The Legal 500

Attorneys at Law Borenius has ‘good specialists in every area’, and showcased its IP expertise with two leading cases: defending pharmaceuticals company Gedeon Richter in a patent infringement case brought by Bayer Schering Pharma; and representing KRKA in a patent infringement against Novartis. Media clients include MTG Group, owner of Viasat Broadcasting and TV3 Latvia. Indrikis Liepa has ‘a deep knowledge in the pharmaceuticals markets’.

Lawin delivers ‘clear, practical advice’ to an A-list of clients, such as trade mark issues for ExxonMobil and Coca-Cola, and IT work for Siemens Osakeijtio and Sony. The ‘very fast’ Martins Gailis and the ‘very precise’ Sarmis Spilbergs are up-and-coming specialists led by industry and regulatory group head Liga Merwin.

Raidla Lejins & Norcous’ clients include Pfizer Ireland, AstraZeneca and Bayer Schering Pharma, and the team advised the latter in the patent infringement claim against Gedeon Richter. Technology-related instructions included acting for Paysafecard.com Werkarten on the introduction and provision of cross-border electronic money services in Latvia. Guntars Zile heads this ‘very responsive’ team, and managing partner Girts Lejins leads on telecoms matters.

Sorainen’s clients ‘value the possibility to use a one-stop shop for all three Baltic countries’. It is regularly instructed by leading UK and US law firms, and worked alongside Hogan Lovells International LLP’s Hamburg office in representing a European food company in a trade mark challenge in Latvia. Other clients include MTV Networks and pharmaceuticals company Teva Europe. ‘Very good professional’ Agris Repšs heads the practice.

bnt Klauberg Krauklis Attorneys-at-law has ‘a high number of specialists who are able to give fast, appropriate advice’, such as Theis Klauberg, an expert in IP and life sciences. The firm is regularly consulted by the London office of Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP to advise on pharmaceutical regulatory and IP issues in Latvia, and acts for Wrigley on all IP protection, food law and other regulatory issues.

Eversheds Bitans acted for Novartis in successfully appealing in a patent infringement action against KRKA, and serves as outside general counsel to Samsung Electronics Baltics. IP practice head Agris Bitans and head of IT and telecoms Maris Vainovskis are ‘experts in their fields’.

Kronbergs & Cukste has ‘very good experience in several key subject areas’, and acts for leading companies such as BT, Electrolux and longstanding client Microsoft; it recently advised Electrolux in a breach of copyright claim. Vineta Cukste and Zane Veidemane-Berzina are the key figures.

IP is a core area of practice at Rozenfelds & Partners, which handles IP monitoring as well as enforcement before the Patent Board, Competition Council and the courts. Senior partner Janis Rozenfelds leads the team.

IP boutique Agency Tria Robit was victorious for Procter & Gamble in a trade mark defence appeal; and acted for Philip Morris Products in overturning a trade mark registration refusal. This large team comprises seven partners and 12 associates, led by Vladimir Anohin. ‘We work with many foreign trade mark firms around the world and I would say this is one of the best,’ says one grateful client.

Gencs Valters Law Firm handles trade mark matters for clients including Jameson, PayPal, and for Sony regarding its Playstation brand, and the firm is handling a trade mark dispute for TCM Motors, the distributor of Chrysler’s Jeep and Dodge vehicles.

MAQS Law Firm provides trade mark and copyright advice regarding various internationally renowned brands, and acts for technology clients including BIT, a leading IT company in Latvia. Sergei Petrov and Dmitri Kolesnikov lead the IP and IT practices, respectively.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene is defending Innovative System Developers Group (ISDG) in a dispute with the Latvian government concerning the supply and installation of mobile signal blocking systems in state prisons. Gundars Cers heads the team, which ‘responds promptly, precisely and to the point’.

Varul’s new clients include telecoms service provider Baltkom TV, which the firm is advising in a dispute with Lattelcom regarding the rates applicable to the transfer of telephone numbers. Technology sector clients include Datakom and HansaWorld Latvia. Debora Pavila ‘takes a wide view on the issue to be solved’, including the potential for action under EU law.