Lauris
Liepa
Managing Partner / Latvia
 
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.

 
recognition
  • Dispute Resolution - Band 1, Chambers Global and Europe 2023
  • Arbitration - Legal 500 Powerlist 2023
  • Dispute Resolution - Legal 500 Hall of Fame 2023
  • Disputes - Highly regarded, IFLR 1000 2022
  • M&A - 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)


Publications
 
experience
Load More
  • 2020 — 12 — 18
    COBALT successfully represents Betsafe Latvia in the Constitutional Court
  • 2020 — 11 — 24
    COBALT provides pro bono legal assistance to the Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaika in a landmark matter in the Constitutional Court
  • 2020 — 10 — 30
    COBALT advised Tilde in sale of Jumis Pro to Visma
  • 2020 — 10 — 01
    COBALT represents hydroelectric power plants in the Constitutional Court
  • 2020 — 09 — 24
    COBALT represents the Central Election Commission in the administrative proceedings concerning annulment of the results of the extraordinary elections to the Riga City Council
  • 2020 — 08 — 26
    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
  • 2020 — 07 — 10
    COBALT provides legal assistance to the foundation APEIRONS in preparing an opinion for the Constitutional Court
  • 2020 — 07 — 10
    COBALT successfully represents Latvian Radio in a legal dispute with Ogre municipality for revocation of false news
  • 2020 — 02 — 24
    COBALT successfully represents AS PNB Banka in the Constitutional Court
  • 2019 — 12 — 18
    COBALT advised Workday, Inc. on the acquisition of Scout RFP
  • 2019 — 06 — 14
    COBALT successfully represents Central Election Commission of Latvia in The Administrative District Court regarding cancelation of 2019 European Parliament (EP) election results
  • 2018 — 11 — 09
    COBALT successfully represents Central Election Commission of Latvia in Supreme Court
  • 2018 — 02 — 22
    COBALT successfully represents SIA Homeland before the Supreme Court of Latvia
  • 2018 — 01 — 04
    COBALT’s client obtains judgement that confirms the right of a company to freely determine the model how its business shall be restructured
  • 2017 — 11 — 24
    COBALT advised Latvenergo on corporate governance matters related to the reduction of company’s share capital
  • 2017 — 10 — 20
    COBALT advises managers of the Baltic entities of pharmaceutical wholesale company Oriola in management buy-out
  • 2017 — 09 — 29
    COBALT advises investor in acquisition of Bank M2M Europe
  • 2017 — 09 — 02
    Successful representation of several individuals, applying for political asylum
  • 2017 — 08 — 04
    COBALT advises AS Storent Investments on the acquisition of Cramo operations in Latvia and Kaliningrad
  • 2017 — 03 — 20
    COBALT advises Santa Monica Networks on sale of its Finnish-Baltic subsidiaries
  • 2017 — 01 — 02
    COBALT provides general legal assistance to Snap Inc.
  • 2016 — 03 — 07
    COBALT successfully represents SIA TAVEX before the Constitutional Court
  • 2016 — 01 — 08
    COBALT advised VAS Valsts nekustamie ipasumi in acquisition of shares in SIA Biroju centrs Ezerparks
  • 2015 — 11 — 23
    COBALT advises Darby in sale of Latvian dairy producer Rigas Piensaimnieks
  • 2015 — 07 — 28
    COBALT advises Ministry of Transport of Latvia
  • 2015 — 05 — 28
    COBALT advises Jūrmala City Council in legal dispute with waste management company
  • 2015 — 05 — 26
    COBALT advises DPD Latvija on licensing issues
  • 2015 — 04 — 07
    Representation of the citizen of the Republic of Latvia Pēteris Avotiņš before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights
  • 2015 — 03 — 31
    Representation of Latvian Association of passenger carriers
  • 2015 — 01 — 06
    COBALT advises municipal environmentalist group JAB
  • 2014 — 12 — 02
    Legal assistance to University of Latvia in procurement for construction of Academic Centre of Natural Sciences
  • 2014 — 11 — 27
    Representing the Latvian Government in administrative court proceedings for cancellation of privatization of historically important real estate
  • 2014 — 11 — 21
    COBALT advises Franklin Templeton Investments in acquisition of majority stake in SIA Storent Holding
  • 2014 — 09 — 22
    Representing British Petroleum in acquisition of aviation fuel business Statoil Fuel & Retail Aviation AS (SFR Aviation)
  • 2014 — 03 — 05
    COBALT represents leading waste management company in Latvia in administrative court proceedings
  • 2014 — 01 — 20
    COBALT represented public institutions in legal disputes related to former shareholders of Parex bank
  • 2014 — 01 — 02
    COBALT advises Orlen Latvija on dominance issues
  • 2013 — 12 — 18
    COBALT advises leading partner on acquisition of controlling block of stock in AS NORVIK BANKA
  • 2013 — 12 — 06
    COBALT advises U.S. contact management company FullContact Inc. in acquisition of IT start-up Cobook
  • 2013 — 11 — 20
    Legal assistance to advertising agency Alpha Baltic
  • 2013 — 10 — 14
    COBALT represents the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in the Satversme Court and administrative courts
  • 2013 — 09 — 05
    COBALT represents AS Latvijas kuģniecība (Latvian Shipping Company) in judicial disputes
  • 2013 — 07 — 16
    COBALT represents LTV journalist Ilze Nagla at the ECHR
  • 2013 — 01 — 28
    COBALT advises AS SEB Banka on AS Latvenergo bond issue
  • 2012 — 05 — 15
    Representation of IKI chain stores operator SIA Palink in insolvency proceedings and restoration of solvency
  • 2012 — 05 — 14
    Representation of Collective management organisations
  • 2011 — 11 — 02
    COBALT advises insurance company BTA on restructuring
  • Managing Partner 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.
    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.
    LEGAL 500 2022, DISPUTE RESOLUTION
    Lauris Liepa can be seen as a role model for lawyers of the younger generation, 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 Mr. Liepa as one of the most notable lawyers in the Baltics.
    LEGAL 500 2021, DISPUTE RESOLUTION