Highlighted for its ‘deep sector knowledge’, Cobalt‘s core strengths are both employment aspects of M&A and sector-specific employment disputes in sectors spanning IT, retail and financial services. Non-contentious mandates encompass discrimination claims, terminations, employment contract advice, and benefits advice, as part of a varied workload which also extends to more niche areas of such as whistleblowing. The group sits within a wider employment and immigration practice, in which team leader Toms Šulmanis is often navigating relationships with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs on immigration matters on behalf of a range of companies. Kristīne Patmalniece and Ivo Maskalāns have established practices in general employment law advice arising from restructurings, dismissals, and redundancies.

Counselling a client base of conglomerates such as Siemens and other large international companies, Ellex Klavins stands out for its full-service offering, which entails precedent setting disputes at EU level, including those relating to bribery claims and money laundering. Practitioners provide ongoing advice on several employment matters, ranging from HR policies to immigration, harassment investigations, and complex termination. Practice head Irina Rozenšteina is well supported by Ints Skaldis, whose knowledge of commercial law suits clients looking for advice on recruitment, transfers of undertakings, negotiations with employees’ representatives, union issues, and terminations. Elsewhere, Roberts Rimša has ‘impressive knowledge and experience of court proceedings‘, and Iveta Ceple is a key point of contact for management boards for areas such as employment regulation compliance and employee terminations.

Eversheds Sutherland Bitans‘ employment practice offering notably includes compliance advice in the context of workforce management and collective bargaining. Other channels of work are the navigation of termination processes, employment documentation, conducting complex negotiations with trade unions, and handling terminations of high-level executives. Characterised by unlawful dismissal and internal governance cases, litigation also forms a key pillar of the practice, driven by its collaboration with the firm’s disputes practice, especially key litigator and managing partner Agris Bitāns. Elina Mucina heads up the group alongside Jānis Siliņš, who ‘combines deep sector-specific knowledge with outstanding analytical and communication skills’; these sectors include energy, transport, logistics and security, which are also strong suits for the group at large.

Described as a ‘strong team with extensive experience’, Sorainen utilises its strong presence across the Baltics, both in relation to its offices and client base, to handle cross-border employment disputes which can incorporate issues such as pay, redundancy, probation and terminations, in addition to ongoing immigration and employment law advice. Eva Berlaus, Andis Burkevics and Nauris Grigals lead the group, a trio who are contacted for assistance with collective employment relations matters, executive contracts, employment terminations and operational advice, often involving document preparation. Another standout practitioner is Māris Simulis, whose familiarity with the trade and consumer goods sector is an asset for clients in cases in which employees have potentially wrongfully used the employer’s trade secrets.

Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, TEGOS (Formerly TGS Baltic) is well established in both corporate restructuring and labour law, utilising M&A expertise to advise on the merger of labour unions as part of a wider merger, for example. Andra Rubene, Linda Štrause and Toms Tīdemanis lead the team and between them display strong involvement in matters such as working permits, terminations, and local employment regulations. Štrause is key for employment disputes, co-leading the firm’s employment disputes sub-practice, and Rubene co-leads the firm’s employment advisory group, which handles a variety of employment issues, from employment legal due diligence to advice on collective agreements. The breadth of the firm’s capabilities is further evidenced by Rūdolfs Vilsons, who is able to advise on the tax consequences of employment regulation.

Displaying a strength in the aviation sector and market leading aviation clients such as airBaltic, VILGERTS‘ specific-sector knowledge is added to by regulatory compliance and due diligence in a range of industries. An additional area of distinction is assisting employers with both avoiding potential employment litigation and complaints to the State Employment Inspectorate. Jānis Kubilis, who has notable credentials in civil liability enabling the incorporation of some element of damage claims into the wider employment practice, leads the group. Kubilis is well supported by Madara Zeltiņa, who has a history of acting in employment as well as the litigation and arbitration. Former practice head Jūlija Jerņeva left the firm in August 2025 to join Cobalt.

Accomplished in internal HR procedures, WALLESS‘ practice places an emphasis on international labour law, particularly cross-border disputes. This is embodied by practice leader Sintija Radionova, whose adeptness in employment disputes is sought after in complex trade union disputes. Key work types for the practice extend to redundancy processes and employment relationships, especially those in the context of a business reorganisation, and advice on collective redundancies. Jānis Ozoliņš is a key team member for regulatory issues connected with employment, such as payroll processes.

Hosting a deep bench, Kronbergs Cukste Levin leverages its position within a network of law firms which also includes LEVIN in Estonia to advise international companies on workforce management issues and employer-employee relations at both an individual and a collective level. Seasoned employment lawyer Valters Kronbergs spearheads the team and is experienced in drafting employment contracts. Additional standout practitioners include Vineta Čukste–Jurjeva, who is regularly instructed on large restructurings with an employment law nexus, and Normunds Orols, who is well placed to advise on HR issues at all phases, from initial hiring through to terminations.

Praised for its capacity to ‘present all relevant angles of a case with clarity and precision‘, LEADELL Vitols focuses on advice on employment contracts related to employment procedures, as well as matters such as terminations with compensation and advice on a plethora of HR procedures. Māris Paipa, who joined the firm in August 2024, is at the helm and is well versed in technical aspects of employment law, spanning from collective redundancies to complex employer liability issues. Compliance with the regulatory and governance framework within labour law is also an area in which the wider group is well established. Former practice head Ilze Jankeviča left the firm in October 2024 to become self-employed.

WIDEN can be noted for its breadth of regulatory expertise, owing to ‘the number of practitioners with backgrounds in regulatory bodies'. Such strengths include employee mobility requirements and safety requirements in compliance with both Latvian and EU law. Practice head Liene Pommere is well versed in employment contracts, workplace policies, termination, discrimination, and harassment. Elsewhere, Kristīne Pulkstene has vast experience in whistleblowing law.

ZAB Deloitte Legal adopts a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together proficiencies in tax, commercial, and corporate law to help clients with employment law aspects of mergers, restructurings and reorganisations. In this regard, Jānis Čupāns, who oversees the group, stands out due to labour law compliance expertise in the context of complex corporate structures and transactions. Krista Putna has a strong grasp of internal HR policies and utilises knowledge of day-to-day employment issues to offer counsel to clients managing complex terminations and workforce relocations.

Hailed for a ‘practical, client-oriented approach’, NJORD Law Firm excels in the drafting of employment contracts and advice on obtaining employment permits, in particular for clients wishing to relocate to Latvia. On the contentious side, unfair dismissal proceedings appear heavily in the group’s workload. Dmitri Nikolaenko specialises in immigration law, while Anna Kosinska is another standout team member and seasoned employment lawyer.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal is frequently instructed on legal issues related to employee restructuring, specifically employee transfers and internal regulations. Projects also involve employee disputes, as well as day-to-day employment advice. Former practice head Edgars Rinkis departed from the firm in August 2025; Anete Puce-Dimitrovska is now the sole practice head, whose proficiency in HR due diligence and corporate governance is a benefit to management boards requiring compliance advice.