Hall Of Fame

Tax in Latvia

Cobalt

Cobalt’s practice group handles the full spectrum of tax matters for both domestic and multinational companies. The team has extensive experience covering matters involving shares and green bonds, as well as handling high-value tax disputes before the State Revenue Service. VAT, customs duties, and cross-border structuring are also areas in which the team excels. Tax litigator and structuring expert Sandija Novicka leads the team. Sabīne Vuškāne covers tax disputes and compliance issues. Senior associate Elīna Ločmele is noted for her relevant expertise in M&A and restructuring matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sandija Novicka


Autres avocats clés:

Sabīne Vuškāne; Elīna Ločmele


Les références

‘Cobalt was focused and professional.’

‘Practitioners are very professional, experienced, hands on, practical. Pleasure to work with such professionals.’

‘Sandija Novicka was able to prepare documents for submission to the Latvian tax authority which required an understanding of the gaps in Latvian tax legislation, from the perspective of international law.’

Principaux clients

Dinex Latvia


BaltCap


Civinity


BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH


Eolus


Vizii Urban


Linstow


Lokalise


LSC SIA


Ergo


Roche


Principaux dossiers


  • Successfully represented the client in a dispute with the State Revenue Service regarding the taxation of a transaction concerning agricultural land.
  • Advised Augstsprieguma tīkls AS, the Latvian transmission of energy system operator, on taxation matters related to the issuance of €100m seven-year green bonds.
  • Advised Nutricia on the tax aspects of the Danone intra-group restructuring in Latvia, incorporating Danone SIA into Nutricia SIA.

Sorainen

Sorainen handles a range of tax-related mandates, ranging from VAT deductions, compliance issues, and share option structurings, all the way through to complex litigations. Practice head Jānis Taukačs is a widely recognised name within the tax and customs fields, with experience spanning across all industries. Counsel Aija Lasmane brings expertise in international tax, risk management and M&A deals to the group. Dace Everte and Kristīne Erele are also key names; the former has in-house experience with the Latvian tax authorities, while the latter has particular expertise in indirect taxes and customs. Nauris Grigals rounds out the roster of recommended practitioners.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jānis Taukačs


Autres avocats clés:

Aija Lasmane; Dace Everte; Kristīne Erele; Nauris Grigals


Principaux clients

Aswell


Indexo IPAS


Merks


B.S.L. Infra Pilnsabiedrība


SIA Byko-Lat


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting IPAS INDEXO with the development and implementation of a share option plan for the management and employees of the company.
  • Advised Merks on the VAT treatment of a specific marketing campaign.
  • Advised Byko-Lat on the group’s financing model.

BDO Law

BDO Law‘s tax department fields an experienced team of specialists. The department is co-headed by duo Vita Liberte and Jānis Zelmenis, who have experience advising a broad range of public and private clients, including high-net-worth individuals and venture capital funds, between them. The team is noted for its skill on domestic and cross-border matters, combined with its wide service offering which includes advice on M&A, VAT, compliance, and corporate income tax issues. Associate Arturs Radzivilcuks focuses on indirect taxes and tax risk management. Svetlana Nesinova is another key contact.

Responsables de la pratique:

Vita Liberte; Jānis Zelmenis


Autres avocats clés:

Arturs Radzivilcuks; Svetlana Nesinova


Ellex

The deeply integrated tax team at Ellex is well versed in assisting multinationals and blue-chip companies with foreign investments, structuring, and more general day-to-day tax matters. Acquisitions, project financings, and implementations of employee equity participation plans are also areas of expertise, with several recent matters taking place in the real estate and financial services sectors. Senior counsel Eduards Dzintars heads up the team, leveraging his wide-reaching experience in tax disputes and cross-border transactions. Head of real estate Ivars Pommers, and co-founders Filips Klavins  and Raimonds Slaidiņš also support.

Responsables de la pratique:

Eduards Dzintars


Autres avocats clés:

Ivars Pommers; Filips Klavins; Raimonds Slaidiņš


Les références

‘Good practice for: listening to our needs, providing professional advice, speedy responses.’

‘Alert and quick responses make us feel prioritised and well-served.’

‘Eduards Dzintars is a very business-minded lawyer who provides comprehensive tax advice.’

Principaux clients

Printful


Sanofi


Whirlpool


Booking.com


Coca-Cola HBC


Nokia


Citibank


Accenture


Intel


Danone


Henkel


Airbnb


L’Oréal


PayRay


Saint Gobain


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Eesti Gaas on signing an agreement with Latvijas Gāze to acquire Gaso for €120m.
  • Advising Printful on various tax matters.
  • Advising Draugiem Group on investing €1.14m in cosmetics company Prime Prometics.

Eversheds Sutherland Bitans

Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns‘ tax practice group is known for its involvement with cross-border transaction structuring, and its marked strengths in the real estate, and banking and finance sectors. Work often involves complex risk and due diligence assessments, as well as assistance with indirect and income tax matters. Team lead Anete Marhele also has extensive experience handling tax disputes, and regularly represents clients before the State Revenue Service, as well as other national bodies. The tax team is also regularly assisted by Ilze Kramiņa, co-head of real estate and construction, and Māris Vainovskis, who provides support with banking and commercial issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Anete Marhele


Autres avocats clés:

Māris Vainovskis; Ilze Kramiņa


Principaux clients

KPMG Baltics AS on behalf of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)


LHV Varahaldus (LHV Bank pension funds)


Latzeme OU


K8 Residences SIA (Kaamos Group)


Smartecon OÜ


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised KPMG Baltics AS, on behalf of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, on the forum selection and preferable corporate structure of the Capital Markets Development Accelerator Fund in light of EU law and national laws and regulations in the Baltic States.
  • Advised Latzeme OU on various tax aspects related to investments into real estates in Latvia and the further conducted sale of the acquired properties.
  • Advising Estonian real estate developer Kaamos Group, via its subsidiary in Latvia, K8 residences SIA, on a new development project consisting of two apartment houses in Riga, as well as ongoing restructuring of the group.

Kronbergs Cukste Levin

Kronbergs Cukste Levin‘s tax team is headed by Vineta Čukste–Jurjeva, a highly experienced tax litigator.  As such, the team has been involved in several large tax disputes, notably those arising from the liquidation of ABLV Bank. In addition, the team offers a range of advisory tax services surrounding transactions, investments, and reward programmes, among others. Valters Kronbergs leverages his knowledge of employment law to advise on relevant tax issues, while Normunds Orols is noted for his expertise in real estate investment and M&A-related tax issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Vineta Čukste–Jurjeva


Autres avocats clés:

Valters Kronbergs; Kristine Sakarne; Normunds Orols


Principaux clients

DHL


Fontes


Moller Auto Baltic


AS 4finance


SIA Suncrisp


Lilian Rasa


Aspect Custom Wear / Estate of Peter Bake


Panasonic


DK Avia


GEFCO


Estate Guru OÜ


Hauser SIA


Kingsblue Publishing Limited


Riwal Latvia


Netcracker


Bridgestone Baltics


Peek & Cloppenburg


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing ABLV Bank in litigation against the State Revenue Service concerning repayment of corporate income tax due to a change of accounting principles as a result of the initiation of self-liquidation.
  • Advising Electrolux on tax implications for its employee benefits program, and on VAT implications regarding inter-company invoicing.
  • Assisting Bridgestone with tax analysis relating to a client awards programme.

TGS Baltic

TGS Baltic is routinely instructed on cross-border corporate tax, structuring, and transactional matters, with particular strengths in the real estate, green energy, and, more recently, crypto and blockchain spaces. The team has extensive experience advising venture capital and private equity investors, as well as start-ups. Duo Rūdolfs Vilsons and Andra Rubene jointly lead the team; they bring wide-reaching expertise across commercial and corporate tax matters, notably in transaction structuring and employment-related tax matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Andra Rubene; Rūdolfs Vilsons


Autres avocats clés:

Inese Hazenfusa; Linda Štrause


Les références

‘Rūdolfs Vilsons has vast experience, including on common solutions and alternatives to consider. For is, it’s also important that he is able to advise on nuances related with different type of cross-border investments and tax impacts on those.’

‘TGS Baltic Law Firm is, in our opinion, one of the leading providers of legal assistance in the entire market. The legal team is responsive and goal-oriented, which ensures the fastest possible result. Every situation is handled professionally to achieve the most beneficial solution for the client.’

‘Perfect cooperation in multiple aspects. Excellent communication and outreach skills. Special mention should be made of Rūdolfs Vilsons’ knowledge in tax aspects related to real estate transactions, M&A, and other corporate transactions.’

Principaux clients

Marijas 2 SIA / Evernord Real Estate Fund III and Novira Capital OU / Novira Holding AS joint venture


European Energy AS


Inchcape Motors Latvia SIA


Invego OU


BETHOC AB / Sareq AB


AS Eco Baltia group


Intrum Global Technologies SIA


Altero SIA


Europark Latvia SIA / UAB Modus Grupe / UAB Lords LB Asset Management


Baltic Granulas SIA


Autohalle SIA


Accor Hotels


Latgran SIA


Cronimet group


Energy Transition Investments UAB


Møller Real Estate Baltic AS (Norway) / SIA Moller Auto


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Inchape Motors Latvia SIA on the taxation of various transactions, including transfers of business, cross-border vehicle sales, export procedures, customs brokerage procedures, as well as taxation of vehicles in customs warehouses, and taxation in relation to cross-border employments and employee leases.
  • Assisted BETHOC AB, a Swedish hockey training aids seller, with the tax assessment and structuring necessary for acquiring 100% of the shares in SIA SPORT REVOLUTION, a Latvian ice hockey, floorball, and field hockey training aids seller, in exchange for shares in BETHOC AB given to one of the previous shareholders of SIA SPORT REVOLUTION and payment of cash to another previous shareholder.
  • Assisted parking management company Europark Latvia SIA with client invoicing procedures to ensure VAT application through all invoicing chains.

WALLESS

WALLESS excels in cross-border corporate tax structuring and transactions, with further proficiencies encompassing employment and disputes. The team has been particularly active in the energy, real estate, transportation, and the environmental and waste management sectors, to name a few. Described by one client as an ‘experienced, creative professional’, Ingūna Ābele heads up the practice. She has broad experience, with notable specialisms in corporate tax matters involving mergers, acquisitions, and debt exchanges, alongside disputes with tax authorities. Senior associate Tatjana Sinkeviča, who has previous in-house experience with the State Revenue Service, is noted for her expertise on VAT and customs issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ingūna Ābele


Autres avocats clés:

Tatjana Sinkeviča; Kristers Zālītis


Les références

‘Small but capable.’

‘Creative team.’

‘Ingūna Ābele – experienced, creative professional.’

Principaux clients

Siemens group companies


CCC S.A.


CleanR Grupa AS


Eco Baltia vide SIA


PayRay, UAB


Mandatum Life Insurance Company Limited


Pipelife Latvia SIA


Capitalica Asset Management UAB


Lumi Capital


Depo DIY group


TAV Airport group companies


E. Gulbja Laboratorija SIA


LPB AS


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised CleanR Group on the tax implications of its restructuring.
  • Advised Mandatum Life Insurance Company Limited on Pan-Baltic tax matters regarding a business transfer.
  • Advised Eco Baltia vide SIA on tax issues relating to the acquisition and restructuring of three target companies.

Magnusson

Magnusson handles tax issues ranging from M&A transactions to representation of clients in VAT and corporate income tax disputes with the State Revenue Service. The team has recently seen several key mandates in the environmental and waste management space, as well as the transport and logistics sector. Managing partner Matīss Rostoks leads the tax team. Artūrs Ševčuks is highlighted for his focus on VAT and deductions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Matīss Rostoks


Autres avocats clés:

Artūrs Ševčuks; Ernests Valainis; Anna Bogdanova; Aina Bitīte


Les références

‘We are very happy with our collaboration with Magnusson Latvia.’

‘We directly are working with Artūrs Ševčuks. We always feel a personal touch, responsibility, ability for super quick reactions, and high professionalism.’

Principaux clients

Expro Group


Kreiss


Etnas Lofti


Brenguļu Dzirnavas


Kvinto


Credeo


Firma L4


Elements S


Juno T


Jadis


ZAB Deloitte Legal

ZAB Deloitte Legal offers services covering tax due diligence, personnel share options, and M&A transactions, along with overall tax optimisation. Managing associate Ivita Samlaja has experience across the commercial, banking and finance, and data protection spheres, and provides key support at the intersection with those areas. Jānis Čupāns is active in cross-border tax cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jānis Čupāns; Ivita Samlaja


Principaux clients

SIA “Kronus”


SIA “DINOTRANS”


AS “Dobeles dzirnavnieks”


Group DC


Samsung


GoCardlessUK


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting AS Dobeles dzirnavnieks with Pan-Baltic due diligence relating to the acquisition of the Latvian and Estonian businesses of Baltic Mills.
  • Advising Group DC on the acquisition of HAWITA Group.
  • Assisting Samsung’s with due diligence for its investment in a Latvian company.