The Chat Chamber: Recent Episodes
Riga Graduate School of Law
The interview podcast with academics and field professionals by Riga Graduate School of Law. Found and hosted by RGSL students Marta Viļuma and Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis. Academics, practice, past, predictions, society, culture, law, politics, business, international relations, hobbies, and habits are only a few of the topics discussed. The fact that each guest brings their own energy to the library gives the podcast a distinct and individual value for students and professionals alike.
With Ēriks Kristiāns Selga, PhD cand., University Hong Kong, we discussed a variety of topics, including:
• Data governance and data sharing in context of AML;
• Economic and security trends of Europe;
• Resiliency to crises and the psychology of war;
• Perception of historical events;
• Consumption of content and informative spaces, the paradox of free speech and disinformation;
• Legal and cultural identities, as well as responsibility for a state.
Raimonds Slaidiņš, co-founder and senior partner at Ellex in Latvia. In Ellex, he leads the firm’s mergers & acquisitions practice and is part of the Ellex leadership team’s Coordinating Committee.
As American Latvian he shared his path of life which eventually led him to Latvia during the times of change in 1990s and how various coincidences resulted him participating in a foundation of a law firm. We addressed such questions as how hard or easy at that time was to become a lawyer in Latvia with U.S. legal background, what it takes to work in M&A and how to always stay trustful to your gut feeling and stay positive no matter what!
Sergejs Jakimovs is a visiting lecturer at RGSL, focuses on VC consulting, structuring IPR and investment deals, heavy-IP commercialisation, as well as co-founder of Vortex Oil Engineering and Koatum.
Daiga Auziņa-Melalksne, Head of Nasdaq Baltic markets, CEO Nasdaq Riga, Associate Vice President.
Adam Bodnar, PhD, Law Professor at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, ex-Ombudsman of Poland, a former lawyer, human rights activist.
Nils Muižnieks is the Regional Director for Europe at Amnesty International and a previous Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe. We meet at a politically sensitive climate, given the invasion. Despite his broad range of interests, Nils with lightness can link together economics, security, human rights, politics, history, freedom of expression, and trafficking. His witty responses and personal background contribute to the value of the latest discussion, so do listen to it to learn about minority rights, inclusion, international order, refugees, as well as upcoming challenges for Europe.
Attorney Ivo Klotiņš is a managing partner at one of the oldest law firms in Latvia "Klotiņi & Serģis", a visiting lecturer at RGSL, arbitrator, mediator, and a member of the Council of the Arbitration Court.
We discussed his professional experience in the legal field, how hard or easy it is to mediate disputes between the parties, how Ivo decided to choose the path of arbitration as one of his specialties as well as what it takes to be a managing partner at his law firm.
Mārtiņš Mits, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights located in Strasbourg, France, Visiting Associate Professor at RGSL, previous Prorector at RGSL.
In this episode, he shared some very valuable insights on the inner procedures of the Court and the hierarchy of how cases are reviewed and dealt with. We also touched upon the emotionality and objectivity of the judge’s work. Mārtiņš also shared in which cases he has declined cases in the past.
As of the end of 2021, the Chat Chamber podcast by RGSL experienced some minor twist on the 19th episode - our dear beloved host Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis was replaced by his dear coursemate Markuss Kozlinskis who is also a student of 3rd year in the Law & Diplomacy program.
Attorney-at-law Valts Nerets, who is a partner and the co-head of Dispute Resolution & Risk Management practice in Sorainen Law Firm Latvian office. He obtained one of his Masters at RGSL and currently is one of the guest lecturers in International Sales Law course at RGSL.
During this episode, Valts Nerets shared his views on what it takes to be a partner in one of the largest law firms in Latvia and how important it is to trust your team and their work. We also discussed the need for management, communication skills in the legal field as well as the characteristics of a great lawyer.
Filip Cyunczyk, RGSL Visiting Lecturer, teaching Constitutional Law as well as Law and Politics, Associated Researcher in the Centre for Legal Education, Assistant Professor at SWPS University and Social Theory at the University of Wrocław, Poland, Filip Cyuńczyk.
Human rights in Poland and what it is like to be a professor - some of the topics discussed in this episode. Of course, there are many others as well, explore for yourselves!
Jānis Beķeris, the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
Together they addressed such topics as his experience working as Deputy Head of Mission in the Embassy of Latvia to Turkey for almost 3 years, why he did not proceed with his diplomatic career, his professional development and switch from defense to foreign questions as well as what it takes from a person to work as Press Secretary and its what kind of responsibilities it includes.
Jānis Beķeris is the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
The episode addressed such topics as his experience working as Deputy Head of Mission in the Embassy of Latvia to Turkey for almost 3 years, why he did not proceed with his diplomatic career, his professional development and switch from defense to foreign questions as well as what it takes from a person to work as Press Secretary and its what kind of responsibilities it includes
Professor Laurent Pech is the head of the Law and Politics Department at Middlesex University London, a Visiting Professor of Law at Bordeaux University, an expert for eLabEurope, and a member of the editorial board of the Hague Journal on the Rule of Law as well as a member of the scientific board of the Montesquieu Law Review.
Professor Pech specialises in EU Public Law and has lectured in a variety of subjects including EU Constitutional Law, EU Internal Market Law, EU Competition Law and EU Fundamental Rights Law. His current primary area of research is rule of law backsliding in Europe.
Otto Tabuns is a Visiting Lecturer of International Security at the RGSL, as well as a security analyst and the host of the Latvia Weekly podcast.
Martin Krygier – is Gordon Samuels Professor of Law and Social Theory, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW Sydney, Honorary Professor at the School of Global Governance, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, and Senior Research Fellow, Rule of Law Program, CEU Democracy Institute.
His publications include Spreading Democracy and the Rule of Law?; Rethinking the Rule of Law after Communism; Community and Legality; The Rule of Law after Communism; Marxism and Communism; Philip Selznick. Ideals in the World; Civil Passions; Between Fear and Hope. Hybrid Thoughts on Public Values and Bureaucracy: The Career of a Concept. He writes extensively on the rule of law and law and politics in central and eastern Europe. His present research is focused on (anti?)-constitutionalist populism. In 2016 he was awarded the Dennis Leslie Mahoney Prize in Legal Theory and in 2020 became a Member of the Order of Australia.
This episode is developed in cooperation with the webinar series “Spring with the Rule of Law in CEE” organized by SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Poland) and Riga Graduate School of Law. For more info, visit: Webinar “Spring with the Rule of Law in CEE” -scroll down for livestream — Riga Graduate School of Law (rgsl.edu.lv).
LL.B. Law & Diplomacy student Aleksandra Aleksejeva who recently got back from an Erasmus+ in Graz, Austria, and an Erasmus+ student from Sciences Po Saint-Germain-en-Laye Jonathan Cohen who is in Latvia already since September. Both experienced an exchange semester during the pandemic restrictions which comes with its benefits and drawbacks.
Senior Partner at Evershed Sutherland Bitāns Riga office Attorney-at-Law Māris Vainovskis about the future of the legal profession and technological impact on employment in this field, as well as how the approach to clients is changing.
Kristofers and Marta were truly happy and excited to welcome Tjaco van den Hout as their guest. He is a person of a soul who inspires and motivates everyone he meets. He has been the dutch ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. And given the recent military coup and disobedience taking place in Myanmar, he was the perfect person to ask about it. Tjaco has been also the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Imagine, how great and extensive his experience is!🧐 And not only that! He is a person of skill in storytelling, making Marta cry. You may enjoy a part of it during our podcast 😉 See for yourselves, ladies and gentlemen – Tjaco van den Hout.
Visiting Lecturer M.A. Pol. Sc., PhD candidate in Politics Mārtiņš Hiršs is currently an Associate Scholar at Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
We joyfully announce that the fifth episode of the Chat Chamber by RGSL is available for all of our listeners on Spotify, YouTube, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.
We hosted a wonderful woman with extensive experience and knowledge in many fields – Visiting Professor Vita Matīss. She is not only a lecturer at RGSL, but also an expert on public diplomacy, an independent political commentator, and a writer.
This time we talked about crucial aspects of Latvia’s public diplomacy and what might be improved in order to make Latvia a visible and more attractive destination and market. We discussed also fake news, propaganda, and how these are used as weapons for supporting or denying other states as actors in the global realm.
Interested? I bet you are! On your way home or cooking dinner? It does not matter anymore because you can listen to us wherever you are and enjoy on any of the platforms!
In this episode, Marta Viļuma and Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis welcomed human rights specialist, EU General Court judge, and visiting lecturer Inga Reine. They discussed such topics as Poland's issue with abortion laws, working for a human rights mission in the Balkans, the process behind judging and the importance of moot courts for law students, and many more.
Tap the episode, make yourself some warm cup of tea, and find out the answers. 🙂
In this episode our hosts – Marta Viļuma and Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis – welcomed RGSL visiting professor Dr.sc.pol. Toms Rostoks who is one of the leading experts in Latvia concerning security and defense questions. Together they discussed topics as the impact of fake news on state security, Belarus relations with Russia, Alexander Navalny poisoning, U.S. Elections, Nagorno -Karabakh conflict.
Aside from topical questions of security, the Chat Chamber hosts also asked the professor why is he not in the diplomatic service and would he ever consider becoming a politician.
Tap on the episode to find out the answers! 👇🏼Enjoy!
In this episode, Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis and Marta Viļuma, together with RGSL Visiting Professor Francesco Luigi Gatta, discussed topics about the European Union, including the United Kingdom withdrawal and the proposed New Pact on Migration and Asylum by the Von der Leyen Commission.
The Chat Chamber hosts also asked professor Gatta when did he develop his passion for International and European Union Law, as well as professor Gatta shared his great ERASMUS+ and traineeship experience
We are happy to share the latest project of our students – The Chat Chamber by the Riga Graduate School of Law. 👏
The first episode is a conversation with our distinguished Professor, now Judge at the European Court of Justice, and at the time of the interview the President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia, Dr.iur. Ineta Ziemele.
Y2 student Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis and Y3 student Marta Viļuma ask Professor Ziemele about the inspiration behind her becoming a lawyer, her ties with RGSL, and her passion for education, as well as her experience of being the head of the Constitutional Court of Latvia. ⚖️
So, plug your earphones and stroll out for a walk or pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy – these will be a well-spent 37 minutes of your life. ✨