My practice is focused on commercial and investment arbitration. I act as counsel before arbitral tribunals and in Swedish courts. I also represent clients in proceedings related to annulment, recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgements.

Receiving an appointment as arbitrator is always an honour. To date, I have acted as chair, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in arbitrations under the auspices of SCC Arbitration Institute, the Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chamber of Commerce and ICC International Court of Arbitration as well as in ad hoc proceedings. I have conducted the proceedings in English, Swedish and Russian languages with seats in Sweden, Russia, Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark.

Prior to founding Westerberg, I was a partner at another major Swedish law firm. Before joining the firm’s dispute resolution practice, I worked with mergers and acquisitions advising on corporate and contract law. In terms of industry knowledge, I have particular experience from construction disputes under Swedish standard form agreements (AB/ABT) and FIDIC contracts. I also enjoy working on disputes related to telecom and IT.

I currently serve as the president of the Swedish Arbitration Association and a board member of the SCC Arbitration Institute. I have served on the board of the Swedish Women in Arbitration Network. I am member of the Swedish Bar Association and the International Bar Associations Arbitration Committee’s Task Force on Privilege as well as the Policy Commission for Digital Economy at ICC Sweden.

Working languages

Ginta is a Swedish national. She is fully proficient in Swedish, English and Russian, while her native language is Latvian.

Notable representations include acting for

• Moldovan investors in set-aside proceedings as well as enforcement of an investment arbitration award worth USD 500+ million against the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National   Bank of Kazakhstan (the “Ascom Case”)
• a major Swedish retail company against a Swedish IT company in arbitration under the Rules of the SCC Arbitration Institute
• a major Chinese corporation against a major Russian steel producing plant before the Svea Court of Appeal regarding setting aside of an arbitral award
• a Latvian construction company against a Swedish construction company before an ad hoc arbitral tribunal seated in Stockholm
• an investor against a Central European state in proceedings before the Svea Court of Appeal regarding annulment of investment arbitration award

Recent recognition includes

• Ranked in Chambers and Partners’ Global guide 2025 with clients saying that ”She is a constant voice of calm in very heated circumstances” and ”Ginta has outstanding tactics and always provides good advice.”
• “Ginta is very helpful and prompt and always finds the best ways of communicating with the client” and “Ginta, who is fully proficient in Swedish, English, Russian and Latvian, has demonstrated an incredible way of thinking. She has successfully handled our tremendously complex legal issues because she asks the right questions.” – Client testimonials for Chambers & Partners, Global and Europe 2024.
• Ranked as a Leading partner by Legal 500 with clients saying “Ginta Ahrel is exceptional – very bright, hardworking, responsive, diligent and, importantly, an excellent team player.” (2025), “Ginta Ahrel is a tactical thinker with excellent technical skills.” (2024), “Ginta Ahrel is a very sharp and experienced lawyer, providing practical advice that gives value for the client.” (2023), and “Ginta Ahrel has always been ready – witted, proficient in multiple languages, open-minded and thoughtful.” (2023)
• “She is good, really smart and to the point.” – Client testimonial for Chambers & Partners, Global and Europe 2022.
• Ranked in Chambers & Partners, Global and Europe 2021, “following impressive market recognition”. Sources say: “She is a very brave advocate and a good strategist.”
• Recognized as Future Leader in Arbitration by Global Arbitration Review’s sister publication Who’s Who Legal annually since 2017 and recommended as National Leader in Arbitration. Sources single her out as “the go-to person for Russian-related disputes”.

Latest speaking engagements and publications

• “Challenge grounds for arbitral award”, lecturer at the Diploma Course for International Arbitrators organized by the SCC Arbitration Institute and by the Swedish Arbitration Association, June 2024
• “Hot stuff in Construction, Energy & Investment Arbitration – Swedish Perspective” moderator of Expert Round Table at the 13th Baltic Arbitration Days, Riga, June 2024
• “Why Arbitration Fails?” speaker on the panel titled “Sociology and Education, Arbitration – a Human Endeavor“ at the XXVth Congress of the International Counsel for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Hong Kong, May 2024
• “Will Your Award Stand in Court?”, moderator of launch event of Westerberg & Partners Arbitration Tracker, co-organised with SCC Arbitration Institute and Swedish Arbitration Association, Stockholm, May 2024
• Westerberg & Partners Arbitration Tracker: 2024 – challenging Arbitration Awards in Sweden”, editor and co-author of the Survey.
• “How to … become an arbitrator”, speaker at a pre-event to Nordic Arbitration Day in Helsinki, May 2024
• “Challenging Arbitral Awards in the Nordics, 2023 Survey”, author and speaker at the Norwegian Arbitration Day in Oslo, February 2024
• “Challenging Arbitral Awards in the Nordics, 2023 Survey”, editor and co-author of the Survey.
• “Recent Attempts to Deal With Achmea”, speaker at the Sovereign & States Disputes and Enforcement Summit 2024 in London, February 2024
• “Energy Transition: Decarbonization, Renewables, and Offshore: Novel Kinds of Disputes and Resolution Regimes”, moderator of the panel at the Solidarity Arbitration and Mediation Days in Warsaw, December 2023
• “Highlights of the past year in international arbitration”, moderator at the seminar organized by the Swedish Arbitration Association and SCC Arbitration Institute, Stockholm, September 2023
• “Annulment of arbitral awards in the Nordics”, speaker at BAHR and Wikborg Rein’s arbitration seminar, Oslo, September 2023
• “International Arbitration of Tomorrow: Meeting the Demands of An Evolving World”, speaker at the Conference celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Stockholm University International Commercial Arbitration Law Programme, Stockholm, August 2023
• “Receiving and handling your first arbitrator appointment”, speaker at the networking breakfast organized by Swedish Women in Arbitration Network, Stockholm, August 2023
• “Stakeholders’ Perspectives on SCC Innovations in Dispute Resolution”, speaker at the Bucharest Arbitration Days 2023, Bucharest June 2023
• “Wet ink signature required for Swedish arbitral awards (Svea Court of Appeal)” case report co-authored with Mathilda Walhgren, published by Practical Law Arbitration, April 2023
• “Practical aspects of enforcement against states”, panelist at seminar on Sovereign Immunity from Execution co-organised by DER Juridik, Westerberg & Partners and Uppsala University, Stockholm, April 2023
• “The Rules and General Principles in Arbitration”, lecturer at the training program organized by Young Arbitrators Sweden, Stockholm, March 2023
• “Third Party Interventions in International Arbitration”, a keynote speaker at seminar organized by Clyde & Co during the Hamburg International Arbitration Day, Hamburg, March 2023
• “Swedish Fika and Arbitration – a seminar on the current state of Latvian and Swedish arbitration law and practice”, moderator, organized by Swedish Arbitration Association and Riga Graduate School of Law, Riga, February 2023
• “Swedish Court sets aside arbitration award due to the tribunal exceeding its mandate (Landbyska v The Grand Group)” case report co-authored with Mathilda Walhgren, published by LexisNexis, February 2023
• “Cloud Disputes” speaker in the panel titled “New Frontiers: The Subject Matters of the Disputes of Tomorrow“ at the XXVth Congress of the International Counsel for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Edinburgh, September 2022
• “Challenge grounds for arbitral award”, lecturer at the Diploma Course for International Arbitrators organized by the SCC Arbitration Institute and by the Swedish Arbitration Association, June 2022
• “Swedish Supreme Court Weighs in on Immunity of Sovereign Wealth Fund Assets Under Central Bank Management”, article co-authored with Dr. Maria Fogdestam Agius, published on Kluwer Arbitration Blog, March 2022
• “Non-signatories in arbitration”, lecturer at the Arbitrator Training Program organized by Swedish Arbitration Association, February 2022
• “Statute of limitations”, speaker at the Swedish Law Day in Russia organized by Swedish Arbitration Association, December 2021
• “Correction, Interpretation and Additional Awards”, panelist in the webinar organized by Italian Forum for Arbitration and ADR (ARBIT), November 2021
• Young Arbitrators Sweden webinar on SCC Rules: “Efficiency vs Legal Certainty”, speaker, November 2021
• SCC East-West Forum: “Focus on Arbitration in Poland and the Baltic States”, panelist in the on-line seminar, September 2021
• “Conflicts of interest and obligation to disclose in the light of Halliburton v Chubb case”, organized by Swedish Women in Arbitration Network and Stockholm Centre for Commercial Law, Arbitration department, moderator, Stockholm, September 2021
• “Arbitration in the region from practitioner’s perspective with practitioners from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia”, moderator of an on-line seminar during the 2021 Inaugural SCC East-West Forum, Stockholm, April 2021