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New Firm Means the End for Raidla Lejins and Lawin

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The Latvian and Lithuanian offices of Raidla Lejins & Norcous (RLN) and the Estonian office of Lawin have left their firms to join forces in what they describe as "a vibrant new pan-Baltic alliance.” The result — “Cobalt” — also includes an office in Belarus. As a result, Irmantas Norkus, the Managing Partner of Cobalt’s Lithuanian office said yesterday, “RLN is dissolved as of today.”

Cobalt is managed by Norkus in Lithuania and Dace Silava-Tomsone in Latvia (both of whom led RLN’s offices in those markets), Martin Simovart in Estonia, and Darya Zhuk in Belarus (the former Managing Partner of Glimstedt’s Minsk office). Former Lawin Estonia Managing Partner Peeter Lepik has resigned as Partner, but will stay on as Counsel at Cobalt.

A formal press release distributed by the new firm includes comments from three of Cobalt’s Managing Partners. According to Norkus in Lithuania: “In the extremely competitive legal market, each law firm seeks to serve its clients more effectively and to grow its practice. We are creating a powerful partnership of equals. The partners of Cobalt share a vision, ambitions, and strategic goals. We are keen to meet new challenges.” According to Simovart in Estonia: “It is time to take our 25 years of experience to a whole new level. We are an enthusiastic team of experienced and prominent players joining forces to integrate and provide our clients with peerless service and actionable, reliable legal solutions.” And according to Silava-Tomsone in Latvia: “Our lawyers have worked hard to earn trust of our clients and the respect of our market. This is reflected in dozens of recognitions and awards by international legal directories. We are proud of the sterling reputation of our teams and are determined to work every day, every assignment to maintain our trusted advisor status."

According to Norkus, the Baltic RLN and Lawin offices not included in the new alliance — RLN in Estonia and Lawin in Lithuania and Latvia — will “likely form a new alliance … under a new brand.”

More details and a consideration of the effects of this significant change in the Baltic legal market will appear in the June issue of the CEE Legal Matters magazine.

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