We have released this year’s edition of our third annual Sustainability Report, outlining the efforts made by Sorainen during the year 2023.
“These efforts are not just about compliance but about making a real difference for our people, communities and region,” Managing Partner Eva Berlaus noted in the report’s opening comments. She noted that the firm remains committed to improving environmental performance, strengthening social responsibility through pro bono work and education, promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, and supporting our clients on their ESG journey.
Our Sustainability Officer Olga Solovyanchik noted that rather than being just a disclosure measure, releasing our sustainability report is a call to action for our firm and an invitation to the market and our stakeholders to join us in shaping a more sustainable future. “We’ve made significant strides in driving positive changes within Sorainen and the communities we serve with the dedication and innovative spirit of the entire team,” she said. “However, we recognise that the journey is ongoing and evolving. This report serves as both a celebration of our progress and a roadmap for the critical work that lies ahead.”
Focusing on environment
We incorporated and certified an Environmental Management System under ISO 14001. 98% of the total Baltic offices office area are holding top green office certifications and 70% is being powered by renewable energy. Sorainen Estonia obtained the European Green Office Certification for our Tallinn office, as well as a Gold Badge of the Estonian CSR Index.
Updating internal policies
In September 2023, we released the Sorainen ESG Policy, outlining a firm-wide approach to integrating ESG principles into our business operations and processes in order to ensure we act responsibly and attain our sustainable development goals.
We revised and introduced changes to our purchasing and travel policies and supply chain management procedures to ensure more sustainable choices. In 2024, we commenced communicating the Supplier Code of Conduct to our suppliers. Sorainen Lithuania joined the UN Global Compact Initiative.
Advising clients on ESG
For the second time, the EMEA Green Guide from The Legal 500 recognised Sorainen as an ESG-focused firm. This recognition underscores that we are a leading ESG practice in the Baltic region. To spread the word, we hosted 12 webinars in 2023 on ESG transition to help our clients and broader community navigate the challenges they are facing.
The importance of the ESG framework for businesses is growing. In 2023, our lawyers from different practice areas joined forces to cover ESG from various perspectives. Our colleagues, including those from the Real Estate, Employment, and Tax teams, have examined ESG-related legal requirements from various field-specific viewpoints, thus offering clients comprehensive advice to enable them to successfully navigate the ESG transition.
We have launched quarterly pan-Baltic ESG webinar series. The various topics we have covered so far show how broad the impact of sustainability requirements is and how ESG intersects with multiple fields of law, affecting all businesses, including supply chain management, ESG in M&A, green bonds and the construction sector.
“I am very happy to see that neither the global pandemic nor Russia’s war against Ukraine has stopped the green transformation, contrary to what was forecast by some,” counsel Vitalija Impolevičienė, co-head of the ESG service group, commented. “Companies are preparing for corporate sustainability reporting, which will arrive for large companies for the financial year 2025. Building an ESG framework and preparing the first report is challenging and requires effort from various stakeholders. I believe that for many, it will also be a game-changer in terms of a wider risk management and compliance culture within organisations.”
More power to women
Just in the few months between the end of 2023 and the issuing of this report, female representation has grown at all leadership levels: from 30% to 40% at the board level, from 50% to 67% in the management team, and from 29% to 35% among the partners.
Since 2024, a female leader, Eva Berlaus, has held the managing partner position for the first time in the firm’s history. Eva shared that she was pleased to become our firm’s first female managing partner upon taking over the position, hoping we had set an example to foster diversity and inclusion in our region and beyond. Sorainen Latvia and Sorainen Lithuania both have female leaders.
If you have comments or questions about this report or would like to learn more about our sustainability journey, please email us at sustainability@sorainen.com.
To learn more about how our team can support you on your ESG journey, please contact Vitalija Impolevičienė, our co-head of ESG service line, at vitalija.impoleviciene@sorainen.com.
Read the full 2024 Sorainen sustainability report here.
Visit our Responsible Business page and our ESG service page.
