Recognition

LEGAL 500

Banking and finance
The firm receives excellent client feedback due to its  proven expertise in this field. The firm has a sizeable team advising on major transactions in banking and finance. One client notes the firm’s ‘loyalty, creativity and the very high quality of legal services.’ Whereas partner Paul Varul has many years’ experience in the banking regulatory sector, partner Robert Juodka ‘has an eye for detail and has commercial understanding’ and partner Gints Vilgerts attracts high-level instructions due to his reputation.

EU and competition
According to Legal500, the firm fields a talented team and its partners have competition law expertise. Clients say ‘Their legal advice is thorough and realistic’. Clients say partners Debora Pavila and Julija Jerneva, are ‘both excellent professionals and knowledgeable,’. Legal500 also refers favourably to partner  Ants Mailend, associate partner, Kestutis Puscius, and  the ‘very competent’ senior associate, Vaido Põldoja.

Corporate and M&A
Clients describe the firm as being ‘at the very top of the list’ fielding a large team of experienced professionals and with an international client base. Legal500 refers to partners Robert Joudka, Gints Vilgerts and Ants Mailend and senior associate Martin Tamme  as specializing in M&A.

Real estate and construction
According to Legal 500, the firm ‘matches the highest level of industry standards,’ and boasts the talents of Robert Juodka, as well as other partners advising in the field. Partners Gints Vilgerts and Mikk Lõhmus have broad experience in advising on major real estate transactions. A client says ‘no matter how complex the issues that arise, they can effectively be dealt with.’

Shipping and transport
The firm has a busy transport practice that utilises the expertise of all its partners, and thus attracts high calibre work. As well as senior level financing and corporate advice, the firm handles regulatory and public procurements in the sector. Transport law, including maritime law, is a speciality of partner, Gints Vilgerts.

Tax
The market-leading practice has notable expertise in litigation. According to a client the firm ‘is one of the best’ and the services provided by  partner Helmut Pikmets, are ‘excellent’.

Dispute Resolution
According to Legal500, the practice shows ‘the highest level of professionalism and legal expertise’. Legal500 refers to the benefits derived from having access to the services of UK-trained barrister, Andrew Burr as an affiliated foreign lawyer. Partner Debora Pavila has broad experience in litigation and arbitration, and regularly represents clients in the state courts and at arbitration tribunals on issues such as recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgements.

IP, IT and telecoms
Legal500 recognizes the impressive client base of the firm. Legal 500 refers to partners Ants Mailend and Gints Vilgerts for their IP practice. According to one client, the firm is one of few that are legal experts in the field of telecoms.

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS

The firm’s practice covers European Communities law, free movement of goods, freedom of establishment and EC competition law, and sources admire the breadth of the practice and the team’s depth of experience in the sector. The lawyers are well-practised at handling merger notifications and assist with vertical and horizontal agreements, cartel, compliance, dominance and state aid matters. Amongst the significant cases taken on by the group are  advising a major retailer on a range of complex competition matters, and it has represented clients in investigations by the local competition authority as well as acting for the  initiators of investigations. Debora Pavila has been very active on behalf of the firm’s impressive client base, and attracts praise for her skilled work in the area. Julija Jerneva is particularly experienced in merger notifications. Sources praise her strong theoretical base and broad overview of the market.

CHAMBERS EUROPE

Attorney and patent attorney Gediminas Pranevičius of the firm is very popular with clients due to his approach: “He not only skilfully advises on issues but can also say what will follow from this or that decision,” clients say.