The Slovak legal market is being pulled in two directions at once at the moment – inward by the practical realities of AI adoption inside law firms, and outward by geopolitical uncertainty that’s cooling foreign investment, according to Taylor Wessing Co-Managing Partner Andrej Leontiev.

Montenegro is moving forward with a new wave of legislative reforms, from the digitalization of immigration procedures and clearer residency rules to real-estate measures aimed at improving compliance and market transparency, according to Prelevic Law Firm Partner Gorjana Lekovic, who also reports that the spotlight is on the new planning regulation, judicial efficiency, and a domestic bond program opening to retail investors. 

Hungarian companies are being hit by a wave of EU tech rules, according to BLB Legal Managing Partner Adam Liber, who stresses how this wave is reshaping the compliance function. 

The Czech financing market is buzzing, with deal activity picking up over the past months, according to Eversheds Sutherland Head of Banking & Finance Vojtech Laga.

Ukraine has moved quickly to bolster its defense industrial base, with a new Defense City regime offering tax, customs, and administrative incentives to manufacturers, according to Kinstellar Partner Natalia Kirichenko, with the framework aiming to cut red tape, speed up production, and attract both domestic and international players under wartime conditions.

Latvia’s defense sector is taking off, drawing fresh investments and reshaping legal work, while renewable energy projects move into full swing and law firms race to keep up with talent and tech changes, according to Cobalt Partner Gatis Flinters.

Bosnia & Herzegovina may be light on new projects as politics continues to eclipse the economy, but one reform is quietly reshaping the legal market, according to Law Office Dizdar Founder Slaven Dizdar, who spotlights the Federation’s new Law on the Legal Profession, its first comprehensive overhaul in two decades.

Croatia’s deal flow is lively, with investor appetite outpacing the supply of high-quality targets and activity visible across a range of sectors, according to Attorney at Law Ivan Zornada, who also focuses on an important draft for the FDI-screening regime, possible US tariff impacts, and succession-driven exits.

Kosovo’s regulatory landscape is shifting fast, with a key highlight from Energy Regulatory Office decision pushing certain companies which meet the criteria entering the open power market and sparking legal challenges, according to RPHS Law Head of Energy Blerina Ramaj, who, at the same time, reports of a wind-power public auction framework and a new crypto-licensing regime aligned with EU rules as signals of a broader push toward modernization and EU convergence.

Albania’s post-election agenda is shifting into high gear, with a newly seated parliament pushing EU accession alignment and sector reforms, according to Lalaj & Partners Partner Sabina Lalaj, who says momentum is visible across key areas, from environmental legislation and SEPA integration to construction, real estate, and tourism.

Slovenia hasn’t seen many sweeping reforms lately, but a standout change, the amended Act on General Administrative Procedure, pushes hard on digitization and faster state processes, trimming deadlines and reshaping regulatory work, according to Fatur Menard Partner Lovro Jurgec, who also mentions a draft easing the Attorneys Act’s strict promotional limits and a fresh Pension Act overhaul.

Serbia is taking steps to curb illegal construction and boost corporate transparency, aiming to simplify property legalization and tighten oversight of company ownership, according to Injac Attorneys Managing Partner Nemanja Injac.

In North Macedonia, energy and infrastructure are dominant topics, with a new roadmap, looming deadlines, and a billion-euro project finally pushing long-stalled developments forward, according to Apostolska Aleksandrovski & Partners Partner Igor Aleksandrovski.

Turkiye’s tight credit and stalled megaprojects resulted in a slowdown in real estate and investment, but residential demand, M&A, and tech activity keep the market afloat ahead of a hoped-for 2026 rebound, according to Balcioglu Selcuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership Partner Ali Can Goren.

Romania’s sweeping tax changes in 2025, including higher VAT, dividend, and bank levies, have unsettled investors and slowed projects, yet the government hopes these measures will stabilize the budget and secure long-term growth, according to Vernon David Senior Partner Daniela David.

Bulgaria is undergoing a transformative period, with the euro transition, a fully operational FDI regime, the newly adopted Personal Insolvency Act, and major energy and infrastructure initiatives reshaping the legal and business landscape across multiple sectors, according to Wolf Theiss Partner Radosveta Kojuharova.

The Greek market is experiencing a wave of activity across multiple sectors, with M&A, energy, real estate, and startups all drawing strong investor interest, according to Drakopoulos Partner Petros Fragkiskos.

Slovenia is pursuing an ambitious reform agenda, from revamping its courts to attracting global talent and boosting investment opportunities – sending a clear message that it’s open, modern, and ready for business, according to Selih & Partnerji Partner Alen Savic.