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Māris Vainovskis

Senior Partner
Attorney at law,
Head of Banking and Finance practice group,
Head of Corporate and Commercial practice group

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Languages: Latvian, English, Russian

Māris is a Senior Partner heading the Banking and Finance as well as the Corporate and Commercial practice groups. 

Capital Markets expert with more than 20 years of legal experience in banking and finance, commercial and company law, IT law and EU law.

Māris is especially well-known for his M&A work. During his many years of legal experience, he has been involved in the majority of the largest and most complex M&A projects in the country.  He has acted in an advisory capacity in over 250 M&A sector deals and advised sellers and buyers, both foreign and domestic, not only on mergers and acquisitions but also on complex reorganizations, restructurings and asset deals.

Māris also has extensive experience in commercial and company law matters.  He has led teams in over 70 major corporate and commercial sector deals.

He is also involved in several Latvian government-formed working groups on legislative initiatives.  

 

Recent experience:

  • Disposal of Snoras Bank’s shareholding in Finasta group (sell-side assistance).
  • Minority stake sale in Securitas Latvia (sell-side assistance).
  • Legal assistance regarding in relation to the sale process of Citadele Bank (assistance to the target company).
  • Acquisition of a controlling stake in Ventamonjaks (full-scope services related to joint venture formation and merger clearance).
  • Acquisition of L&T by Bioinvest (full-scope buy-side assistance and merger clearance).
  • Acquisition of Liepajas Metalurgs assets by KVV (acquisition agreement and related agreements).

Chambers Global, 2022: Top-ranked and versatile Māris Vainovskis has extensive experience handling complex M&A mandates and is routinely instructed by clients from the banking, insurance and manufacturing sectors. A client reports: "Māris Vainovskis has a vast knowledge. He is always on point and well structured in what he wants to say and the message that he wants to pass on." Another adds: „He is everything you want in a lawyer. He's very diplomatic and experienced in M&A."

Chambers Europe, 2021: "According to clients Māris Vainovskis is Vainovskis is" like an encyclopedia of knowledge, he's very well aware of everything that is going on," adding: „He's also very good at sharing information in a very understandable way," and continuing: "He's always very positive, he always sees a solution."

Chambers Global, 2014: "According to clients Māris Vainovskis ‘will always find the solution that suits both sides.  He is down to earth and a great lawyer to have in a tense situation.’  Other sources value the way he ‘is practical and will guide clients through all the risks’."

Chambers Europe, 2014: "Māris Vainovskis is ‘interested in our matters and looks into every detail of the case.  He works fast and gives us sensible, practical and valuable advice,’ enthuse clients.  Sources regard him as a particularly strong choice for merger control mandates."

Legal 500, 2014: "Māris Vainovskis heads the practice at Eversheds Bitāns which has strong expertise in tax litigation and tax planning related to cross-border business restructurings."

Top Ranked in Chambers Global 2023

Top Ranked in Chambers Europe 2022 and Chambers Global 2022

Top Ranked in Chambers Europe 2021 and Chambers Global 2021 

The Legal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2021, 2022

  • Member of the Latvian Bar Association.
  • Head of the Investment protection and Court efficiency workgroup at the Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL).
  • Member of the Advisory Council of the Latvian Company Register.
  • Member of the Workgroup of the Ministry of Justice of Latvia for drafting amendments to the Commercial law.
  • Co-author of the Latvian Corporate Governance Code 2021 together with the Riga Stock. Exchange and Ministry of Justice of Latvia, Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC), and industry peers.
  • Member of the Advisory Board for Riga City  Municipality companies governance.

LL.M. degree from the University of Latvia, Ph.D. candidate since 2003. 

International Practice Diploma in International Mergers and Acquisitions, 2004.

Summer School for International Financial Law in Oxford, UK, 2014.

Māris Vainovskis

Senior Partner

Attorney at law,
Head of Banking and Finance practice group,
Head of Corporate and Commercial practice group

Māris Vainovskis

Senior Partner

Attorney at law,
Head of Banking and Finance practice group,
Head of Corporate and Commercial practice group

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