Jānis Zelmenis
Janis Zelmenis has over 20 years of experience in leading and providing professional services to a diverse range of clients, operating in different business sectors within the EU, Baltic and CIS states.
Janis is a tax and legal consultant with focus on acquisitions and company law being one of the most frequently quoted experts on tax issues, company mergers and acquisitions and restructuring deals, with a perfect knowledge of both local and international legislation. Prior to establishing BDO Zelmenis & Liberte, Janis acquired professional experience working in various positions in such Big 4 companies as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte.
Janis has a distinct focus on working with high-net-worth individuals, including founders of large venture capital funds and executives of multinational corporations. His expertise also includes many years of co-operation with commercial banks in Latvia, which he has consulted on tax issues and complicated purchase and acquisition deals and the necessary structuring, as well as advising on corporate governance issues. As a tax expert, he has participated in drafting anti-money laundering laws.
Apart from his qualifications as a lawyer, Janis also has experience in foreign affairs, he is founder and member of management board of Association of Consular Corps in Latvia. He has been Honorary Consul for the Republic of Malta in Latvia since 2006, and also worked in Latvia’s Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Since 2012 Janis is a lecturer of EU law at Riga Stradins University where he teaches two courses, i.e. EU Internal Market and EU Company Law.
CAREER
2007 to date
Law Firm BDO LAW, Partner
2006 to date Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta
1998-2007 Deloitte Latvia Partner, Director, Senior Manager
1995-1998 PricewaterhouseCoopers, Tax Lawyer
EDUCATION
1994-1995
Central European University, Master in International Private Law
1988-1993 Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Master in Law (LL.M.)
MEMBERSHIP Latvian Bar Association
PRACTICES
Energy & Natural Resources
Corporate and M&A
Real Estate and Construction
Employment
Tax and Finance
DEALS
BDO Law represented Turība University regarding the sale of 100% of its shares
BDO Law advised the Freeport of Riga
BDO Law performed analysis of MRO infrastructure for Airport Riga
Law firm assisted client on creating profitable real estate portfolio
Liquidation of Trasta Komercbanka
BDO Law consulted on cabotage matters
The Law firm assisted TILTS
The Law firm assisted R.S.E. Holdings AG
CONVENTIONS
Conference | Hunting 2019
Conference: Taxes 2019 - Global Challenges and Opportunities for a Local Entrepreneur
Justice: IX professional Conference
PUBLICATIONS
DB | Banks unduly close the accounts
Currenttime.tv | Swedbank money laundering scandal and analyses the banking sector in the Baltics
Conference | Hunting 2019
Conference: Taxes 2019 - Global Challenges and Opportunities for a Local Entrepreneur
Justice: IX professional conference
Not much change promised in the judicial system
Latvijas Vētnesis|Gaps in offshore regulation
BDO LAW firmly holds the top tier position in Tax in 2018 LEGAL 500 EMEA rankings
Kapitals: Interview with partner Janis Zelmenis
