Senior Partner

Verners Skrastiņš

Head of Dispute Resolution practice

About

Experience

Verners Skrastiņš is co-founder and one of senior partners. He also leads Dispute Resolution as well as Banking and Finance practice. On an every day basis Verners advises local businesses as well as foreign investors on various aspects of commercial law, has in-depth knowledge in Banking and Finance law as well as is an expert in Real Estate and Construction industry legal twists and turns.

Verners has strong dispute resolution and negotiation skills and is a respected arbitrator in Riga Arbitration Court.

Industries

Agriculture
Manufacturing
Retail and Consumer
Financial services
Leisure and Entertainment
Energy and Infrastructure
Real estate and Construction
Aviation

Education

University of Latvia, Faculty of Law
Riga Graduate School of Law

Career

Before co-founded SKDZ in 2001 Verners worked as an in-house lawyer at one of the largest commercial banks in Latvia and has an in-depth knowledge of Banking and Finance law and industry as well has acted as a legal advisor of the Minister of Justice.

Membership

Latvian Bar Association
International Bar Association

Languages

Latvian, English, Russian

Publications

Arbitration clause in commercial agreements with foreign partners – what should be taken into account?, “Bilances Juridiskie padomi” No. 1 (67), January 2019 issue.

Notable cases and deals

Advised AS “Moda Kapitāls” on sale of pawnshop loan portfolio

Skrastiņš & Dzenis acted as legal adviser to AS “Moda Kapitāls”, owner of one of the largest Latvia’s pawnshop network, on the sale of AS “Moda Kapitāls” pawnshop portfolio of consumer credits against movable collateral, brand name and goods in its stock that are not movable collateral to AS “DelfinGroup”.

Advised a client on acquisition of aggregation of property

Skrastiņš & Dzenis acted as legal adviser to the client on acquisition of industrial real estate and movable property from the AS “Trasta komercbanka” in liquidation.

Advised insolvent AS “PNB Banka” on conclusion of agreement on sale of real estate portfolio valued more than 60 mil. EUR

Skrastiņš & Dzenis acted as legal adviser to insolvent AS “PNB Banka” on conclusion of agreement on sale of all real estate.

We advised IPAS “PNB Asset Management” on sale of pension funds’ management rights

We are pleased to announce that Skrastiņš & Dzenis acted as legal adviser to IPAS "PNB Asset Management" on sale of pension funds' management rights.

AS “PNB Banka” Insolvency Proceedings

Vigo Krastiņš, Partner of Skrastiņš & Dzenis, was appointed as an Administrator of insolvency proceedings of AS “PNB Banka”.

Representing a client in the LCIA

Skrastiņš & Dzenis partner Verners Skrastiņš together with our Lithuanian colleagues from Motieka & Audzevicius and Stephenson Harwood partner, Queen’s Counsel Louis Flannery has represented a client, as a claimant, in a 5-day long arbitration hearing in the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

Skrastiņš & Dzenis successfully represented “Mile Auto” interests

Our team has successfully represented Citroën official dealer’s LLC “Mile Auto” interests relating to open tender for purchase of vehicles, that exceeds € 300 000. By the decision of the Public Procurement Bureau the other party’s complaint was dismissed and public purchaser was granted a permit to sign a procurement contract with “Mile Auto” as the winner of the open tender.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis advised Kesko Senukai group in obtaining competition clearance from Latvian Competition Council

Skrastiņš & Dzenis advised Kesko Senukai group in obtaining competition clearance from Latvian Competition Council.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully aided Vienna Insurance Group in obtaining competition clearance from Latvian Competition Council

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully aided Vienna Insurance Group in obtaining competition clearance from Latvian Competition Council, thus, obtaining Latvian Competition Council’s approval to close the deal and acquire 100% shares of non-life insurance company Seesam Insurance AS (including its Latvian and Lithuanian branches) from Finnish OP Financial Group. Vienna Insurance Group is one of the largest international insurance groups in Central and Eastern Europe.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has represented BAB FlyLAL – Lithuanian Airlines in a case of recognition and enforcement of a judgement made by a Lithuanian court.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team represented BAB FlyLAL – Lithuanian Airlines (company under insolvency) in a case of recognition and enforcement of a judgement made by a Lithuanian court.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has advised Riga City Council in a complicated damages case

Skrastiņš & Dzenis dispute resolution team advised the client in a complicated damages case, where a leaseholder brought a claim against the client by claiming back all the investments leaseholder had made in the leased building.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has represented AS Latvijas gāze in a damages case against Financial Capital and Market Commission

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team has represented AS Latvijas gāze in a damages case against Financial Capital and Market Commission where our client has taken an action to claim from the FCMC interest from the deposit – the part of damages suffered as a result of insufficient supervision over AS Latvijas Krājbanka.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis advised and represented SIA Selva būve in handling a dispute with a counterparty located in the Netherlands

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team assisted SIA Selva būve in handling a dispute with its business partner in the Netherlands on alleged breach of the agreement and pay-out under the guarantee issued by a bank.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully represented SIA HD FestForest in an employment dispute

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team has successfully represented SIA HD FestForest in an employment dispute after our client terminated employment relationships with one of the company’s employees.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis assisted SIA Venden in drafting an exclusive distributorship agreement in Baltics and Commonwealth of Independent States

Skrastiņš & Dzenis assisted SIA Venden, one of the oldest and largest natural spring water suppliers in Latvia operating the largest fully automated line of production in Baltics, to expand their activities in the coffee distribution field and have assisted in drafting an exclusive distributorship agreement in Baltics and Commonwealth of Independent States with one of the leading Belgium coffee industry players.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully represented SIA First Baltic Property Riga in an investment dispute against two Latvian banks

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully represented SIA First Baltic Property Riga, an asset management company owned by a Lichtenstein Investment fund, in a case against two Latvian banks.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully represented SIA VJN Kapitāls in a shareholders’ dispute

Skrastiņš & Dzenis has successfully represented SIA VJN Kapitāls in a shareholders’ dispute emerged more than a decade ago.

Skrastiņš & Dzenis advises Vienna Insurance Group on the acquisition of Seesam Insurance AS Latvian branch

Vienna Insurance Group will buy 100% shares of non-life insurance company Seesam Insurance AS (including its Latvian and Lithuanian branches) from Finnish OP Financial Group.

Successfully represented former owners of Parex Banka

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team (Andrejs Guļajevs and Verners Skrastiņš) together with other attorneys-at-law has successfully provided legal assistance and defended former owners of Parex banka before the court of first instance.

A project for energy performance contracting (EnPC) in Latvia for public sector facilities in cooperation with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has come to a close

Skrastiņš & Dzenis team, headed by senior partner Verners Skrastiņš and including attorney-at-law Andra Bērzkalne, has taken part in a project aimed to the energy performance contracting (EnPC) in Latvia regarding public buildings and street lighting projects.