Lithuania > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Sorainen’s presence across the Baltic region makes it a popular choice for pan-Baltic financings and transactions, as is evidenced by the fact that it acts for major names such as JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas. The team has a strong track record acting for clients on bond issuances, and it is also very active in emerging areas, such as fintech and green finance transactions. Managing partner Tomas Kontautas  is a key name for regulatory assistance and transactions that have a nexus to the insurance sector. He jointly leads the team with former banker Augustas Klezys, who is highly experienced in banking transactions and fintech licensing, as well as matters involving international swaps and derivatives.

Lithuania > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Sorainen, which is ‘a top law firm in Lithuania’, advises on high-end M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Its practice has a strong emphasis on mandates connected with the energy, financial services and TMT sectors. Team head Sergej Butov has a broad skill set, which includes M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance and reorganisations. Managing partner Laimonas Skibarka is another key name, and is most notably known for his work in the TMT sector. Algirdas Pekšys authored the first Corporate Governance Code in Lithuania back in 2004. Mantas Petkevičius, who leads the private equity and venture capital team, has expertise in investments and exits. Associate Mindaugas Baniulis joined from Magnusson.

Lithuania > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Sorainen is a prominent player in commercial disputes and criminal investigations, as well as public procurement and TMT-related matters. Kęstutis Švirinas is adept in commercial arbitration cases and white-collar crime investigations. Also recommended is Žygimantas Pacevičius, who is noted for his experience of matters with a nexus to the TMT sector, as well as insurance, financial services, management liability and insolvency. Laurynas Lukošiūnas is knowledgeable about public procurement, public-private partnerships and EU financing.

Lithuania > Employment Tier 1

Sorainen's varied workload ranges from day-to-day advice to court litigation before the Supreme Court. Practice head Algirdas Pekšys is an expert in handling employment contracts, as well as advising on HR policies and procedures. Of counsel Agnietė Venckienė, who regularly assists the firm's international client base, is notably adept in handling dismissals and disciplinary issues. Nasdaq and RB Rail are among the key clients.

Lithuania > Fintech Tier 1

Pan-Baltic firm Sorainen has a sizeable footprint in the Lithuanian fintech market, as has been evidenced by its work for the Lithuanian government, which recently included advising on its guidelines on tokenised IPOs. Also notable is that the firm is an official partner of the Wise Guys Fintech 3 accelerator programme, which is an initiative set up to encourage startups to set up in Lithuania. Managing partner Tomas Kontautas, who formerly worked for the financial regulator, has been very active in assisting international companies with obtaining e-money licences. He co-heads the practice with ex-banker Augustas Klezys, who is similarly well-placed to handle complex licensing and regulatory issues.

Lithuania > Projects and energy Tier 1

Sorainen is one of the largest firms in the Baltics and has the bandwidth to handle large-scale projects and corporate transactions in the energy, transport and telecoms sectors. Sergej Butov, who leads the energy team, undertakes mandates in areas such as oil and gas, LNG, solar and wind energy. Outside of energy, the team has been advising the leading local telecoms company Bite, as well as assisting with the landmark Rail Baltica project. Aušra Mudėnaitė, who heads up the real estate and construction team, is another key individual.

Lithuania > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Sorainen’s multidisciplinary real estate and construction team is notably strong in property portfolio deals, sale-leasebacks and city master plan amendments. Aušra Mudėnaitė is particularly adept at regulatory and transactional work, as well as litigation. Another differentiator for the firm is its strength in pan-Baltic work, with Vilinius-based Kęstutis Adamonis leading the firm’s real estate and construction work for the entire Baltic region. Most of the team's recent work covered commercial property matters, but it also has experience of handling mandates involving residential and infrastructure-related assets. In a significant development, Asta Augutytė-Rapkevičienė recently made partner.

Lithuania > Tax Tier 1

Sorainen, which handles the gamut of tax advisory work, acts for clients such as Uber, Barclays and Adidas. Team head Saulė Dagilytė is notably adept at advising on the tax aspects of corporate transactions. Dagilytė is supported by of counsel Indrė Ščeponienė, who is a key name for contentious work. Another key individual is senior associate Rasa Mikutienė, who focuses on restructurings.

Lithuania > TMT Tier 1

Sorainen has very broad capabilities across the media, IT and telecoms spheres. Its team includes Daivis Švirinas, who advised HBO on its filming of hit series Chernobyl in Lithuania. Managing partner Laimonas Skibarka is a key name in the telecoms market, most recently advising on the roll-out of 5G, as well as on space technology. Stasys Drazdauskas has expertise in commercial issues concerning cloud services, AI and IT business services. Senior associate Jonas Kiauleikis has built up a strong track record in TMT-related corporate transactions.

Lithuania > EU and competition Tier 2

Sorainen's competition work includes merger control, abuse of dominance cases and state aid matters. Daivis Švirinas combines expertise in competition, state aid and EU law with knowledge of the life sciences sector.  Švirinas co-heads the practice with senior associate Monika Mališauskaitė-Vaupšienė, who is well-versed in merger control and anti-competitive agreements.

Lithuania > Intellectual property Tier 2

Sorainen counts household names such as Google and Nascar among its client roster, with notable expertise in soft IP issues such as online piracy, IP transfers, as well as trade mark infringements and oppositions. Daivis Švirinas leads the IP team and is also highly skilled in complementary areas such as competition and life sciences. Stasys Drazdauskas, who heads up the TMT, is another key figure and adept in handling copyright protection.

Lithuania > Shipping and transport Tier 2

Sorainen has advised on key instructions in the market, including the historic greenfield railway project Rail Baltica, as well as AirBaltica’s €200m issuance of bonds to JP Morgan. Valts Nerets is an expert in disputes, ship arrests, vessel transactions and registrations, and shipbuilding contracts. Another key name is Ieva Andersone, who has been assisting transport companies with competition and regulatory assistance, most notably assisting with the regulatory implications of driverless vehicles. Daivis Švirinas and senior associate Vaiva Mašidlauskienė are also recommended.