The Legal 500

Eversheds Bitans’ large and varied caseload includes representing Parex Banka in a milestone claim brought by the client against two of its former managers, and acting for Latvian-Russian joint company LatRosTrans in civil proceedings against the Belarusian company, Druzhba, over ownership rights to technological oil in pipelines. Practice head Agris Bitans is a renowned litigator, and Ilze Kramina is also recommended.

Glimstedt & Partneri recently boosted its dispute resolution practice by recruiting three new associates in 2012. The team is representing the Ministry of Transport in a €600m dispute with Spanish train supply contractor CAF, which includes a mediation process at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. It also continues to advise the Ministry of Finance in its dispute with shareholders of the bailed-out Parex Banka. Peteris Dalderis and senior associate Roberts Rimsa are key figures in the arbitration and mediation team.

Raidla Lejins & Norcous strengthened its dispute resolution capabilities by recruiting seasoned litigator Egīls Radziņš, who was formerly a sole practitioner, as the new head of the litigation practice. Girts Lejins represented Swiss oil trading company Litasco in a $35m contract enforcement dispute against a Latvian oil terminal. The firm also has specialised teams dedicated to bankruptcy and restructuring cases, and public procurement disputes. Specialist counsel Jevgenijs Salims is recommended.

Sorainen’s excellent team is headed by the highly regarded Agris Repss, who is working alongside Hogan Lovells International LLP in London to advise BTA, the largest Kazakh bank, in a €5bn dispute involving Latvian civil procedural issues. Other clients include Ryanair, Baltcom TV and the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene’s ‘widely experienced and strong team’ has an excellent track record in public procurement and insolvency disputes, and ‘invariably provides superb quality work and gives clients what they need exactly when they need it’. The team recently represented KPMG, the insolvency administrator of Latvijas Krajbanka, in litigation against the bank’s former board and council member. Newly promoted partner Agnese Hartpenga heads the practice, and is ‘an excellent litigation strategist’. Ivars Grunte is ‘always in reach, interested and dedicated’, and Linda Štrause is ‘an unmatched corporate litigator’.

bnt Attorneys-at-law’s ‘top’ team is ‘always responsive’, and combines ‘knowledge of local business culture and legislation’ with ‘good understanding of clients’ requirements’. Managing partner Arturs Krauklis is ‘an excellent lawyer to work with: his ability to find practical solutions to difficult situations is impressive’. Krauklis is representing German insurance company Nürnberger in litigation against a Latvian logistics company.

Attorneys at Law Borenius has particular expertise in patent litigation, in addition to commercial and corporate disputes. Its broad client portfolio spans local companies, international corporations and government institutions. It advised the Ministry of Finance on a fund recovery case. Practice head Lauris Liepa is ‘a high-level professional with a strong sense of social responsibility’.

Kronbergs & Cukste handles competition and antitrust, regulatory, tax, IP, employment and administrative disputes. Vineta Cukste recently acted for a waste management company in litigation against a municipality, and Valters Kronbergs represented Nykredit before the Supreme Court.

Lawin is noted for its particular expertise in IP, employment, insurance and public procurement cases. Practice head Daiga Zivtina is leading representation of Stadler Bussnang in a dispute regarding the decision by the Latvian Procurement Monitoring Bureau to approve a Ls460m contract between CAF and the state-owned railway Pasazieru Vilciens.

Litigation is an important practice for LetLaw, where Sintija Radionova is the lead practitioner following the departure of Larisa Sokolova. Radionova represented UniCredit Bank and SIA Latvian Snacks in respective debt recovery cases.

Magnusson’s practice head Debora Pavila is known for her expertise in public procurement disputes, and advises construction company Merks and several clients in the IT sector. Pavila also represented Riga International Airport in various disputes relating to a €95m infrastructure development project. Other clients include If P&C Insurance, IVECO and Rimi Latvia.

Adversus, which was established in 2011, joins the ranking. Sandis Bertaitis, formerly an associate at Attorneys at Law Borenius, focuses on dispute resolution and administrative law, and acts for clients including the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Finance.

Amber Law’s recently formed practice is co-headed by the ‘highly professional, experienced and persevering’ Annija Svemberga and Dace Drice, both previously lawyers at Lawin, and ‘services are of very high quality’. Recent work includes representing SIA Batterfisa in an administrative court case over fishing quotas allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Blueger & Plaude’s seasoned litigator Baiba Plaude is a well-known expert in real estate disputes. Vairis Reinholds and Eugene Manenkov also have a wealth of experience in litigation and arbitration.

Gencs Valters Law Firm continues to represent international companies in disputes arising from their Latvian businesses. Clients include McDonald’s licensee Premier Capital, L’Oréal Baltic and technology company Purolite International.

Law Office O.Cers & J.Jurkans’ Olavs Cers and Janis Jurkans are adept at contentious work across a broad range of sectors including commercial, contract, construction and corporate law, as well as insolvency. The team is acting for Latvia State Radio and Television Centre in a dispute over the implementation of digital broadcasting.

Rozenfelds & Partners’ founding partner Janis Rozenfelds has strong expertise in real estate and IP disputes, and is praised for his combination of court experience and theoretical knowledge.

Dispute resolution is a cornerstone practice for Skrastins & Dzenis, which is representing public company Latvijas Gaze in €11.5m recovery proceedings against the insolvent Latvijas Krajbanka.

Daimars Skutans heads Spilbridge & Partners’ litigation and arbitration practice, which successfully represented Ventbunkers before the Supreme Court in a case to lift provisional measures obtained by Litasco. Senior associate Oskars Jonans is recommended for constitutional litigation, and Benita Balana is the main contact for white-collar crime cases.