Riga, Latvia · Jāņa Zaļā zvērinātu advokātu birojs
A full-service law office for business in Latvia
Everything a company needs in Latvia, from one point of contact: incorporation, registered address and accounting through our cooperation partners, contracts, employment and tax — and, when it comes to that, litigation, criminal defence and disputes with the authorities. By a Latvian sworn advocate, in English, in person or remotely.
One office for the whole life of a business in Latvia
Most foreign owners do not want three advisers in Riga. We act as your external counsel and, where a task is not legal work, bring in cooperation partners we work with regularly — so that you deal with one office and one language.
Setting up
Choosing the form of the company, incorporation and registration in the Commercial Register, beneficial-owner filings, bank account opening support, VAT registration, licences. A registered address in Riga and bookkeeping through our cooperation partners.
Running the business
Commercial contracts with Latvian counterparties, employment contracts and dismissals, shareholder agreements and board matters, data protection, tax and regulatory questions, dealings with the State Revenue Service and other authorities.
When something goes wrong
Unpaid invoices, contract disputes, a tax audit, a frozen bank account, a criminal investigation touching the company or its officers, a seizure or confiscation of assets — handled by the same office that knows your business.
Why a Latvian sworn advocate
In Latvia, "lawyer" is not a protected title. A sworn advocate (zvērināts advokāts) is a lawyer admitted to the Latvian Collegium of Sworn Advocates after an examination and an oath, and bound by its Code of Ethics. For you as a client this means three things:
Rights in court
A sworn advocate can represent you in every court in Latvia, including the Supreme Court (the Senate), and can act on your behalf before authorities, notaries and bailiffs. Under the Advocacy Law a sworn advocate may also request from state and municipal authorities the information needed for your case.
Confidentiality
Everything you tell a sworn advocate is protected by professional privilege under the Advocacy Law. A sworn advocate cannot be questioned about it and cannot be made to hand over your file.
Accountability
A sworn advocate is subject to the Collegium's disciplinary rules and carries professional liability insurance. If something goes wrong, there is a clear procedure for complaints.
Practice areas
Business in Latvia
Company formation and corporate governance, registered address and accounting through cooperation partners, commercial and employment contracts, tax and regulatory matters, dealings with authorities — ongoing support as external counsel, from one point of contact.
Business in Latvia →Civil and commercial disputes
Contracts and unpaid debts, real estate purchases and disputes, inheritance with a foreign element, company and shareholder disputes, insolvency claims — negotiated, settled or litigated in Latvian courts at every instance.
Civil and commercial disputes →Criminal defence
Defence from the first questioning to the verdict, economic ("white-collar") cases, frozen bank accounts, seizure and confiscation of assets — including Latvia's separate proceedings on criminally acquired property — and representation of victims.
Criminal defence →Administrative and tax disputes
Challenging decisions of Latvian authorities: residence permits, tax audits and VAT refunds from the State Revenue Service, construction and municipal decisions, public procurement, compensation for unlawful decisions, and constitutional complaints to the Constitutional Court.
Administrative and tax disputes →How we work
- You ask a question.Describe the situation in your own words — here on the site, by email or by phone. No documents are needed at this stage.
- We reply.We tell you whether we can help, what should be done first and whether there are deadlines that must not be missed. If a consultation is needed, we agree a time and its fee beforehand. Consultations can take place by video call.
- We agree in writing.Before any work starts, we sign a short engagement agreement: what will be done, how fees are calculated and how we will communicate. No surprises on the invoice.
- We do the work.We prepare documents, represent you in negotiations, before authorities and in court, and keep you informed about every step. Everything can be done in English and, in most matters, without you travelling to Latvia.
Founder
The firm was founded by Jānis Zaļais, a sworn advocate who has worked in the Latvian court system since 2006 — first as a court clerk and judge's assistant, then for more than ten years in one of Riga's established law firms. He works in Latvian, English and Russian.
About the founderAsk a question
Describe your situation — we will reply whether and how we can help.
Sending a question does not create an advocate–client relationship and is not legal advice on your specific matter. Until we have agreed on representation in writing, please do not send confidential information, documents or personal data that are not needed to describe your question. We use the details you provide only to answer you and keep them no longer than necessary — see the privacy policy.
Contact
+371 28459397 · info@zalais.legal · Riga, Latvia (Riga time: EET/EEST). Meetings in the office or by video call — by appointment; we confirm the address when we confirm the meeting.