Our Team

Admitted to Practice

Education

Ph.D. - European Union Competition (Antitrust) Law - (expected 2014)
University of Latvia - Riga, Latvia

Current Other

Lecturer – Business Law, International Law, and EU Structure and Law - RISEBA University - www.riseba.lv - (2007-Present).

Board Member (Since 2007)

Vice President (Since 2010)
American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia
 

Experience

Matiss Kukainis is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, United States, and a licensed attorney / sworn advocate (zverinats advokats) in the Republic of Latvia. He specializes in competition law, real property law, property right litigation, intellectual property law and corporate law.

Matiss has performed due diligence and represented clients during acquisitions of shopping centers and other similar major commercial properties. Matiss also has advised clients on major public-private partnership tenders. In the corporate law sphere, Matiss regularly advises regarding company establishment, reorganization, and tax minimization. Matiss has also represented clients regarding various immigration issues in court and before the OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migratory Affairs, Latvian acronym - PMLP).

Cases & Accomplishments

• September 2010

Admitted to Practice

Licensed Attorney / Sworn Advocate

Republic of Latvia
 

LL.M. -  International and European Union Law (with merit)
Riga Graduate School of Law - Riga, Latvia

B.A. - Professional Law Degree (summa cum laude)
Concordia International University School of Law - Tallinn, Estonia
 

Current Other

Expert Consultant

Transport Working Group

FICIL - Foreign Investors Council in Latvia
 

Experience

From 2003 to 2008 Arturs worked at a major law firm in Riga, Latvia, being active in various fields of law, focusing primarily on real estate transactions and company acquisitions.

Arturs has provided a full range of legal services to various businesses, including television stations, newspapers, manufacturing, transit/shipping, pharmacy chains, healthcare institutions, hotels, real estate companies, IT and telecommunication service providers, and others.

Arturs heads the litigation division at Spigulis & Kukainis and has effectively represented clients in civil, arbitration and administrative courts.  A persistent and diligent approach utilized while handling cases has resulted in landmark judgments, thereby safeguarding clients\' interests.  Arturs has also served as an arbitrator in the Arbitration Court of Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, appointed by the court’s Council. 

Arturs lead a very successful share redemption procedure at the Riga Stock exchange, delisting shares of a major shipping company from the regulated market. Having detailed knowledge of competition law, Arturs has conducted competition compliance seminars for various companies and represented clients in many cases before local competition authorities as well as the European Commission.  

Cases & Accomplishments

• September 2008

Admitted to Practice

Licensed Attorney / Sworn Advocate
Republic of Latvia

Education

B.A. - Professional Law Degree
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Mr. Dzintars Zonenbergs joined Spigulis & Kukainis in the summer of 2010, bringing to the firm a wealth of litigation experience, having worked for 9 years in the litigation and debt collection department of one of Latvia’s largest banks. Dzintars specializes in litigation representing clients both in state and private arbitration courts.  Dzintars also specializes in banking law, construction law, insurance law and legal issues involving the transit sector (ports, railways, freight, etc.).  

Dzintars is fluent in Latvian, Russian and German. 

Cases & Accomplishments

• Spigulis & Kukainis attorney Dzintars Zonenbergs quoted in an article of NRA

Education

B.A. - Professional Law Degree 
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

M.A. - Professional Law Degree 
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Sandra specializes in corporate law and competition law matters.  Sandra has extensive litigation experience both in civil and administrative court. Her sharp mind and research skills have been honed through rigorous daily legal research in the office, as well as having twice participated in the international Wilhem C. Vis arbitration moot court competition. 

Sandra is fluent in Latvian, Russian and English. 

Education

LL.M. - International and European Union Law – 2013 (expected)
Riga Graduate School of Law, Riga, Latvia

M.A. - Law
European Union Law (Competition law concentration)
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

B.A. - Professional Law Degree
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Education

M.A. - Law
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

B.A. - Professional Law Degree 
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Rita primarily deals with real property law as well as corporate law.  In the corporate law field Rita has assited clients with company formation, reorganization, liquidation, corporate governance, as well as a wide variety of other corporate law issues.  Rita is fluent in Latvian, Russian, English, Lithuanian and has a strong command of German language.

M.A. - Law – 2013 (expected)
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

B.A. - Professional Law Degree
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Education

B.A. - Law and Diplomacy – 2014 (expected)
Riga Graduate School of Law, Riga, Latvia

Experience

Anete has worked for Spigulis & Kukainis for the past 3 years as both a part-time and full-time employee.  Anete assists our attorneys with their everyday legal work, as well as performs translations of legal documents.  Anete is fluent in Latvian and English.