On February 26, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Eversheds Sutherland had advised Valmieras Stikla Skiedra on the sale of 83.14% of the share capital from the company’s controlling shareholder group to Duke I S.a.r.l. CEEIHM spoke with Ilze Saviele, Legal Counsel at VSS, to learn more about the sale. 

Shareholder's rights to information in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

According to Ivars Grunte, Managing Partner at TGS Baltic in Riga, Latvia’s legal sector is getting a legislative overhaul. In addition, Grunte reports that Latvia’s judicial system will be strengthened through the addition of the Economic Affairs Court.

The Latvian office of Cobalt, working alongside Clifford Chance, has advised joint lead managers Barclays, BNP Paribas, and Credit Agricole CIB on the issue of a ten-year EUR 1.250 billion Eurobond by the Republic of Latvia, setting a yield at 0.105% and a coupon of 0.000%. Allen & Overy reportedly advised the Republic of Latvia on the issuance.

The Latvian office of TGS Baltic has announced that its Personal Data Protection and Privacy practice will be co-headed by Partner Sandis Petrovics and Associate Arina Stivrina.

Sorainen Latvia has advised US-based video game developer and publisher TinyBuild on the admission of its shares to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Cobalt has advised private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners on the acquisition of the Creditinfo Group in partnership with Creditinfo's founder and management team.

Vilgerts has successfully represented the interests of Balcia in defending its trademark to the European Union Intellectual Property Office against a claim that it was similar to that of another company.

The Latvian office of Sorainen has advised Cesu Alus, the largest and oldest brewery in Latvia that is part of the Olvi Group, Finland’s third largest brewery, on the acquisition of Piebalgas Alus. The completion of the acquisition is subject to approval by the Latvian Competition Council.

Sorainen has advised the Fortum energy company on the sale of its district heating business in the Baltics to the Partners Group, a global private markets firm, acting on behalf of its clients. Ellex advised the Partners Group on the transaction.

Cobalt has advised Austrian railway and infrastructure constructor Swietelsky AG on winning a EUR 237 million contract to build the Rail Baltica station and related infrastructure at the Riga International Airport. The contract was awarded in a public procurement procedure by Eiropas Dzelzcela linijas SIA, the implementing body of the Rail Baltica project in Latvia.

Vilgerts has successfully represented the interests of Rigas Piena Kombinats, which operates under the Food Union brand, in a dispute over the trademark for a specific tone of orange used for its curd snacks product.

Walless has helped the SIA Depo DIY with a property insurance claim regarding a fire in one of its stores. 

Ellex Klavins has advised the BTA Insurance Company on its acquisition of a residential portfolio in Riga from Rentejas. Markvarte/Lexchange advised the seller on the deal.

Former Mogo Finance Head of Legal Kristine Mora has joined Vilgerts in Latvia to lead the firm’s FinTech and Finance Law practice groups.

Ellex Raidla has advised SG Capital Partners Fund I on the acquisition of a 90,000 square meter logistics complex near the Plavinieki and Dreilini districts in Riga by acquiring shares in SIA Beinits and SIA Balt Cargo Solutions from a group of private investors. The sellers were reportedly advised by Rasa, Esenvalds, and Radzins. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cobalt has helped AB Linas Agro Group with its application for approval by the Competition Council of Latvia for its acquisition of the Kauno Grudai group. 

The Kapolyi law firm has helped Connecticut-based international brokerage company Interactive Brokers establish its Central European headquarters in Budapest.