the money institution licence application, which would allow the Client to expand its services; assisting with change of ownership structure of the Client; assisting with the “fit and proper” control of newly designated member of the supervisory board of the Client conducted by the EFSA, including providing responses to EFSA´s inquiries. Maarja also assisted with providing responses and amending internal rules and processes of the Client as the result of on-site control and prescription to eliminate deficiencies of EFSA.
- Advising a bank in conjunction with an AML-related audit conducted by the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority in its Estonian branch.
- Advising an Estonian company that provides various cryptocurrency-related services to a broad range of customers.
- Mida uut on ärisaladuse kaitses? (In Estonian)
Maarja’s expertise in EU and competition law has been recognised by independent international publications:
- Legal 500 2023 (Rising Star in EU and Competition)
- CEE Legal Matters, 2019 Deal of the Year - Estonia
- Estonian Bar Association
- Bar of England and Wales, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- 2015 University of the West of England, BPTC
- 2013 Leiden University, LLM European Law
- 2012 King’s College London, Law LLB