It is without a doubt that, like the economy in general, the legal market was also affected in recent years. Though the economy has been turbulent for a longer period than during the crisis that started in 2008, this time, the number of large disputes has remained constant. Despite the growing legal costs, high-value disputes rarely dropped due to costs. Smaller law firms, however, seem to have more problems when navigating in this economy – there are cases of closing businesses or consolidating to survive. 

Labor shortages have emerged as a pressing issue across CEE, prompting diverse responses from governments, businesses, and the public as they navigate the challenges of workforce gaps and economic sustainability.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As sunny days recede, the fall conference season is upon us, so we asked: How do you determine which Partner attends which events?

Popescu & Asociatii Partner Loredana Popescu and Avellum Partner Maksym Maksymenko look at the current status of agribusiness in their countries – both traditional powerhouses in the sector – highlighting how they are managing to show resilience despite tough years.

Albania’s gambling industry has undergone significant transformations over the past decade, shifting from a thriving sector to one under stringent regulation. Lalaj & Partners Partner Sabina Lalaj explores the evolution of gambling in Albania, the impact of regulatory changes, its current status in the economy, and the future outlook of the industry.

Turkiye has recently witnessed a surge in initial public offerings. White & Case affiliate law firm GKC Partners’ Head of Capital Markets Practice Derin Altan and Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli Partner Hasan Yasar explore this phenomenon and what it means for the wider market conditions.

In September 2024, Turkiye applied for membership in the BRICS bloc of developing economies. ADMD Law Office Managing Partner Orhan Yavuz Mavioglu and Bicak Law Firm Founding Partner Vahit Bicak explore the key political, economic, and legal motivations behind Turkiye’s move.

The profitability of a law firm relies on meticulous financial management and a thorough analysis of performance metrics. By leveraging essential Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), firms can assess and enhance their financial health. Metrics such as revenue growth, average billing rates, and the breakeven point provide valuable insights that empower strategic decision-making and drive performance optimization.

On November 14, 2024, banking and finance experts from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Poland sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss digitalization and the impact of tech on the banking sector in CEE.

Jarvis Legal, a cloud-based platform for legal practice management, has been a part of the LexisNexis family since Jul 2024. Jarvis Legal CEO Alexandre Yeremian shares its journey – from tackling inefficiencies to pioneering AI innovation – and plans for its global future.

Despite 2024 being a relatively slow year in terms of real estate transactions, Act Legal Partners Adam Kaplonyi and Gergely Ban see ample signs to be optimistic about the sector's outlook in Hungary.

As someone leading my firm's digital transformation efforts over the past five years, together with the firm’s Senior Partners, I've been involved in the adoption of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. It has been a challenging yet stimulating journey, and I want to share my insights into what drove this transformation.

On November 4, 2024, CEE Legal Matters reported that Greenberg Traurig's Warsaw office has launched a new Project and Structured Finance Practice with the arrival of Partner Piotr Nerwinski and his team, aiming to expand their services across Poland and the CEE region. Nerwinski spoke with CEE Legal Matters about his move as well as the new practice launch.

On 19 September 2024, BDK Advokati celebrated 20 years since its establishment. BDK Advokati Managing Partner Tijana Kojovic and Senior Partner and Head of the Montenegrin office Luka Popovic reflect on this milestone and discuss the journey of the firm, its evolution, achievements, and aspirations for the future.

Earlier in 2024, DLA Piper published its Medical Devices Advertising: CEE Comparison Guide, which reviews advertising regulations for medical devices in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Life sciences team members who worked on the guide spoke with CEE Legal Matters about some of the regulatory differences across CEE and the practical implications for businesses.

Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of serving as a legal manager for clients across diverse industries, providing me with a unique perspective on the evolution of legal technology and the broader digital transformation within the legal sector. While it is true that the legal profession tends to be a late adopter of new technologies due to its inherent conservatism, I see a significant and positive shift in recent years.

In our Looking In series, we talk to Partners from outside CEE who are keeping an eye on the region (and often pop up in our deal ticker) to learn how they perceive CEE markets and their evolution. For this issue, we sat down with Marc van Campen, Partner at Van Campen Liem in Amsterdam.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With industry-specific software emerging left and right, the legal industry was not left behind. To explore some of the trends in this regard, we asked: What are some of the specific legal tech platforms you use?