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On the evening of April 1, 2025, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, over 200 top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and General Counsel from across the region in Prague.
The Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate has introduced a draft law for the establishment of the Development Bank of Albania (“DBA”), a specialised public financial institution designed to facilitate financing for small and medium enterprises, start-ups, and underfinanced sectors. The bank is also envisioned as a key player in promoting exports of domestic products and services, as well as supporting public projects and various infrastructure developments.
Albania is aligning with EU regulations through new laws, including a data protection law in 2025 and a new updated electronic communications law, according to Ismailaj & Partners Managing Partner Erinda Ismailaj. With elections on May 11, legislative activity has slowed, creating uncertainties that can lead to a lack of predictability in a business environment.
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.
The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures.
Conduction of business activities is not possible without possessing a bank account. Business entities[1] are required to open bank accounts, manage all funds through these accounts, and make all payments via these accounts[2], with banks being the only authorized institutions to open and maintain bank accounts[3].
On the evening of April 1, 2025, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, over 200 top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and General Counsel from across the region in Prague.
CMS Partners Horea Popescu, Alexander Rakosi, and Ryszard Manteuffel discuss the ebb and flow of M&A deals in CEE, highlighting that the M&A landscape experienced a significant drop in overall deal values prompting strategic shifts amid ongoing geopolitical and financing challenges.
CMS has advised Nikan Agro on the licensing process before the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission for its 50-megawatt Blatska photovoltaic project.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
On 17 April 2025, the Law on the Implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on the Single Market for Digital Services (the Digital Services Act or "DSA") (the "Law") entered into force in Croatia. The Law marks a significant step in harmonising the national legislation with the EU's regulatory framework for digital services.
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.
Lovric, Novokmet & Partners has advised Fortenova on the sale of Agrolaguna and Vinarija Novigrad to Badel 1862. Miskovic & Miskovic advised Badel 1862.
Dentons has advised Fio Realitni Fond SICAV on its acquisition the Czech company owning Stara Celnice, from BVK Europa‑Immobilien‑Spezialfonds. Wilsons reportedly advised BVK Europa Immobilien Spezialfonds.
PRK Partners has advised GoOut on its acquisition of Ticketstream.
Former Clifford Chance Senior Partner David Kolacek has joined KKCG as Group Chief Legal Officer.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
Contributed by Kyriakides Georgopoulos.
Papapolitis & Papapolitis has advised Evropi Holdings on the acquisition of a 65% stake in Europa Insurance.
In March 2025, the Hungarian Parliament enacted legislation expanding the use of facial recognition technologies in minor offence procedures. The law is a part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing child protection measures, but has sparked considerable legal debate due to potential conflicts with European data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the forthcoming EU Artificial Intelligence Act.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by DLA Piper.
TGS Baltic has advised 2C Ventures on leading a EUR 400,000 investment round in Esgrid that also saw the participation of Lemonade Stand, Startup Wise Guys, and Greenco Ventures.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Cobalt.
Kosovo is accelerating its energy transition, SEPA integration, and corporate transparency, aligning with EU standards to boost investment, competition, and economic stability, according to Nallbani Law Office Managing Partner Delvina Nallbani.
On the evening of April 1, 2025, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, over 200 top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and General Counsel from across the region in Prague.
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?
Sorainen has advised Eiffel Investment Group on a EUR 20 million debt financing provided by the Eiffel Energy Transition III fund to Envolve Capital.
Sorainen has advised Noda on registering its trademark in the European Union.
Cobalt has advised Creditreform Latvija on a multi-stage reorganization.
Sorainen has advised Eiffel Investment Group on a EUR 20 million debt financing provided by the Eiffel Energy Transition III fund to Envolve Capital.
Ellex has advised Nordic Solar on securing EUR 24.15 million in financing from Swedbank for the completion of its 80-megawatt photovoltaic park in the Svencionys district in Lithuania.
Sorainen has successfully represented the Nordcurrent Group before the Court of Justice of the European Union in a case that clarified the application of dividend tax exemption rules.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Law Office Emil Miftari.
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.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
Contributed by Gladei & Partners.
Through its 27 February 2025 law ("Law 33/2025"), the Moldovan Parliament amended the current rules on control of investments into sectors important for the security of the state ("Law 174/2021" or the "FDI Law"). The amendments enter into force on 20 April 2025.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Doklestic Repic & Gajin.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
Gessel has advised DP Polska Spolka Akcyjna on the sale of Mastergrupa to Domino’s Pizza Poland.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Clifford Chance.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Popescu & Asociatii.
Schoenherr has advised Verbund Wind Power Romania on the acquisition of a 272-megawatt wind project from Monsson. Berechet Rusu Hirit reportedly advised Monsson.
Contributed by Clifford Chance.
Contributed by Alrud.
The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by NSTLaw.
AP Legal has advised AikBank Beograd and Eurobank Direktna on their merger.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
Contributed by Legate.
CMS has advised the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency of the Slovak Republic on the issuance of its first retail government bonds.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Selih & Partnerji.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Litigation in CEE.
White & Case Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners has advised Zorlu Enerji on the USD 100 million tap issuance of senior guaranteed sustainability-linked notes due 2030. Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate law firm Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised on the transaction as well.
The ultimate aim of judicial proceedings is to resolve disputes substantively and eliminate legal uncertainty between the parties. The most critical phase of this process is the “judgment”, which constitutes the final decision rendered by the courts. However, although a judgment is a decision that concludes the trial, in some cases, it may not produce legal effects, meaning it is considered “ineffective”.
The final and binding nature of arbitral awards provides legal predictability to the parties while also allowing for the possibility of material errors or omissions in the arbitral decisions.
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.
Contributed by Arzinger.
Former Aequo Partners Sergiy Denisenko and Pavlo Byelousov have established the Bono Legal law firm.