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ATTA CENTRE
8 June 2022, 9:00-17:00

Top Tier Financial and Regulatory Forum in the Baltics

Summit Partners:

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ABOUT
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Explore Trends and Examine Legal Challenges Faced by the Financial Industry

The annual financial and regulatory conference – Baltic FinReg Summit – will take place in Riga, Latvia on 8 June 2022. It is the leading think tank, knowledge sharing, and networking event for the financial sector in the Baltic market and beyond – a forum where we explore trends, examine legal challenges and arrive at specific actions that will secure business prospects.

The Baltic FinReg Summit is organised in partnership with the financial sector cluster organisations – Estonian Banking Association, Finance Latvia Association, and Lithuanian Banking Association – and is inspired and powered by COBALT, a leading pan-Baltic law firm operating in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

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Industry in Its Full Spectrum & Networking at Its Finest

The Baltic FinReg Summit brings together the industry in its full spectrum with representatives on all levels of expertise and experience, decision-making and legislative power:

  • Providers of financial services, including traditional banks, insurance companies, investment funds, alternative financial services, payment providers, FinTech companies, and related industries

  • Government and supervising institutions along with government officials, ministries of finance and economics, national banks, financial and capital market commissions etc.

  • Opinion leaders from finance associations, NGOs, academic institutions, and media

 

The Summit offers high quality networking – a great combination of gaining new contacts, discussing hot topics, sharing experience, even taking counsel, negotiating deals, or strengthening your reputation. A must-attend event to stay on top of the news and build your narrative.

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Hands-on Insights from Prominent Experts

The programme of Baltic FinReg Summit brings valuable and hands-on insights into the industry’s most relevant topics. We have assembled a truly impressive line-up of international and local speakers, who are prominent experts on their subject matter. The Summit programme will include a high-level panel discussion among AML experts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, insights from the European Banking Authority, representatives of local and international financial institutions and other market participants, international law firms Simmons & Simmons and Wolf Theiss etc. 

 

Here are a few of the hot topics that will be discussed:

  • The new AML package

  • Sanctions and supervisory priorities in relation to the prevention of money laundering in the Baltics

  • Securitisation trends in Europe

  • Choosing the right jurisdiction for a fund

  • ESG in practice

  • Decentralised Finance (DeFi)

Media Partner:

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SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

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Rūta Merkevičiūtė

Head of Digital Finance unit, European Banking Authority (LT)

Rūta is a Head of Digital Finance unit at the European Banking Authority (EBA) that is responsible for the EBA’s work on monitoring financial innovation and identifying areas where a regulatory and supervisory response might be needed. She is also leading work on digital operational resilience and crypto-assets with a focus on EC proposals for a regulation on Markets in Crypto-assets (MICA) and on Digital operational resilience for the financial sector (DORA). Previously she was Director of Financial Services and Markets Supervision Department at Bank of Lithuania, that was responsible for capital markets, prudential supervision of less significant financial institutions and financial services supervision. Rūta has professional legal qualification as an attorney-at-law and for the past 12 years has been working both in private sector and financial sector’s supervision in the areas that include AML, payments, lending, investment and FinTech industry.

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Eimantas Vytuvis

Director, Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering (LT)

Eimantas started his career in the police, and later worked at the Special Investigation Service, which focused on corruption crimes investigation. Before starting his journey at the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering, Eimantas was in charge of the Customer Risk Management unit in Luminor Lithuania, responsible for KYC, AML, sanctions, and fraud investigations. Eimantas has a law degree and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS).

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Jeroen Bos

Partner, Simmons & Simmons Amsterdam (NL)

Jeroen specialises in capital market transactions with a focus on asset-backed transactions such as securitisations, covered bonds and supply chain financing. He represents large financial institutions in their capacity as originator or arranger. He has also been involved in numerous loan portfolio sales, acting for both sellers and buyers.

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Uldis Upenieks

Chief Compliance Officer, Member of the Management Board at Citadele banka, Co-chair of Compliance Committee at Finance Latvia Association, Co-chairman of the Management Board at ACAMS Baltic Chapter (LV)

Since 2017, Uldis Upenieks is responsible for the Compliance area in Citadele group – a modern banking platform for individuals and businesses in the Baltics. Uldis has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial sector, of which last 20 years he has worked in the banking sector. Since August 2017 Uldis is Co-chair of Compliance Committee at Finance Latvia Association, and since March 2018 – Co-chairman of the Management Board at ACAMS Baltic Chapter.

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Monika Koolmeister

Partner, COBALT (EE)

Monika has a 15-year track record as a Banking & Finance attorney. Monika also has valuable experience from a leading commercial bank in Estonia, operating as Head of Compliance and member of the Extended Management Board. Monika has also been in charge of keeping good working relationships with the financial regulators – as Head of Compliance she has served as a contact person to the European Central Bank and the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority. She has been a member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2004.

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Audrius Matikiūnas

Head of Legal & Product Management, Private Equity, UAB INVL Asset Management (LT)

Audrius is a Head of Legal & Product Management for Private Equity of INVL Asset Management. He also leads the alternative investments selection team at the same organisation. Audrius is an expert on fund structuring and operations with deep practical knowledge of both local and EU wide legal and regulatory landscape.

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Imants Lieģis

Former Latvian Ambassador and Minister of Defence, Senior fellow, the Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LV)

Imants is a former Latvian diplomat with Governmental and Parliamentary experience. He left the Diplomatic Service in July 2020 after serving as Ambassador to France. He worked as a career diplomat since 1992, with Ambassadorial postings in Hungary, Spain, Belgium, NATO and the EU Political and Security Committee. Until 1992, he worked as a lawyer in England, where he was born and educated. From March 2009 until November 2010 Imants Lieģis served in Government as Minister of Defence (and Acting Minister of Justice from May 2010). Following that he was elected to Latvia’s Parliament for one year, working as Chairman of the European Affairs Committee and Head of Delegation to NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly. He is on the Advisory Board and is an active member of the European Leadership Network. He has published works on foreign affairs and defence and security matters and has cooperated closely with the Latvian Institute of International Affairs since 2011.

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    Virginija Gecaite

    Senior Loan Officer for the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe, European Investment Bank (LT)

    Virginia has over 15 years of experience (buy-side as well as sell-side) in the Structured Finance domain working with various asset classes, including ABS (cash and synthetic), Covered Bonds, Trades Receivables, and CLOs. Currently, she is in charge of origination, management and execution, as well as optimisation of structured finance solutions at EIB. She has structured the first capital relief transactions (synthetic securitisations) in Poland, Romania, and the Baltics.

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    Roger Kaiser

    Senior Policy Adviser, European Banking Federation (BE)

    Roger has 30 years of experience in Public Affairs and international finance focusing on banks’ compliance. He is a member of the Steering Group of the Europol Financial Intelligence Public Private Partnership (EFIPPP) and of the Tax Committee of Business at OECD. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at public hearings and conferences hosted by International Organisations (OECD, IMF), EU Institutions and Academies (Lausanne, Cornell, Ghent, ERA, ACAMS). He is Co-founder of Revue Fiscalité des Placements. He has a Master of business engineering, a Master’s in taxation and a Postgraduate degree in European tax law. He is a Certified Tax Adviser and a Certified AML Specialist.

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    Matis Mäeker

    Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Estonia (EE)

    Matis is also a member of the MONEYVAL Bureau. Mäeker has been the evaluator and reviewer of many mutual evaluation reports conducted by MONEYVAL. He is also a member of the Estonian delegation to MONEYVAL and a member of the Heads of FIU of the Egmont Group. He has also been an alternative member of the European Banking Authority’s AML Standing Committee on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing (AMLSC). Mäeker has extensive knowledge of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) from both angles—the preventative and the criminal side. He is the author of the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority’s AML/CTF public and internal guidelines, the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority’s risk-based approach model, as well as the co-author of the book “The AML Compliance Book: 150 Golden Rules”.

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    Ieva Tetere

    Chairwoman of the Council, Finance Latvia Association, Chairwoman of the Board, SEB banka (LV)

    Since 2015 Ieva Tetere is CEO of SEB bank – one of the leading universal banks in Latvia with assets over 4.0 billion euros. In Finance Latvia Association Ieva is holding the position of Chairwoman of Council. Before joining SEB in 2005 Ieva was a part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers team both in Latvia and for two years in London. Within SEB Ieva holds the responsibility for the Sustainable banking area of the Baltic Division, including both the regulatory requirements together with the development of new sustainable products and offerings for the customers.

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    Laura Matukaitytė

    Business Developer, Ondato OS (LT)

    Laura Matukaitytė is responsible for the development of Ondato OS platform products. The new platform offers institutions an understanding of their exposure, with risk-based management of new and existing customers. Before joining Ondato, Laura was a leading FinTech sector lawyer at one of the biggest law firms in the Baltics. Laura is also recognised among the top FinTech advisors in Lithuania by Chambers and Partners.

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    Maido Lillemets

    Legal & Compliance Director, BaltCap Group (EE)

    BaltCap is the largest multi-strategy private equity fund manager in the Baltics. Maido has a long track record in the sector, having worked both on the institutional LP ( i.e. the fund investor) side as well as on the GP (i.e. fund manager) side. In the last 8 years, he has participated in over 20+ investments made in both local and global PE/VC funds covering various strategies and has helped to set up and close new funds for BaltCap. Maido has actively contributed and participated in the work of local industry representative organisations – EstVCA and FinanceEstonia.

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    Mervet Kägu

    Head of ESG, COBALT (EE)

    Mervet leads the ESG practice at COBALT Estonia with particular focus on ESG-related regulatory compliance. She also assists clients with corporate sustainability reporting, disclosure requirements, ESG-focused due diligence, and drafting ESG-related policies and procedures. Previously she worked in several international law firms and in other public and private organisations such as Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, the European Commission, the United Nations (UNFCCC), and in an ESG tech start-up Datamaran.

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    Irina Kuzmina

    Chairperson of the Sustainable Finance working group, Finance Latvia Association, Sustainability Area Manager, Swedbank Baltics (LV)

    Irina leads the team driving strategic initiatives in sustainability area for the corporate segment in Swedbank Baltics: sustainability roadmap development and implementation, integration of ESG aspects in customer evaluation, scenario analysis work, growing sustainable financing volumes, KPIs and reporting, competence building, ensuring regulatory compliance. She is a Member of Swedbank Group Green Bonds Committee.

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    Claude Bocqueraz

    Deputy Head of the Financial Crime Unit in DG FISMA, European Commission (CH)

    Claude started her professional career in the private sector before joining the European Commission in 2007. She moved to DG FISMA in 2009 where she has served in various positions and has been responsible for policy development in fields as asset management, insurance and pensions, corporate reporting, audit and credit rating agencies. She also worked for the international relations unit. 
    Claude holds a PhD in Economics and Social Sciences from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She is also qualified as a chartered accountant.

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    Santa Purgaile

    Chairwoman, Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia (LV)

    Santa has been Chairwoman of the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) since 23 October 2019. She has more than 20 years of experience in the banking sector in various positions, including leadership of corporate customer segment, small and medium-sized businesses and retail segments. Prior to the FCMC, Santa held the position of Member of the Board of Citadele Banka, where she was responsible for planning and ensuring the development of Citadele Group's business and strategy in the Baltic region. Moreover, she has been Co-Chair of the Crediting Committee of the Finance Latvia Association.

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    Paulis Iļjenkovs

    Deputy Head of Strategic Analysis Division, Financial Intelligence Unit of Latvia (LV)

    Paulis has 5 years of experience in AML/CFT and sanctions compliance, having worked as a consultant at Deloitte and since 2019 – at the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Latvia. At FIU, Paulis leads Latvian public-private partnership (PPP) platform and strategic analysis projects. He is a member of the Steering Group of the Europol Financial Intelligence Public Private Partnership (EFIPPP). He has a Master’s degree in law and is currently pursuing a PhD in law with a focus on international sanctions. He is a Certified AML Specialist.

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    Dr. Niklas J.R.M. Schmidt

    Partner, Wolf Theiss (AT)

    Dr. Schmidt has been involved in the crypto space since 2013 – as a researcher, as an investor and as a lawyer. In the latter capacity, he has been advising family offices, foundations, trustees, wealthy individuals and banks on various topics related to crypto assets. In addition, Dr. Schmidt has also published three books on crypto. He is the founder of the WT Crypto Academy, an educational initiative for non-crypto natives over 16 hours, where he has trained more than a thousand lawyers in the last few years. Dr. Schmidt has recently been included in Citywealth's worldwide list of top 100 crypto advisors.

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    Richard Martin

    Exec Officer for the Mindful Business Charter, Principal Consultant at workplace consultancy Byrne Dean (GB)

    Richard is a leading advocate and campaigner around mental health in the workplace. Formerly a senior law firm partner he experienced burnout and breakdown in 2011 and now focuses his work on workplace mental health. He leads the training and strategy work on the subject at leading workplace consultancy Byrne Dean and has recently been appointed to lead the Mindful Business Charter, a movement of major businesses around the world (including COBALT) looking to reduce the unnecessary stress in work and life. He has published a memoir of his experience of mental illness and recovery – This Too Will Pass. He is a mental health first aid instructor and a qualified business coach.

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    Akvilė Bosaitė

    Partner and Co-Head of Banking and Finance Practice Group, COBALT (LT)

    Akvilė has specialised in banking, finance, investment funds, project financing, restructuring of financing, securities and M&A for over fourteen years. Akvilė is a recommended expert in finance law by international law firm directories. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from Vilnius University and an LL.M. from Erasmus University, Rotterdam. During her legal practice, Akvilė Bosaitė has led a number of the largest financing, investment funds, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions projects both in Lithuania and foreign jurisdictions.

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    Edvards Kušners

    Adviser to the Council and Head of Sustainability, Latvijas Banka (LV)

    Former member of the Council of Latvijas Banka (2012–2018). Edvards Kušners started his career at Latvijas Banka in 2003 as the Deputy Head of the Legal Department. From 2005 to 2012, he was also Advisor to the Governor of Latvijas Banka. Before that he was the Director of the European Integration Office. From 2009 to 2012 Edvards Kušners was an external Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia in public administration matters. From 2008 to 2011, he was a member of the Strategic Analysis Commission of the President of the Republic of Latvia.

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    Lauris Liepa

    Managing Partner, COBALT (LV)

    Mr. Liepa is recognised to be a noted practitioner in Banking and Finance, M&A, litigation and constitutional law. In the course of his legal practice extending over 20 years, Lauris has advised local and international corporate clients, managing major M&A (including sale and purchase of banks) and foreign investment deals as well as providing assistance in capital markets transactions.

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    PROGRAMME

    PROGRAMME

    Registration & morning coffee 8:00-9:00
    Opening session
    09:00
    Introduction and opening address

    Lauris Liepa, Managing Partner, COBALT (LV)

    09:05
    Opening address

    Ieva Tetere, Chairwoman of the Council, Finance Latvia Association, Chairwoman of the Board, SEB banka (LV)

    09:10
    Towards comprehensive risk-based approach in regulatory and supervisory framework

    Santa Purgaile, Chairwoman, the Financial and Capital Market Commission of the Republic of Latvia (LV)

    09:25
    Keynote: Regulatory priorities in the European Digital Finance area

    Rūta Merkevičiūtė, Head of Digital Finance Unit, European Banking Authority (LT)

    The future of AML & sanctions compliance
    09:45
    New AML package

    Claude Bocqueraz, Deputy Head of the Financial Crime Unit in DG FISMA, European Commission (CH)

    Roger Kaiser, Senior Policy Adviser, European Banking Federation (BE)

    10:15
    Challenges & opportunities of digitalisation of AML processes

    Laura Matukaityte, Business Developer, Ondato OS (LT)

    Coffee break 10:35-10:55
    10:55
    Practical tips to market participants for identification and mitigation of sanctions related risks

    Uldis Upenieks, Chief Compliance Officer, Member of the Management Board at Citadele banka, Co-chair of Compliance Committee at Finance Latvia Association and Co-chairman of the Management Board at ACAMS Baltic Chapter (LV)

    11:15
    Expert panel:
    Emerging risks in sanctions and the AML/CTF field

    Matis Mäeker, Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Estonia (EE)

    Paulis Iļjenkovs, Deputy Head of Strategic Analysis Division, Financial Intelligence Unit of Latvia (LV)

    Eimantas Vytuvis, Director, Centre of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering (LT)

    Panel Moderator: Uldis Upenieks (LV)

    Fund scene in the Baltics
    11:45
    Tips for choosing the right jurisdiction for your fund

    Maido Lillemets, Legal & Compliance Director, BaltCap Group (EE)

    12:05
    AIFMD II: (de-)leveling playing-field?

    Audrius Matikiūnas, Head of Legal & Product Management, Private Equity, UAB INVL Asset Management (LT)

    Lunch break 12:25-13:25
    Trends & lessons learned in securitisation
    13:25
    An overview of securitisations in Europe

    Jeroen Bos, Partner, Simmons & Simmons Amsterdam (NL)

    13:45
    Securitisation – funding and capital optimisation tool

    Virginija Gecaite, Senior Loan Officer for the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe, European Investment Bank (LT)

    ESG in practice
    14:05
    Demystifying ESG requirements for financial sector

    Mervet Kägu, Head of ESG, COBALT (EE)

    14:20
    ESG and EU Green Taxonomy

    Edvards Kušners, Adviser to the Council and Head of Sustainability, Latvijas Banka (LV)

    14:35
    ESG headwinds and tailwinds in corporate lending

    Irina Kuzmina, Sustainability Area Manager, Swedbank Baltics (LV)

    Coffee break 14:55-15:15
    Disrupters & challengers
    15:15
    What is Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and is it a threat to banks

    Dr. Niklas J.R.M. Schmidt, Partner, Wolf Theiss (AT)

    Thinking further
    15:35
    The impact of the growth of Russia's tyrannical appetite whilst eating

    Imants Lieģis, Former Latvian Ambassador and Minister of Defence, Senior fellow, the Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LV)

    15:55
    Mental health in the workplace – a personal story and a framework for a better working culture

    Richard Martin, Exec Officer for the Mindful Business Charter and Principal Consultant at workplace consultancy Byrne Dean (GB)

    Closing remarks
    16:15
    Key takeaways from Baltic FinReg Summit '22

    Monika Koolmeister, Lauris Liepa, Akvilė Bosaitė, COBALT (EE/LV/LT)

    Reception & networking 16:25-17:00
    TICKETS

    TICKETS

    Onsite tickets include free coffee and snacks, lunch, and reception.

    Single

    Early Bird € 239

    18 Apr – 15 May

    Regular € 299

    16 May – 31 May

    Late Bird € 369

    1 June – 8 June

    Get Tickets NOW!

    Team*

    Early Bird € 209

    18 Apr – 15 May

    Regular € 259

    16 May – 31 May

    Late Bird € 319

    1 June – 8 June

    Get Tickets NOW!

    Client/Partner**

    Early Bird € 209

    18 Apr – 15 May

    Regular € 259

    16 May – 31 May

    Late Bird € 319

    1 June – 8 June

    Get Tickets NOW!
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    'Web Stream' ticket – € 95

    Join the Summit online from anywhere in the World!

    * Team price applies, when three or more tickets are purchased at the same time. 

    ** Applicable to COBALT 2020-2022 clients and the members of Summit partner organisations.


    All prices are shown in euros per person and excluding 21% VAT.

    VENUE

    Venue – ATTA CENTRE

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    Located in the heart of Riga, the capital of Latvia, ATTA CENTRE is one of the largest conference and event venues in the Baltics. 20-35 minutes from all districts of Riga, including Riga International Airport, it’s accessible by car, bicycle, and public transportation.

    How to get there?

     

    • If you plan on coming by car, it is easy. ATTA CENTRE offers 245 free parking spaces for customers. Keep in mind that traffic is busy in the morning hours and it could take up to 20 minutes more than usual.

     

    • We suggest using the Bolt app for taxi services in Riga. However, if you get a taxi on the street, pay attention to the tariffs (boarding, distance, waiting) indicated on the back doors of every taxi, as tariffs are not regulated and there are no maximum limits.

     

    • If you come by plane, a taxi is your only option. A reasonable fare for a taxi to the venue is around 20 to 25 euros and the drive will take about 30 to 35 minutes.

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