The Croatian Government has introduced the Draft Act on the Screening of Foreign Investments, which is currently undergoing public consultations. The Draft Act seeks to establish a foreign direct investment (FDI) screening mechanism in line with Regulation (EU) 2019/452 and OECD investment standards. Its aim is to create a national framework for reviewing FDIs that may pose risks to national security or public order.

Kinstellar has advised UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia and Ceska Sporitelna on the financing for Aurelia Fondy SICAV for the acquisition of the River Garden II and River Garden III office buildings. Dentons advised Aurelia Fondy SICAV. White & Case reportedly advised the sellers, Encore Plus Properties II.

Kinstellar has advised the shareholders of Autolift Group on a partnership with Hamburg-based private equity investor Capcellence Mittelstandspartner, under which Capcellence acquired a majority stake. Herbst Kinsky reportedly advised Capcellence.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

As cross-border client needs grow in Southeast Europe, Kinstellar launched the Western Balkans Hub to offer legal support across the region. SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar Managing Partner Milos Velimirovic and Special Counsel Olga Sipka discuss how the Hub came to life, how it works in practice, and what sets it apart.

Kinstellar and Wardynski & Partners, working with Kirkland & Ellis, advised US private equity firm GTCR on its agreement to acquire Zentiva from Advent International. White & Case advised Zentiva Group a.s. CMS advised Advent International. 

Kinstellar, working with Lee & Ko, has successfully represented Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power in proceedings that resulted in the dismissal of legal challenges brought by Electricite de France seeking to block the Czech state & CEZ Group-owned Elektrarna Dukovany II from signing a contract to construct two new nuclear units at the Dukovany site.

Despite the ongoing war and significant challenges, the Ukrainian legal framework continues to encourage an open and flexible investment environment. Specifically, it expressly recognizes a wide variety of investment forms and ways to repatriate investments. Below we summarize the current status of capital control rules as they apply to the key types of investment instruments:

Savoric & Partners has advised Koncar Group subsidiary Koncar-Digital on its acquisition of a majority stake in Croatian IT company Neos. Mamic Peric Reberski Rimac and Kinstellar-affiliated Zuric i Partneri reportedly advised the sellers.

Kinstellar has advised E.ON on the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary Gas Distribution to GasNet. Skils reportedly advised GasMet.

Defence City is a special tax and legal regime that provides a number of benefits and easements for companies working in Ukraine’s defence industry.

Iustinian Captariu has become the new Kinstellar Office Managing Partner in Bucharest, taking over from Partner Victor Constantinescu, who has led the office for six years.

Former Esin Attorney Partnership Partner Koray Sogut has joined Kinstellar as a Partner in Istanbul.

The Law of Ukraine "On Factoring" No. 4466-IX (the "Law"), dated 3 June 2025, introduces a comprehensive update to existing laws governing factoring. The goal of the Law is to align Ukrainian regulations with best international standards and to establish a modern, digital, and transparent model for interaction in the receivables financing market through the assignment of monetary claims.

August 2025 – On 30 July 2025, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 7508, aimed at optimising the mechanism for attracting private investment into post-war infrastructure recovery efforts through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The law, save for a few exceptions, will come into force three months after its official publication.

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: What is the ratio between business development activities and billable hours for Partners within your team, on average?

As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, we asked Partners across the region to identify their hottest practice so far this year, explain the driver behind that surge, and share whether they expect the momentum to continue. Czech Republic-based PRK Partners Associate Partner & Head of AI and Digital Practice Daniel Vejsada, Georgia-based PwC Legal Director and Head of Legal Practice Vano Gogelia, Ukraine-based Avellum Partner and Head of Defense and Miltech Andriy Romanchuk, Bulgaria-based Schoenherr Office Managing Partner Alexandra Doytchinova, and Serbia-based Kinstellar Special Counsel and Co-head of the firm-wide Competition & State Aid service line Olga Sipka give us their take.

As Ukraine grapples with geopolitical upheaval and economic uncertainty, private dispute-resolution mechanisms have emerged as vital alternatives to an overburdened court system. Kinstellar Partner Olexander Martinenko and Managing Associate Danylo Volkovetskyi explore recent legislative reforms, market fragmentation, wartime influences on institutional uptake, and the shifting preferences of businesses and state enterprises toward arbitration and mediation.