COBALT

Managing Partners: Dr Irmantas Norkus (Lithuania), Jaanus Mody (Estonia), Dace Silava-Tomsone (Latvia), Lauris Liepa (Latvia)
Number of partners: 40 in the Baltics (Lithuania – 18)
Number of lawyers: 203 in the Baltics (Lithuania – 87)
Languages:Lithuanian, English, Finnish, German, Italian, Russian

Firm Overview:
COBALT is a closely integrated alliance of top-tier law offices across the Baltics, uniting more than 240 attorneys and support staff. We advise top international and regional businesses, financial institutions, state and local governments, and the region’s most promising start-ups.

Main Areas of Practice:  

Banking & Finance:
4 partners, 8 fee earners based in Vilnius COBALT expertise and in-depth knowledge cover the full range of financing, financial services regulatory, FinTech, M&A of financial institutions, compliance, anti-money laundering, venture funds, capital markets advice and other areas.
■ Advised EBRD, Swedbank, and Citadele banks providing EUR 86 million syndicated loan for the development of UAB Vakarų medienos grupė.
■ Advised the US "buy now, pay later“ unicorn Sezzle in receiving the e-money institution licence to expand their activities in Europe
Key Clients: Luminor Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Recostruction and Development, Swedbank, Practica Capital, Kevin EU
Contacts: Eva Suduiko (Partner), Akvilė Bosaitė (Partner)
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Competition/Antitrust
3 partners, 4 other fee earners based in Vilnius COBALT Vilnius competition expertise covers full range of both EU and domestic competition law including merger control, antitrust proceedings, state aid, private enforcement and compliance. Members of competition practice have substantial understanding and experience in energy, pharmaceutical, finance, aviation, transport, and other regulated markets.
■ Represented ATEA Baltic in two investigations on alleged cartel agreements, both of which were terminated following efforts to show they lacked legal grounds.
■ Represented the shareholders of KG Group in obtaining merger clearance for selling their business to a major competitor.
Key Clients: Air Baltic Corporation, Moller Auto, Atea, Bayer, Consolis, Estrella, G4S, AkzoNobel Baltics, Kesko Senukai, Linas Agro Group, Lifosa, Lithuanian Post, Lithuanian Railways, Luminor bank, KJK management, Orlen Lietuva, Pieno žvaigždės, Siemens Healthcare, Tamro.
Contact: Rasa Zaščiurinskaitė (Partner)
Email: [email protected]

Corporate/Commercial
3 partners, 13 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Advised a leading buyout investor Mid Europa Partners on the acquisition of the leading Baltics e-commerce platforms Pigu and Hobby Hall Group.
■ Represented 7-Industries, an Israel-based family office focused on strategic minority investments in market leaders of the hi-tech manufacturing globally, in the acquisition of 25% shares in Light Conversion, the world leader in manufacturing of femtosecond lasers.
Key Clients: Mid Europa Partners, Resource Partners, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, KJK Management, Aviva, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Netrisk Group, Entain.
Contacts: Dr Irmantas Norkus (Managing Partner), Elijus Burgis (Partner, Head of the Corporate Transactions Department), Dr Juozas Rimas (Partner, Head of M&A Practice Group)
Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Dispute Resolution
8 partners, 23 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Representing a major Latvian airport and major aircarier in the Baltics Air Baltic Corporation A/S as a co-respondents in a case initiated by formerly one of the biggest air carriers in Lithuania which is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
■ Representing and consulting a major European energy producer and its Lithuanian subsidiaries in arbitral and court proceedings against Lithuania and other governmental bodies.
Key Clients: Veolia group companies in France and Lithuania, Riga international airport, AB Lietuvos geležinkeliai, Enercon GmbH, SIA UniCredit leasing, Air Baltic Corporation A/S, SUEK AG.
Contact: Dr Rimantas Simaitis (Partner) Email: [email protected]

Energy
3 partners, 13 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Advised European Energy A/S on the acquisition and/or development of a several wind and solar power farms in Lithuania with a total capacity of more than 1,000 MW (the scope of the portfolio almost twice as large as the capacity of currently operating wind farms in Lithuania).
■ Advised LITGRID on a synchronous operation connection of the Lithuanian electricity system with the European Continental Network Project.
Key Clients: European Energy A/S, Hoegh LNG, E Energia Group, Amberwind, LITGRID, Nordecon Betoon OÜ, Enefit Green, Vilniaus energija.
Contacts: Simona Oliškevičiūtė-Cicėnienė (Partner), Ignas Jurkynas (Senior Associate)
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Real Estate
3 partners, 10 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Advising BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, a fund managed by private equity and venture capital funds manager BaltCap, in connection with its investment in a new multifunctional complex for sports, health, education and culture in Vilnius – National Stadium.
■ Advised CORUM Origin, a French real estate investment company managed by management company CORUM Asset Management, on the acquisition of the 4 shopping centres DEPO in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda.
Key Clients: CORUM Asset Management, BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, Prosperus Asset Management, Union Asset Management, Orion Asset Management, EIKA.
Contact: Simona Oliškevičiūtė-Cicėnienė (Partner)
Email: [email protected]

Tax
1 partner, 3 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Advised 7-Industries on all tax matters related to the acquisition of 25% shares of UAB Light Conversion, one of the largest and best known Lithuanian high-tech companies.
■ Advised the shareholders of AB Kauno grūdai group companies, one of the leading agribusiness groups in Lithuania, on selling shares to AB Linas Agro Group, the leading agribusiness company in the Baltics.
Key Clients: Devbridge, Citus, Linas Agro Group, Interactio, Practica Capital, SCT Lubricants, Kesko Senukai Lithuania, Švaros Broliai, Komfovent.
Contact: Rokas Daugėla (Partner)
Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property
1 partner, 5 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ One of the largest IP teams in Lithuania and one of the most active Lithuanian firms in IP litigation.
■ Advised pharmaceutical giants Bayer, Novartis, and others on complex issues related to the potential patents infringement litigation
■ Representing Berlin-Chemie AG in litigation regarding the parallel import of various pharmaceutical products
Key Clients: El Fakher, Novartis, Spotify, Berlin-Chemie AG, Petrus, Bayer, DPD Lithuania, Nintendo, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Facebook, Philip Morris
Contact: Žilvinas Kvietkus (Partner)
Email: [email protected]

Employment Lithuania
1 partner, 5 fee earners based in Vilnius
■ Providing continued advice to AT&T Inc., regarding complex employment law issues, such as transfer of business and of the employees, confidentiality, non–compete undertakings etc.
■ Advised Evolution Gaming regarding establishing its activities in Lithuania as well setting up the employment and remuneration structures.
Key Clients: Western Union, Wolt Enterprises Oy, Ryanair, Bloomberg, Bayer, Doctors without borders, Remote, AT&T
Contact: Dr Dalia Foigt-Norvaišienė
Email: [email protected]