Sorainen > Riga, Latvia > Firm Profile

Sorainen > The Legal 500 Rankings

Latvia > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Sorainen advises on major project financing matters and capital markets transactions, as well as providing regulatory and compliance advice. Real estate and construction financing is one of the firm’s core strengths. As part of a pan-Baltic firm, the practice is noted for its cross-border capabilities. The team is led by Rūdolfs Eņģelis, who regularly oversees project financing transactions and counts Luminor and Czech bank Česká spořitelna as key clients. Senior associates Inese Heinacka and Agneta Rumpa provide additional support.

Latvia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Sorainen is regularly trusted for advice on acquisitions by foreign firms entering the Latvian market and by domestic companies and SOEs looking to enter new sectors. The high number of M&A deals overseen by the firm each year stands testimony to its lawyers’ expertise and level of activity in this field. The practice is jointly led by Eva Berlaus and Nauris Grigals, experienced corporate lawyers who are also able to advise on other areas such as employment and competition law. They are supported by a large team of lawyers, including counsels Renāte Purvinska and Jānis Bite.

Latvia > Dispute resolution Tier 1

With a truly extensive team, Sorainen fields one of the most holistic and comprehensive offerings in the market. Valts Nerets and Andris Tauriņš jointly lead a practice encompassing commercial litigation, international arbitration, tax disputes and public procurement projects. Senior associate Katrīne Pļaviņa-Mika leads a specialist government relations subdivision of the team, helping clients to communicate effectively with government representatives and regulatory bodies. Krista Niklase works on white collar crime, with her practice covering issues of bribery, fraud and money laundering, as well as general antitrust matters. Insolvency and PPP specialist, Raivo Raudzeps, is another key name.

Latvia > EU and competition Tier 1

Sorainen‘s EU and competition practice covers merger clearance, industry-wide investigations into abuse of dominance and compliance advice, acting under the leadership of Ieva Andersone. Andersone regularly litigates before the Latvian Competition Council and provides assistance on competition matters, with a particular focus on the construction, retail and financial services sectors. The practice also represents municipal authorities, with one matter for Riga City Municipality notably concerning the whole of the waste management market in the city. Associate Marika Grunte is recommended for her significant experience in helping clients to obtain merger clearances and for her expertise in cartel matters, which has been shaped by her previous role as head of the Latvian Competition Council’s cartel department.

Latvia > IP, IT and telecoms Tier 1

Sorainen‘s intellectual property and technology and media teams represent clients in an array of sectors including broadcasting, music, e-commerce and pharmaceuticals. Ieva Andersone offers support on intellectual property rights protection and enforcement strategies in case infringements should occur. Senior associate Linda Reneslāce provides telecoms and gaming regulatory advice, as well as assisting with data protection and cybersecurity matters. Her practice also involves legal oversight for M&A in the telecoms sector and IT public procurements. Co-head of the dispute resolution team, Andris Tauriņš leads on many media related disputes and is another key name to note.

Latvia > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Sorainen has a very strong record in cross border real estate transactions and counts Lords Asset Management and Nordic Investment Bank among its clients. The firm is also very active in the infrastructure space, with RB Rail being another major client. The practice is jointly led by Lelde Laviņa, who has a background in development projects and sale and leaseback transactions, and Jorens Jaunozols, who has first hand experience in the market having previously worked for a real estate portfolio holder. Counsel Viktorija Smirnova-Čerkasa and senior associate Andris Vilisons are also important pieces of the team.

Latvia > Shipping and transport Tier 1

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.

Latvia > Tax Tier 1

Sorainen chiefly advises on the tax aspects of major transactions, though also provides a range of tax advisory services, including transfer pricing assistance, support for high net worth individuals and representation in tax litigation. The team is led by Jānis Taukačs, who has first-hand industry experience working in tax consultancy. Further key names include corporate side tax specialist, Nauris Grigals, and counsel Aija Lasmane, a customs expert. Senior associate Dace Everte is also recommended.

Latvia > Employment Tier 2

Pan-Baltic firm Sorainen represent a range of multinational and regional clients. Eva Berlaus and new addition Nauris Grigals, who joined from TGS in February 2022, combine both corporate and employment law expertise. Andis Burkevics has considerable employment dispute resolution experience, with a particular focus on trade union matters. The team has acted on a number of significant disputes of late, including a dismissal case for the Freeport of Riga.

Lithuania > Fintech Tier 1

Sorainen has a strong reputation for assisting local start-ups, and the firm is regularly involved in licensing work and advising foreign clients on entrance into the Lithuanian market. The practice is jointly led by managing partner Tomas Kontautas, who is experienced in regulatory matters in the fintech field, and Augustas Klezys, an expert in EU licensing. Counsel Lina Ragainytė-Mezenė, who has first-hand in-house banking industry experience, is a key member of the department.

Lithuania > TMT Tier 1

Representing major technology giants Google and Microsoft, as well as venture capital funds and local Lithuanian media companies, Sorainen is undisputedly one of the top firms in TMT in the market. The firm is well placed to advise on sanctions compliance and other newer factors which have arisen in the Baltic markets since the invasion of Ukraine. The TMT team is headed by Laimonas Skibarka and Jonas Kiauleikis, who specialise in corporate transactions within this field, and Stasys Drazdauskas, an intellectual property and information technology expert. Associate Mindaugas Dominykas Baniulis is also a key part of the practice.