DLA Piper has advised the EBRD on its financing for the expansion of Resi4Rent's subscription housing portfolio in Poland.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As key steps, requirements, and timeline for becoming a Partner may vary from firm to firm, this time we asked: Does your firm have a formal Partnership Track and if yes, what does it involve?

Does your business produce computers or other electronic or electrical equipment? Maybe you make machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical devices or food? Do you have 50 or more employees? Then your company is likely to be subject to the new cybersecurity regulations. The same applies if your activities are in the chemical industry or you provide a variety of digital services – for instance cloud computing, data centre services or online marketplaces.

On 22 March 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for the Green Claims Directive. The new directive aims at filling the legislative gap that has been enabling the practice of greenwashing and it is therefore intended to complement as lex specialis the existing set of EU rules on consumer protection.

Radzikowski Szubielska i Wspolnicy has advised Orlen Wind 3 on the full acquisition of three operating wind farms with a total capacity of 142 megawatts from EDP Renewables Polska. DLA Piper advised EDP.

DLA Piper has advised Erste Group Bank on S Immo’s EUR 75 million green bond issuance under its EUR 300 million issuance program. Cerha Hempel reportedly advised S Immo.

Schoenherr, working alongside Jones Day, has advised GfK SE on the EUR 315 million sale of its European Consumer Panel business to YouGov. DLA Piper advised YouGov.

Wolf Theiss has advised joint lead managers and bookrunners Raiffeisen Bank International and MM Warburg on the subscription and placement of UBM Development's EUR 50 million issuance of 7% green bonds. DLA Piper advised the issuer.

DLA Piper has advised ONDE on its sale of two photovoltaic power plants in Gizycko with a total capacity of 18 megawatts to Engie Zielona Energia in a share deal for all shares in Cyranka. Dentons advised Engie on the acquisition.

DLA Piper has advised Bracia Sadownicy and its founders on joining forces with minority investor Syntaxis Capital – providing a mezzanine loan – to acquire Victoria Cymes. Grant Thornton advised both the buyer and the investor on due diligence for the target. CMS reportedly advised Syntaxis Capital.

Schoenherr has advised DDM Holding on the acquisition of a non-performing loan portfolio with a face value of over EUR 1 billion from Intrum. DLA Piper advised Intrum on the sale and its exit from the Romanian market.

The Czech government is introducing new requirements and obligations for payment service providers based on the latest EU legislation. The new rules are expected to take effect from January 2024 and the legislative process is underway.

Investment firms, which operate in financial markets and provide investment services to third parties, were subject to the same organizational regulations as credit institutions, despite their different business and risk profiles. Their activities are regulated by MiFID II, which was transposed by the Austrian Securities Supervision Act 2018.

In today’s global economy, credit institutions play a critical role in providing financial services to individuals, businesses, and governments. However, the failure of a credit institution may result in far-reaching consequences, as we have recently seen with banking crises in Switzerland, the US, and, potentially, Europe.

Harrisons, working with DLA Piper UK, has advised the EBRD on its EUR 82 million loan to state-owned electricity company Elektroprivreda Crne Gore and Green Gvozd – a special-purpose vehicle to be fully acquired by EPCG – for the construction of a new 55-megawatt onshore wind farm in Montenegro.

DLA Piper has advised the Phoenix group on its joint venture with Econergy resulting in a EUR 150 million investment by the Phoenix group in renewable energy projects in Romania and Poland. Vlasceanu & Partners advised Econergy.

Lawyers are keeping busy with new legislation, dispute resolution, and technology work in Hungary, while transactional work and FDIs show a marked slowdown, according to DLA Piper Hungary Country Managing Partner Andras Posztl.

In recent years, the major development in Hungary’s banking system is the establishment of the country’s superbank through the merger of Budapest Bank, MKB Bank, and the Takarek Group. DLA Piper Partner Andras Nemescsoi, Forgo Damjanovic & Partners Managing Partner Gabor Damjanovic, and Jalsovszky Law Firm Managing Partner Pal Jalsovszky share insights into the driving forces behind this development, its current status, and its anticipated impact on Hungary’s banking sector.