Britta Retel

Professional highlights

Educated in environmental management. I received a MA degree (cum laude) in landscape protection and management from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and have long worked with environmental projects mainly related to evaluating the environmental impact of projects and planning, applications of environmental permits and drafting waste management plans.

Public, private and third sector experience. I have worked with environmental law in the public, private and non-governmental sectors. For over five years I was employed by a private company offering environmental consultations. After that I worked for the planning department at the Ministry of the Interior. As the ministry advisor, I dealt with questions regarding planning law and was also involved in drafting legislation. Additionally, I have interned at the NGO Estonian Environmental Law Centre, which primarily advises private persons and third sector groups.

Complicated disputes. I represented a client in a court dispute regarding maritime spatial planning, which the Estonian Supreme Court has acknowledged to have been one of the most complex environmental cases in the country’s history. The case concerned maritime spatial planning in areas bordering on Hiiu and Pärnu counties, and resulted in the Supreme Court declaring that plans for wind energy production areas were void.

Disputes involving manufacturing firms. I have participated in environmental disputes primarily involving manufacturing companies (eg, hydroelectric plants, water companies) , and also advised companies applying for environmental permits and in need of advice on environmental tax and environmental liability matters.

Environmental expert at large. I am called upon to collaborate with all the Sorainen teams who encounter environmental issues in their work, be it real estate, energy, M&A or public procurement practices.