On 20 May 2021, the Saeima (Parliament of the Republic of Latvia) unanimously elected Kristīne Zīle as Justice of the Supreme Court. She will commence new duties after taking an oath before the President of the Republic of Latvia.
Kristīne has been practising law at COBALT Latvia for more than 15 years. She has been one of the firm’s leading experts in the area of civil and administrative litigation, representing clients in complex cross-border inheritance and family law, as well as damage cases. During her legal practice, Kristīne has been actively involved in the legislative process, acting as a member of the working groups on Inheritance Law and Family Law of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia. The firm has benefitted from her professional work and her open and responsive personality. Kristine has provided a priceless contribution to the development of our young generation of lawyers actively engaging in the firm’s legal trainees mentoring program.
COBALT Latvia Managing Partner Dace Silava-Tomsone: “We are proud of our long-term colleague Kristine being selected for the honourable position of the Supreme Court Justice. We have no doubt that in her new position she will continue display vigour and integrity which have been her hallmarks throughout the years. We wish Kristine all the best in making fair and professional decisions in this role which impacts lives and society at large.”
In addition to her legal practice with COBALT, for more than 20 years Kristīne has been a lecturer at the University of Latvia, teaching Inheritance, Family and Civil Law. For the last three years she has been a member of the Council of Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia.
Acting Dean of the Law Faculty of the University, Dr.iur. Edvīns Danovskis comments: “Kristīne Zīle has become one of the ten Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia lecturers, who combines scientific and academic work with judicial duties at the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court. Kristīne Zīle is an experienced lecturer, and her demanding approach and accuracy as well as responsiveness and involvement are highly valued by both students and colleagues. Knowing her enthusiasm and capacity for work, we are pleased not only with the high appreciation of her professional qualities but also about the opportunities that the combination of scientific-academic work with the judicial duties will provide her.”
For a number of years Kristīne has contributed to work of the Committee of Professional Training, Practice Supervision and Examination of the Bar of Latvia. Since 2019 she is a member of the Latvian Council of the Bar.
President of the Latvian Council of the Bar Jānis Rozenbergs: “Colleague Kristīne Zīle has deservedly achieved the opportunity to continue her legal career in the Senate. I believe that in her high position as a senator, Kristīne with her knowledge will be able to influence and promote the further development of law more directly and effectively than was possible from the position of an attorney. The task of the attorney is to defend the client’s lawful interests within the particular case, while in this new position Kristīne’s “client” will be the entire Latvian society, in whose interests a fair, reasonable, justified and understandable practice of law interpretation and application must be developed. I know that Kristine will be able to cope with this professional challenge perfectly.”