Džiuginta Balčiūnė
WIDEN legal, Vilnius

Ruta Karpiciute
Ellex Legal, Vilnius

In October, members of the Forum’s Northern Region convened in the heart of Vilnius, Lithuania, for a regional retreat that blended rich professional content with the warmth of reconnecting in person. Set against the backdrop of Vilnius’ vibrant Old Town and hosted with immense care by Lithuanian colleagues – Ruta Karpiciute from ELLEX Valiunas and Dziuginta Balciune from WIDEN – the retreat offered participants both inspiration and space to reflect on shared goals for the year ahead.

For those who arrived early, the retreat began informally on the evening of 9 October, with welcome cocktails. This was a relaxed and lively opportunity to reconnect and ease into the spirit of the event before the official programme began.

The gathering officially opened the following day, with a welcome and a visit to WIDEN. Adding a surprising twist to the programme, Tomas Bagdanskis, the Managing Partner, delivered a presentation that drew parallels between tennis and law. This was an unexpected pairing that energised the audience and set the tone for the day’s agenda. Conversations quickly deepened as the group moved to Ellex, where the first speaker, Eglė Markevičiūtė, public affairs specialist and Head of Digital & Innovation Policy at the Consumer Choice Center Europe, delivered an insightful session on Europe’s digital policy agenda and challenges for 2025–2029. Her focus on the Danish Presidency’s regulatory window sparked engaging exchanges and thoughtful reflections within the group.

A lively roundtable discussion followed, during which participants explored the ongoing Forum initiatives and ambitions for the coming year.

A sit-down lunch at the restaurant in Vilnius Old Town provided the perfect transition to a guided walking tour through Cathedral Square, Pilies Street and the Town Hall area, offering guests a glimpse into the city’s history and cultural charm. 

Later in the day, participants welcomed the second speaker, a prominent voice on international affairs in Lithuania, Linas Kojala, CEO of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center. His keynote on Geopolitical risks and opportunities in our region added yet another layer of strategic perspective to the retreat’s discussions. For the members of the group, his insights offered not only a sharper understanding of external risks but also a framework for identifying how shifting global power dynamics, regional security challenges and emerging alliances could influence both policy and business decisions in the coming years.

The evening concluded at the restaurant where regional cuisine, warm conversations and sincere acknowledgements rounded off the day. Informal farewell cocktails carried the spirit of camaraderie late into the evening.

It was a real pleasure to catch up with the Forum’s Northern Region peers in Vilnius in person and seeing their great energy and enthusiasm throughout every part of the programme.

Retreats such as this play a vital role in strengthening the Forum community. They are great opportunities to step away from daily routines, engage meaningfully with peers, exchange insights across borders and build momentum for shared initiatives. The Vilnius gathering reminded us how powerful it is when expertise, energy and genuine collegiality come together in one place.