Our law firm in Latvia has gathered an experienced team of lawyers specialized in different areas of law. Made up of competent lawyers, our Latvian law firm offers personalized services in both commercial and civil matters. No matter if you need assistance in a litigation case or you simply want to start a business in Latvia, you can count on our Latvian lawyers to help you. You can also rely on us for immigration to Latvia.
Quick Facts
Commercial litigation assistance offered by our law firm in Latvia
We offer litigation representation for:
- breach of contract,
- shareholder and director disputes etc.
Company formation in Latvia
Our lawyers in Latvia provide assistance during incorporation as per the selected business form.
They can also assist you while applying for related permits and licenses.
Banking
Our lawyers in Latvia can assist you with:
- finance and regulatory matters,
- loan and security documentation,
- special services for banks,
- financial services providers
Employment
We help you with:
- creating employment contracts,
- termination of employees contracts,
- handling labor disputes,
- protecting employee data
International investments in Latvia
Our lawyers in Latvia offer full legal support for branch or franchise purchases, opening subsidiaries etc.
Tax matters
- tax guidance,
- EORI and VAT registration in Latvia etc.
Insolvency
Legal assistance during the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings; assistance for creditors is also available.
Intellectual property
- application for a trademark in Latvia,
- legal help with copyright infringement cases and other concerns involving intellectual property rights
Debt recovery services offered by our law firm in Latvia
Amicable debt recovery and, as needed, initiating the court debt collection proceedings.
Real estate issues
- real estate due diligence,
- the sale and acquisition of commercial and residential property for corporate investors/ natural persons,
- the transfer of real estate ownership
Residential conveyancing
Legal services offered by our lawyers in Latvia for persons who buy or sell residential/ commercial property.
Individual employment
Legal assistance for:
- discrimination at workplace,
- unfair dismissal,
- disciplinary action,
- harassment
Civil litigation assisted by our experts
In civil cases, assistance and representation for matters like:
- personal injuries,
- small claims,
- negligence in civil cases, etc.
Divorce and family law
- applications for divorce,
- child support and custody,
- adoption and surrogacy,
- the partition of properties after divorce,
- wills and probate etc.
Immigration to Latvia
- applications for a work permit, a retirement visa, or other visas, such as those for investors,
- extensions of residence permits,
- requests for naturalization
Opening a company with the help of our lawyer in Latvia
Opening a company in Latvia can be very simple once you have passed by all the legal hurdles it involves. In order to do that our lawyer in Latvia will prepare customized company formation packages for you to select the perfect fit. Our Latvian attorneys will start by presenting you all the types of companies you can set up in Latvia, from which you can choose the one matching your business goals. Then they will take you through all the incorporation steps. You must take into consideration that the most important documents related to opening a company in Latvia are the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our Latvian attorneys can draft these documents respecting all the legal requirements. There are certain types of business activities requiring certain licenses to be obtained. You just have to tell our lawyers what the company’s business objects are and they will inform you about the licenses you must obtain and help you with the process.
Legal advice in taxation matters
An important part of opening a company in Latvia is related to the taxes you must pay. Our lawyer in Latvia will provide you with full information about the taxes your company must pay and they will also help you register your business for taxation purposes. Additionally, our law firm in Latvia will inform you about the incentives available for foreign investors and what the requirements for obtaining certain tax deductions are. No matter the country you are coming from, you should also know that Latvia has many double taxation agreements which means you will be able to significantly reduce the tax burdens. If you need bookkeeping services, you can ask our Latvian lawyers to put you in contact with chartered accountants.
Assistance in civil matters
As Latvia continues to expand its investment policy in different parts of the country, the Government has designed several strategies for attracting workforce in those regions. If you want to move to Latvia and need a residence or a work permit, you can request the services of our law firm in Latvia to help you with the formalities.
Family law is an important part of the Civil Code, which is why our Latvian lawyers also provide legal assistance in civil matters such as marriage registration, divorce or child custody.
You can also rely on our immigration lawyers in Latvia for matters related to relocation.
What are the types of courts in Latvia?
The Latvian judicial system is divided into: the Supreme Court, the Supreme Administrative Court and the Court of Audit. Besides those, the Constitutional Court is also part of the judicial system, but it is separated and doesn’t report to any of the above.
There are third level judicial courts in Latvia: the first level courts represented by the district courts; the second level represented by the regional courts and the third level which is considered the Supreme Court. Besides this, if you are interested in other legal help, the services of our lawyers are at your disposal. For instance, one of the perks that people consider when deciding to obtain Latvian citizenship is the ability to use its education system. You should keep in mind that anyone with the nationality of a European country is automatically a citizen of the EU. So as a European Union citizen, you have the same rights as nationals to study at any EU university.
What are the responsibilities of the courts in Latvia?
The Constitutional Court, as the name states, is watching the applicability of the Constitution in the new approved laws and decrees. The court is formed by seven judges, appointed by the members of the Saeima, with a majority of the votes of not less than fifty one members. The judges are appointed for a period of ten years.
The Latvian Supreme Court is the highest level court in Latvia and it is considered a court of second and third instance. The Supreme Court is formed by 24 judges. The Supreme Court is formed by the Senate, whose decisions cannot be appealed, the Chamber of Civil Cases and the Chamber of Criminal Cases.
The Senate is also divided into the Department of Civil Cases, Department of Criminal Cases, Department of Administrative Cases and the Chancery of the Senate.
The second instance courts or the regional courts have the authority to review the decisions of the district courts on the basis of an appeal.
There are 5 regional courts in Latvia in: Kurzemes, Latgales, Riga, Vidzemes and Zemgales.
There are 34 first instance courts in Latvia, called district courts. The first instance courts are hearing minor criminal and civil cases.
The Arbitration Court in Latvia
The Latvian Arbitration Court has authority only in the cases where parties have signed an agreement called agreement on arbitration. Any dispute can be solved by the arbitrators, unless it involves one of the following situations:
- it is related to the amendments to the Civil Records Registry,
- one of the parties hasn’t signed the arbitration court agreement,
- one of the parties is the state or local authorities,
- if the decision taken by the court can affect the rights of the state or the authorities,
- if the decision may lead to the eviction of a person from living quarters,
- in case the parties are involved in cases related to immovable property, when one of the parties is not allowed by law to operate immovable properties,
- cases related to employment contracts and the applicability of the collective labor agreements.
If you are interested in arbitration, you may receive legal assistance from our law firm in Latvia. We can also advise on immigration to Latvia. If you are planning your relocation, you are advised to get legal assistance in this matter. Because this is a lengthy procedure that involves visa application, document submission, and others. If you fail to comply with any minute detail, you will have to delay your immigration to Latvia. So, get in touch with our lawyers for their relocation services.
How long does litigation in Latvia last?
The litigation may take up to one year before a case is heard by a competent court. If the initial decision is contested and an appeal is raised at a second or even third instance court, it may take years before a final decision is taken.
The Latvian Civil Law was enabled in 1937 and it is based on the codes of the Roman law and it also has German and French influences. The Civil Law in Latvia is made up of four parts: the first part is the Family Law, the second part represents the Inheritance Law, the third part is the Property Law and the fourth part of the Latvian Civil Code is represented by the Obligations Law.
If you have any questions or need legal advice, do not hesitate to contact our Latvian attorneys who will be there to help you with any proceeding. We also have a team of immigration lawyers in Latvia who can help you relocate here.