‘‘French idealism vs. English pragmatism: The Alternative endings of the Kout Food Saga’
— Aija Lejniece, Spain Arbitration Review, Vol. 47 (2023)
The Latvian Government appoints Aija Lejniece as a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
— 18 April 2023
“Paris-based sole practitioner Aija Lejniece, who provided an opinion to the court, tells GAR this is a ‘very important decision in the context of the Latvian arbitration regime’. She says the country has been a ‘long-time outlier in the international community as there is no way to set aside an arbitral award rendered in Latvia – the only control Latvian courts exercise over arbitral awards is by refusing execution’.
— Global Arbitration Review, 15 March 2023
The Latvian Constitutional Court (Satversmes tiesa) issues a judgment confirming that the absence of a arbitral award set-aside mechanism in the Latvian Code if Civil Procedure is unconstitutional, citing to and agreeing with Aija Lejniece’s expert opinion submitted in the case.
— Judgment of the Latvian Constitutional Court (Satversmes tiesa) in case No. 2022-03-01 of 23 February 2023
‘Arbitration and cryptocurrencies: can arbitration bring a form of stability to this fluctuating market?’ featuring Aija Lejniece as speaker.
— Organized by the French & Mexican Chapters of the Club Español del Arbitraje, 22 November 2022
‘You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It too:
The Refusal to Pay an Advance on Costs Renders Subsequent Objection to the
Jurisdiction of State Courts Inadmissible’
— Aija Lejniece, Spain Arbitration Review, Vol. 44 (2022)
“[T]he recent events in Ukraine have made clear that waging war in the 21st century means not only advanced nuclear weapons but also new financial instruments to reckon with.’”
— La Revue européenne du droit, August 2022
“Venezuela will most likely have to argue that [the remaining members of the annulment committee] cannot ‘be relied upon to exercise independent judgement’, as required by the ICSID Convention.
However, to disqualify an arbitrator on that basis the proof must be ‘manifest’ [Lejniece] says – and other tribunals ‘have held that the term ‘manifest’ excludes reliance on speculative assumptions.’”
— Global Arbitration Review, 22 June 2022
Pleased to announce that I have been included in the HKIAC List of Arbitrators until 31 December 2025.
I am very grateful for this recognition and hope to bring new perspectives to the HKIAC.
— 21 June 2022
“While some fear that the rise of blockchain, smart contracts and automation may be the harbinger of the end for dispute lawyers, I am of the opposite view – technology may have evolved, but we are still the descendants of Cain and Abel – at some point, someone is going to get whacked on the head.”
— Delos Tech Channel Anniversary Edition, Editor’s note, 15 June 2022
Baltic Arbitration Days 2022 || Panel on IT and Legaltech in Arbitration featuring Aija Lejniece on Crypto and Blockchain Disputes
— Baltic Arbitration Days 2022, 13 June 2022
Virtual VIAC Series - Hot Topics in 40 Minutes || Webinar “The ABC of Legal Tech” featuring Aija Lejniece, Sophie Nappert and Niamh Leinwather
— Virtual VIAC Series, 31 May 2022
“[Lejniece] says that while crypto emerged as a movement against the financial establishment, many crypto companies have grown to rival traditional banks and companies in size — while lacking any of the consumer protections. ‘There is going to be some type of internal reckoning in crypto,’ she says. ‘The reality is that you end up with the same type of environment you had in the beginning. What is the difference between Binance and a big bank?’ Right now, she adds, “It is a bit like the last days of the Roman Empire. Everyone is drinking and enjoying themselves and not worrying about what the future is.’”
— The Wire China, 8 May 2022
Paris Arbitration Week 2022 || Cryptocurrencies in Arbitration: The Future is Now ||
An all-female panel including Aija Lejniece gathered in Paris to discuss cryptocurrencies and crypto-related disputes.
— PAW22, 31 March 2022
“Paris based sole practitioner Aija Lejniece says that ‘considering the French legal system’s view of international arbitration as a transnational and autonomous system,’ the Paris court is likely to scrutinise the Madrid court decision ‘in detail and come to its own conclusion’.”
— Global Arbitration Review, 18 March 2022
“‘Binance seems to be everywhere and still nowhere,’ said Aija Lejniece, a Paris-based attorney representing a group of traders who are trying to recover money they said they lost when Binance’s trading website froze for more than an hour in May.”
— Wall Street Journal, 11 November 2021
“There’s a profound sense of injustice among the group,” said Aija Lejniece, a Paris-based lawyer who has helped to organise the effort after being contacted by a friend who had lost money.
— Financial Times, 19 August 2021
Lejniece says that the terms Binance sets out in its user agreement are “unconscionable.”
“Basically, they’re saying we’ve built this cool playground next to the kindergarten, there are knives and snakes in the sand but we’re not responsible if your kid gets hurt.”
— Global Arbitration Review, 19 August 2021
“It’s going to be a historic case, and it’s definitely going to attract a lot of regulators’ attention,” said Aija Lejniece, an international arbitration lawyer based in Paris who is advising the complainants. “Binance is basically operating like a financial institution but is not encumbered by any of the regulations such an institution would typically have to comply with.”
— NBC News, 19 August 2021
Hundreds of investors are expected to take part in proceedings against crypto exchange Binance, seeking damages for money they lost during a major outage.
— CNBC News, 19 August 2021
Binance Froze When Bitcoin Crashed. Now Users Want Their Money Back.
— Wall Street Journal, 11 July 2021