Sorainen

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

Partner and co-head of Dispute Resolution & Risk Management practice in Latvia

I am co-head of Dispute Resolution & Risk Management practice in Latvia. Experience and a business-minded approach drive my service to clients in international and local arbitration proceedings and litigations involving cross-border elements and international trade issues. Among the few transport and maritime law professionals in the Latvian market, I am also passionate about international investment law ‒ my field of research for over 10 years.

Disputes involving foreign law and foreign courts. My daily work features consulting clients in disputes involving private international law issues, such as handling disputes under foreign law in Latvian courts and arbitration tribunals, drafting expert reports on Latvian law for foreign courts, plus assisting with recognition and enforcement of foreign and EU court judgments, arbitral awards and freezing orders in Latvia. I also assist clients with taking evidence in civil and commercial matters, with European account preservation orders, and in other cross-border matters.

International investment arbitration. I advise on investment-related issues, such as structuring investments and negotiating with governments. To illustrate: as counsel for E energia, I helped the client investor win a favourable award against the Republic of Latvia in its first investment arbitration case at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, DC.

In 2018, I represented one of the largest international insurance groups in Central and Eastern Europe in winning a dispute at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute (SCC).

Advising regulated sectors. I assist clients in trade and regulatory aspects of transport and maritime law, including negotiations and disputes, ship arrests, vessel transactions and registrations, plus shipbuilding contracts. For example, I provided legal support on the sale of the Regina Baltica ferry, a rare transaction for Latvia involving a vessel with gross tonnage exceeding 18,000 tons.

Latvian, English, Russian

Latvian Bar Association

Riga Graduate School of Law, Latvia (LLM in Transborder Commercial Law, with distinction) University of Latvia, Latvia (LLB, LLM) City Law School, City University London (summer school in maritime law)