“Our firm has always sought to allow for growth of team members, therefore, we are particularly delighted that this year even two of our colleagues that we have worked with for a number of years are becoming partners of the firm. Karolis Smaliukas and Dr. Paulius Zapolskis are markets leaders in their respective fields, who, together with the entire TGS Baltic team, keep ensuring top-level support for our clients’ businesses,” said Vilius Bernatonis, Managing Partner at TGS Baltic.
Karolis Smaliukas is a new partner of the firm, attorney at law, Head of Public Procurement specialisation group, who joined TGS Baltic in 2018. He has worked in the area of public procurement and public and private partnership for over 15 years. Karolis leads a legal team at TGS Baltic in provision of public procurement and related project implementation legal services in strategic energy, transport and other infrastructure projects (Rail Baltica, GIPL, LitPolLink, Lazdynai swimming-pool, etc.) in Lithuania. The lawyer represents clients in complex litigation cases concerning public procurement and the European Union investment infringements. He actively contributed to the preparation and adoption of the currently effective legal regulation of public procurement, has authored a number of publications on the topic of public procurement and actively contributes to the development of public procurement practice.
Dr. Paulius Zapolskis is an attorney at law, Head of Energy Industry Group, with more than 15 years of legal experience. The most influential and best-known international legal directory The Legal 500 ranked Paulius as a new generation partner in energy. P. Zapolskis’ practice areas include energy, arbitration and commercial law. He has also defended a doctoral thesis in contract law. Paulius provides legal advice on project development regulatory issues, advises developers of renewable energy projects and renewable energy producers. He also represents clients in commercial negotiations and relations with institutions, advises on conclusion of long-term supply and other contracts. Currently, P. Zapolskis represents clients in several infrastructure and energy related disputes, for example, he represents the Republic of Lithuania in a dispute with Veolia group before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington. He also represents the Vilnius City Municipality and AB Vilniaus šilumos tinklai in a commercial arbitration dispute in Stockholm (the claim in dispute is over EUR 560 million). Besides, Paulius also works on wind, solar power projects and regulation, supply of natural gas and liquefied natural gas, advises transmission system operators (AB Litgrid and AB Amber Grid). He also advises clients on the development of biogas and hydrogen projects.
Currently, TGS Baltic unites 31 partners and 11 associate partners in the three Baltic States, including 16 partners and 8 associate partners in Lithuania. According to the results of the survey of client satisfaction with law firms in the Baltic States, Prospera Law Firm Review 2021, TGS Baltic has received the highest rating from the clients in Lithuania and has been ranked as the most recommended law firm in the Baltic States.