Aku Sorainen
Language
Services
Sectors
Country
About me
I founded Sorainen in 1995 and am the senior partner of the firm. Born and educated in Finland, I became excited about the Baltic States as soon as they regained independence in August 1991. I then decided to write my master’s thesis at the University of Lapland about the business laws of these three countries and the thesis attracted considerable attention in Finland. It was not long before large corporations began to call for my advice and thus I decided to move to Estonia in 1993 to practice law.
Professional highlights
Building one team across the region. I consider my main achievement the opportunity to build a fully integrated law firm from scratch. This firm has grown organically to 46 partners and in total over 250 lawyers with integrated legal practice and sector groups, firm-wide leadership, quality management processes and business support services.
Balancing roles. While I spend much of my time today leading the firm’s strategic development, I continue to deepen my skills by advising corporations, mainly in the fields of mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and real estate transactions. I’m proud about being ranked as “eminent practitioner” in Chambers Global.
Active in society. I was a member of the Supervisory Board of Tartu University from 2010 to 2015 and co-chairman of the Law Firm Management Committee at the International Bar Association in 2015 and 2016. I actively support the social enterprise Noored Kooli (TeachFirst) and have been honorary consul of Malta in Estonia since 2003.
Knight’s Cross of Finland. I was honoured to receive the Knight’s Cross, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland from Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in 2015 for two decades of work in developing relations between Estonia and Finland and for supporting Finnish businesses in the region.
Personal passions. I have a special interest in history and law firm management, the latter of which I consider to be not only work, but a lifestyle. Running a family farm in my free time feeds my natural interest to support our clients in the food, agriculture and forestry sectors.
Academic background
- Courses abroad on law firm management, M&A and International Business Law.
- Harvard Business School, Executive Education, USA (Course on law firm management), 2008.
- Scils Finland in cooperation with the International University of Monaco (IUM) (Certificate of Business Administration), 2001
- Riga Graduate School of Law under the Stockholm School of Economics, Latvia (Diploma in International Trade Law), 1999
- University of Lapland, Finland (LLM), 1993.
I am a member of
- Finnish Bar Association
- Estonian Bar Association (first foreign citizen to be accepted)
- International Bar Association
- Latvian Bar Association (associate member)
- Lithuanian Bar Association (associate member)
Publications
-
Why Finland wants NATO: 20 similarities between Ukraine-Russia war and Winter War
Publication -
The Buzz in Estonia: Interview with Aku Sorainen
Publication -
The SCC East-West Forum: Arbitration in Poland and the Baltic states
Publication -
Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of re-independent Estonia – the country of unicorns
Publication -
Aku Sorainen shares our firm’s story in an interview with Globe Law and Business
Publication
News
-
Sorainen supports national defenders
News / ERR -
Sorainen spin-off Crespect received an innovative legal-tech product development grant and closed a seed investment round
News -
New milestone for us! We are celebrating our 100th team member in Sorainen Latvia!
News -
CEE Deals of the Year Awards: Country Selection Committee participation
News -
Sorainen raises to 22nd position on FT’s most innovative European law firms list
News