Featured Projects

Janis Likops

Janis has been practicing law for almost 20 years. Before joining FORT in 2013, Janis worked for two other leading international law firms in Latvia, and he has also headed the Legal Division of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre in Latvia. Janis is a member of the Latvian Bar Association.

In addition to Janis’ recognition as a ranked lawyer in corporate and commercial matters, Janis is top-ranked and renowned for his expertise spanning real estate sales, development mandates and regulatory matters. Sources note his extensive experience in the area and also praise his reasonable, business-minded and clear advice.

During his career, Janis has inter alia advised on numerous notable real estate and M&A transactions and developments in the Baltics, as well as he has been involved in several working groups for drafting of legislative acts.

Sandis Bertaitis

Sandis Bertaitis is an attorney-at-law having experience of fifteen years in providing legal assistance, which he has accrued practicing in leading international law firms of Latvia. Since establishment Sandis is a partner of Law firm FORT.

International legal rating directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 have appreciated professional performance of Sandis for several consecutive years and ranked him among top experts of real estate thanks to his excellent legal expertise and high efficiency. Moreover, the above rating directories have also acknowledged professional activities of Sandis in dispute resolution practice for several years in a row, where Sandis is being praised for his ability to find the most suitable solution and focus on the outcome to be achieved.

Aldis Maldups

Aldis practices since 2001 and is currently an attorney-at-law and certified administrator of insolvency proceedings.

Aldis even further improved his professional expertise and skills while working in Germany (at the law firm “Mütze, Korsch Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH” in Cologne). He is highly appreciated by clients, as evidenced by Aldis’ continuous and successful cooperation with clients from Germany and Switzerland.

Mara Bekere

Mara has been practicing since 2004 and has previously worked at the Council of Latvian Sworn Bailiffs by representing and managing the council’s activities on daily basis. While working at the Council of Latvian Sworn Bailiffs Mara was engaged in several working groups for developing draft laws, including the working group of the Insolvency Law (gratitude received from the secretary of state of the Ministry of Justice for support in development of the Insolvency Law), as well as working groups of the Civil Procedure Law and the Civil Law. In addition, Mara has worked at offices of two sworn bailiffs for four years accumulating valuable experience in enforcement of judgments and other court rulings.

Mara’s major case experience includes:

– provision of legal assistance in development and operation to EuroEnergy and other producers of electricity and heat;

– provision of legal assistance to several key Latvian construction and real estate development companies in implementation of various projects.

Laila Pudule

Laila is an associate and provides support to the FORT team in corporate law, real estate and other practices.

Arturs Caics

Arturs joined FORT shortly after its foundation. Since the beginning Arturs has provided support to the FORT energy and environmental law team in various cases. In addition to the energy and environmental law Arturs is engaged in several other practice areas, including dispute management.

Arturs has successfully completed studies and achieved highest academic degree in law, i.e. Dr.iur. (Doctor iuris). His research and educational activities are focused on the issues of constitutional law. Arturs is a co-author of the Commentaries on the Latvian Constitution. Arturs as an expert participated in the sessions of the working group established by the Parliament of Latvia, where the topic about extending the powers of the President and amending the election procedure was discussed. Within the practice in FORT Arturs is also dealing with assignments related with the constitutional law and is providing support in constitutional proceedings.

Arturs is a legal adviser to the Latvian Psychologists Trade Union and the Baltic Psychologists Association and has participated in the development of legal regulation of psychologists’ professional activities. Arturs has also reviewed the commentaries on the Psychologist Law.

Ieva Pruse

Ieva is the senior associate of FORT and leading expert in the area of the prevention of money laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing, as well as in sanction risk management.

On daily basis FORT advises various entities of the Act on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism and Proliferation Financing and the Act of the International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia (including financial institutions) on matters concerning compliance with the provisions of the above legislative acts (including development of necessary procedures and policies and communication with the authorities supervising compliance with the provisions of the said acts). Ieva unwaveringly manages to find a solution most suitable for the level of risk inherent to the operations and resources of the client in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the law.

Furthermore, Ieva has considerable experience in the corporate law, mergers and acquisitions (including cross-border), intellectual property rights and issues related to real estate. Ieva boasts experience in both planning complicated transactions and drafting documents necessary for implementation of the transaction.

Vita Rancane

Vita practices law since 2004 already. Before joining the FORT team Vita has accrued expertise working for the leading manager of bad assets in the Baltics – AS Reverta – and law offices of a notary public. Vita has mainly specialized in real estate matters.

Laura Legzdina

Laura is an associate of an attorney-at-law and provides support to the FORT team in dispute resolution, public procurement, administrative procedure, and other practice areas. Before joining the FORT team, she worked for another law firm for five years where she obtained invaluable experience in dispute resolution and litigation.

Tatjana Vavilova