Dispute Resolution Experience

• PUBLIC SECTOR

  SORAINEN Dispute Resolution team recently boosted its portfolio of public sector clients, successfully landing as clients, for example the European Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia, Tallinn City Government and Riga International Airport. We also advise defence sector and many state owned enterprises, such as hospitals.

  Representing the Latvian Parliament and Cabinet of Ministers in a case challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Credit Institutions Law relating to the Latvian financial crisis and restructuring of Parex. The case has a great significance for the entire financial market and SORAINEN pleaded orally in the Constitutional Court.

  Representing the Latvian state and its institutions in the bailout of Parex banka, the first government bailout case in Latvia in the wake of the global crisis. Assisting the client in the takeover of the bank, negotiations with a strategic investor, drafting transaction documents, restructuring the bank after the takeover, as well as advising on various litigation issues.

  Representing the interests of Belkoopprestidge, a major Belarusian state-owned retailer, in a dispute under the 1980 Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods.

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

  Representing many clients in intellectual property cases, ie copyright, trade mark and patent disputes, for example Google, Playboy Enterprises, Gulf International Lubricants, a world-renowned manufacturer of lubricants, Mast-Jägermeister, manufacturer of a premium distilled spirit, Christian Dior Couture, Kaspars Dimiters, a well-known Latvian poet and composer, Coca-Cola, Hilton, BMW, Miele, PKN Orlen, TomTom, Deutsche Telekom, Kesko, BPT Asset Management, Burger King, Stockmann, Andrius Mamontovas & Gytis Paškevičius, Lithuanian musicians and show business representatives, and many more.

• COMPETITION LAW

  Representing Rautakirja, a main Nordic regional press, book and movie distributor, in the market's first court case challenging a prescription of the Estonian Competition Authority regarding alleged abuse of a dominant position via discriminatory pricing. Successfully handling also a competition dispute for Rautakirja in Lithuania.

  Advising among others Forum Cinemas, a market leader in the movie distribution and theatrical exhibition business, on competition law matters.

  Representing Lietuvos energija, the only electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) in Lithuania and a leading energy company in the Baltics, in several multimillion disputes with the biggest energy providers in Lithuania in relation to energy supply for public needs. The value of the claims is approx EUR 2.4 million.

• DEFAMATION

  Representing a member of the parliament, Imre Sooäär, in a case for withdrawal of false statements and award of damages against one of the largest TV stations in Estonia (TV3, Viasat), Spirits International, a global supplier of branded and private label spirits, in a similar case in claiming revocation of false statements in the newspaper Vesti Dnja, and a prominent regional entrepreneur and his family in a claim for withdrawal of false statements by the largest weekly newspaper in the country.

• INSURANCE LAW

  SORAINEN insurance litigators mainly work for the larger insurance companies. For example, acting for ERGO Kindlustus, the Estonian subsidiary of a major international insurer, in a case where the Supreme Court changed the long term lower court practice of ordering insurers to pay out large sums under injunctions without the possibility of being heard by the court.

  Representing Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs, the world's leading credit insurer, in disputes over interpretation and performance of credit insurance agreements.

  Advising If P&C Insurance, the leading property and casualty insurance company in the Nordic region, in settlement of insurance claims.

  SORAINEN has also represented clients against insurers. For example advising Ühiselamu Projekt, an Estonian real estate investor, in an insurance claim after loss of a large factory in a fire.

  Permanently advising Beazley Furlonge, the Lloyd's managing agency, on claims against notaries in Lithuania under a professional indemnity insurance agreement executed with the Chamber of Notaries of the Republic of Lithuania.

• TRANSPORT & MARITIME

  Representing the biggest air carrier in the Baltics on all aviation law related issues in Lithuania, including advising on regulatory issues, personnel, passenger claims, competitors' claims, corporate matters, flight rights, registration of aircraft, airport taxes and duties.

  Permanently advising AVIS, the world's leading car rental brand and the fastest developing rental and operational leasing company in Lithuania.

  Advising clients in the unprecedented fire event on the ferry LISCO GLORIA.

• RECOGNITION & ENFORCEMENT

  Often acting in recognition and enforcement of foreign enforcement instruments, such as assisting a global leader in cleaning, sanitising, food safety and infection prevention products and services in recognition and enforcement of a Polish court judgment against a Belarusian debtor; and several international law firms.