The Legal 500

Baltic Legal Solutions Lithuania’s highly praised dispute resolution practice has notable expertise in arbitration as well as high-value corporate and shareholder litigation. It successfully represented a major local company in a benefit payments dispute with 12 foreign insurers. Team head Valentinas Mikelenas and Iraida Zogaite are highly recommended.

Bernotas & Dominas Glimstedt is recommended for arbitration. Kestutis Jaskutelis is representing Sanitex and Arvi ir Ko in an investment dispute with the Republic of Serbia. Managing partner Gediminas Dominas is acting as co-arbitrator in a €200m multi-party dispute. Seasoned litigator and white-collar crime expert Jonas Masiokas is also recommended.

Lawin’s specialist dispute resolution practice stands out for its finance and white-collar crime litigation expertise, and team head Vilija Vaitkute Pavan is renowned as one of the best commercial and investment arbitration lawyers in the jurisdiction. The firm acted for the Ministry of Energy in arbitration proceedings and investment litigation against Gazprom. It also represented Belarusian clients in a case regarding EU sanctions.

‘Excellent and creative’ boutique practice Motieka & Audzevicius is jointly led by the ‘highly skilled, high-end professional’ Jovitas Elzbergas and Ramunas Audzevicius, ‘a thoughtful and strategic litigator with vision and experience far beyond his age’. The firm is currently representing Gazprom in commercial arbitration proceedings against the Ministry of Energy. Founding partner Kazimieras Motieka’s ‘experience has the value of gold’.

Raidla Lejins & Norcous has a comprehensive practice but has a particularly significant record in financial, insurance, construction and energy sector cases. The team has been representing a group of claimants against the Republic of Lithuania in an investment dispute relating to the Snoras bankruptcy, and also acted for Merko statyba in construction arbitration. Team head Rimantas Simaitis is also developing a mediation practice.

Sorainen is highly recommended for its work in complex disputes work and its ‘great industry knowledge, responsiveness and creative approach’. The arrival of seasoned litigator Kęstutis Švirinas from Nordia Baublys & Partners was a significant hire. He joined to be practice co-head alongside ‘excellent team leader’ Renata Beržanskienė. Clients include SEB bank, retailer Imlitex and the Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association (AGATA).

Zygimantas Pacevicius and Dalia Foigt-Norvaisiene are excellent practitioners who lead Attorneys at Law Borenius’ arbitration and mediation practice. Recent mandates include acting for online news website 15min in a defamation case.

Alvydas Gineitis’ team at Eversheds Saladžius is particularly focused on commercial litigation, and has earned recent instructions from engineering company Krah Pipes, Statoil, and energy provider Fortum. Managing partner and ‘strong negotiator’ Jonas Saladžius feature in the team.

Tark Grunte Sutkiene is a go-to firm for complex civil and administrative disputes. Renowned litigator and competition law practitioner Lina Darulienė heads the team, which represented FR&R Invest IGA and Alita group in a complex M&A and shareholder dispute. Vilius Bernatonis has a wealth of arbitration experience.

bnt Attorneys-at-law made a valuable investment in its dispute resolution practice when it recruited Mindaugas Navickas from Lawin. Team head Frank Heemann recently advised German company H.Abbe Pharma on corporate and criminal disputes. Yvonne Goldammer is also recommended.

Balciunas & Grajauskas has a good record in financial and construction disputes. Recent instructions include advising on the recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgement. Gintaras Balčiūnas heads the team.

Hansa Law Offices’ greatest strength lies in banking and finance disputes, and it has a large flow of instructions from Swedbank. Dalius Baranauskas leads on the majority of cases.

Nordia Baublys & Partners focuses on litigation and ADR. The team recently lost practice head Kęstutis Švirinas, who joined Sorainen in 2012. Gediminas Baublys and Evaldas Rapolas are now the main contacts.

Varul’s ‘very proactive, quality-oriented and highly professional team’ is representing Petrolinvest in a railroad ownership and investment protection case pertaining to Mockava LNG terminal. Clients praise Paulius Docka’s ‘out-of-the-box solutions, which are a trade mark of the firm’s litigation practice’. Renata Valiūnaitė is also recommended.