Leading Individuals

Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Shipping and transport in Latvia

Cobalt

Transport is one of Cobalt‘s core areas of strength. The firm is frequently consulted on major current infrastructure projects and represents some of the biggest players in the region, including airBaltic, Kuehne+Nagel and Latvian Railways. The team acts on behalf of its clients in public procurement bidding, contractual negotiations and litigation. Practice head Gatis Flinters has 15 years of experience advising on transport projects in the Baltic and has extensive knowledge of local regulatory requirements. Alongside leading the transport and shipping practice, he also heads the firm’s corporate and commercial team. Transport dispute resolution expert and senior advisor, Ģirts Lejiņš, is also key to the practice.

Practice head(s):

Gatis Flinters


Other key lawyers:

Ģirts Lejiņš


Key clients

airBaltic


Kuehne+Nagel


Latvijas Dzelzceļš


CF&S Latvia


LSC


Moller Baltic Import


MSC


Riga International Airport


Skultes Kokosta SIA


Baltijas Sporta Auto SIA


Work highlights


  • Advised the Austrian company Swietelsky AG as a part of the winning consortium in the international tender for the construction of a Rail Baltica train station and related infrastructure at the Riga International Airport.
  • Assisting airBaltic in contracting and negotiation matters related to development of the MRO hangar.
  • Successfully represented international aviation carrier Vulkan Air OÜ in a legal action against iCotton Ltd for the recovery of liquidated damages.

Sorainen

Sorainen acts on some of the largest transport projects in Latvia and the Baltic region more broadly. The firm has been consulted on huge infrastructure projects such as the Kekava bypass construction and the Rail Baltica project and has also represented the Ministry of Transport in an application to the European Commission. The team, led by transport sector dispute resolution expert Valts Nerets, is also engaged by clients for shipping disputes and transport sector insolvency negotiations. Counsel and Public procurement specialist Raivo Raudzeps and senior associate Inese Heinacka, who works on the financing side, are further names to note.

Practice head(s):

Valts Nerets


Other key lawyers:

Raivo Raudzeps; Inese Heinacka; Elvis Grinbergs


Testimonials

‘Sorainen shipping and transport practice consists of professionals with unique experience in complex cross-border matters. They are trusted advisers in widest range of shipping and transport matters.’

‘Partner Valts Nerets excellently leads the team. Associate Elvis Grinbergs has shown himself as true professional.’

Key clients

RB Rail N


A.C.B., Binders, and TIIC (Portugal), who formed the Kekava ABT consortium


Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia


Česká spořitelna


Certares


JAS Worldwide


Renta Group


Pilna Servisa Līzings


Work highlights


  • Advised on the DBFM contract with the Latvian state for the Kekava bypass on the Via Baltica route.
  • Advising RB Rail AS and working with the Governments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on establishing a European-width fast double-track Rail Baltica railway project.
  • Represents Pilna Servisa Līzings, a company offering car hire services, in numerous contractual disputes with the State Police regarding the buy-out of rented vehicles.

Ellex

Ellex consistently advises large regional and Europe-wide transport companies on major M&A deals, cartel investigations matters and internal restructuring. Raimonds Slaidiņš also heads the corporate and M&A team at the firm and is highly experienced in strategic merger projects in Latvia. Daiga Zivtiņa handles dispute resolution work and has a great deal of specific experience in the shipping and transport industry, acting regularly on public procurement and insurance cases. Associate partners Maris Brizgo, a public procurement expert, and Valters Diure, an aviation specialist, are also very active in this practice area.

Practice head(s):

Raimonds Slaidiņš


Other key lawyers:

Daiga Zivtiņa; Maris Brizgo; Valters Diure


Key clients

Veho Oy AB


Heisterkamp Transportation Solutions


Bombardier Inc.


DVB Bank


Erste Group Bank AG


Chorus Aviation


Nordic Aviation Capital


Finnlines Plc


DFDS


JP Morgan


BNP


Aercap


Porsche


Les Bergeries de Palombaggia


Audi


Volvo Trucks Corporation


Work highlights


  • Advised on the Finnish company Veho’s acquisition of Domenikss, the general representative of Mercedes-Benz in Latvia.
  • Representing Volvo Trucks corporation in follow on damages claims in Latvia in relation to European Commission decision regarding participation in trucks cartel.
  • Advised Heisterkamp Transportation Solutions on appropriate application of the EU Mobility Package and its implementation in the company’s day-to-day activities and organisation of work.

Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns

Providing day-to-day support to major players in the regional transport market and engaging in complex litigation, Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns continues to be one of the frontrunners in this area. Banking and M&A lawyer, Māris Vainovskis, who has experience in ship and aircraft financing, heads up a multidisciplinary team able to draw on the resources of the international Eversheds network. Ginta Krukle has an extensive record in public law matters, and her recent work includes advising on the reform of the administration of Latvia’s ports.

Practice head(s):

Māris Vainovskis


Other key lawyers:

Ginta Krūkle


Testimonials

‘Competence and expertise.’

Key clients

RB Rail, JSC


LatRosTrans, LLC


“Latvijas Kuģniecība” JSC, subsidiary of VITOL S.a.r.l


LSC (formerly Latvian Shipping Company)


Rīgas Satiksme, municipal JSC


TNT Latvia


Work highlights


  • Providing day-to-day support and advice to AS RB Rail on the 3.6-billion-Euro project which involves construction of a high-speed rail line from Tallinn to the Lithuanian/Polish border by 2030.
  • Successfully represented LLC LatRosTrans where the Belarusian company Druzba brought a claim against our client and requested to declare its ownership rights to oil located in a pipeline.
  • Providing TNT (a delivery joint venture formed with international shipping company FedEx Express) with full-scope, daily advice on employment related matters across the Baltics.

Kronbergs Cukste Levin

Representing DHL, Latvian Railways and the Ministry of Transportation, among others, Kronbergs Cukste Levin has an impressive array of both private multinational and public sector clients. Practice head Vineta Cukste-Jurjeva is notable for her extensive transport law experience and long-term service to the Latvian Railways group of companies; she also acts on shipping disputes internationally, appearing at the London Commercial Court in charter agreement cases. Senior Associate Normunds Orols, a former head of investments at the Ministry of Transportation, is another key name.

Practice head(s):

Vineta Cukste-Jurjeva


Other key lawyers:

Normunds Orols


Key clients

RB RIX Engineers PS


Ministry of Transportation of Latvia


DHL


GEFCO


Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate Bureau Ship Service


Latvian Railways


Latvenergo


Latvian Passenger Rail Company


LDz Cargo


European Railway Lines (major participant in Rail Baltica project)


Solaris Bus


RSS


DK Avia


Avesco


Moller Baltic


AD Baltic


Gulfstream Oil


Work highlights


  • Advised RB RIX Engineers PS on railway station construction for Riga Airport.
  • Advised Latvian Railways on restructuring scenarios and specifically the continuation of participation in daughter companies.
  • Acting for DHL on a wide array of matters, starting from contracts to disputes regarding cargo.

TGS Baltic

TGS Baltic advises many major regional companies and projects. The firm is strong in railway-related work and cargo damages and insurance claims; it also has a growing client base including major multinationals, and its sanctions work for Graanul Invest Group demonstrates its broad capabilities. Andra Rubene is a corporate partner with experience in distribution, transport, storage and logistics contractual work. Ivars Grunte works on dispute resolution, specialising in sanctions and customs work, while associate Arina Stivriņa, recommended for her ‘understandable and strategic advice‘, represents a number of large logistics and delivery companies.

Practice head(s):

Ivars Grunte; Andra Rubene; Arina Stivriņa


Testimonials

‘The TGS team is very professional, and their advice is highly valued.’

‘Arina Stivriņa is very professional, she gives straight-forward, understandable and strategic advice.’

Key clients

AS Latvijas dzelzceļš


Imavere Shipping Company


Voestalpine Railways


Rīgas Satiksme


Inchape Motors Finland


Latvijas Balzāms


Inchape Motors Group


Nutrimex


Samson Materials


Ionity


GlaxoSmithKline


Via3L Latvia


ACB


Latvian Hockey Federation


Papyrus SIA


Graanul Invest Group


Latgran SIA


Work highlights


  • Represented AS Latvijas Dzelzceļš (Latvian Railway) in court proceedings against the Latvian Competition Council.
  • Advised Voestalpine Railway Systems GmbH and other group companies on negotiations regarding the Rail Baltica project.
  • Advises Graanul Invest Group in connection with the sanctions currently imposed on shipments to Belarus and Ukraine due to of the war in Ukraine.

WALLESS

WALLESS handles a wide range of transport work and counts aviation, logistics and automotive companies, including the Skoda Group, among its key clients. Jointly leading the team are logistics and shipping specialist, Sintija Radionova, and Kristine Gaigule-Saveja, who is strong in public procurement matters. Senior Associate Andis Ozoliņš has been involved in a number of major projects handled by the transport practice.

Practice head(s):

Sintija Radionova; Kristīne Gaigule-Šāvēja


Other key lawyers:

Andis Ozoliņš


Key clients

A.C.B. AS


Alpha Shipping Company SIA


AmberStone Group


Havas Latvia SIA


Kauno Tiltai


KOOL Latvija SIA


L-EKSPRESIS SIA


LSEZ Dan Store SIA


CM Biomass Partners


Škoda


TAV Airport group companies, Havas group


TILTS SIA


EDGE AUTONOMY Riga, SIA (formerly UAV Factory)


Modus Group companies


Work highlights


  • Advised Škoda Vagonka A.S on fulfilment of public procurement contract for supply of 32 electric trains according to EU law.
  • Advice to TAV Airport Group companies with respect to operations in Riga International Airport.
  • Day-to-day assistance for global commodity trading and logistics company CM Biomass Partners.