WALLESS development in the Baltics: WALLESS Estonia and FORT Estonia are merging and WALLESS Latvia is strengthened by the FORT Latvia litigation team
We are pleased to announce an exciting development in the Baltic legal landscape. On the 27th of March, WALLESS Estonia and FORT Estonia agreed on the terms of merger forming a strong entity under the WALLESS brand. On top of that, FORT Latvia Litigation team joins WALLESS Latvia.
FORT Estonia team professionals have earned top rankings from Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and IFLR1000 in corporate/commercial, real estate, competition/antitrust, and dispute resolution practice areas.
“The merger of two experienced and ambitious teams is a significant step towards providing even better legal service to our clients,” says Piret Kergandberg, Managing Partner of WALLESS in Estonia. “We are proud and grateful that many successful clients we admire are increasingly entrusting us with their most complex tasks in the region, contributing to our firm’s status as one of the fastest-growing law firms in Estonia in recent years. While we consider this a great compliment to our dedicated team, who always put their heart into their work, we believe we owe it to our valued clients to match their ambition and strive to become the leading legal advisor in the region across all areas of law at a faster pace than organic growth would allow,” adds Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff former Managing Partner of FORT Estonia.
Additionally, WALLESS Latvian team will be strengthened by FORT Litigation team, led by Sandis Bertaitis, a top litigator in Latvia. Sandis is ranked as the leading individual among dispute resolution lawyers in Latvia by Chambers and Partners and IFLR1000. The Legal 500 has listed him as a leading practitioner in the Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist Central and Eastern Europe 2023.
“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our team with the addition of highly recognized dispute resolution expert Sandis Bertaitis and his team. He will provide WALLESS clients with a service that is truly exceptional, characterised by a deep commitment to addressing their needs and concerns,” shares Kristīne Gaigule-Šāvēja, Managing Partner of WALLESS in Latvia.
The changes regarding the FORT brand in Estonia and Latvia will not include FORT Lithuania. The firms in Estonia and Latvia will now embark on a period of active integration planning, working together toward the final closing of the transaction. “Our top priority remains providing seamless service to our clients. Rest assured that our commitment to delivering high-quality legal solutions with integrity and professionalism remains unwavering,” assures Piret Kergandberg.
This merger represents a strategic decision aimed at providing comprehensive legal services across the Baltic region. With a global offering of the highest quality, WALLESS will be ideally placed to provide local and cross-border support to clients as they navigate an increasingly complex legal, regulatory, and geopolitical environment.
“We welcome this merger as WALLESS is the top choice for both local and international clients in the Baltics,” says the Chairperson of the WALLESS Board and Managing partner of Lithuania, Dovilė Burgienė. “This merger confirms WALLESS vision to build a team with a wall-less attitude and client-centric approach empowering clients to achieve their goals.”
At WALLESS, we are more than just a law firm – we are a team dedicated to helping our clients succeed. With over 150 law professionals, delivering highly specialized, full-service legal advice to our clients.
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For further information, please contact:
- In Estonia: Piret Kergandberg, piret.kergandberg@walless.com or Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff, kuldar-jaan.torokoff@fortlegal.com
- In Latvia: Kristine Gaigule-Šaveja, kristine.gaigule.saveja@walless.com