AstapovLawyers announced merger with EU law firm Baltic Business Group

AstapovLawyers International Law Group announced a merger with Baltic Business Group, a European full-service law firm with offices in Germany and Latvia. The companies signed a strategic partnership agreement to operate together in European and CIS markets under a common brand Eterna Law. The Board of Partners will manage the merged company.

The merger became effective on 16 May 2016.

The combination and the resulting strengthening of the Group with the offices in Dusseldorf and Riga are to meet the expectations of businesses that are heavily considering the possibility of entering European markets. The new Dusseldorf office located in the industrial heart of Germany will enable the company to develop more efficient communication with the world's largest businesses that have headquarters or offices in the city.

With five offices currently operating in Kiev, Almaty, Moscow, Dusseldorf, and Riga, the Group is planning to expand its European presence further.  The forthcoming opening of a Vienna office will be the next step in the development of Eterna Law.

The two law firms coming together under a common brand name was a strategic goal for the Group that always strives to expand its geographical presence and product range for the benefit of clients. This is a logical step on the way to creating a full-service law firm present in Europe and the CIS.

The Group's presence in the two key business countries of Europe will offer an opportunity for clients to obtain advice in these states directly and will allow for more efficient use of EU funds. Germany and Latvia are among most business friendly countries in the world standing at 15 and 22 in the aggregate ranking on the ease of doing business, respectively.

The merger with the European player marks yet another stage in the company’s expansion strategy, allowing it to significantly increase its international presence due to new possibilities.

The cross-border merger is the first of its kind in the company’s history.