Competition/Antitrust
Europe Guide 2024 : Latvia
Band 1
About
Provided by COBALT
Strong cross-border competition law practice group operating from COBALT offices in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Our team of competition law experts assists local and international clients with all aspects of national and EU competition laws. We understand the economics of competition law and are familiar with sector-specific regulations.
One of the most mature competition law practices on the Latvian market with 5 lawyers, including two partners and three associates.
Profound expertise in vertical restraints matters and dominance cases, with a particular emphasis on regulated industries such as energy, banking, pharmaceuticals, waste management, and transport, is held.
The most experienced team in Latvia for private enforcement defence assignments and complex merger clearances consists of four lawyers who specialize in state aid matters.
Chambers Review
COBALT remains one of the top competition law practices in Latvia. The team has a strong contentious practice and frequently represents clients in bid rigging investigations, as well as in appeals against Latvian Competition Council decisions and in damages actions. The law firm offers further expertise in state aid matters and merger clearance notifications. It assists potentially dominant companies with competition law compliance and assists with the compliance of potential information exchanges. The team is able to collaborate closely with the firm's other offices to handle matters across the Baltic region.
Work Highlights
- COBALT represented Hansabus Latvia in an investigation into alleged bid rigging.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The depth of the team is very good."
"The team has a pragmatic and problem-solving approach."
"COBALT's ability to cover the Baltics is convenient. The lawyers are practical and offer good practical advice, they are good at summarising and know the local authority well."
"The team is attentive to detail, and has solid knowledge of Latvian and EU case law."
"The team's commercial awareness is very good."
"The depth of the team is very good."
"The team has a pragmatic and problem-solving approach."
"COBALT's ability to cover the Baltics is convenient. The lawyers are practical and offer good practical advice, they are good at summarising and know the local authority well."
"The team is attentive to detail, and has solid knowledge of Latvian and EU case law."
"The team's commercial awareness is very good."
Notable Practitioners
Uģis Zeltiņš stands out as one of the leading lawyers on the Latvian competition law market thanks to his broad practice, which covers behavioural investigations, appeals against authority decisions and private damages actions. He offers further notable experience in state aid mandates and merger clearance filings.
"He has been a person to go to when testing complex situations and cases, and he always delivers."
"Uģis Zeltiņš is definitely one of the market leaders."
"He is clear in communication and intelligent."
"Uģis Zeltiņš has continuously shown deep understanding of EU and Latvian competition law and case law."
"His advice is always crisp and clear and to the point."
Dace Silava-Tomsone assists clients with obtaining competition law clearance for proposed mergers and joint ventures.
Ranked Lawyers at
COBALT
Latvia