Submissions received by COB today will receive feedback, so if you are contemplating putting deals forward for consideration, this is your opportunity to also learn what could be done to improve your submission.
The full submission guidelines and instructions on submitting deals are here.
As many of you know, CEELM hosted a Townhall this Wednesday. Below is a summary of some of the questions raised during the session or sent via email in the past few days, followed by the two main pieces of advice from our side looking at past submissions in hopes it’ll help you with your submissions:
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between early (today) and normal submissions (January 10)?
A: Submissions received by COB today will also receive feedback. Those received past today until January 10 will only receive a receipt confirmation.
Q: Can we have a deadline extension?
A: We are running a very tight schedule (already preparing the juror panels in fact). We’re not able to offer extensions.
Q: How many deals can I submit?
A: Any firm can submit up to three (3) deals per country, independent of whether they have an office in that jurisdiction or not.
Q: Can I submit the same deal for multiple countries?
A: Yes. Simply fill in the submission form again and change the country for which you’d like the deal to be considered.
Q: Can I submit confidential deals?
A: No. And do not include confidential matters in the submission form and mark them as “confidential”. Submissions are passed to the jurors (all external to CEELM) as received.
Q: Can I submit a deal if the value is confidential?
A: The precise value of the deal does not need to be included in your submission – see the next Q/A
Q: What is the ranking criteria?
A: We ask our jurors to take a holistic look at each deal and consider the deal size/value, its complexity and novelty, its impact on the jurisdiction for which it is considered, and its impact on the wider CEE region. While you may not be able to disclose the specific value, feel free to offer ranges or indicators (e.g., the target was the largest retailer by revenue in Country X).
Q: What qualifies as a deal? Does it have to be a pure M&A deal?
A: No. The only types of matters that CANNOT be considered are disputes. Beyond that, past shortlisted/winning deals have included traditional M&As, financings, refinancings, restructurings, PPPs, infrastructure projects, concessions, IPOs, bond issuances, etc. Ongoing advisory work (e.g., ongoing labor law advice) is not project/transactional in nature, and thus would be unlikely to be considered.
Q: Does the deal need to be reported on by CEELM to be eligible?
A: No, it does not.
Q: If the deal is signed but not closed yet, is it eligible?
A: No. Only deals closed between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, are eligible.
Best Practices
1. Focus on the deal, not your firm
Jurors are asked to rank the deals, not the firms working on them. Too many firms either simply copy/paste their press releases on a deal or waste limited word count on talking up their firm (or listing their lawyers who worked on the matter). Focus on the significance of the deal itself.
2. Show, don’t say
Too often, submissions state a deal is “groundbreaking" and involves "leading companies.” Most deals competing will tick off those boxes – that’s why they are put forward. Tell jurors what the complexities of the deal were, what novelties were involved in the deal, and what makes the company(ies) involved “leading” ones, be it its size, revenue, market share, etc.
The submissions online form includes all other relevant instructions but, if you have any questions please contact CEE Legal Matters’ Managing Editor, Radu Cotarcea, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
