The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance , RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Raidla Lejins & Norcous’ ‘friendly team’ is marked by its creativity and level of partner involvement. The firm advised Russia’s Otkritie Financial Corporation on its acquisition of GE Money Banka, the Latvian subsidiary of GE Capital, including the asset management and pension fund subsidiaries. Riga City Council Department of Finance and numerous international banks are clients. ‘First-class lawyer’ Andrejs Lielkalns ‘invaluably helps a transaction go smoothly’.

Within Corporate and M&A, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Raidla Lejins & Norcous regularly acts as corporate counsel to leading inward investors such as Kraft Foods and Nordea Bank. The firm advised AXA Private Equity and Polish private equity firm Resource Partners on their joint acquisition of a majority stake in Baltkom TV, the country’s largest cable television operator. Practice head Dace Silava-Tomsone has ‘excellent business understanding’, and, overall, the team’s ‘efficiency delivers good value for money’.

Within Dispute resolution, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

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.

Within EU and competition, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Raidla Lejins & Norcous acted for Samsung Electronics Baltics in appealing against a record €6.6m fine for alleged market partitioning and resale price maintenance, a case that was concluded by settlement. It advised the Latvian Commercial Banks Association regarding the MIF cartel investigation. Group head Dace Silava-Tomsone and senior associate Ugis Zeltins are ‘excellent’ and ‘always provide practical advice’.

Within IP, IT and telecoms, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Real estate and construction, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Raidla Lejins & Norcous is ‘well able to serve international clients’, and its experienced team includes the notable figures of Dace Silava-Tomsone and Guntars Zile. Clients include Swedbank and Nokia as well as Stora Enso Latvia, which the group advised on the sale of its forest land portfolio.

Within Shipping and transport, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Recent instructions for Raidla Lejins & Norcous’ broad practice include acting for Baxter Aviation on the proposed lease of an Airbus aircraft to Smartlynx Airlines, and advising Abbotswood Shipping Corporation in a $1.8m dispute with a Latvian insurance company. The highly respected Jevgenijs Salims is leading both matters.

Within Tax, RAIDLA LEJINS & NORCOUS is a first tier firm,

Raidla Lejins & Norcous’ ‘highly professional’ group acted for Stora Enso Latvia in successfully overturning a decision of the State Revenue Service, which was required to repay illegally charged taxes to the company. Senior associate Sandija Novicka is recommended.