CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.

Contributed by Schoenherr.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recently delivered a significant judgment in Case C-365/23 - Arce[1], addressing the application of EU consumer protection law to contracts involving minors in the sports sector.

Schoenherr has advised Austrian health‑tech startup Hi.health and its shareholders on the sale of the business to Pliant. Studio Legal and Dorda advised Pilant.

Cerha Hempel has advised Flughafen Wien on a joint venture with international logistics company Bradford Airport Logistics to establish Vienna Airport Logistics GmbH. Sidley Austin and Schoenherr advised Bradford Airport Logistics.

Kinstellar has announced Maja Mayrhuber as the fourth Partner to join its new Vienna office.

Taylor Wessing has promoted Carmen Redmann-Wippel to Partner as part of its latest promotion round.

Bernhard Koeck has joined CHG Czernich as a Partner to primarily support the Business Law and Banking & Finance practice groups.

Wolf Theiss has advised Visma on its acquisition of Finmatics. Brandl Talos advised the sellers.

Hartwig Kienast has joined Kinstellar's Vienna office as a Partner. 

Brandl Talos has advised Highland Europe on leading a EUR 55 million series B funding round for Berlin-based N8N which also saw the participation from HV Capital and previous investors Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon. Wuertenberger reportedly advised Highland Europe as well. V14 reportedly advised N8N.

Herbst Kinsky has advised Elevator Ventures on a EUR 1 million investment in Linz-based startup Blockpit. Binder Groesswang advised Blockpit.

CMS has advised Synlab International on the sale of its business activities in Eastern Europe – including its entities in Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkiye, and Cyprus – to Medicover Group. Schoenherr advised Medicover.

DLA Piper has advised arrangers and lenders Erste Group Bank and Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederiesterreich-Wien on the amendment and extension of an originally EUR 130 million term loan facility provided to GTC Galeria CTWA.

CMS, working with Pierson Ferdinand, has advised Alder Investment III on the acquisition of a majority stake in Qcify. 

Cerha Hempel has advised Vienna Insurance Group on a two-fold capital restructuring transaction. Wolf Theiss and Linklaters advised the banking syndicate including BNP Paribas, Erste Group, HSBC, ING, and UniCredit.

The expansion of renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, has been a cornerstone of Hungary’s strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and achieve sustainability objectives. However, the inherent variability of solar power generation presents challenges for maintaining grid stability and ensuring a reliable electricity supply.

Schoenherr and Hogan Lovells have advised PTC on its acquisition of IncQuery Group. Act Legal and Winkler, Barna & Associates reportedly advised the sellers.