Public Procurement Law 2025

To Make or Buy?

Estonia's leading procurement law conference returns with a focus on today's most pressing challenges in public procurement. Join top legal experts, government officials, and industry professionals from across Europe for a day of key insights, policy discussion, and strategic exchange.

Register Now

About the Conference

Why Attend
Public Procurement Law 2025 is not just a conference. It's where policy and practice come together, bringing the EU's leading legal minds to address the most pressing challenges in procurement law and strategy.

Attendees will gain:

  • Practical insights into EU public procurement law, risk management, and sustainability
  • Expert analysis on legal developments, case law, and policy trends

The event also offers a rare opportunity to:

  • Connect with top scholars, advisors, and public sector leaders
  • Exchange ideas on procurement's future across Europe
Date: November 6, 2025
Location: Hotel Hestia Europa, Tallinn, Estonia
Languages: Estonian with English interpretation available

How to Join

Registration & Fees

Participation Formats

In Person

Attend in Tallinn with full networking opportunities

Live Stream

Watch live via online stream

Recordings

Access recordings via e-learning platform (30-day access)

Until Sept 20
€239 + VAT
Sept 21 – Oct 24
€259 + VAT
From Oct 25
€279 + VAT

Additional Options

Recordings only: €49 + VAT

Individual online presentations:

  • €95 + VAT (early)
  • €109 + VAT (after Oct 24)

Ideal for flexible learning or topic-specific access.

All tickets include:

  • Full access to the conference program
  • Conference materials
  • Certificate of participation
  • In-person lunch & coffee breaks

Ready to join?

Register Now

What's On the Agenda?

09:30

Opening Remarks

  • Priit Pikamäe, Dean, University of Tartu Faculty of Law
  • Mari Ann Simovart, Professor, University of Tartu
09:45

Session I: Current State of Public Procurement*

Moderator: Dr. Kadri Härginen (Sorainen Law Firm / University of Tartu)

  • 09:45 – 10:10 EU revision of Directives (Speaker TBD)
  • 10:10 – 10:35 Helicopter view on exemptions in light of TFEU – Prof. Carina Risvig Hamer (University of Copenhagen)
  • 10:35 – 10:55 Strategic directions in public procurement in Estonia 2025–2026 – Estella Põllu (Ministry of Finance)
Coffee Break (10:55 – 11:15)
11:15

Session II: Directive 2014/24 Article 12 in Practice*

Moderator: Carri Ginter (Sorainen Law Firm / University of Tartu)

  • 11:15 – 11:35 In the shadow of the Classical Directive
    Article 12 and the Limits of Subsidiary Application in Portuguese Defence Procurement Law – Filomena Soares Vieira (University of Lisbon)
  • 11:35 – 11:55 The new Finnish approach to in-house contracts – Prof. Kirsi Maria Halonen (University of Lapland)
  • 11:55 – 12:15 The Scope of Permissible Subcontracting in the Performance of In-House Procurement Contracts – Dr. Jarosław Kola (Adam Mickiewicz University / WKB Lawyers)
Discussion (12:15 – 12:45) & Lunch Break (12:45 – 13:30)
13:30

Session III: Security and Public Procurement Exceptions*

Moderator: Dr. Mari Ann Simovart (University of Tartu)

  • 13:30 – 13:50 Internal Market and 'Zeitenwende': On the impact of the war in Ukraine on the interpretation of art.346(1)(b) TFEU – Prof. Martin Trybus (University of Birmingham)
  • 13:50 – 14:10 The Compatibility of National Security Interests with the Principle of Proportionality in public procurement: a Case Study of Lithuanian Legal Practice – Dr. Deividas Soloveičik (COBALT / Vilnius University)
  • 14:10 – 14:30 KOLIN & Co.: A Shift Toward Protectionism in EU Public Procurement? – Dr. Christian Kokew (LUTZ | ABEL Law Firm)
Discussion (14:30 – 15:00) & Coffee Break (15:00 – 15:20)
15:20

Session IV: Current Topics in Estonian Public Procurement Practice

Moderator: TBA

  • 15:20 – 15:50 Recent decisions by VAKO and Estonian courts – Ulvi Reimets (Public Procurement Disputes Committee)
  • 15:50 – 16:15 Selection of European Court of Justice decisions – Kadri Matteus (Matteus Law Firm)
  • 16:20 – 16:45 TOP 5 public procurement events anno 2025 – Erki Fels (TEGOS Law Firm) & Mart Parind (NOVE Law Firm)
16:45

Conference Closing

  • 16:45 – 17:30 Book presentation. The commented edition of the Public Procurement Act will be presented by the editors. Open microphone for all interested participants.

* The first three sessions are primarily in English, with simultaneous interpretation to Estonian available for in-person participants if needed. No interpretation is available for web streaming.

The Experts You'll Learn From

Estella Põllu
Estella Põllu
Estonian Ministry of Finance
Head of Public Procurement and State Aid at the Ministry of Finance, overseeing policy development and implementation. Estella frequently speaks at events about public procurement law, transparency, and procedural reform.
Prof. Kirsi Maria Halonen
Prof. Kirsi Maria Halonen
University of Lapland (Finland)
A leading Finnish expert on public procurement law, Prof. Halonen holds a doctorate from the University of Turku and serves as Professor of Public Finance Law. She has led multiple research projects funded by the Finnish Academy, focusing on procurement efficiency, crisis preparedness, and sustainability.
Dr. Deividas Soloveičik
Dr. Deividas Soloveičik
COBALT / Vilnius University (Lithuania)
A leading Lithuanian legal advisor specializing in public procurement law. He handles EU funding irregularities and financial corrections, is Associate Professor of Commercial Law at Vilnius University, and is an active researcher in international legal networks.
Filomena Vieira
Filomena Vieira
Independent / University of Minho (Portugal)
Portuguese lawyer with deep academic and practical experience in administrative and procurement law. A founding member of the Public Procurement Observatory at Mackenzie University (Brazil), she lectures postgrad courses and is pursuing her PhD research at a Spanish university.
Dr. Jarosław Kola
Dr. Jarosław Kola
Adam Mickiewicz University / WKB Lawyers (Poland)
Expert in EU procurement law, author of a 2023 article on “local content” in procurement, and legal advisor at WKB. He co-authored a chapter on procurement as development policy in Africa and recently won a precedent-setting EU case regarding third-country contractor rights under the Remedies Directive.
Erki Fels
Erki Fels
TEGOS Law Firm (Estonia)
Known for handling complex procurement cases across sectors. Associate Partner at TEGOS and specialist in public procurement and dispute resolution. Visiting lecturer at the University of Tartu and co-author of the commented edition of the Estonian Public Procurement Act.
Mart Parind
Mart Parind
NOVE Law Office (Estonia)
Co-authored the commented Public Procurement Act and leads NOVE’s sports law practice. Associated Partner at NOVE, public procurement and EU law expert. Former member of the Estonian Public Procurement Review Committee and lecturer at Tallinn University.
Dr. Mari Ann Simovart
Dr. Mari Ann Simovart
University of Tartu (Estonia)
Vice-Chair of the Procurement Review Panel of the European Space Agency and co-editor of Public Procurement Law Review. Professor of Economic Law focused on procurement, defence contracts, and EU principles. She also lectures internationally and is a member of AcademiaNet.
Dr. Kadri Härginen
Dr. Kadri Härginen
Sorainen / University of Tartu (Estonia)
Partner at Sorainen and head of Public Procurement & Projects. A trained lawyer and policymaker since 2007, she brings experience from both sides of the tender process. Holds a PhD from the University of Tartu and teaches procurement law.
Dr. Carri Ginter
Dr. Carri Ginter
Sorainen / University of Tartu (Estonia)
Associate Professor of European Law and partner at Sorainen. He is a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and specializes in EU law and cross-border litigation. Holds a Jean Monnet Chair in European Law awarded by the European Commission.
Dr. Christian Kokew
Dr. Christian Kokew
LUTZ | ABEL (Germany)
Recognized as a top procurement lawyer by WirtschaftsWoche and recommended by JUVE and Legal 500. Procurement law expert advising public and private clients, especially on PPPs.
Prof. Carina Risvig Hamer
Prof. Carina Risvig Hamer
University of Southern Denmark
Expert in EU procurement law and author of numerous publications on procurement exemptions and legal frameworks. Professor of Public Procurement Law specializing in exemptions and procurement procedures.
Ulvi Reimets
Ulvi Reimets
Estonian Public Procurement Review Committee
Member of the Estonian Public Procurement Review Committee and expert in procurement dispute resolution. Specializes in recent procurement rulings and case law analysis in Estonia.
Organized in collaboration with