In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2024 behind us, we asked: Looking at transactional volumes for this year, would you say that 2024 was better or worse than what you originally expected it to be, and why?

The private healthcare sector across CEE has been expanding at a remarkable pace, reshaping the way people access and experience medical care.

The DORA regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on digital operational resilience for the financial sector) is an essential piece of European legislation aiming to bolster cybersecurity within the EU.

The long-awaited amendment to the Czech Energy Act, known as “Lex OZE III”, has officially been passed by the Parliament. While it introduces significant and predominantly positive changes to the clean and renewable energy sector, it has also sparked considerable controversy. The proclaimed objective of the legislation is to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy while addressing regulatory and market challenges. Nevertheless, it lags behind the technical and commercial realities of the European market; it implements a European directive that the Czech Republic should have adopted over four years ago.

Are you unsure whether a takeover bid is required when a controlling interest in a company is transferred to a trust? The Czech National Bank (CNB) has issued a clarifying statement on this issue.

Former T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom General Counsel and Head of Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Affairs Vladimira Chlandova was appointed as the Vodafone Czech Republic's new Vice President for Legal Affairs, Risk Management, and Corporate Security.

Dentons has advised Komercni Banka on acquiring a 49.9% stake in SG Equipment Finance Czech Republic from Societe Generale Equipment Finance. Jones Day and Schoenherr advised Societe Generale. White & Case reportedly advised SGEF owner BPCE.

Freshfields has advised Midea Group subsidiary Midea Electrics Netherlands on its EUR 750 million acquisition of the climate division from Arbonia AG. BDK Advokati advised Midea on the local aspects of the acquisition of Serbian company Termovent, as part of the broader transaction. Baker McKenzie advised Arbonia.

Clifford Chance has advised Atrium Group Services on the sale of Atrium Flora shopping center to Max Realitni. BNT Attorneys reportedly advised Max Realitni.

Clifford Chance has promoted Michal Jasek and Milan Rakosnik to Partner.

BBH has advised PPF Real Estate on its acquisition of Quinn Hotels Praha which owns Hilton Prague. CMS advised Quinn Hotels Praha.

The Czech Republic has recently implemented new regulations for crypto-asset service providers, marking a significant step in aligning its legal framework with European Union standards. The Act on Digitalisation of the Financial Market (ZDFT), effective as of 15 February 2025, introduces comprehensive rules for the rapidly evolving digital finance sector. This article delves into the main features of the new law, its practical implications, and the specifics of the Czech regulation in the area of digital finance and crypto-assets.

Clifford Chance has advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as the sole coordinator, sole bookrunner, and mandated lead arranger on a JPY 80 billion samurai loan for Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding.

Peterka & Partners Partner Adela Krbcova talks about labor in 2025 in the Czech Republic.

Over the past few years, the gaming sector has been thriving in CEE. Kinstellar Partner Milan Samardzic, Rowan Legal Partner Milos Olik, ACI Partners Head of Fintech and E-Payments Nicolina Turcan, and Linklaters Warsaw Associate Aleksandra Czubek explore how CEE jurisdictions are driving the industry forward and unlocking new potential.

The European Union is following its roadmap to strengthen the cybersecurity framework. After the Cybersecurity Act (Regulation (EU) 2019/881), which created a certification framework and established the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), and NIS 2 (Directive (EU) 2022/2555), which aims at enhancing the cybersecurity of essential and important services, the European Union introduced the protection of connected software and devices, in other words, the cybersecurity of the IoT. In October 2024, the European Council officially adopted the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) which is about to be published in the EU Official Journal. The Czech Republic is now intensively preparing for the adoption of the Cybersecurity Act, which transposes the NIS 2 Directive, but awareness of CRA is low, even though critical software is being developed in the Czech Republic.

With the end of the 2024 calendar year accounting period, companies must focus on key obligations associated with it. This overview, prepared by the law firm Eversheds Sutherland, summarizes the most important deadlines and obligations related to financial statements, the annual report, the related parties report, and the filing of the corporate income tax return. Proper and timely fulfillment of these obligations is essential to comply with legal requirements.

Reals has advised Investika Real Estate Fund on the acquisition of the Anglicke Nabrezi – U Zvonu development project in Pilsen from private sellers. Krivanek Tomasek and Andrs and Haloun reportedly advised the sellers.