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Latvia's Legal Landscape: A Market Reshaped by Reform
Latvia's law firm market has been fundamentally transformed over the past seven years. The collapse of ABLV Bank in 2018 — triggered by US Treasury allegations of large-scale money laundering — sent shockwaves through the country's financial and legal sectors. The subsequent regulatory overhaul, which included the dissolution of Latvia's financial supervisory authority (FKTK) and the transfer of its functions to Latvijas Banka in 2023, created an entirely new compliance ecosystem that has reshaped law firm practice mixes and hiring priorities.
Today, Latvia's leading firms are sophisticated, internationally connected, and increasingly diversified beyond their historical reliance on banking and finance. Riga, the capital, concentrates virtually all top-tier legal work. The dominant firms operate as part of pan-Baltic networks — a model that reflects the economic integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and the reality that many significant transactions span all three jurisdictions.
Explore current openings at these firms on our Latvia legal jobs board and set up job alerts to be notified when new positions are posted.
Tier 1: Latvia's Elite Firms
Ellex Kļaviņš
Ellex Kļaviņš is widely regarded as Latvia's leading law firm and the flagship Latvian member of the Ellex alliance (with Ellex Raidla in Estonia and Ellex Valiunas in Lithuania). The firm has a long history — its roots trace back to the early 1990s, making it one of the oldest continuously operating law firms in the Baltics. Ellex Kļaviņš consistently tops rankings in corporate/M&A, dispute resolution, banking and finance, and real estate, and has advised on many of Latvia's largest and most complex transactions.
Practice strengths: Corporate/M&A, banking and finance, dispute resolution, real estate, competition and EU law, energy and infrastructure.
Culture and career: Ellex Kļaviņš offers a structured career path from junior jurist through zvērināta advokāta palīgs (assistant advocate) to full zvērināts advokāts status. The firm is known for its emphasis on academic excellence, rigorous training, and cross-Baltic mobility within the Ellex network. Junior lawyers receive early exposure to significant transactions and are mentored by senior partners with decades of experience.
Cobalt
Cobalt emerged from the former Lawin network and has rapidly built one of the strongest positions in the Latvian market. The Riga office is particularly recognised for banking and finance, energy, infrastructure, and dispute resolution. Cobalt's pan-Baltic structure — with offices in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius — enables seamless cross-border service delivery, which is increasingly important as Baltic economies integrate further.
Practice strengths: Banking and finance, energy and infrastructure, corporate/M&A, dispute resolution, public procurement, insolvency and restructuring.
Culture and career: Cobalt provides a well-structured training environment with clear progression milestones. The firm has invested heavily in its compliance and regulatory advisory capabilities since the ABLV upheaval, creating opportunities for lawyers to develop expertise in financial regulation and AML at a firm-level rather than relying solely on secondments to financial institutions.
Sorainen
Sorainen is one of the largest law firms in the Baltic region, operating across Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The Riga office is a cornerstone of the firm's pan-Baltic platform, handling major cross-border transactions, EU regulatory matters, and private equity work. Sorainen is consistently ranked among the top Baltic firms by Chambers Europe, Legal 500, and IFLR1000.
Practice strengths: Corporate/M&A, private equity, EU and competition law, tax, employment, real estate, and technology.
Culture and career: Sorainen is known for an entrepreneurial, collaborative culture that encourages associates to develop individual practice specialisations. The firm's well-regarded summer internship programme serves as the primary pipeline for junior hires. Cross-Baltic mobility is actively supported, and associates regularly work on matters involving multiple jurisdictions.
Tier 2: Strong Challengers
FORT Legal
FORT Legal is a home-grown Latvian firm that has built a formidable reputation through a combination of top-tier litigation work and increasingly strong corporate advisory capabilities. Unlike the pan-Baltic network firms, FORT Legal is a Latvian-only practice, which gives it a distinctive identity and deep commitment to the domestic market. The firm has been involved in some of Latvia's most high-profile disputes, including matters arising from the banking sector reforms.
Practice strengths: Dispute resolution, corporate advisory, white-collar crime, banking litigation, insolvency.
Culture and career: FORT Legal offers associates the opportunity to develop deep litigation expertise with early courtroom exposure. The firm's smaller size relative to the pan-Baltic networks means associates often take on greater responsibility earlier in their careers.
Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns
Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns is the Latvian member of Eversheds Sutherland, one of the world's largest law firms. This connection gives the Riga office access to a global network of over 70 offices, making it a natural choice for multinational clients with Latvian operations and for Latvian companies expanding internationally. The firm has a strong historical presence in Latvia and is well established across multiple practice areas.
Practice strengths: Corporate/M&A, employment, dispute resolution, real estate, regulatory and compliance, public procurement.
Culture and career: Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns offers the most internationally oriented career path available from a Riga base. Associates benefit from global training programmes, international secondment opportunities, and exposure to cross-jurisdictional matters that purely domestic firms cannot match.
NJORD
NJORD is a Nordic-Baltic firm with offices in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Denmark. The Riga office has developed particular strengths in transport, shipping, and logistics law — reflecting Latvia's strategic position as a transit hub and the importance of Riga's port to the national economy. The firm has also expanded into fintech advisory and digital commerce.
Practice strengths: Shipping and transport, logistics, corporate/M&A, dispute resolution, fintech, insurance.
Culture and career: NJORD's Nordic-Baltic footprint creates a genuinely international working environment. The firm recruits from Latvian law schools and from Nordic jurisdictions, offering associates exposure to Scandinavian business culture and cross-border practice from the outset.
Specialist and Boutique Firms
Latvia's market also supports respected specialist practices. Primus Derling (part of the Derling network) handles corporate and commercial matters for mid-market clients. Walless (formerly iLaw) has established a strong presence in corporate transactions and dispute resolution. Vilgerts focuses on white-collar crime, investigations, and regulatory enforcement — a practice that has grown substantially since the banking sector reforms. BDO Law (affiliated with BDO International) offers integrated legal and advisory services. For lawyers seeking early responsibility, niche specialisation, or a less corporate working environment, these firms offer compelling alternatives.
Compensation Benchmarks by Firm Tier
| Level | Tier 1 Firms (EUR/month) | Tier 2 / International (EUR/month) | Boutique (EUR/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Associate (0–3 years) | 2,000–3,000 | 1,800–2,800 | 1,500–2,300 |
| Mid-Level (3–5 years) | 3,000–4,500 | 2,800–4,000 | 2,300–3,500 |
| Senior Associate / Zvērināts Advokāts (5–8 years) | 4,500–6,500 | 4,000–5,800 | 3,500–5,000 |
| Senior Zvērināts Advokāts / Counsel (8–12 years) | 6,000–8,500 | 5,500–7,500 | 4,500–6,500 |
| Equity Partner | 9,000–18,000+ | 8,000–15,000+ | 6,000–12,000+ |
Compensation at Latvian firms has risen notably since the banking sector reforms, driven by the increased complexity and volume of compliance-related work. Top firms increasingly offer performance bonuses and, in some cases, profit-sharing arrangements to retain senior talent. For detailed salary analysis, read our Latvia legal salary guide.
What Firms Look For in Candidates
- Academic excellence: A Master's degree in law from the Latvijas Universitāte (University of Latvia) is the gold standard. Strong grades, moot court participation, and publications in Jurista Vārds (Latvia's leading legal periodical) are valued.
- Language skills: Native Latvian is essential for domestic practice. Fluent English is required at all top firms. Russian remains a significant advantage for client-facing roles. German, Swedish, or other EU languages are appreciated for cross-border work.
- AML and compliance knowledge: Given the post-ABLV landscape, any demonstrable expertise in AML, financial regulation, or compliance processes is a differentiator, even for junior candidates.
- Commercial awareness: Understanding the business models of Latvia's key industries — banking, aviation, energy, logistics — demonstrates the client-orientation that top firms demand.
- Latvijas Zvērinātu advokātu padome membership: For advocacy roles, admission to the Sworn Advocates' Council is required. Firms typically support junior lawyers through the zvērināta advokāta palīgs process and examination preparation.
How to Apply
Most top Latvian firms accept applications through their websites year-round, with structured recruitment campaigns in autumn and spring. Summer trainee programmes serve as the primary pipeline for junior hires at Tier 1 firms. Networking at University of Latvia career fairs, Latvijas Zvērinātu advokātu padome events, and Baltic legal conferences provides valuable connections.
Start by browsing current openings on LegalAlphabet Latvia. For career path guidance, read our articles on legal jobs in Latvia, how to become a lawyer in Latvia, and practising as a foreign lawyer in Latvia. Set up job alerts to receive notifications when new positions are posted.