RASK represents Eesti Metsameister OÜ and its former management board member and owner in criminal proceedings
Case
RASK attorneys-at-law Andrei Svištš and Villy Lopman represent Eesti Metsameister OÜ, one of the largest forestry companies in Estonia, and its former management board member and owner in criminal proceedings.
Eesti Metsameister OÜ is engaged in the management and acquisition of large forest properties, as well as providing forest management planning and harvesting services to landowners. To deliver these services, the company uses both its own employees and external service providers and agents.
In 2019, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board initiated criminal proceedings to investigate the relationship between Eesti Metsameister OÜ and its service providers. The Tax and Customs Board's position is that the agents engaged by the company should be classified as employees, which would make Eesti Metsameister OÜ liable for all related labour taxes, which exceed 1,2 mEUR.
During the pre-trial proceedings, the defence successfully challenged the lawfulness of surveillance evidence, which was subsequently excluded from the proceedings.
RASK’s team continues to defend its client in court.