As Lexpo – The Legal Innovation Event returns in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, showcasing the latest trends in legal innovation in Continental Europe, CEELM spoke with Dentons Europe Director of Innovation and Member of Lexpo's Advisory Board Andrea Miskolczi to gain an insight into the current state of technology and innovation in CEE, and what the event's attendees have to look forward to.

Austria-based Helml Rechtsanwaelte has become part of Los Angeles-based Aliant Law.

Former Schwarz Schoenherr Partner Thomas Adocker has joined Taylor Wessing in Vienna as a Partner.

The Koutalidis law firm has advised the National Bank of Greece on the dual listing of Austrian company Austriacard Holdings on the Athens Exchange and the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Herbst Kinsky has advised Mangrove Capital Partners on leading a EUR 6 million series-A financing round for accounting automation company Finmatics.

Wolf Theiss, working with Freshfields’ Frankfurt office, has advised Alpen Glasfaser on a EUR 417.5 million financing from a consortium including UniCredit Bank Austria, KfW IPEX-Bank, La Banque Postale, Erste Group Bank, Natixis, and Hypo NOE. Binder Groesswang, working with Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office, advised the banks.

CMS has advised the Alpla Group on establishing a pharmaceutical packaging market joint venture with Spain's Inden Pharma.

Schoenherr has advised joint lead managers Danske Bank, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, Erste Group Bank, Natixis, Raiffeisen Bank International, and UniCredit Bank on the EUR 500 million issuance by Volksbank Wien of 4.750% green ordinary senior eligible notes due March 2027. Wolf Theiss advised Volksbank Wien.

The first article in this series looked at the background to energy crisis law and its implication for the proposed single market emergency instrument (SMEI) (for further details, see "Insight into regulatory crisis instruments to solve crises in European Union").

E+H, working with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has advised Solenis on its acquisition of Diversey Holdings.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, only seven lawyers have worked on more than one reported Austrian real estate deal over the past 12 months?

Schoenherr has advised OMV on establishing a geothermal energy joint venture with Wien Energie. Schima Mayer Starlinger reportedly advised Wien Energie.

Cerha Hempel has advised Raiffeisen Immobilien KAG on its acquisition of a business center in Kirchberg am Wagram, Lower Austria, for the R320 special real estate fund. Weik Attorneys-at-Law reportedly advised the seller.

CMS has advised DPE Deutsche Private Equity on the sale of its stake in the VTU Group to winning bidder Altor Fonds. Milbank and E+H advised Altor Fonds.

CMS has advised Swiss ABB E-mobility AG on its Series A investment into Austrian property technology company Payuca. KPMG Law advised Payuca.

Schoenherr, working with Travers Smith and Roschier, has advised Inflexion on the acquisition of a majority stake in European financial technology company Nomentia from PSG Equity and Verdane.

BPV Huegel, working with Linklaters, has advised the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 4 on the sale of its Energie Steiermark stake to the Province of Styria for EUR 525 million. DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich and, reportedly, Schiefer Rechtsanwaelte advised the Province of Styria.

A decade ago, Austrian law firms stood out in terms of their regional presence in CEE. Wolf Theiss Partner Claus Schneider and CMS Managing Partner Johannes Juranek share insights into the growth trajectory of these regional law firms and the current landscape of the Austrian legal market.