Real estate and construction in Lithuania

Cobalt

Cobalt's specialised real estate and infrastructure practice is led by Simona Oliškevičiūtė-Cicėnienė and acts for leading Lithuanian and international companies and public sector institutions. The team advised the RB Rail joint venture on the Rail Baltica project to connect Warsaw to Tallinn via a standard-gauge railway. Other traditional real estate work includes a number of freehold deals for institutional investors. Aušrys Šliavas is recommended.

Ellex

Ellex is the 'clear firm of choice' for international development companies and private equity real estate investors, advising on matters spanning multiple jurisdictions. Associate partner Dovile Stančikaitė advised Danske Bank on the leasing of a 12,000-square-metre office building in Vilnius. Ramunas Petravicius is advising LitGrid on the design and reconstruction of several major transformer stations as part of a state energy project. Other clients include Hollister Incorporated and East Capital. Evaldas Klimas has now left the firm for WALLESS Burgienė, Rečiūnas and partners, and former practice head Indrė Jonaitytė-Gricė and Tomas Milašauskas departed for in-house roles.

Sorainen

Sorainen undertakes a broad range of work related to property transactions, including acquisitions and disputes. Kęstutis Adamonis advised Rockcastle on the €124.6m acquisition of a shopping centre in Vilnius. Aušra Mudėnaitė regularly acts on contentious property matters. Other key practitioners in the team include senior associates Simonas Skukauskas and Lina Barniškienė. New clients include Decathlon and Continental.

Averus

Averus' client base includes real estate developers and investors and free economic zone managers. The team acted as legal counsel on the development of the Rail Baltica project, as well as advising a bidder on a nationally significant construction project. Klaipėda-based Raimondas Kivylius handles construction disputes. Clients include Capital City Group and Northtown Technology Park. Former practice head Povilas Karlonas has departed the firm and joined SPC Legal.

FORT

At FORT, the team regularly advises real estate investors on transactional work and finance. Led by Ruta Radzeviciute, the group advised Eften Capital on the purchase of a company with assets including a warehouse in Kaunas and a business centre in Vilnius. Andrius Mamontovas advised Elmoris on purchasing a built-to-suit factory. Mindaugas Žolynas is another name to note for heavyweight transactional work. Newly promoted partner Emilis Cicėnas joined the firm from the private sector.

GLIMSTEDT Bernotas & Partners

GLIMSTEDT Bernotas & Partners handles a range of real estate transactions, including the acquisition of buildings. Practice head Kęstutis Jaskutėlis is advising Marina Nida on the construction of hotels in Lithuania, covering tax matters and drafting documentation. Associate partner Eivydas Sadauskas is a noted practitioner. Paulius Gruodis departed the firm for Ellex and Vytautas Birmontas joined Ernst & Young Baltic AS.

Primus Derling

At Primus Derling, Robert Juodka leads the practice group, which caters to a range of local and international clients including Ibis hotel company. Juodka and Marius Devyžis acted for Ergo Insurance in a property insurance dispute pertaining to the collapse of a supermarket roof in Latvia in 2013, which was settled for €5.34m. The team has been strengthened by new associates Karolis Diska and Ieva Strunkienė, who joined from Triniti. Ernesta Žiogienė is a noted practitioner, as is Tomas Venckus.

TGS Baltic

TGS Baltic undertakes transactional and advisory work for real estate projects and developers. Practice head Dainius Stasiulis acted for Lithuanian Airports on the reconstruction of the runway of Vilnius Airport. The team also advised a scientific laser producer on the acquisition of a manufacturing complex in Vilnius. Associate Dominykas Užkurnys joined the firm from LEADELL Balčiūnas & Grajauskas. Senior associate Sandra Bliuvaitė-Šulcienė remains a key name to note.

AKJ Consultus

AKJ Consultus is a boutique specialising exclusively in real estate and construction law issues, including consultations on land transactions, issuance of permits and litigation. Audrius Kairevicius is advising Tele2 on land lease matters. Other clients include Kaunas Free Economic Zone and Lidl.

CEE Attorneys

CEE Attorneys conducts a wide range of real estate work, such as consulting on joint venture agreements for the acquisition of land and representing clients in sale and purchase transactions. Kristina Sabaliauskienė has acted on significant mandates including representing Hanner, Lithuania’s leading real estate developer, in a dispute regarding the termination of a lease of public land. Other contentious matters include Inga Kostogriz-Vaitkienė acting for Leonhard Weiss in a cross-border dispute with Lithuanian Railways over the performance of contractual obligations. Daina Senapėdienė is also a key figure in the team.

Eversheds Saladžius (a member of Eversheds Sutherland)

At Eversheds Saladžius (a member of Eversheds Sutherland), Jonas Saladžius and Rimtis Puišys advise on a wide range of construction and real estate matters, including cross-border acquisitions and construction projects. Senior associate Ana Čepinskienė is recommended.

LEADELL Balčiūnas & Grajauskas

 handles a variety of work, including assisting with marine-related infrastructure projects. Senior associate Gintaras Stankevičius leads the practice group, which advised Klasco on the construction of a new petroleum and petrochemical products terminal in the Port of Klaipeda. Gintaras Balčiūnas is a key figure.

Motieka & Audzevicius

Motieka & Audzevicius has core strengths in contentious procurement and construction matters. Led by the 'strong and strategic' Jovitas Elzbergas, the team represented Axis Industries in a procurement dispute with the Vilnius municipal government concerning the proposed new national stadium. Other highlights included advising Realco on the construction of an office complex in Vilnius, as well as representing a well-known construction company in a dispute before the Court of Appeal of Lithuania.  Donatas Lapinskas is also recommended.

Deloitte Legal, Professional Partnership of Advocates

At Deloitte Legal, Professional Partnership of Advocates, former Ellex partner Simas Gudynas leads the real estate practice group, which has been advising Skemas on the construction of a building in Vilnius. Associate Ieva Vaškinėlytė is recommended. Marius Kovalenkovas left the firm for KPMG.

ECOVIS ProventusLaw

At ECOVIS ProventusLaw, Kęstutis Kvainauskas acts on contentious and non-contentious matters relating to real estate construction and financing. Recent highlights include representing Vilniaus Parkai in a lease termination dispute regarding land in Bernardinai Park. Paulius Gavelis is recommended.

Magnusson

At Magnusson, highlights included Ligita Ramanauskaitė advising Cetarium on leasing over 5,500 square metres of office space to Festo, and acting for a retail client on establishing its Lithuanian operations, including the purchase of land plots for the development of shopping centres. Kaunas-based Evaldas Rapolas represented a client in negotiations for the acquisition of 20,000 square metres of commercial property. Marius Endzinas advised Kalstata, as the subcontractor, on the construction of a window and door factory in Marijampolė.  Dalia Stakvilevičiūtė is also noteworthy.

TVINS

TVINS' Vytautas Šenavičius handles a range of real estate matters, particularly in the agricultural sector. The team also has experience in real estate financing and development work. Key figures in the team include managing partner Tomas Talutis.