One might have hoped that, with the pandemic fading, the real estate market was bound to bounce back in 2022, despite interest rates rising since October 2021. And bounce back it did, at least in the first quarter, when investments in commercial real estate reached EUR 1.7 billion, including Google’s landmark acquisition of a Warsaw office building for nearly EUR 600 million. The Russian aggression against Ukraine, coupled with growing cost pressures, created the current market conditions that will continue to shape the CEE real estate market for the foreseeable future.

Gessel has advised DataWalk on a public offering of series P shares.

The Polish media market finds itself in an interesting position. Following a streak of market moves and reshufflings, the media landscape seems to have, to an extent, polarized. To get an insight into the market ins and outs, as well as expectations for the future, we reached out to Wiercinski Kwiecinski Baehr Partner Agnieszka Wiercinska-Kruzewska.

On January 1, 2022, a “historic tax reform” – as referred to by the Polish government – came into force, with major changes implemented into Poland’s tax system. Just a few months later, another tax reform package, now known as the Polish Deal 2.0, was introduced. We spoke with Penteris Head of Tax Artur Plutowski and PwC Legal Partner Katarzyna Komorowska to learn what was the driving force behind the update and how it will impact the business sector in Poland.

The sixth package of European Union sanctions imposed on Russia is a widely discussed topic, yet the overall levels of preparedness to adopt the associated energy import ban varies from one country to another. Indeed, with Russian oil and gas exports being such a dominant source of energy for a number of European countries, it remains to be seen how all of them adapt to the change. To gain insight into how certain EU member states and non-EU countries are (likely) to fare in the immediate wake of the ban, we reached out to legal professionals from Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Moldova.

Recent global events, in particular the Russian aggression against Ukraine and subsequent restrictions on the supply of fuel (including coal, oil, and gas), have negatively impacted not only the Polish but the global energy market.

Last year has been a busy time in terms of warranty & indemnity insurance for the CEE market, according to W&I Insurance Broker and Advisor and former M&A lawyer Gergely Juhasz.

Czabanski & Galuszynski has announced that firm Partner Piotr Galuszynski has become an Attorney for the bondholders of Europejskie Centrum Odszkodowan.

Resist Rezanko Sitek has announced that the Tomasz Uljasz-led Kancelaria Adwokacka Tomasz Uljasz team has joined the firm with Uljasz to act as an Of Counsel and head of the Private Lawyer practice.

Clifford Chance has advised Hillwood Polska on the EUR 26.3 million financing for the construction of a logistics park in Zgierz provided by Bank Millennium. CMS advised the bank.

Schoenherr, working with Mannheimer Swartling, has advised Alfa Laval Corporate on its acquisition of Scanjet Systems.

Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson has advised the founders of No Fluff Jobs on the sale of the majority stake in the company to Ringier Axel Springer Polska.

Major transactions are taking place in the energy sector in Poland and the country is preparing to address gas shortages for the upcoming winter, while dealing with soaring inflation and high-interest rates, according to Penteris Partner Przemyslaw Kastyak.

Wiercinski Kwiecinski Baehr has advised the Avia Capital Fund I on its acquisition of a majority stake in Hadatap. SSK&W Stoklosa Syp & Partners advised Hadatap and its shareholders.

On 8 August, the latest draft amendment to the Commercial Companies Code was published. The bill implements Directive (EU) 2019/2121 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132 as regards cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions.

Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson has announced that Equity Partners Dag Nilsson and Jaroslaw Sroka have been appointed as Co-Managing Partners alongside Managing Partner Maciej Prusak, with longtime Managing Partner Joern Brockhuis moving to a Senior Partner position within the firm.

TGS Baltic has successfully represented Vilnius CHP in front of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arbitral tribunal on a contract termination dispute with Polish boiler maker Rafako.

DLA Piper has advised Galileo on its acquisition of a minority stake in Pagra and the related partnership agreement.