` Lauris Liepa | COBALT
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Lauris Liepa

Managing Partner / Latvia

Contacts 

lauris.liepa@cobalt.legal
+371 2920 6001
+371 6720 1800

About

Lauris Liepa is the Managing Partner of COBALT Latvia and is recognized to be a noted practitioner in litigation, constitutional law, banking and finances and M&A. Lauris has a strong track record of significant landmark cases brought before the courts of the Republic of Latvia, the Court of Justice of the European Union and also the European Court of Human Rights and in recent years he has coordinated major M&A and foreign investment deals. In the course of his legal practice extending over 20 years, Lauris has advised major local and international corporate clients and state institutions, including the Cabinet of Ministers and the Parliament.

Lauris Liepa is also the author of numerous benchmark legal publications; gives lectures at the Faculty of Law, University of Latvia and the Riga Graduate School of Law and is a member of various NGOs and associations. He takes an active involvement in the Latvian Venture Capital Association, is a member of the Supervisory Committee of NASDAQ OMX Riga and since 2011 is also a member of the supervisory board of the Arbitration Court of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Practice

Recognition
  • Dispute Resolution – Band 1, Chambers Global and Europe 2024
  • Dispute Resolution – The Legal 500 Hall of Fame 2024
  • Arbitration – The Legal 500 Powerlist 2023
  • M&A – Highly regarded, IFLR 1000 2023
  • Disputes – Highly regarded, IFLR 1000 2022
CV

Languages

  • Latvian, English, Russian, German

Membership & education

  • Latvian Bar Association (since 1995)
  • International Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Member of the Management Board, Polish-Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (since 2022)
  • Professor Karlis Dislers Foundation (national law and legal philosophy)
  • Public Law Institute
  • Master’s Degree in Law, University of Latvia, Riga (2006)
  • Postgraduate studies, Westphalian Wilhelm’s University, Munster, Germany (1994)
  • Lawyer’s diploma, University of Latvia, Riga (1993)

 

Experience

Constitutional Court recognises that gambling restrictions within Riga administrative territory imposed without adequate justification

The court rules to release frozen funds and terminate criminal proceedings against COBALT’s client for confiscation of property

Court mandates compensation for moral damages due to the publication of false and defamatory news

Court overturns fine imposed on Latvian Television regarding the broadcast about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines

Supreme Court annuls the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office on extradition of a private person to the Russian Federation

A Latvian court recognises the right of the other parent in a same-sex couple’s family to receive parental allowance and childcare allowance

COBALT advises insurance company BTA on restructuring

Representation of Collective management organisations

Representation of IKI chain stores operator SIA Palink in insolvency proceedings and restoration of solvency

COBALT advises AS SEB Banka on AS Latvenergo bond issue

COBALT represents LTV journalist Ilze Nagla at the ECHR

COBALT represents AS Latvijas kuģniecība (Latvian Shipping Company) in judicial disputes

COBALT represents the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in the Satversme Court and administrative courts

COBALT advises AS Reverta in a groundbreaking case on disposal of a subsidiary

COBALT advises BTA Insurance Company on employment matters

Legal assistance to advertising agency Alpha Baltic

COBALT advises U.S. contact management company FullContact Inc. in acquisition of IT start-up Cobook

COBALT advises leading partner on acquisition of controlling block of stock in AS NORVIK BANKA

COBALT advises Orlen Latvija on dominance issues

COBALT represented public institutions in legal disputes related to former shareholders of Parex bank

Representing British Petroleum in acquisition of aviation fuel business Statoil Fuel & Retail Aviation AS (SFR Aviation)

COBALT advises Franklin Templeton Investments in acquisition of majority stake in SIA Storent Holding

Representing the Latvian Government in administrative court proceedings for cancellation of privatization of historically important real estate

Legal assistance to University of Latvia in procurement for construction of Academic Centre of Natural Sciences

COBALT advises municipal environmentalist group JAB

Representation of Latvian Association of passenger carriers

Representation of the citizen of the Republic of Latvia Pēteris Avotiņš before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights

COBALT advises DPD Latvija on licensing issues

COBALT advises Jūrmala City Council in legal dispute with waste management company

COBALT advises Ministry of Transport of Latvia

COBALT advises Darby in sale of Latvian dairy producer Rigas Piensaimnieks

COBALT advised VAS Valsts nekustamie ipasumi in acquisition of shares in SIA Biroju centrs Ezerparks

COBALT successfully represents SIA TAVEX before the Constitutional Court

COBALT provides general legal assistance to Snap Inc.

COBALT advises Santa Monica Networks on sale of its Finnish-Baltic subsidiaries

COBALT advises AS Storent Investments on the acquisition of Cramo operations in Latvia and Kaliningrad

Successful representation of several individuals, applying for political asylum

COBALT advises investor in acquisition of Bank M2M Europe

COBALT advises managers of the Baltic entities of pharmaceutical wholesale company Oriola in management buy-out

COBALT advised Latvenergo on corporate governance matters related to the reduction of company’s share capital

COBALT’s client obtains judgement that confirms the right of a company to freely determine the model how its business shall be restructured

COBALT successfully represents SIA Homeland before the Supreme Court of Latvia

COBALT successfully represents Central Election Commission of Latvia in Supreme Court

COBALT successfully represents Central Election Commission of Latvia in The Administrative District Court regarding cancelation of 2019 European Parliament (EP) election results

COBALT advised Workday, Inc. on the acquisition of Scout RFP

COBALT successfully represents AS PNB Banka in the Constitutional Court

COBALT provides legal assistance to the foundation APEIRONS in preparing an opinion for the Constitutional Court

COBALT successfully represents Latvian Radio in a legal dispute with Ogre municipality for revocation of false news

COBALT successfully represents client in a court dispute with state security authorities regarding access to classified information

COBALT successfully represents Latvian Television before the Administrative Courts in proceedings based on an application of the association of political parties regarding the allocation of airtime in pre-election broadcasts

COBALT represents the Central Election Commission in the administrative proceedings concerning annulment of the results of the extraordinary elections to the Riga City Council

COBALT represents hydroelectric power plants in the Constitutional Court

COBALT advised Tilde in sale of Jumis Pro to Visma

COBALT provides pro bono legal assistance to the Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaika in a landmark matter in the Constitutional Court

COBALT successfully represents Betsafe Latvia in the Constitutional Court

COBALT represents the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia before Constitutional Court regarding administrative-territorial reform

COBALT provides pro bono legal assistance to the Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaīka in the proceedings before the Constitutional Court regarding same-sex couples’ family rights

The Supreme Court of Latvia explains the rights of apartment owners to make decisions through a survey

COBALT successfully represented a client before the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union

COBALT represents TVG in the sale of the Baltic cloud services distribution company to Pax8

International aviation carrier recovers liquidated damages for cancelled flight

The court orders Tukums Municipality to approve the construction of Pienava wind farm

COBALT advised Signet Bank AS in the merger transaction with Expobank AS

COBALT secures a major win at the European Court of Human Rights in a case regarding arbitrary eviction from a home

COBALT successfully represents biogas power plants before the Constitutional Court

The court rules to release arrested funds of COBALT clients and revoke police decision on confiscation of their property

Publications

CEELM Comparative Legal Guide: Capital Markets in Latvia

The Buzz in Latvia: Interview with Lauris Liepa

COVID-19 in Latvia: General issues

We are driven by your recognition

"Lauris Liepa is one of the most respected lawyers and attorneys in Latvia. He is one of the top constitutional rights and human rights lawyers in Latvia. His expertise is valued in professional, academic, political and policy fields."
The Legal 500 2022, Dispute Resolution
"Mr. Lauris Liepa is a high-ranking expert on constitutional rights. We have long years of cooperation. His knowledge and legal analysis of the situation helped greatly."
The Legal 500 2022, Dispute Resolution
"Lauris Liepa can be seen as a role model, as he maintains high ethical and work standards alongside great subject knowledge and communication skills. He can build trust and lead complicated negotiations. We would recommend him as one of the most notable lawyers in the Baltics."
The Legal 500 2021, Dispute Resolution
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