The Legal 500

The impressive client list at Glimstedt & Partneri is indicative of the level of corporate services at the firm, including international brands Marks & Spencer, Bosch, General Motors and Royal Unibrew. The M&A void was filled with general advisory work, such as shareholder and supervisory council advice for TeliaSonera. Clients appreciate the ‘constant support and dedication’ of the practice led by ‘highly skilled’ managing partner Peteris Dalderis.

The mix of western and local culture at Kronbergs & Cukste is a winning formula for the firm which advises a raft of leading international companies on everyday corporate matters, such as Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and new clients Avon Cosmetics and Wrigley’s. Domestic clients include Latvian Railways and Latvian Post, advising the latter on major restructuring. Vineta Cukste heads the practice with input from Valters Kronbergs.

LAWIN is distinguished for its depth of resources, international focus and market share of top-drawer transactions. Both Filip Flavins and Raymond Slaidins are US-trained corporate lawyers, although the former will now focus less on client work in his role as pan-Baltic managing partner of the LAWIN brand. The firm acted for News Corporation on the sale of its Latvian TV stations via MBO, while advice is ‘excellent from all points of view’ and ‘breaks new ground’.

Guaranteed corporate expertise at Raidla Lejins & Norcous ensures a regular role in headline matters, such as acting as Latvian counsel for Mediq on its €85m acquisition of the healthcare and trade business of Oriola-KD, and advising Swedbank Life Insurance SE on establishing Societas Europaea in the Baltics. A stalwart team includes Guntars Zile, managing partner Girts Legins and practice head Dace Silava-Tomsone who ‘does all that is necessary to close the deal’.

Sorainen is ‘not only a group of bright lawyers but a group of very professional, business-minded and client-orientated lawyers’, says a major purchaser of legal services in the region. Corporate transactions are at the firm’s core, advising AON on the cross-border merger of its Baltic insurance brokerage subsidiaries. Practice head and managing partner Eva Berlaus has ‘great contract negotiation and drafting skills’ and ‘must be praised for her management’.

In addition to international referrals, Eversheds Bitans Law Office attracts major domestic clients and deals in its own right due to the expertise of Maris Vainovskis and experienced associates, such as Janis Lagzdinš. The ‘excellent on all fronts’ team acted for the management of TV channels Latvian Independent Television and TV5 in a rare MBO for Latvia, opposite LAWIN. Corporate work for Vitol group was also undertaken.

Attorneys at Law Borenius has a strong corporate law reputation, attracting major clients and instructions as a result, including advising Merck Sharp Dohme on the Latvian aspects of its global merger with Schering-Plough, and acting for Alexela Oil on the sale of its fuel filling stations. The team is ‘excellent’ and led by Indrikis Liepa.

Gundars Cers and senior associate Andra Rubene at Tark Grunte Sutkiene are leading the advice to the Ergo group of companies in the Baltics on its cross-border restructuring. Completed deals include acting for the management of leading publishing house Mediju Nams on its MBO. The service is ‘excellent’, say clients.

VARUL has a steady flow of good quality instructions, with corporate work being the cornerstone of the firm. It advised key client Swedbank on the sale of 100% shares in a leading construction company, the largest sale of a distressed asset in the Latvian construction industry. Gints Vilgerts, Debora Pavila and Julija Jerneva comprise the all-partner team.

bnt Klauberg Krauklis Attorneys-at-law is distinguished by its geographical spread and ‘highly qualified lawyers’ in Arturs Krauklis and senior associate Renars Gasuns, who provides ‘practical advice’. The firm advised on one of the few M&A deals to complete in 2009, acting for Heise Media Latvia on its multimillion-euro merger with Baltic Capital. It acts for Gama Power Stations in the €368m TTP-2 energy construction project in Riga.

A strong team of associates at Gencs Valters Law Firm, led by name partner Valters Gencs, attracts some heavyweight clients, such as AP Moller-Maersk, advising it on restructuring, and handling the closing of Siemens Turbomachinery branch in Latvia. Recently established satellite offices in Lithuania and Estonia assist with cross-border transactions.

LetLaw fields ‘local lawyers with know-how’ led by Kristine Gaigule and Zane Eglite, who are ‘both on top of the action’. Highlights included acting for Van Genechten Packaging on its acquisition of 50% shares in Kvadra Pak, while the firm has been appointed Latvian counsel to Swedish-based global company, Trelleborg.

Part of a Scandinavian-Baltic network, MAQS Law Firm advises on cross-border corporate matters and transactions, steered by Sergie Petrov. Clients include Latvian Railways, Baltic Travel Group and Hanseatic Capital Estonia, advising the latter on the takeover of Latvian company Krauklitis.

Skrastins & Dzenis has a steady practice advising mid-sized companies on everyday corporate matters as well as M&A, providing clients with ‘good industry knowledge’. Aivis Dzenis is a ‘strong lawyer and team leader’ and is acting for new client Kurzeme Business Incubator, established in cooperation with the Latvian Investments and Development Agency.