The Legal 500

Managing partner Agris Bitans at Eversheds Bitans Law Office is a leading litigator and arbitrator and, together with Ilze Kramina, forms an effective duo. The firm is a regular in headline matters at the Supreme Court and beyond, and is advising Parex Bank in a potentially precedent-setting claim brought against two of the bank’s former managers.

LAWIN advises blue-chips on a diverse range of disputes, such as representing Enefit in appeal proceedings concerning electricity distribution tariffs and acting for Finnlines plc as third party in an insurance dispute. Coca-Cola and Sanofi-Aventis Latvia are clients of the ‘customer-orientated and attentive’ team led by Ilga Gudrenika-Krebs.

A large team of experienced associates at Attorneys at Law Borenius steered by well-known litigator Lauris Liepa handle an extensive and varied caseload on behalf of major domestic companies including state-owned entities. Ieva Krumina and Edgars Lodzins demonstrate ‘professionalism and the ability to see cases from different angles’.

Girts Lejins at Raidla Lejins & Norcous is an international arbitrator and heads the firm’s disputes practice alongside specialist counsel and former judge, Jevgenijs Salims. The group’s lawyers are ‘very smart’ and ‘creative thinkers’, and led advice to Swedbank in a $9m breach of contract dispute, and are handling contentious debt recovery for ESSO Deutschland and Bayer.

Sorainen fields one of the largest disputes teams in the market, led by Agris Repšs, who is praised for his ‘ability to coordinate complex research issues across several legal teams’. Among the high-profile cases handled is the successful defence of DHL Latvia in a spurious insolvency claim, and winning an appeal for Coca-Cola Baltic Beverages.

Senior associate Roberts Rimsa at Glimstedt & Partneri receives plaudits for his ‘precious assistance’ and ‘good strategy’, while managing partner Peteris Dalderis is ‘open and creative’. The firm handles multiple disputes for new client NCC Construction, while its finance expertise has been in demand for restructuring and debt recovery cases on behalf of major regional banks.

Kronbergs & Cukste advises its impressive array of clients on disputes, for example, Electrolux, Radisson SAS Hotels and Latvian Railways. Valters Kronbergs is leading the advice to NyKredit in a landmark Supreme Court case concerning registration of land encumbrances.

Although smaller than its nearest rivals, Spilbridge & Partners opposes top-ranking litigation teams in heavyweight matters. It is advising multiple claimants in a major shareholder dispute in the oil industry and handling a $90m claim in the Riga Regional Court. Daimars Skutans is the main contact.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene fields an experienced team in Ivars Grunte and several senior associates, of which Agnese Hartpenga is singled out for praise. Overall, the level of service is rated ‘very high, from a professional, speed and resource point of view’. The extensive caseload includes advice to Air Baltic in a €6m claim against Riga Airport and matters for Latvian Railways.

With a strong track record in dispute work at all levels, VARUL advises public sector clients and international companies. Julija Jerneva acted for the Latvian Parliament in the Constitutional Court in a case concerning the remuneration of judges, while practice head Debora Pavila advises Latvian construction company Merks in several disputes.

bnt Klauberg Krauklis Attorneys-at-law continues to raise its profile, representing leading European companies such as international baby food producer, HiPP, in litigation against Latvian counterparts. Arturs Krauklis leads a team of ‘good communicators and quick reactors to problems’.

Experienced arbitrator Baiba Plaude heads the disputes practice at Blueger & Plaude. The firm is a regular in matters before the Supreme Court, acting for mid-sized local and international clients as well as public bodies, such as Riga City Council.

Gencs Valters Law Firm has a substantial international clientele driving a busy practice, particularly in respect of debt recovery litigation. Oskars Ramins is leading advice to UK SME, Purolite International, in relation to a Latvian-based €500,000 debt.

Larisa Sokolova and Sintija Radionova lead a very broad caseload at LetLaw that includes loan repossession litigation for Unicredit Bank and defending Rimi Latvia in an employment claim. Radionova ‘is always responsive and completes projects on time’.

Rozenfelds & Partners handles general commercial and administrative disputes, as well as specialist matters such as employment litigation. Founding partner Janis Rozenfelds is a well-known arbitrator, leading cases at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

Dispute resolution is a core area for Skrastins & Dzenis, which fields a capable team led by name partner Verners Skrastins. Recent cases include advice to niche Latvian bank VEF in respect of withdrawal of its regulatory licence and subsequent threat of liquidation, which the firm is defending.