Category: Latvia

Andris Taurins and Valts Nerets, the Co-Heads of the Dispute Resolution and Risk Management practice at Sorainen in Latvia, have joined the firm’s partnership.

Taurins is a licensed patent attorney specializing in trademark matters. He specializes in government relations, media law, and intellectual property protection. He heads the Latvian office’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications group, and according to Sorainen, “he regularly advises technology industry clients on intellectual property, regulation, contract and dispute resolution matters.” He has an LL.B in Law from Latvia University and a Master’s Degree in European Law from the University of Leiden.

Valts Nerets represents clients in international and local arbitration proceedings and litigation involving cross-border elements and international trade issues. Sorainen describes him as  passionate about international investment law arbitration ‒ his field of practice and research for over ten years.” According to the firm, he “has been developing the firm’s Transport & Logistics sector group, [and] he provides practical advice to clients on trade and regulatory aspects of transport and maritime law.” He has an LL.B from the University of Latvia and an LL.M from the Riga Graduate School of Law.

“We strongly believe that this addition to our partnership will help us rapidly grow the dispute resolution practice in Latvia as well as develop our Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Transport & Logistics sector groups,” commented Sorainen Managing Partner Laimonas Skibarka. “This increase in the number of partners means that our clients in Latvia will see more partner hands-on involvement in their cases, which in turn will increase client satisfaction.“

Cobalt is representing UAB Niklita in a dispute related to a procurement process organized by the Prisons Administration of the Ministry of Justice of Latvia involving the supply of catering services to prisoners.

Cobalt’s team includes Partner Sandija Novicka and Associate Arturs Valdersteins.

Cobalt has advised BaltCap portfolio company Coffee Address Holding, a vending and coffee service company in the Baltics operating under the Coffee Address brand, on its acquisition of SIA Kafe Serviss – a vending operator in Latvia. Solo practitioner Lauris Leja represented Kafe Serviss on the transaction, which remains subject to the approval of the the Latvian Competition Council.

The Cobalt team included Partner Guntars Zile, Senior Associates Elina Locmele, Ugis Zeltins, Inga Tenisa, Liga Fjodorova, and Kristine Patmalniece, and Associates Ivo Maskalans, Anna Vladimirova-Krjukova, Juta Gulkevica, and Vadims Zvicevics.

Ellex Klavins has advised Eastnine AB on the acquisition of an 11,500 square meter land plot in Riga from the MCity real estate development company.

Eastnine is a Swedish real estate company with a property value of EUR 203 million and a net asset value of EUR 249 million.

The Ellex Klavins team included Partners Ivars Pommers and Inita Jurka, Senior Associate Anete Dimitrovska, and Associates Ineta Kanepe and Zane Miglane.

Ellex Klavins previously advised Eastnine on a EUR 25 million acquisition of the Valdemara Centrs office building in Riga from Capital Mill (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on October 10, 2019).

Sorainen is advising UniCredit on its disposal of UniCredit Leasing and its operations in Lithuania and Estonia to Citadele Bank.

The transaction involves branches of UniCredit Leasing in Lithuania and Estonia as well as its subsidiary UniCredit Insurance Broker and its branch in Estonia.

Sorainen’s team was led by Latvia Managing Partner Eva Berlaus and included Senior Associate Janis Bite.

Sorainen has advised investment firm Ardian on the sale of the Competence Call Center Group to TELUS International, a subsidiary of the TELUS Corporation.

Closing of the transaction remains subject to antitrust approval.

The Sorainen team consisted of Latvia Managing Partner Eva Berlaus, Senior Associate Janis Bite, and Associate Liva Aleksejeva.

Sorainen did not reply to our inquiry about the deal.

Cobalt has advised Workday, Inc. on Latvian issues related to its cross-border acquisition of online procurement platform Scout RFP. The sellers were advised by Sorainen.

Workday, Inc. is an on‑demand (cloud-based) financial management and human capital management software vendor. It was founded by David Duffield, founder and former CEO of enterprise resource planning company PeopleSoft.

Cobalt’s team included Managing Partner Lauris Liepa, Partners Ingrida Kariņa-Berziņa, Sandija Novicka and Toms Sulmanis, Senior Associate Kristine Patmalniece, and Associates Agnese Gerharde, Anna Vladimirova-Kryukova, Marija Berdova, Ilze Bukaldere, Ivo Maskalans and Lauris Zvirbulis.

Sorainen’s team was led by Latvia Managing Partner Eva Berlaus.

Eversheds Sutherland Bitans has advised ExpressCredit Ltd on its issuance of new notes and on securing the interests of new and existing Investors. The interests of the investors, note holders, and SIA Mintos Finance were secured with a commercial pledge in the amount of EUR 40.5 million, held by Eversheds Sutherland Bitans as the collateral agent of the investors.

ExpressCredit Ltd is a consumer financial services provider in Latvia specializing in consumer loans, pawnbroking services, and money transfer services.

The Eversheds Sutherland Bitans team included Senior Partner Maris Vainovskis, Specialist Counsels Mikus Freimanis, Dainis Vodolagins, and Indra Ingersone, Attorneys at Law Egita Peimane and Liva Lace, Assistant Attorney at Law Laura Medne, Lawyer Justine Ignatavicute, and Paralegal Zelma Lapina.

Eversheds Sutherland Bitans did not reply to our inquiry on the matter.

Sorainen Latvia and Herbert Smith Freehills have advised MM Capital Infrastructure Fund I, a Marubeni-backed fund, on the acquisition of a 29.06% interest in JSC Conexus Baltic Grid, a unified natural gas transmission and storage operator in Latvia, from Marguerite Gas I. Marguerite was advised by CMS London and Cobalt on the transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval.

According to Sorainen, “MM Capital Infrastructure Fund 1, is managed by MM Capital Partners, which was formed in 2018 by Marubeni Corporation, Mizuho Bank, and Asset Management One, for the purpose of operating and managing funds specialized in equity investments in infrastructure assets.”

The Marubeni Corporation is a Japanese trading and investment company.

Sorainen’s Latvian team consisted of Country Managing Partner Eva Berlaus, Counsel Andris Burkevics, Senior Associates Renate Purvinska and Zanda Frisfelde, and Associates Andris Vilisons and Zane Akermane.

The Herbert Smith Freehills team in London was led by Partner Lewis McDonald and Senior Associate Eliza Eaton.

The CMS team was led by London-based Partner Charles Currier.

Cobalt’s team included Latvian Partner Guntars Zile and Senior Associates Martins Tarlaps and Elina Locmele.

Njord Latvia has successfully represented Grovema BV, a Dutch seller of Liebherr parts and machines, in a dispute with SIA Mark Investa involving invoices for machines and parts that had been delivered but not paid for.

According to Njord, “after examination of the case the court decided in favor of Grovema BV. The defendant did not appeal and the judgement entered into force. SIA Mark Investa will have to fully pay for the machines and parts they received as well as cover court expenses.”

Njord’s team included Partner Dmitri Kolesnikov and Senior Associates Eduards Vaisla and Anna Kosinska.