CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
The private healthcare sector across CEE has been expanding at a remarkable pace, reshaping the way people access and experience medical care.
Did you know that corporate bonds in Moldova are unlocking a financial transformation, raising millions for businesses, and opening doors for investors? For years, Moldova’s capital markets have been characterized by limited activity, primarily consisting of equity securities and government bonds. The emergence of corporate bonds marks a significant turning point, signaling a transformation in the country`s financial ecosystem. Recent regulatory reforms and successful stories of bond issuances are redefining the market, creating new investment opportunities for market participants.
ACI Partners Legal Manager Carolina Parcalab talks about competition in Moldova in 2025.
Over the past few years, the gaming sector has been thriving in CEE. Kinstellar Partner Milan Samardzic, Rowan Legal Partner Milos Olik, ACI Partners Head of Fintech and E-Payments Nicolina Turcan, and Linklaters Warsaw Associate Aleksandra Czubek explore how CEE jurisdictions are driving the industry forward and unlocking new potential.
Bad faith trademark registrations in Moldova can pose certain challenges for foreign companies in the country. Understanding the implications of bad faith trademark registrations in Moldova is crucial for businesses looking to protect their intellectual property.
On January 16, 2025, competition experts from Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania, sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the evolving role of the regulatory authorities in their countries.
The question of who owns intellectual property (IP) rights in the workplace has gained significant relevance, especially given that employees are involved in extensive creative activity nowadays. The Moldovan legal framework has well-defined rules on this subject, providing insight into the important question: who holds the rights over the creations, inventions, industrial designs, and utility models created by employees?
Labor shortages have emerged as a pressing issue across CEE, prompting diverse responses from governments, businesses, and the public as they navigate the challenges of workforce gaps and economic sustainability.
The topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has lately become an actual and increasingly important aspect in Moldovan law. Until recently scarcely regulated, the activity involving GMOs was subject to significant legal loopholes. This led to the inherent risk pertaining to GMOs being difficult to control, especially with agriculture playing an important role in the national economy.
ACI Partners Managing Partner Igor Odobescu, Nagy es Trocsanyi Founding Partner Peter Nagy, Kinstellar Partner Radovan Grbovic, Law Office Vujacic Partner Sasa Vujacic, and Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Robert Rosu discuss recent litigation trends across CEE, driven by the impact of economic shifts and regulatory changes in their jurisdictions.
In a detailed discussion on Moldova’s evolving fintech sector, ACI Partners Head of Fintech and E-Payments Nicolina Turcan highlights significant progress, largely driven by technological advancements, cross-border market integration, and the country's need to align its regulatory framework with EU regulations and directives and adjust its payment infrastructure.
This legislative monitoring report covers the introduction of new rules regulating public procurement in international relations, the adoption of the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and EFTA member states, the introduction of new rules regulating trademarks from 2027, the adoption of the regulation on audiovisual content. The document also provides for the approval of the regulation on the environmental management of mercury waste, the adoption of the law on hunting and the protection of game resources, the implementation of the national programme for the development of creative industries "Creative Moldova" for the years 2024-2027, as well as the optimisation of the use of industrial parks.
ACI Partners' Competition practice is busier than ever in Moldova, according to Legal Manager Carolina Parcalab, who points to transactions, Competition Council investigations, and competition law educational initiatives as their primary work sources.
Contributed by Aci Partners.
This Section includes information on legal acts implementing new rules or amendments, published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Moldova, referring to corporate, employment, social, taxation, customs, environment, and other matters. This Section also includes draft legislation of any direct or indirect relevance to the Company; as well as the temporary legislative measures approved pursuant to the state of emergency in the Republic of Moldova.
Moldova faces significant challenges in terms of insolvency in the future. In exploring the factors influencing this area of law, we examine the current state of affairs, anticipate trends, and look at how legal practitioners are gearing up to meet the expected rise in demand. Let’s break down the key points.
By Decision No. 361 dated 24 November 2023, the Parliament decided to extend the emergency state on the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova for 30 days, starting on 1 December 2023.
ACI Partners is a leading law firm in Moldova with an expanding network of partners throughout Europe. ACI Partners was established in 2006 and since then has managed to build a very strong and competitive legal practice. Our business strategy strives to deliver a solid and reliable service, going beyond merely grasping the law, which the clients may turn to whenever they need. In reaching this goal, ACI Partners employs a personalized approach to each client, showing a genuine respect for their values and unqualified commitment to their interests and needs, steadily investing in knowledge and data management and ensuring a working environment consistent with our clients’ quality demands and high expectations.
ACI Partners is a one-stop shop law firm proficient in all possible legal matters a business might come across in Moldova, starting with incorporation of a business, and obtaining of all the necessary regulatory permits, continuing with various daily matters, such as contracts, labor, and migration, and finishing with dispute settlement, insolvencies, and criminal investigations. But we pride ourselves especially for our unmatched expertise in most innovative and complex areas for Moldova, as Modern Financial Products, Data Protection, Renewable Energy, Competition, Clinical Studies, Public Procurement, and Regulatory. In our work, we always involve a team of professionals with the relevant skill-mix, which enables us to provide our clients with an integrated and comprehensive advice, superior to our competitors.
ACI Partners has advised the Government of the Republic of Moldova, businesses, international organizations, and other institutions on most challenging transactions, assignments and projects.
ACI Partners is not just another law firm. Over the course of our existence and working in Moldova, and on the international stage for our non-Moldovan clients, we have developed a strong set of core values which, we believe, guide us in everything that we do and, moreover, gives us a competitive advantage – differentiating us from other firms on the market.