Sayenko Kharenko has advised the EBRD on a EUR 55 million financing package to support the city of Kyiv.

Zepos & Yannopoulos has advised Pradera on the sale of its shares in Trivillage Developments Greece Cinema and Entertainment Enterprises Single Member, the owner of the Village Shopping & More center in Renti, to Premia Properties Group entity Renti to Go Single Member.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

DLA Piper has advised the City of Warsaw on a PLN 1.05 billion loan from the European Investment Bank to finance the sustainable development of urban infrastructure.

Redcliffe Partners, working with Clifford Chance and George Yiangou, has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation on the USD 435 million financing for the merger of Lifecell Group and the Datagroup-Volia Group (reported on by CEE Legal Matters on September 17, 2024). CMS, working with Chrysostomides, advised the borrowers.

Linklaters has advised NEPI Rockcastle on its EUR 405 million acquisition of Silesia City Center in Katowice, Poland.

Lambadarios has advised Piraeus Bank on the EUR 620 million financing of a Terna Energy pumped hydro storage station in the municipality of Amfilochia, Western Greece. Marinos | Petroulias & Partners reportedly advised Terna Energy.

Schindler Attorneys, working with Kirkland & Ellis, has advised GTCR on its USD 1.33 billion investment in Tricentis.

Oppenheim has advised Generali Biztosito on its sale of its minority stake in Fundamenta Lakaskassza to MBH Bank. DLA Piper advised MBH Bank.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Abris Capital Partners on the sale of 100% of the shares in Dot2Dot to Van Genechten Packaging. Forton Legal advised the buyers.

SK&S has advised Euricom on the acquisition of Sonko from OSHEE Polska. BCGL advised OSHEE.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised PJSC Ukrnafta on its acquisition of a 51% stake in Alliance Holding, which owns a network of 118 Shell-branded gas stations across Ukraine.

Former Noerr Poland Head Pawel Zelich has joined DZP as Partner and Head of the German Desk.

Former Baker McKenzie affiliate law firm Esin Attorney Partnership Co-Head of the Competition Practice Sinan Diniz has joined KST Law as a Partner.

Former Rymarz Zdort Maruta Partner Agnieszka Skorupinska has joined Baker McKenzie as a Partner in its International, Commercial and Trade practice. She will lead the firm's Warsaw-based sustainability and energy transition practice.

On December 2, the Slovenian office of Peterka & Partners opened its doors in Ljubljana with Senior Associate Pia Florjancic Pozeg Vancas leading the new office.

Former Deloitte Legal Partner Lawyer Katarzyna Jakubiak has joined DLA Piper as a Partner in the firm's International Finance group. Joining alongside her is Senior Associate Anna Tomaszewska.

Former NGL Symbio alliance founding members Rowan Legal, Erdos Partners, Biris Goran, and HKV have announced a new set-up under the Horizons Alliance brand.

Former DLA Piper Partner Lukasz Dynysiuk has joined Rymarz Zdort Maruta's Corporate Department as a Partner.

Former Dentons Partner Magdalena Szwarc-Brozyna has joined Clyde & Co's Warsaw office as Partner and Head of the Real Estate team, a new practice launched by the firm at the beginning of December.

White & Case has announced a new Local Partner hire in Prague as well as four new Local Partners in Prague and Warsaw as part of its latest promotion round.

Renatus Kollar and Lucia Raimanova have been appointed as Co-Managing Partners of A&O Shearman's Bratislava Office.

Dragne & Asociatii has promoted Mihai Iorga to Partner.

Martin Jurecko has joined CMS as a Partner in its Bratislava office's Real Estate practice.

Following the restrictions in the Far East, all companies operating online marketplaces in Hungary can expect significant tax changes and a new tax burden from January 2025.

On 6 December 2024, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Amendments to the Law on Public Notaries entered into force. These two laws were adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia on 28 November 2024.

Filing a claim in insolvency proceedings may be the only way for creditors to recover at least part of the amount they are owed. In the Czech legal system, however, creditors face an understated but significant risk: if they overstate the amount of their claim, not only do they risk having it disregarded but they may also be required to pay a penalty to the debtor’s estate. This provision, embedded in the Czech Insolvency Act, acts as a double-edged sword: while it aims to prevent unfounded claims and speculation in insolvency proceedings, it often deters legitimate creditors from fully asserting their claims. This financial penalty has no equivalent in other European countries. So, how can creditors avoid penalties, and what should they know before submitting a claim in insolvency proceedings?

The Romanian Company Law no. 31/1990 has been amended through the recent Law no. 299/2024 to better align with technological developments and the evolving needs of the business landscape. Notably, a key update is enabling remote (online) attendance and electronic voting in general shareholder meetings, among other relevant revisions.

The European Commission and the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) have recently published reports on the first year of implementation of the new EU–U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“DPF”). These reports analyze the application of data protection mechanisms in cross-border transfers between the EU and the U.S., as well as ongoing challenges.

On 16 October 2024, the Hungarian Government decided on a new economic policy action plan consisting of 21 measures, which also addresses the situation of short-term housing in the capital. The Government intends to tighten conditions for providing private accommodation services, i.e. Airbnb, to solve the worsening housing crisis in Budapest.

Factoring has emerged as an essential financial solution for businesses in Hungary, offering a fast and flexible way to maintain cash flow and bridge liquidity gaps, especially for those with extended payment terms in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and logistics. However, navigating Hungary’s complex regulatory landscape can pose challenges for companies seeking to use factoring to its fullest potential. With options like silent factoring available to help preserve client relationships and a need for thorough understanding of local laws, businesses can benefit significantly from a strategic approach. This article explores the advantages of factoring in Hungary, along with key regulatory considerations to ensure compliance and stability in companies’ financial operations.

Recent legislative developments in Romania, such as the Methodology for Preventing and Combating Harassment Based on Gender and Moral Harassment in the Workplace (October 12, 2023) and the ratification of Convention No. 190/2019 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, have created a robust framework to address workplace harassment. These changes reflect an international push for safer, more inclusive work environments, but their implementation raises questions about practical challenges and long-term impact.

On 29 October 2024, the Hungarian Ministry of National Economy announced that new laws are submitted to the Parliament to increase the period available for requesting paternity leave.

The European Union’s Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2) was introduced to enhance cybersecurity across the EU, aiming to protect critical infrastructure and essential services such as energy, transportation, and healthcare. NIS2 sets a high bar for all EU Member States, requiring them to improve their cybersecurity resilience, implement strong risk management practices, and report incidents within strict timelines. Yet, despite these clear guidelines, Bulgaria, like many other EU countries, has been slow to adopt the necessary changes and was unable to meet the deadline for transposing NIS2 (i.e., the 17^th of October this year). The delay has left Bulgaria facing several legal and operational challenges, compounded by the absence of a functioning Parliament.

The Czech Republic is struggling to implement the European SEVESO Directive into its legislation. Preventing the consequences of accidents in potentially hazardous companies, such as chemical plants, is thus in a state of emergency. After previous half-hearted solutions, however, the amendment that is being prepared by the Ministry of the Environment offers new hope.

A recent ruling by Hungary's Curia could signal a wave of lawsuits and substantial overtime compensation claims, potentially impacting millions of workers. According to a March 2023 ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the daily rest period - a minimum break between shifts - is distinct from the weekly rest period and must be provided beforehand.

Schoenherr has won Best Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 CIJ Awards Hungary gala in Budapest. In the last three years, Schoenherr's real estate practice has played a prominent role in landmark deals in Hungary. 

IMMOFINANZ takes further step to optimise group structure. IMMOFINANZ Group holds 100% of the shares in S IMMO following completion of the squeeze-out.

RTPR announces the successful closing of a new M&A transaction in the energy industry, the sale of the renewable energy portfolio of Evryo Group, owned by funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management, to PPC Group.

Nechala and partners advised the seller, Mr. Heimo Wallisch, on the successful sale of EASYS s. r. o.

Vienna, 04 November 2024. The experienced tax partner Nicolas Wolski (42) will take over as Head of Tax at bpv Huegel with November 2024.

JŠK advised PRE Group on its acquisition of 100% stake in solar power plant supplier SolidSun.

The Reverse Share Split at a ratio of 10:1 to reclassify the company's share capital was resolved at the Annual General Meeting on 14 June 2024.

The IMMOFINANZ Group acquired a further approx. 38% of S IMMO shares from CPI Property Group SA for a purchase price of around EUR 608.5 million.

Drakopoulos is pleased to announce the launch of its new Data and Digital practice, dedicated to providing comprehensive legal solutions to clients navigating the increasingly complex landscape of data protection, digital transformation, AI, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

The Montenegrin Law on Business Organizations prohibits the return of contributions to shareholders. But is capital reduction with simultaneous payment to shareholders permissible? This article explores the legal ambiguities and practical challenges arising from this question.

The ITR Tax Awards recognise the best tax consultants and tax lawyers every year. bpv Huegel was awarded twice this year.

RTPR has assisted the shareholders of 123FormBuilder – 212 Regional Fund II, Catalyst Romania, Florin Cornianu and Adrian Gheara – in relation to the sale of the company to American group Kiteworks.