The Legal 500 2025: COBALT’s 96 rankings highlight Baltic legal leadership

COBALT has achieved outstanding recognition in the Legal 500 Europe 2025 edition, securing Tier 1 rankings in 23 key practice areas. The Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania offices also received Tier 2 recommendations in an additional 7 practice areas, solidifying its dominant position in the Baltic legal landscape.

Notably, COBALT Latvia has achieved the distinction of Tier 1 rankings in all nine assessed practice areas for the eighth consecutive year. Meanwhile, COBALT Estonia and Lithuania have both maintained Tier 1 status in seven core practice areas.

These achievements are further validated by compelling client testimonials, which highlight COBALT’s commitment to delivering exceptional service:

• “COBALT is a uniquely Baltic state focused full service law firm with considerable expertise as well as deep relationships in the various countries that they operate. They are consistently excellent at what they do and a pleasure to work with. Their service standards are comparable to the best London firms.”
• “Speed of interaction is exceptional, and the quality of the feedback is always extremely thorough with the opportunity to talk through case management to explore the best solutions. Solutions are always followed by cited legislation.”
• “What makes COBALT outstanding is covering a broad variety of fields, meaning the client can rest assured in having one partner for all legal needs. Having leaders in the team with loads of previous experience adds further comfort in knowing the quality of advice is always filled with practical experience rather than just theory.”

66 individual rankings highlight the firm’s legal excellence

Recommended practitioners rankings include 13 lawyers named to the Hall of Fame, 17 recognized as Leading Partners, 7 designated as Next Generation Partners, and 23 acknowledged as Leading Associates, highlighting the significant professional growth across the Baltic team.

Among the noteworthy promotions are: Indriķis Liepa (IP, IT and Telecoms), Simona Oliškevičiūtė-Cicėnienė (Real Estate and Construction) Eva Suduiko (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Professor Dr Rimantas Simaitis (Dispute Resolution), and Žilvinas Kvietkus (Intellectual Property) to leading partner; Jesse Kivisaari (Commercial, Corporate and M&A) to next generation partner; Mart Blondal (EU and Competition) to leading associate.

ESTONIA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

• 7 Hall of Fame: Jaanus Mody(Dispute Resolution), Martin Simovart (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Peeter Kutman (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Kristel Raidla-Talur (Fintech), Elo Tamm (EU and Competition), Aivar Taro (Real Estate and Construction), Liina Linsi (Real Estate and Construction).
• 4 Leading partners:Kristel Raidla-Talur (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Marina Kotkas (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Egon Talur (Tax; IP, IT and Telecoms), Karina Paatsi (Employment).
• 2 Next generation partners: Monika Koolmeister(Banking, Finance and Capital Markets; Fintech), Jesse Kivisaari (Commercial, Corporate and M&A).
• 11 Leading associates: Greete-Kristiine Kuru(Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Kaarel Eller (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets; Fintech), Mart Blondal (EU and Competition), Heleri Tammiste (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Ott Aava (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Kadri Michelson (Dispute Resolution), Rauno Ligi (EU And Competition), Sandra Sillaots (Real Estate and Construction), Karli Kütt (Tax), Tõnu Kolts (Tax), Heili Haabu (Employment).

LATVIA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

• 4 Hall of Fame:Lauris Liepa (Dispute Resolution), Dace Silava-Tomsone (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Guntars Zīle (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Andrejs Lielkalns (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets)
• 5 Leading partners: Indriķis Liepa (IP, IT and Telecoms), Gatis Flinters (Commercial, Corporate and M&A; Shipping and Transport), Dace Silava-Tomsone (Real Estate and Construction; EU and Competition), Uģis Zeltiņš (EU and Competition), Sandija Novicka (Tax).
• 3 Next generation partners: Edgars Lodziņš(Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Toms Šulmanis (Employment), Gatis Flinters (Real Estate and Construction).
• 6 Leading associates: Diāna Zepa(Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Kristīne Patmalniece (Employment), Līga Fjodorova (IP, IT and Telecoms),  Elīna Ločmele (Tax), Ivo Maskalāns (Employment), Artūrs Valderšteins (Real Estate and Construction).

LITHUANIA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

• 2 Hall of Fame:Dr Irmantas Norkus (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Žilvinas Kvietkus (TMT).
• 8 Leading partners: Akvilė Bosaitė(Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Elijus Burgis (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Dr Juozas Rimas (Commercial, Corporate and M&A), Simona Oliškevičiūtė-Cicėnienė (Real Estate and Construction, Projects and Energy), Rokas Daugėla (Tax), Eva Suduiko (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets), Professor Dr Rimantas Simaitis (Dispute Resolution), Žilvinas Kvietkus (Intellectual Property).
• 2 Next generation partners: Marius Inta(Dispute Resolution),  Rasa Zaščiurinskaitė (EU and Competition).
• 5 Leading associates: Dr Milda Markevičiūtė(Dispute Resolution), Simona Liuimienė (EU And Competition), Julija Beldeninovienė (Intellectual Property; TMT), Rasa Mikutienė (Tax), Jovita Valatkaitė (Employment).

Since 1991, The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) have been providing readers with an annually updated, impartial, third-party opinion on the leading law firms and lawyers. The EMEA guide provides researched coverage of over 80 countries and over 2,700 ranked law firms. Visit the guide to find out more: www.legal500.com