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Media & Events 15 Years of Law without borders and two homes at heart

15 Years of Law without borders and two homes at heart

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​Over fifteen years ago, Michael Manke arrived in Lithuania with a strong legal education, international perspective, and curiosity about a country that would soon become much more than just a place to work. Today, as Head of Legal, Attorney at Law, and Associate Partner at RÖDL Lithuania, Michael has been actively involved in major foreign direct investment projects, advising local and international clients on corporate law, M&A, technology, defence and beyond.

Born in Germany, educated across Europe, and professionally rooted in Vilnius, Michael has built not only a remarkable legal career but also a life that bridges two cultures. With a Lithuanian wife, a growing family, and a heart shared between Germany and Lithuania, his journey is a story of professional excellence, personal choices, and long-term commitment. On the occasion of his 15-year professional anniversary with RÖDL Lithuania, we invited Michael to reflect on the past, the present, and the road ahead.



Michael, looking back to your first days at RÖDL Lithuania, what motivated you to take this step − and did you imagine you would still be here 15 years later?

I came to Lithuania out of love and I came to RÖDL Lithuania because it seemed like fate. After my post-graduate studies, I followed my wife to Lithuania because I told myself that a German lawyer can work anywhere! But neither did I have any specific employer in mind, nor did I know all that much about the labour market for lawyers in Lithuania. So, it was a nice coincidence that, after I had already moved to Lithuania, RÖDL Lithuania published a job offer for a German attorney in Vilnius. Needless to say, I got the job as I was the only candidate…

Your legal education took you from Bonn to Hannover and Oslo. How did this international academic background shape the lawyer you are today?

​The start of my academic career in Bonn, the university where Goethe studies law, was incredibly traditional. In Hannover I studied Information Technology Law with 25 people from around the world, including my later wife. Studying with foreign lawyers in Germany was the perfect preparation for studying abroad in Oslo, probably the best university in the field of IT law in Europe! From Oslo I moved directly to Vilnius, and I have been immersed in foreign culture and languages ever since. I have not regretted a single day!

You have advised on some of the largest foreign direct investments in Lithuania. Which moment made you think: “This is why I do what I do”?

​When you are standing in the big factory, the retail store or the logistic center, with all the new employees around you, then you cannot help but feel a sense of accomplishment, because in one way or the other you contribute to that. The work with foreign investors is best described as building bridges between cultures and jurisdictions. When you see such a stark difference between the green field before the investment and the big factory afterwards, then this is indeed an awesome moment.   

Corporate law, M&A, information technology, intellectual property, foreign direct investments, defense and security, sanction compliance − your expertise is broad. Which legal field excites you the most right now, and why?

They can all be exciting and they can all be boring. As soon as the excitement wanes, I am moving on to the next. Jokes aside, I have always worked with foreign investors in Lithuania. As soon as their needs changed, my focus had to change as well. How else could I continue to build bridges effectively? 

You work extensively with international investors entering Lithuania. How has the country changed as an investment destination over the past 15 years?

​It has changed tremendously and, most amazingly, it still continues to change. Go another 15 years into the past and the changes are even more profound!  

It will never cease to amaze me, how Lithuanians adapt and overcome any and every challenge that comes their way. With each challenge in the last fifteen years, the Euro introduction, COVID, the war in Ukraine, to only name a few, Lithuania has done its best to stay attractive for foreign investors, because it knows that its economic success depends on that. And it was remarkably successful from my point of view. 

As a German lawyer working in a German company in Lithuania, how do you see your role as a bridge between different legal cultures and business mindsets?

​I am helping the Germans understand Lithuania and I am helping the Lithuanians to understand the Germans! I am not sure what is more challenging! I often think as the bridge in between I do not really belong to either side. I always love it when people are saying, the Lithuanians, among their neighbors, are by far the most German! I feel that this is very true. That is why the bridge between the two legal and business cultures does not have to be that long.   

Your heart is divided between Germany and Lithuania. What does each country give you − professionally and personally?

One is the country of my birth, where I grew up and where I got the majority of my education. The other is my home. I spent my whole professional career in Lithuania, and I founded a family here. The impact Lithuania had and still has on me cannot be overstated. 

Living and working abroad often changes one’s perspective. In what ways has Lithuania changed you over the past 15 years, professionally and personally?

​As the person who has changed, it is very difficult to answer that. Probably only my wife, my family and my colleagues could! I was not particularly interested in basketball, before I came here. Naturally, this had to change. Professionally, I have learned to navigate a world where the answers to a lot of issues are “maybe”. For a German lawyer used to a bit more certainty this was quite a change! In Germany, especially as a lawyer, you may sometimes think that every legal issue has already been commented on by dozens of lawyers. In Lithuania there is more room and necessity for creativity. 

You have built a family with your Lithuanian wife and are raising children in a multicultural environment. What values from both cultures do you hope to pass on to them?

​​German punctuality, so far with moderate success. Beyond that light-hearted example, what I value the most about Lithuanian culture, is its warmth, resilience and especially strong sense of identity that I would like to pass on to my children. German reliability and Lithuanian perseverance, this sounds like the perfect combination to me. Ideally, this mix will help them grow into people who are curious, open‑minded, and confident in navigating different cultures. 

Being Head of a legal team and an Associate Partner comes with responsibility. How do you personally define leadership in a legal team?

​Give your team the tools they need to do their best, or at least not get in the way. I strive to make things simpler, give clarity. Everyone in a legal team deals with enough complexity. Our clients are often foreigners not familiar with Lithuanian law and culture. They need us to be clear and solve their problems.

Vilnius has been the backdrop to much of your professional and personal life. How has the city influenced the way you work, think, and live?

​I've lived in Vilnius for most of my life. It is a beautiful city, with the majority of it covered by parks and urban forests. It's got a multicultural vibe, shaped by centuries of different identities, and most people speak two or even three languages these days. I can feel a real sense of flexibility, diplomacy and openness here.

Law can be demanding. How do you maintain balance between a high-intensity professional life and time for yourself and your family?

​When it comes to a legal career, balance is a bit like compliance: we all know it's important, but no one can quite define it. I always try to be efficient with my time and get the most out of the time I spend in the office and at home. Sometimes the change from complex legal issues, over school homework to football training can be a bit of a shock and tricky to manage. I'm not aware of a perfect solution to achieving balance. I'm doing my best each day, trying not to upset either party too much.

When you look back at your 15-year journey, what achievement are you most proud of − not necessarily professionally, but personally?

​Fifteen years ago, I couldn't find Lithuania on a map, not even if my life depended on it! Now I have a wife, two children, a house and a job, which I have had for fifteen years. 

If you could give one piece of advice to young lawyers starting their international careers today, what would it be?

​I had my career certainly planned out differently. Do not hesitate to work across borders if the opportunity presents itself. Working across borders means you will constantly be the foreigner in the room—in the beginning because of language, later because of culture, and always because legal systems never behave the way you expect them to. However, that’s exactly what will make you grow and become a better lawyer. That can be quite uncomfortable and feel less rewarding at the beginning, but it is certainly worth it. 

Finally, looking ahead: where do you see yourself and Lithuania 15 years from now, both professionally and personally?

​In fifteen years, Lithuania will be as proud, free and independent as it is today. I'm really hoping I can still be doing what I enjoy most – building bridges and celebrating my 30 years with Rödl, preferably in another interview like this one.​

Thank you, Michael, for the interview and for 15 years of dedication to RÖDL Lithuania. Congratulations on your 15-year anniversary with us!​​​​​​​​

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Michael Manke

Attorney at Law

Associate Partner

+370 5 212 35 90

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