Overview
Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states, and its legal market is competitive. The race to offer seamless pan-Baltic capability continued in 2010, when prominent firm Sutkiene Pilkauskas & Partners joined forces with Estonia’s Tark & Co and Grunte Cers of Latvia to form Tark Grunte Sutkiene, in as close to a full merger as local laws permit. Lawin, which has long dominated the Lithuanian market, launched a single management board with colleagues in Latvia and Estonia in a further step towards full integration; but its grip on the domestic market is loosening, with two other pan-Baltic operations, Raidla Lejins & Norcous and Sorainen, joining the top tier of rankings in an increasing number of practice areas.
The former Jurevicius, Bartkus & Partners also took steps to increase competitiveness and appeal to foreign clients, particularly those who view the Baltics as one market, by rebranding as Baltic Legal Solutions Lithuania. It also merged with corporate boutique Kazlauskas & Degesys Solvings, strengthening its transactional capability, and with 50 lawyers, creating one of the largest firms in Lithuania. Further market consolidation saw mid-sized firms Foigt & Partners/Regija Borenius and Svirinas, Mackonis and partners Lawway unite to create 30-lawyer practice Borenius / Svirinas & Partners, part of the successful Finnish-Baltic Borenius network.
With FDI all but disappeared, the public sector stepped in as a major purchaser of legal services, with public procurement a growing field for all commercial practices. In another sign of the times, a price war has ensued at the top end of the legal market, with hourly fees being replaced by more flexible arrangements.