The Legal 500

Senior associate Sigita Kravale at Attorneys at Law Borenius wins plaudits for her ‘creative solutions in line with the needs and interests of the client’. She is leading advice to LKB Lizings in a precedent-setting case to establish whether a member of the board is considered an employee under EU law. Practice head Lauris Liepa led a successful claim against the Ministry of Health that resulted in a recent change in legislation.

Eversheds Bitans ‘stands out with its in-depth industry knowledge and innovative solutions, stemming from the team’s experience and expertise’. Well-known litigator and arbitrator Agris Bitans ‘provides superior care to his clients’, and is defending LatRosTrans, the Latvian-Russian oil and petroleum pipeline operator, in a $100m dispute over oil ownership. Junior partner Ilze Kramina is ‘efficient and tireless in litigation matters’.

Lawin provides ‘accurate and to-the-point’ advice to major international companies, such as E.ON Ruhrgas International, which the firm represented in a series of cases in the Supreme Court regarding its shareholding in national gas monopoly Latvijas Gaze and other shareholder issues. Practice head Daiga Zivtina and Ilga Gudrenika-Krebs are experienced litigators and arbitrators.

Raidla Lejins & Norcous’ caseload of complex claims includes representing Swiss oil-trading company LITASCO in a $35m contract dispute with a Latvian oil terminal. Swedbank and BITE Latvia are also clients. ‘Gutsy and very astute’ specialist counsel Jevgenijs Salims is a former judge, and head of the practice.

Sorainen was selected to represent the Ministry of Finance and wider Latvian parliament in the Constitutional Court concerning challenges to the Credit Institutions Law, which was enacted to facilitate restructuring of the banking sector and ultimately ruled to be constitutional. The group is also representing Ryanair in a dispute between Riga International Airport and airBaltic. Practice head Agris Repšs led both matters; he is appreciated for his ‘ability to propose good alternatives to solve any matters on the table’.

The ‘creative’ Peteris Dalderis at Glimstedt & Partneri is acting for NCC Construction in voluminous litigation following the cessation of major projects during the recession. The firm is also representing DNB in complex appeal cases concerning fraud of fiduciary loans. Marika Rozite and Roberts Rimsa are also key figures in the practice.

Kronbergs & Cukste has a broad caseload for big-name clients, such as defending Avon Cosmetics and acting for Latvian Post in a €5m litigation concerning the establishment of Postal Bank and the transfer of postal branch business. The team has ‘excellent industry knowledge’ and provides ‘an excellent overall level of service’, but lost experienced litigator Martins Mezinskis to Lawin.

‘Real professional’ Sintija Radionova and Larisa Sokolova lead LetLaw’s disputes practice, which is advising UniCredit Bank and DNB in litigation relating to debt collection and loan repossession. It is also representing the family of a soldier killed during training in a precedent-setting case against the Ministry of Defence and National Armed Forces.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene attracts high-end instructions, which include defending a former board member of the restructured Parex bank (now Bank Citadele) in liability claims for losses caused, and representing Clear Channel Latvia in a dispute with Riga City Council concerning advertising hoardings in the capital. Practice head Agnese Hartpenga provides ‘a thought-through and effective strategy’, and managing partner Ivars Grunte is ‘a skilled negotiator, very eloquent and diplomatic’, and ‘the kind of professional who actually brings opponents together’.

Varul’s dispute resolution practice is the preferred choice for several major Baltic companies such as If P&C Insurance and construction company Merko. Practice head Debora Pavila is ‘very responsive, competent and absolutely first choice in public procurement matters’, as demonstrated by the firm’s challenge to Latvia’s public procurement law in the Constitutional Court for business solutions provider HansaWorld Latvia.

bnt Klauberg Krauklis Attorneys-at-law is advising one of Europe’s largest insurance companies in international arbitration with Latvia’s largest oil trader, a matter led by name partner Arturs Krauklis, who is ‘an excellent litigator’.

The long-established Blueger & Plaude has many years’ experience advising domestic and international companies and public bodies in litigation, appeals, arbitration and constitutional challenges. Baiba Plaude heads the practice.

Gencs Valters Law Firm is representing the State Regulator of Prices concerning litigation over tariffs and licences pertaining to PPP projects. Other clients include SAAB, Energetec and US-based Puroite International.

Law Office O.Cers & J.Jurkans’ large team is advising Riga International Airport in a dispute with the Lithuanian airline, FlyLal, and representing Swedbank in an asset recovery case. Janis Jurkans and Olavs Cers head the practice.

Rozenfelds & Partners has a reputable practice, which is notable for IP and labour law disputes. Founding partner Janis Rozenfelds is an experienced international arbitrator.

Skrastins & Dzenis represents Riga City Council in various property rights disputes, including one case in the Supreme Court. Verners Skrastins is ‘a good strategist with a broad vision of the problem’, and Andrejs Gulajevs is ‘a witty, experienced and knowledgeable litigator’.

Daimars Skutans heads Spilbridge & Partners’ dispute resolution practice, which acts in a number of challenges in the Constitutional Court. The firm recently won a verdict on the illegality of the country’s interim relief regime.