Central and Eastern Europe’s M&A landscape is experiencing challenging and interesting times. Geopolitical tensions (not least Russia’s war in Ukraine), inflation, and regulatory hurdles have created headwinds – yet opportunities persist. Investors are selectively pursuing high-quality deals, and great companies with strong prospects are still being bought and sold. In short, while uncertainty has become the new normal, M&A isn’t going away and remains a fundamental growth strategy. As a recent survey noted, medium- to long-term prospects for deal-making remain positive, with participants preparing to seize the opportunities ahead. CEE as a region continues to attract interest thanks to its underlying growth drivers and relative stability, even compared to Western Europe.

PRK Partners Partner Radan Kubr, ACI Partners Senior Associate Doina Doga, Schoenherr Bulgaria Co-Head of Competition Yoana Strateva, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner and Head of Competition & Antitrust Raluca Vasilache, Zornada Law Office Attorney at Law Ivan Zornada, and DLA Piper Hungary Country Managing Partner Andras Posztl explore how, respectively, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Hungary approach foreign investment screening: the differences in strictness, the sectors regulators watch most closely, the impact on deals, and the practical challenges investors run into on the ground.

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: With autumn being a peak conference period, what are your annual “cannot miss” conferences during the fall season and why?

Oppenheim Partner David Hanis, Ban, S. Szabo, Rausch & Partners Partner Gergely Szabo, and Schoenherr Partner Kinga Hetenyi discuss Hungary’s battery push, which now spans grid-scale storage, cells, cathodes, separators, recycling, and soon EV assembly, even as permitting, labor, and contracting models are stress-tested in real time.

With defense concerns accelerating across the Baltics, Sorainen Partner Evaldas Dudonis, Cobalt Partner Gatis Flinters, CEE Attorneys Partner Kristina Sabaliauskiene, Njord Law Firm Partner and Head of Data Protection & Technology Law Liisi Jurgen, Tegos Partner and Head of Defense Matas Balenas, and Law Firm Leimanis.eu Managing Partner Raivis Leimanis describe a rapidly changing landscape defined by rising investments, expanding industrial capacity, and evolving legal frameworks.

Arukereso General Counsel Gergely Szekely shares his career path, how he balances the roles of a legal gatekeeper and business partner, the strategy for involving external counsel, and the challenges he expects to dominate the agenda of general counsels in the e-commerce sector in Hungary.

LTG Chief Legal & Governance Officer Irmantas Berzauskas discusses what lessons from the private sector proved useful in a state-owned organization, his role as part of the crisis management team at LTG as the war in Ukraine unfolded, and his view on how legal leaders should engage with other executives to support sustainable growth.

An in-depth look at Gabor Borbely of DLA Piper Hungary, covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

An in-depth look at Vilija Viesunaite of Triniti Jurex, covering her career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about her as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

The Czech Republic’s latest tightening of agricultural land protection marks a turning point in how developers will source land for photovoltaic energy (PVE), retail, and logistics projects.

Hungary has an exceptionally high rate of homeownership. Residential property serves not only as a place to live but also as a traditional form of savings and investment. According to Eurostat data, Hungary has experienced one of the steepest increases in house prices in the EU since 2010, far surpassing the European average. This surge poses serious challenges for individuals willing to buy a home.

After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resulting large-scale destruction, hundreds of social and infrastructure facilities were either completely destroyed or damaged, requiring restoration and reconstruction. This will demand significant investment, and government funds alone will not suffice. Therefore, attracting private capital is essential. The most effective mechanism for doing so is the public-private partnership (PPP), which Ukraine now identifies as one of its key legal tools for post-war recovery.

Montenegro’s real estate sector is again on the verge of a significant regulatory shift, as the government prepares to implement substantial amendments to the Law on Value Added Tax and the corresponding bylaw governing its application.

Austria’s real estate market in 2025 is navigating one of its most challenging periods in decades. Rising interest rates of the past years, construction cost inflation, and tighter financing conditions have triggered a wave of insolvencies and reshaped transaction dynamics. At the same time, landmark deals and sweeping legal reforms are reshaping deal structures.

Poland continues to face a major issue: the lack of affordable housing. Although numerous new developments are underway, prices remain extremely high, and developers are confronted with new challenges. New regulations impose new procedures, additional obligations, and, as developers predict, new factors driving up housing prices. Time will tell whether these changes will improve housing availability or lead to further price increases.

Croatia’s real estate market continues to attract both domestic and foreign investors. Since joining the European Union in 2013 and adopting the euro in 2023, the country has seen a surge in transactions, particularly along the Adriatic coast. Croatia’s modern land-registry system, digitalized public records, and alignment with EU standards have given investors a sense of transparency and security. Yet beneath that surface lie several legal and regulatory complexities that can turn a straightforward acquisition into a costly legal challenge.

The real estate market in Serbia has experienced a dynamic year in 2025, shaped by steady domestic demand and renewed interest from international investors. Residential and commercial segments have continued to be stable, supported by rising activity in major urban areas. Logistics and industrial properties remain among the strongest performers, driven by the expansion of regional distribution hubs, sustained interest in warehouses, and long-term commitments from manufacturing companies. Investors are increasingly looking beyond Belgrade and into regional centers, where development pipelines offer competitive yields. As investor expectations grow, understanding Serbia’s legal and regulatory landscape has become as important as assessing broader market fundamentals.

Slovenia’s real estate market continues to struggle with a persistent shortage of available housing. In 2024, property transactions declined once again, yet this slowdown did not translate into lower prices. Quite the opposite – prices kept rising. Since 2019, apartment prices have increased by 67%, house prices by 54%, and the prices of building plots by as much as 72%. A similar pattern can be observed in the rental market.