Cobalt displays a 'high level of intelligence, professionalism and promptness' in the wide range of services it provides for corporate and private clients. Practice co-head Elijus Burgis and managing partner Irmantas Norkus led the advice to DNB on combining its operations with Nordea in the Baltics states, which included all aspects of the planning of the transaction and regulatory and merger control matters. It continues to advise the newly combined bank Luminor. Associate Justinas Kondratas joined from NJORD Law Firm and the team also saw the promotion of Julija Timoščenko to associate. Juozas Rimas co-leads the M&A practice group and counts Johnson & Johnson as a client.

Ellex is 'the most exceptional player in the Baltic market', according to one client, and continues to win the biggest share of the country's largest commercial transactions and M&A deals. Practice co-heads Zilvinas Zinkevicius and Paulius Gruodis recently advised Estonia's biggest renewable energy company on its merger across the Baltic states. Industry and regulatory team head Jaunius Gumbis and Marius Juonys are also noted practitioners, and Robertas Čiočys, who heads the private equity and venture capital subgroup, is recommended for his specialty in liquidation matters. Associates Mantas Juska and Arvydas Gruseckas joined from Cobalt and TGS Baltic respectively. Dovilė Burgienė left the partnership to form new firm WALLESS Burgienė, Rečiūnas and partners.

Big-ticket matters for Sorainen's 'excellent' corporate practice include Tomas Kontautas advising Nordea on combining its operations with DNB in the Baltic regions to create Luminor, with the assistance of Rūdolfs Eņģelis from the Latvia office. Clients are impressed by Algirdas Pekšys' 'professional insight' and his ability to find the 'best possible legal solutions'. Sergej Butov leads the regional corporate and M&A team and is known for his 'creative and goal-orientated approach'. The team has been strengthened by two new joiners and promotions within the practice group. Laimonas Skibarka is recommended for his expertise on private equity, as is Mantas Petkevičius, who made partner in February 2018.

Marius Matonis and Vidmantas Drizga co-lead the team at TGS Baltic, which caters to a wide range of corporate and private clients including Medicinos Bankas and BaltCap. In recent work, the firm acted for Apex Alliance on an investment and development project which spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Romania. Aurimas Pauliukevičius advised an investment company on the acquisition of a stake in a sportswear company and on obtaining merger clearance from the Lithuanian Competition Council.

At Primus Derling, managing partner Robert Juodka and Giedrė Dailidėnaitė co-lead the practice group, which has the National Defence Foundation and Bunge as its clients. It assisted a manufacturing company with securing a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to facilitate its expansion in Belarus. The team was strengthened by the arrival of senior associate Ieva Strunkienė from Triniti.

Ligita Ramanauskaitė leads the group at Magnusson, which has been advising on a €3m merger involving 31 companies in the agricultural sector. Tomas Ivanauskas joined from VILGERTS; his client portfolio includes sector-leading companies such as Baltic Orbis.