CMS Sofia Managing Partner Kostadin Sirleshtov and Counsel Borislava Piperkova talk about energy in Bulgaria in 2025.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around we asked: If you have a formal partnership track, how do you handle lawyers on it who do NOT end up living up to the requirements to make a Partner?

As Croatia prepares to implement a new real estate tax, Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners Partner Franka Baica, BDV Legal Partner Vladimir Batarelo, and CMS Partner Tamara Jelic Kazic talk about its objectives, potential impacts, and how property owners and investors should respond.

With the rollout of 5G technology, North Macedonia will have to clear a number of legal and regulatory hurdles before benefitting from its potential to transform industries, improve connectivity, and drive economic growth. The country’s telecommunications framework faces the dual challenge of accommodating this groundbreaking technology while ensuring alignment with EU standards.

CMS has advised Revolut on the launch of its banking and financial services for Ukrainian customers.

CMS has advised Solar Park Trakiya on a EUR 32 million financing from EuroBank Bulgaria for the 57.6-megawatt-peal Sinitovo photovoltaic project.

CMS has advised a club of Czech banks including Ceska Sporitelna, Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, Komercni Banka, and Raiffeisenbank, on financing for Smarty Brands Group. 

CMS has advised Actis on the acquisition of Dot Towers through its Connectis Tower platform, adding 50 sites to Actis’ portfolio.

CMS has advised Laerdal Medical on its acquisition of SIMCharacters. Frotz Riedl reportedly advised the sellers.

CMS has advised M Core Group on its acquisition of a strip mall portfolio in Romania from MAS as well as on the acquisition financing. 

Vlasceanu & Partners has advised Ecoenergy's Romanian subsidiary Heliolux on obtaining EUR 38 million in project financing from Raiffeisen Bank International for the 92-megawatt Parau photovoltaic solar project. CMS reportedly advised Raiffeisen Bank.

CMS has advised DRI on physical power purchase agreements with OMV Petrom for three separate solar projects.

CMS has advised HB Reavis on Alior Bank's headquarters relocation to Varso Place in Warsaw. WKB advised Alior Bank.

CMS' Croatian affiliate Bardek, Lisac, Musec, Skoko, and Partners has advised Privredna Banka Zagreb as the leading mandated arranger, coordinator, and agent on a EUR 283 million club loan, which also included Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank, Zagrebacka Banka, and OTP Banka, for Podravka's acquisition of companies from the Fortenova Group. Podravka also received a EUR 50 million equity investment from the EBRD, following the acquisition. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic advised Podravka. Mamic, Peric, Reberski, Rimac advised Fortenova Group. Wolf Theiss advised the EBRD. DLA Piper reportedly advised Podravka as well.

DLA Piper has advised the Government Debt Management Agency (AKK), acting on behalf of the Republic of Hungary, on an international syndicated revolving credit facility agreement for a total amount of EUR 1.5 billion with 13 undisclosed Hungarian and international banks. CMS advised the coordinating banks.

CMS has promoted Martina Gavalec and Natalia Janoskova to Partner at the firm’s Slovakia office.

CMS has advised EGLS Founders Holding on its partnership arrangements with Kamco Invest centering on European Green Logistics Space. Taylor Wessing advised Kamco Invest.

TGS Baltic has advised Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings on the sale of its Europe-North out-of-home advertising segment to Bauer Radio Limited. Squire Patton Boggs, AG Law Limited, Cirio Law Firm, Kromann Reumert, Wikborg Rein, Castren & Snellman, Perez-Llorca, Reichlin Hess, Reed Smith, Deloitte and Herbert Smith Freehills, CMS, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Paczewski Tropaczynski reportedly advised the sellers as well.