Rather than pursuing a military career in Finland, Aku Sorainen built a law firm chain in the Baltics. 30 years later, Sorainen’s firm is the largest and most influential in the region, writes Finnish newspaper Kauppalehti.
Moving to Estonia in the early 1990s — a time of economic uncertainty and street-level danger — he saw an opportunity where few others did.
After writing a thesis on Baltic legal systems and attracting backing from major Finnish companies, Sorainen launched his own firm in Tallinn. With little local talent available, he initially assembled an international team and personally oversaw training and quality control.
Over time, the firm expanded across the Baltics and became a key player in shaping legal practices in transitioning markets. Not all bets paid off (like the Helsinki office), but the firm’s resilience endured.
Out of operational growing pains came Crespect — a spin-off legal tech platform now gaining traction internationally. Built on ISO-certified systems and powered by AI, it reflects Sorainen’s long-standing drive for structure and quality.
Today, Sorainen balances law, tech, and countryside life in southern Estonia — still driven by the same boldness that brought him to Tallinn all those years ago.
