About
My name is Aija Lejniece. I am a Latvian-born, Harvard Law School-educated attorney based in Paris. As a litigation expert, I focus particularly on cross-border disputes and international arbitration. I am a member of the New York Bar and the Barreau de Paris. In addition to being bilingual in English and Latvian, I am also fluent in Russian and French, and have a professional grasp of Spanish.
After spending almost a decade working at some of the biggest top-tier international law firms, I decided to become an independent practitioner. The need for arbitration and cross-border litigation attorneys has steadily increased over the past few years, but so have the fees of major international law firms. My aim as an independent counsel is to offer a first-rate service to my clients without the unnecessary expenses or overhead, and to close the gap that currently exists in the international dispute resolution market.
My status as an avocat à la cour in Paris and attorney-at-law in New York allows me to practice independently, avoiding conflicts of interest and enabling me to offer more flexible arrangements to my clients.
Experience
I have been working in international litigation since 2011, first interning in the Paris offices of White & Case LLP, and Shearman & Sterling LLP, then spending over three years as an associate with Clearly Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. From 2016 to 2021, I was an associate in the Latham & Watkins LLP litigation and trial practice in Paris. In May 2021, I established myself as an independent practitioner.
I have advised clients in a multitude of high-stakes international disputes across a broad range of jurisdictions and business sectors, developing case strategies, preparing and managing hearings, as well as giving pre-litigation, investment structuring, corporate and regulatory advice. I have represented clients in a multitude of business sectors and industries, including oil & gas, mining, renewable energy, construction, pharma, consumer, insolvency, finance, crypto, taxation and banking.
I am passionate about the latest tech developments and have undertaken executive training on AI at Oxford Saïd Business School, gaining cutting-edge insights into how AI is reshaping our world. I regularly publish articles and speak at conferences about the impact of AI on law and arbitration. By staying at the forefront of these innovations, I ensure my clients benefit from the most advanced strategies and solutions available.
Services
I advise clients at all stages of a dispute, from pre-litigation advice and securing third party funding for a claim, to developing a case strategy and presenting it to a tribunal, to enforcement and annulment proceedings. I collaborate with other independent practitioners and can quickly bring together a bespoke team should a matter be particularly complex or require reinforced legal or expert support. I likewise act as of counsel to both international and local law firms.
In addition to counsel work, I accept appointments as arbitrator. I am a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and am on the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center List of Arbitrators.
I am committed to supporting the rule of law and access to justice, and may take on suitable matters on a pro bono basis.
