Ellex has been honoured at the Women in Business Law Awards 2025, receiving three prestigious international awards including the top recognition in the Baltic region.
Ellex was awarded the title of Baltic Law Firm of the Year – a significant recognition across all three Baltic States for its consistent professionalism, innovation, and regional leadership.
At the gala ceremony held in London on 26 June, Vilija Vaitkutė Pavan, partner at Ellex, was named Lawyer of the Year in Commercial Arbitration. This distinguished title acknowledges exceptional professional achievements.
Ellex was also named Pro Bono Firm of the Year, in recognition of its commitment to providing legal support for the public good. The award highlights a landmark achievement by Ellex attorney Donatas Murauskas, who successfully represented two women in a case where the court recognised both as legal mothers of their jointly raised child. Ellex provided legal services in this matter free of charge.
In addition to these individual and firm-wide honours, four more Ellex experts were shortlisted for individual awards: Ellex counsel in Estonia, Merlin Liis-Toomela was shortlisted for Thought Leader of the Year – the only nominee from the Baltics in this category. Counsel Maria Teder was shortlisted for Rising Star – Arbitration, also the sole nominee from the Baltics in her category. Two more Ellex partners were shortlisted nominee to become lawers of the year – Dovilė Greblikienė in the category of Energy, natural resources and mining and Olga Petroševičienė in the Real estate category.
The Women in Business Law Awards annually recognise outstanding women lawyers contributing to the advancement of business law, as well as law firms actively fostering gender equality, inclusion, and the growth of women talent in the legal profession. These awards spotlight the legal sector’s most impactful achievements and initiatives supporting equal opportunity.
Rising construction costs, a complex building permit process, increasing bureaucracy, a growing number of unsold real estate properties, and housing prices that have risen by over 60,000 euros over the last five years – this is the current reality of the real estate market in Lithuania. However, despite these trends, the market today remains active, with the number of strategic and other major construction projects continuing to grow. Where there is a lot of activity, problems are inevitable, state the lawyers of the leading law firm “Ellex Valiunas.”
These and other current real estate sector issues were analyzed by Lithuanian and foreign experts at the “Ellex Construction Disputes Forum 2024,” organized by the law firm “Ellex Valiunas.” FIDIC and construction dispute law experts were invited to share their experience, insights, and observed opportunities with guests of the event – legal professionals and other representatives of the country’s real estate market.
Unsold Real Estate Properties, Complex Permitting, But There Is Light at the End of the Tunnel
According to Mindaugas Statulevičius, head of the Lithuanian Real Estate Development Association (LNTPA), one of the main challenges for real estate developers in Lithuania remains the increasing construction costs and the sometimes truly confusing legal regulations. “While we are happy about the gradually increasing wages, we must admit that this, along with various additional expenses, also drives up construction costs. This is not helped by the supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. High interest rates have persisted for a while, reducing buyer activity, while projects planned earlier continue to be developed, leading to a steady increase in the number of unsold real estate properties,” said M. Statulevičius.
M. Statulevičius
The average price of a 60-square-meter apartment has increased by about 60,000 euros over the past five years. Still, M. Statulevičius noted that positive changes are already being felt in the market today, and we should see even more pronounced improvements next year. “We are gradually seeing an increase in the number of people obtaining loans, and financing is becoming more accessible. Real estate developers and buyers are adapting to our geopolitical situation, and decisions are being made with less concern about the risks of war,” said the head of LNTPA.
According to him, even if positive changes occur in the market, there is a significant possibility that increased market activity will also lead to a surge in construction disputes. The question today is not how to avoid them entirely, but how to implement maximum preventive measures so that the outcome of a dispute is as favorable as possible, and the process is as smooth as possible.
Price Indexation – A Way to Manage Risks in Construction Contracts
According to “Ellex Valiunas” lawyers, provisions for price indexation are currently found much more frequently in construction contracts than they were before 2020, when a significant portion of fixed-price construction contracts either did not have indexation clauses or had them in a standardized, rarely used form.
“From the client’s perspective, a fixed price is the desired outcome of the construction process. When the contractor agrees on a fixed price contract without discussing the mechanism for price changes, the opportunity for revision exists only under truly exceptional circumstances, and only if it is proven that such circumstances significantly impacted the specific contract’s execution. All these matters are handled on a case-by-case basis, so the likelihood of disputes remains high. A preliminary agreement between the parties regarding conditions under which prices can be indexed or otherwise adjusted brings clarity and helps manage the interests of both parties, reducing the risk of disputes,” shared Simona Budreikaitė, associate partner at “Ellex Valiunas,” who moderated a discussion on price indexation.
Insights were shared during the discussion by (pictured from left) Gediminas Jakutavičius, project manager at real estate developer “EIKA,” Inese Freivalde, lawyer at “Ellex Klavins,” Patryk Figiel, partner at the law firm “Linklaters,” Kirti Jürimäe, lawyer at “Ellex Raidla,” and Irmantas Beržauskas, head of legal and governance at “Lithuanian Railways.”
Arbitration Valued for Quality of Decisions and Confidentiality
“In large construction projects, arbitration remains a preferred method of dispute resolution among construction industry players. It is highly valued for advantages such as the ability to choose qualified arbitrators, the quality of decisions, and confidentiality. However, due to the complexity of the case and numerous legal and technical issues, the arbitration process can be prolonged. Involving experts for an expert decision can significantly speed up the process, especially in technical disputes. It should be noted that, for example, FIDIC contracts can use a Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB), consisting of experts appointed by the parties at the time of contract formation. The DAB can promptly resolve disputes as they arise, helping ensure smoother project execution and avoiding “holding up” contentious issues until the project’s end,” shared Edvardas Racius, an associate partner at “Ellex Valiunas,” who moderated one of the discussions.
This topic was elaborated on at the “Ellex Construction Disputes Forum 2024” by (pictured from left) board member and lawyer Rytis Valūnas, Peter Hillerstrom from the world’s largest business litigation and arbitration law firm “Quinn Emanuel,” Kaj B. Möller, executive director of Swedish business consulting firm “FTI Consulting,” and arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer Renata Beržanskienė.
One-Fifth of Insolvency Cases in Lithuania Are from the Real Estate Sector
“In Lithuania alone, in 2023, 1,018 insolvency cases were initiated – 21 percent of them were related to construction. Thus, insolvency has become quite common when it comes to the successful progression of the construction process. The main reasons for insolvency are often high debts or insufficient working capital,” explained Olga Petroševičienė, a partner at “Ellex Valiunas” who moderated another discussion.
Panelists from Poland, Sweden and Germany shared insights into insolvency laws in different jurisdictions and the legal treatment of insolvent contractors in different countries. All the panellists came to the common conclusion that contracts with contractors and other parties to the construction process should be drafted with the utmost care and that it is imperative to strategically set out all the necessary safeguards to protect the parties’ interests in the event of insolvency.
The discussion featured (pictured from left) Georg Scherpf, head of the Arbitration Group in Germany for the international law firm “Clyde & Co,” Åsa Waller, partner at the Swedish law firm “Mannheimer Swartling,” and Stanisław Drozd, partner at one of Poland’s largest law firms “Wardynski & Partners.”
The “Ellex Construction Disputes Forum 2024” also featured two international stars of the real estate sector: one of the most experienced FIDIC experts in the world, Edward Corbett, and FIDIC expert, engineer, and arbitrator Robert Aloys Werth.
E. Corbett
R. A. Werth
Giedrė Aukštuolienė, head of the Dispute Practice Group and partner at “Ellex Valiunas,” who led the event, emphasized the importance of communication skills among specialists in the real estate sector: “It’s all about preparation and communication. For example, Lithuania today is facing a shortage of engineers, and those who are in the market often lack the competencies or experience to ensure proper communication between the client and the contractor, and to resolve issues that arise during contract execution efficiently and in a timely manner. There is indeed room for improvement here, which could contribute to the more effective execution of construction projects and dispute resolution.”
According to her, proper preparation of engineers to act as intermediaries between the contractor and the client should be one of the most important tasks in the sector. “From our side, we see industry-focused events as an opportunity to help solve the biggest challenges. When key industry players can participate alongside world-class experts and look at problems from a broader perspective, beyond the specific project framework, mutual understanding increases, and clear paths for further work are revealed,” said G. Aukštuolienė.
The last few years have demonstrated a steadily increasing number of construction disputes in the market. This is mainly related to significantly expanded number of strategic importance and other big construction projects being developed in our region. As this trend continues, the demand for skilled construction market leaders and legal professionals in this field is crucial.
We are pleased to announce that Ellex Valiunas will host the Ellex Construction Disputes Forum 2024 on October 24, 2024 at the Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE. This international forum will gather top legal professionals and industry leaders to address the growing challenges within the construction sector.
The event will focus on the most relevant legal and financial challenges facing the construction industry today, including:
FIDIC Provisions: Exploring critical clauses in the widely used FIDIC contracts and their implications for construction projects.
Real Estate Market Trends: A deep dive into the latest developments in the real estate market, with a focus on how these trends affect construction contracts and disputes.
Indexation and Price Review: Addressing the challenges of adjusting construction contract prices in light of inflation and economic fluctuations.
Construction and Insolvency: Examining how insolvency impacts ongoing construction projects and the legal framework for mitigating these risks.
Insights and experience will be shared by Baltic and Western European construction law leaders and market experts, including Edward Corbett (Howard Kennedy, UK), Robert Aloys Werth (Werth Consult, Germany), Mindaugas Statulevičius (LNTPA, Lithuania), and others. These experts, along with others from across Europe, will provide attendees with a comprehensive view of the most pressing legal and financial issues facing the construction sector today.
The Ellex Construction Disputes Forum 2024 offers a unique opportunity for professionals to expand your knowledge, engage in meaningful discussions on relevant topics, and establish valuable business connections.
The event is free of charge, but seating is limited to approved participants.
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the Ellex Klavins seminar: “Arbitration in Stockholm” that will take place 25 April at 11:00 AM, arrival and coffee break from 10:30 AM.
The first part of the seminar will focus on the SCC Arbitration Institute, its practice, and advantages. The second part will be devoted to the third-party funding trends in the Nordics.
If you would like to attend the seminar, please apply until 19 April, by responding to this e-mail:
PROGRAMME:
10:30 – 11:00 COFFEE AND SNACKS
11:00 – 12:00
Caroline Falconer, Secretary General of the SCC Arbitration Institute
The SCC Arbitration Institute sees a great deal of international disputes, also from the Baltic region. What are the advantages of arbitrating at the SCC? What really happens behind these closed doors? How much does the arbitration really cost? What kinds of international cases arrive at the SCC Arbitration Institute, and especially from the Baltic countries? What should be considered when negotiating an arbitration clause in an international agreement?
12:00 – 13:00
Thony Lindström Härdin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Litigium Capital
Third Party Funding trends in the Nordics. When and why should a corporation consider sharing procedural risks with an external funder?
This year the 4th European Competition Lawyers Association conference took place in Stockholm on May 20-21. It featured five panels of outstanding speakers, discussing the most recent hot topics in European antitrust scene.
Final panel of the conference dealt with the interaction between competition law and sustainability. Ellex in Latvia managing partner Liga Merwin moderated the panel of four prominent speakers with particular interest in sustainability – Jussi Koivusalo, Alexander Gaigl, Laurits S. Christensen and Mariska van de Sanden. The panel aimed to answer the question whether competition law indeed is a barrier to sustainability initiatives, as we often hear. Intensive discussions among the panellists and the audience one more time confirmed the importance of the topic and need for such discussion.
The European Competition Lawyers Association was founded in 2017 as a non-profit and autonomous non-governmental organization. ECLA regularly organizes specialized high-level conferences on current topics, which are of relevance for the competition law practice.
The United Kingdom – Latvia Trade & Investment conference was hosted by law firm Ellex Klavins together with British Embassy Riga and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
There’s only one certainty in the modern world, and that is uncertainty. Is there a common recipe or are there guidelines to help us lead our business in such conditions? Are governments capable of creating an environment for prosperity and growth?
At the conference we asked real people from various industries within the economies of the United Kingdom and Latvia to understand how they actually do business today and how government institutions can help companies to increase exports and invest in further development.
The panel discussions of the event included:
• UK and Latvia business relations in light of Brexit
• Investments – Brexit inward and outward investment challenges and perspectives for Latvia.
• International Trade, challenges in the export and import operations in the present world.
Among the key participants were Sarah Cowley, British Ambassador to Latvia; Baiba Braže, Ambassador of Latvia to the United Kingdom; Raimonds Slaidins, Partner of Law firm Ellex Klavins and Anthony Parry, Senior Consultant at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
The conference took place on December 2, 2016; at Hotel Bergs. The event was well attended and received very much interest from the audience and the media.
