Sorainen transforms their work environment: an employee-led success story
In a visionary move to foster focus and collaboration, our member Sorainen has transformed their office space creating an inspiring environment tailored for modern work—here’s the story behind their remarkable journey.
From chaos to collaboration
Crammed, randomly planned premises, teams disconnected by being seated on several different floors – this was our reality back in 2018 before embarking on a journey to shape our future office.
Sorainen Vilnius office relocation planning began well before the actual move (2019) – the process took about 2 years to complete. The reason was our choice to involve all colleagues in the process of shaping our future work-home. After all, it’s all of us who contribute to the success of the organisation! The workshops helped us better understand our preferred ways of working and how much time we spend doing focus work, and away from the office – in meetings, visiting clients, collaborating, etc.
Focus over fashion: a decision led by employees
After a long and careful consideration, we proceeded with a closed plan office. This decision was seen by others as somewhat not progressive and a conservative concept in comparison to the then-trending open-plan offices. Our reasoning was clear: even though collaboration and know-how sharing is an important aspect of lawyers’ daily work, a large proportion of time is spent drafting actual documents – and that requires space for dedicated focus work. The decision was highly appreciated by the employees, not to mention the benefit of managing the challenges brought by the lockdown that started in 2020.
Office solutions: a reflection of a bigger commitment to sustainability
The Sorainen office has a Scandinavian vibe to it – lots of natural wood, warm textures, and a subdued colour scheme. Client area meeting rooms are named after the rivers connecting the Baltic countries – a reflection of the idea of connecting legal expertise across our firm. The river theme is also echoed in the back office with fluid, rounded walls that remind of river banks. The highlight of our office is Baltija Lounge – an amphitheatre that hosts internal and external events and celebrations and connects our two floors of the office. Multifunctional, flexible areas were one of our goals for the new office; tech solutions enabling smooth collaboration between individuals, teams, and offices were another.
The theme of nature extends beyond the interior designs – reflecting our bigger commitment to sustainability in general. The Live Square office building, where our office is located, has a BREEAM Outstanding certification – an important achievement that enables us to incorporate sustainability practices (efficient use of resources, for one) and encourage small daily acts of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Also, being one of the first law firms in the Baltic region to publish our Sustainability Report, we strive to keep the right balance – be it office solutions, wellbeing initiatives, or giving back to the community.
Always seek for an exact solution that meets your needs
Our takeaway from the whole experience is that there is no such thing as one size fits all. Market trends and good practices are definitely worth exploring and drawing inspiration from, and lessons learned by others offer valuable insights. However, at the end of the day, we encourage each organisation to look for an exact solution that best meets its unique needs. It’s a longer path, but the journey and the end results are rewarding!
