„Legal 500“ is a leading international publication assessing global legal market. For 35 years, the Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 100 jurisdictions.
At LEADELL Vītols, joint practice heads Karlis Vitols and IIze Jankevica offer advice on disputes, often with an international scope, involving insolvency and debt recovery. Jānis Meija also specialises in IP matters, particularly trademark disputes. The firm notably also advises frequently on disputes in the forestry and agricultural sectors.
‘A well-experienced team, strong at developing and executing effective strategies, and also strong at adjusting appropriately when needed along the way.’
‘Karlis Vitols – very smart person, highly pragmatic and goal-oriented.’
‘The dispute resolution practice is mindful of the clients’ needs and works hard to solve all the issues which arise along the path to success.’
Amazonen Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG
BTA Baltic Insurance Company
Frequentis AG
NAFA Europe B.V.
Swedbank Leasing
Source: Legal 500
Insolvency, restructuring and debt recovery specialist LEADELL Vītols acts for major Baltic and Nordic banks, as well as private individuals and niche industry segments such as fur breeders and forestry companies. The practice also has the capacity to advise international clients operating in Latvia. Practice head Karlis Vitols has extensive experience of debt recovery and insolvency matters and is noted for his ‘eye for strategy‘. He is supported by IIze Jankevica, who primarily works in employment law but also has expertise in acquisition finance and debt recovery.
‘We use LEADELL Vitols for our legal work in Latvia. They are knowledgeable in the area of insolvency and have guided us through the Latvian legal system. They are responsive and give clear analysis. They inspire confidence in a complex cross-border area of the law.’
‘Karlos Vitols stands out as a go-to lawyer in Latvia. He is personable, clear with his responses, and has a good eye for strategy. We trust the advice he gives, which is incredibly important when navigating a foreign jurisdiction.’
AS BTA Baltic Insurance Company
AS Liepsaime
NAFA Europe B.V.
Swedbank Leasing
Source: Legal 500
At LEADELL Vītols, Ilze Jankevica advises on a range of issues from volunteering agreements and whistleblowing through to gender discrimination in the workplace. The firm advises a number of multinational and pan-Baltic companies on the structuring of employment relationships and complex disputes in a variety of industries, including agriculture, energy, and chemicals.
Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter Plc.
Hille Tanavsuu Cancer Treatment Foundation
SIA “Merrild Baltics”
Source: Legal 500
LEADELL Vītols is highly involved in insolvency, restructuring and debt recovery work, with an additional ability to advise on the opening of overseas bank branches. The practice is led by Karlis Vitols, who counts Swedbank leasing as a key client. Ilze Jankevica has expertise in acquisition finance, asset finance and trade finance.
‘‘Permanently excellent and reliable legal service provider.”
Insolvency disputes are a particular forte at LEADELL Vītols, whose team also excels in matters involving construction and procurement issues. The practice is led by managing partner Karlis Vitols, who has extensive experience of handling large-scale debt recovery proceedings, and Ilze Jankevica, who is notably strong in administrative proceedings.
‘They are excellent professionals who manage to keep things easy and understandable for “non-legal-speaking” clients, even in super complicated moments, which I find extremely important. They have been very accessible during all the pandemic restrictions and open to providing all kinds of digital/remote solutions.”
“I have most experience with Ilze Jankevica and Karlis Vitols. Both are exceptional professionals with a noticeable amount of passion for what they do.”
“Karlis Vitols has exceptional skills in dispute resolution and negotiations.”
Source: Legal 500
LEADELL Vītols assists clients with the drafting of employment contracts, as well as handling restructurings and dismissals. Ilze Jankevica, who leads the team, is very strong in cross-border matters involving new market entrants, non-residents and workers who are employed across more than one state.
LEADELL Vītols has a strong track record of advising on restructurings and insolvencies, with a client roster containing banks, companies and public entities. Managing partner Karlis Vitols leads the practice and is an established name for debt recovery cases. Practice co-head IIze Jankevica also focuses on debt recovery matters, particularly cases involving representation before the courts.
Practice head(s):
‘The team is professional and agile in solutions. Overall, they are experts in their legal field and well trained in customer service and communication.’
‘I would like to give my best feedback to Kārlis Vītols. His attitude has always been exceptional, as well as his expertise in the industry.’
Acting in both litigation and arbitration, LEADELL Vītols has a diverse client roster which includes banks, manufacturing companies and local start-ups. The practice is jointly led by Karlis Vitols and IIze Jankevica, both of whom have a particular focus on disputes in the banking and construction industries. The team also has expertise in cross-border cases, an attribute supplemented by its membership of the TAG international partnership.
‘Karlis Vitols and Ilze Jankevica are experienced, professional, caring and always one step ahead in their minds in order to make sure I get the best legal service. They love the job they do – it is noticeable in each response I get.’
‘Most tasks were performed by a partner, with the appropriate quality, accuracy and efficiency.’
‘Quick responses, attention to detail and effectiveness in terms of results.’
LEADELL Vītols has advised on issues such as employee documents and agreements and NDAs, as well as contentious matters involving terminations. Disputes specialist IIze Jankevica leads the team and has acted on employment cases at Supreme Court level. She is supported by managing partner Karlis Vitols, an expert in both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. The team has particular expertise in the agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors.
LEADELL Fogels & Vītols’s banking finance and capital markets practice counts banks, governmental financial entities and private individuals as clients. Kārlis Vītols and Ilze Jankeviča co-head the team; Vītols is a specialist in the sector and has advised on debt recovery matters and acted for clients in cross-border cases, while Jankeviča has experience representing banks in the Supreme Court of Latvia and knowledge of financing agreements.
Practice head(s):
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols‘s broad dispute resolution practice ‘covers and combines many fields‘. The team has experience representing construction companies, entrepreneurs and banks in major litigation. Practice head Ilze Jankevica acts for clients in both litigation and arbitration; in a recent highlight, she represented Coffee Drive before Riga City Council as well as before the court regarding a dispute about the issuance of a building permit.
Practice head(s):
‘The practice covers and combines many fields: negotiations in the construction sector, debt-related matters, IT, and so on.’
‘Partners have strong individual backgrounds and specialisations which gives added value.’
LEADELL Fogels & Vītols‘s employment practice is headed by Ilze Jankeviča, who is experienced in drafting employment agreements, acting on termination matters and representing clients in court in employment disputes. The team co-operates with the firm’s offices in Lithuania and Estonia to act on cross-border matters. Managing partner Kārlis Vītols also has expertise in employment matters in a range of sectors.
Practice head(s):
LEADELL Fogels & Vītols‘s real estate and construction practice advises on construction contracts, infrastructure projects and real estate leasing. The team is led by Nils Fogels.
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols has been highly recognized among other leading law firms in the fields of dispute resolution and banking, finance and capital markets, stating the following:
Banking, finance and capital markets
Ilze Jankeviča, who made partner in 2018, leads the practice group at LEADELL Fogels & Vitols, along with managing partner Karlis Vitols. The firm acts for private individuals and financial institutions, including longstanding client Swedbank. It handles cross-border work, which is strengthened by its Baltic alliances in Estonia and Lithuania and global links in Asia.
Dispute resolution
At LEADELL Fogels & Vitols, practice co-heads Karlis Vitols and Ilze Jankevica have undertaken various contentious matters, including representing long-term client Swedbank Lizings in debt recovery cases, an area they have expertise in. Other clients include Altum and Balta.
Employment
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols’s employment group advises a diverse set of domestic and international clients across a number of industry sectors on matters including the termination of contracts and due diligence. Longstanding clients include the representative office of Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter in Latvia. Managing partner Karlis Vitols is the key contact.
Real estate and construction
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols’s real estate practice group is led by Nils Fogels and advises clients on a range of infrastructure and real estate projects, as well as representing them before Riga City Council. Recent work highlights include advising Coffee Drive on construction regulations in the historic centre of Riga. Ilze Jankeviča is recommended for her experience in real estate transactions and finance expertise.
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols has been highly recognized in the fields of dispute resolution and banking, finance and capital markets, stating the following:
Dispute resolution
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols team head Kārlis Vītols and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča ‘always provide tailored solutions and are very reliable, caring and passionate about the work they do’. Together with Nils Fogels, their work spans high-value debt recovery proceedings, employment, insurance and administrative law. Nils Fogels acted for Swedbank in proceedings in respect of the client’s security rights.
Banking, finance and capital markets
At LEADELL Fogels & Vitols, managing partner Kārlis Vītols senior associate Ilze Jankeviča are ‘able to promptly advise and formulate strong opinions on even controversial legal questions’. They are key contacts for banking, finance and debt restructuring and recovery. Swedbank, Altum and DNB are some of the group’s established clients.
Employment
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols assisted Satema Baltic with the various issues relevant to workforce reorganisation and reduction. Senior associate Ilze Jankeviča, who is ‘is well versed in labour law’, advised Autovista Poland on the separation of employment and service agreements and related taxation matters. Managing partner Kārlis Vītols is a key contact.
IP, IT and telecoms
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols’s managing partner Kārlis Vītols leads a team with noted expertise in the fintech arena. It assists clients including The Payment House, Grant Thornton Baltic and Baltikums Bank with areas such as licensing and trade mark protection. Nils Fogels and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča are key members of the team.
Real estate and construction
LEADELL Fogels & Vitols is instructed on a range of infrastructure and real estate projects such as energy installations and shopping malls. Considered ‘true experts in this area’, it counts Velve, Grant Thornton Baltic, Meža Properties and BlueOrange (previously known as Baltikums Bank) among its clients. Nils Fogels, who ‘always provides tailored solutions’, leads the team, assisted by senior associate Ilze Jankeviča.
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa has been highly recognized in the fields of dispute resolution and banking, finance and capital markets, stating the following:
Kārlis Vītols heads the practice at Fogels, Vitols & Paipa, which includes Nils Fogels and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča. The team acts for major banks and has expertise in large-scale debt recovery. It also handles employment, real estate and trade mark disputes.
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa advised ORLEN Latvija on matters including crediting of customers and payment liabilities. Kārlis Vītols heads the team and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča is recommended.
Fogels, Vitols un Paipa has been highly recognized in the fields of dispute resolution and banking and finance, stating the following:
At Fogels, Vitols & Paipa, managing partner and team head Karlis Vitols undertakes large-scale debt recovery work for major banks. Nils Fogels is ‘an excellent speaker who looks very deeply into each separate question’ and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča ‘successfully reacts to changes’.
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa’s team includes name partner Karlis Vitols, a ‘strategic thinker who can plan complex work successfully’, and senior associate Ilze Jankeviča, who ‘provides solutions very quickly’. Swedbank, Altum and DNB Banka are clients.
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa has been highly recognized in the field of dispute resolution as well as corporate and M&A, stating the following:
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa represents domestic and international clients in employment, debt recovery and transport disputes, among other cases. Karlis Vitols heads the team, which also includes Nils Fogels.
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa has been highly recognized in the field of dispute resolution as well as corporate and M&A, stating the following:
Fogels, Vitols & Paipa is advising DNB Banka on white-collar crime, insolvency and leasing matters. Nils Fogels, who is acting for Swedbank in certain insolvency cases, and Karlis Vitols are recommended.
