Ellex has advised Trigon Capital on its acquisition of Estonia Farmid.

Fort Legal has advised Idavang on a EUR 40 million loan from Swedbank for the early redemption of its EUR 75 million floating rate senior secured bonds, originally due in 2025.

Kinstellar has advised a syndicate of banks led by BRD Groupe Societe Generale and Banca Transilvania, with Raiffeisen Bank Romania as a sustainability agent, on a EUR 73 million syndicated facility to Grup Serban Holding. RTPR advised Grup Serban Holding.

Everlegal has advised VisionFund on establishing its Ukrainian entity and obtaining a financial company license, enabling it to provide non-banking financial services such as granting loans and banking metals.

Nyerges & Partners has advised KER Toki on obtaining an electricity supply license from the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority.

CMS has advised Florian Prasky on co-founding with Katharina Porenta Wattwise FlexCo.

Schoenherr has advised the managers involved on the Erste Group Bank’s issuance of EUR 1 billion 3% mortgage Pfandbriefe due 2032. Wolf Theiss advised the Erste Group Bank.

Walless, working with Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, has advised Ebury on the acquisition of Lithuania-based ArcaPay. TGS Baltic advised ArcaPay.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised Piraeus Bank on an agreement with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation on the provision of a USD 20 million portfolio guarantee to the bank.

Schoenherr has advised the managers involved on the Erste Group Bank’s issuance of EUR 1 billion 3% mortgage Pfandbriefe due 2032. Wolf Theiss advised the Erste Group Bank.

TGS Baltic has advised Zalvaris on its EUR 5 million Siauliu Bankas-arranged public bond issuance and the subsequent admission of those bonds to trading on the Nasdaq Baltic First North market by Nasdaq Vilnius.

Finreg Partners has advised Fundster on obtaining an investment crowdfunding license in the Czech Republic.

The Serbian Commission for Protection of Commission ("Commission") has announced that it will conduct a sector inquiry of the state and conditions of competition in the pharmaceutical industry. This move by the Commission was expected, given the announcements made by the Government of the Republic of Serbia last year.

Madalina Fildan-Raileanu, Ana Atanasiu, Oana Bucsa, and Alexandra Ionita have joined the partnership ranks at PeliPartners.

Gessel and Kambourov & Partners have advised MS Galleon on its acquisition of Corab. TGS Baltic reportedly advised MS Galleon as well.

Popescu & Associatii has promoted Adina Vlaicu, Andreea Mihalache, and Mirel Radescu to Partner.

In 2023, Hungary introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, which places the financial responsibility for the waste management of circular products on producers.

The German Law on the Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevent of Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains introduces for the first time the obligation for German companies to comply with certain procedures and rules, implement due diligence obligations and appropriate measures, in supply chains, with the aim of preventing human rights violations and damages to the environment. The mentioned German Law does not have a direct impact on companies in Serbia, so the sanctions prescribed by that Law cannot be enforced in Serbia, however, there is a certain influence on Serbian companies that will need to comply with, for reasons of further cooperation with German companies.

Havel & Partners has advised the Emeis/SeneCura Group on the sale of its Czech nursing home and Alzheimer center operations to the Penta Healthcare Group. Jan Evan Advokatni Kancelar advised the Penta Healthcare Group.

White & Case Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners has advised Koni Teknik Muhendislik on its acquisition of all of the share capital of Socar Turkiye. Kilinc Law & Consulting advised Socar and its affiliates Bursagaz and Kayserigaz.

Walless, working with Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, has advised Ebury on the acquisition of Lithuania-based ArcaPay. TGS Baltic advised ArcaPay.

Bogdan Cordos has been promoted to Partner at RTPR.

White & Case Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners has advised Koni Teknik Muhendislik on its acquisition of all of the share capital of Socar Turkiye. Kilinc Law & Consulting advised Socar and its affiliates Bursagaz and Kayserigaz.

Wolf Theiss has advised Nokian Tyres on a virtual power purchase agreement with Enery. Schoenherr advised Enery.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

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.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Popescu & Associatii has promoted Adina Vlaicu, Andreea Mihalache, and Mirel Radescu to Partner.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has promoted Serban Paslaru to Equity Partner.

Former SHMP Schwartz Huber-Medek Pallitsch Partner Philipp Pallitsch has joined Dorda as Partner alongside his team.

Koutalidis has advised Sfakianakis Group on the restructuring of its debt with a total value of approximately EUR 300 million.

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?

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised the bankruptcy trustee of Getin Noble Bank on the sale of Noble Securities to Skarbiec Holding.

Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners has promoted Polona Fink to Partner.

Jeremiasz Kusmierz has been promoted to Partner at Penteris.

Koutalidis has promoted Senior Associates Dora Karagiorgou and Manolis Kasotakis to Partner as part of its latest promotion round.

Havel & Partners has advised the Emeis/SeneCura Group on the sale of its Czech nursing home and Alzheimer center operations to the Penta Healthcare Group. Jan Evan Advokatni Kancelar advised the Penta Healthcare Group.

Walless has advised InMedica on its sale to Mehilainen. Cobalt advised Mehilainen.

Former Novo Nordisk Regional General Counsel and Vice President for legal, compliance, and quality in the Asia Pacific region Meltem Ozker Gunduz has joined GE HealthCare as its new General Counsel.

Squire Patton Boggs has successfully represented the Slovak Republic in an investment treaty claim originally worth USD 2.11 billion.

Popescu & Associatii has promoted Adina Vlaicu, Andreea Mihalache, and Mirel Radescu to Partner.

The Austrian Supreme Court (6 Ob 224/23v) recently determined the requirements for a partial transfer of a share if the articles of association expressly stipulate that shares cannot be divided.

Harrisons, working with Bird & Bird, has advised the EBRD on a EUR 20 million loan to Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATSA.

Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal has advised Damen Galati Shipyard on EUR 25 million in financing from Exim Banca Romaneasca.

Cobalt has advised PSA on its acquisition of 50% of Parnu Sadam shares from Transcom.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Your Legal Partners’ Katerina Politopoulou, Maria Golfinopoulou, and Prokopis Linardos Talk About the Deal of the Year in Greece.

Havel & Partners has advised the Emeis/SeneCura Group on the sale of its Czech nursing home and Alzheimer center operations to the Penta Healthcare Group. Jan Evan Advokatni Kancelar advised the Penta Healthcare Group.

Dentons and its Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki have advised Grand Games on its USD 30 million series A led by Balderton Capital with participation from existing investors Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures. Kinstellar's Turkish affiliate KST Law advised Balderton. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised BEK Ventures.

Kinstellar, working with Luxembourg-based Brouxel & Rabia, has advised Genesis Growth Equity Fund I on the acquisition of a majority stake in LLP Group from Adam Bager, Tim Smulders, Barbara Dreska, and Jiri Stiller. Wolf Theiss, working with Ashurst, advised the sellers.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

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.

Dentons has successfully represented an unlawfully sterilized woman in administrative court proceedings against the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic regarding a denied claim for compensation and subsequent appeal on a pro bono basis.

DWF has advised Eiffage Immobilier Polska on the forward sale of a build-to-rent residential project in Warsaw’s Praga-Polnoc district to Heimstaden Bostad. Dentons advised Heimstaden Bostad.

JDP has advised Trei Real Estate on EUR 38 million financing from Munich-based Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG. BNT Attorneys advised Deutsche Pfandbriefbank.

Poland is becoming more and more interesting for foreigners looking to invest. This is due to Poland’s central location in Central and Eastern Europe and the country’s continuous economic development, making it a place with potential for becoming a focal point for Central European business on the Old Continent.

By passing the proposed bill on 25 November 2024, the Hungarian Government enacted significant changes to the taxation of company vehicles, set to take effect in 2025 and beyond. These modifications aim to increase tax revenues and promote the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles.

PRK Partners has announced a partnership with Quantera Global.

In this article, we highlight the most relevant changes to Slovenia’s tax laws, from the perspective of corporate income tax, VAT, personal income tax and tax procedure that enter into force on 1 January 2025.

Although more than six years have passed since the adoption of the new Personal Data Protection Law (the “Law“), there are still practical uncertainties about when data controllers and processors must appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). Additionally, many foreign data controllers and processors subject to the Law have yet to fulfill their obligation to appoint a representative for personal data protection. This lack of compliance makes it harder for individuals to exercise their rights when it comes to the processing of their personal data.

Intellectual property is a broad concept that covers several types of legally recognized rights originating from some type of intellectual creativity or that are otherwise related to ideas. Intellectual property rights are rights to intangible things, i.e., ideas as expressed (i.e. copyrights) or as embodied in a practical implementation (i.e. patents). Fundamentally, intellectual property rights are rights in ideal objects, distinguished from the material substance in which they are instantiated. In today’s legal systems, the key forms of intellectual property are (i) copyrights, (ii) trademarks and (iii) patents.

Dentons and its Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki have advised Grand Games on its USD 30 million series A led by Balderton Capital with participation from existing investors Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures. Kinstellar's Turkish affiliate KST Law advised Balderton. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised BEK Ventures.

Popescu & Associatii has promoted Adina Vlaicu, Andreea Mihalache, and Mirel Radescu to Partner.

On 26 December 2024, the Law “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Improve Mechanisms for Holding Legal Entities Accountable for Bribery of Foreign Officials” No. 4111-IX entered into force. It is meant to implement the OECD Council’s Recommendation on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

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.