The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is a central component of the EU’s Digital Finance Package. The aim is to enhance information and communications technology (ICT) security and digital operational resilience in the financial sector. Financial institutions and ICT service providers have until January 17, 2025, to fully implement the requirements.

On 1 March 2025, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Work" dated 15 January 2025 No. 4219-IX ("Law") came into force, aiming to create conditions for the exercise of the right to work for persons with disabilities.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos, working with Baker McKenzie, has advised Atlas Tapes on the acquisition of 100% of the paid-up share capital of PPM Industries Group from Auctus Capital Partners and the CEO of the PPM Industries group Matteo Pellegrini. Advant Nctm reportedly advised Auctus Capital Partners. PedersoliGattai reportedly advised PPM Industries and Matteo Pellegrini while Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati reportedly advised Matteo Pellegrini.

Baker McKenzie has advised Burgenland Energie Group on structuring and implementing a EUR 1.3 billion portfolio project financing for renewable energy expansion. Binder Groesswang, working with Hogan Lovells, advised the banks.

Freshfields has advised Midea Group subsidiary Midea Electrics Netherlands on its EUR 750 million acquisition of the climate division from Arbonia AG. BDK Advokati advised Midea on the local aspects of the acquisition of Serbian company Termovent, as part of the broader transaction. Baker McKenzie advised Arbonia.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised BEST on its merger with Kredyt Inkaso. Baker McKenzie advised Kredyt Inkaso. Clifford Chance advised Kredyt Inkaso majority shareholder Waterland Private Equity.

Hungary was one of the quickest in the EU to begin implementing Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2) and one of those few EU member states that met the deadline for implementation. Nevertheless, the Hungarian NIS2 implementation is still incomplete, and the current implementing laws have caused some practical and interpretational issues for various companies.

Acar & Ergonen has advised Tims Group, Tims Production, and Timur Savci on the acquisition of Yargici from GB Retail Investments Holding. Baker McKenzie's affiliate law firm Esin Attorney Partnership advised the sellers.

Baker McKenzie has advised Dertour Group on its acquisition of the Hotelplan Group, with the exception of Interhome, which is being acquired by the HomeToGo Group. Bar & Karrer reportedly advised the seller – Migros.

Digital transformation has become a priority for all major companies. This is being driven only further by the spread of artificial intelligence's commercial use cases and ever-tightening data protection and cybersecurity regulations. However, procuring enterprise software (concerning both the development of custom-made software and "off-the-shelf" software developed for mass use) may give rise to various legal issues. Promptly identifying and addressing these issues can help prevent considerable legal and operational expenses, as well as other inconveniences.

Schoenherr, working with Argo, has advised Group Vandamme on the sale of its Hungarian activities to ADM. Baker McKenzie advised the buyer.

Greenberg Traurig has advised Diagnostyka on its initial public offering and admission to trading on the regulated market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. White & Case advised the underwriters. Baker McKenzie advised Diagnostyka's majority shareholder Mid Europa.

The Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products ("ACAA") is an intermediary step for Ukraine to benefit from the mutual recognition of product quality between the EU and Ukraine until our country becomes a full EU Member State.

The AI Act introduces a comprehensive legal framework for companies dealing with AI systems in the EU. From 2 February 2025, companies subject to the regulation must take steps to ensure AI literacy and ensure that no prohibited AI practices are used. Non-compliance could lead to substantial fines.

In our Looking In series, we talk to Partners from outside CEE who are keeping an eye on the region (and often pop up in our deal ticker) to learn how they perceive CEE markets and their evolution. For this issue, we sat down with Baker McKenzie Stockholm Partner and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee Anders Fast.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around we turn our attention to setting up new practices and ask: When launching a new practice, what is your go-to strategy – do you look at internal team members to spearhead it, or are you more likely to turn to lateral hires? Why?

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised a consortium of Polish banks including BNP Paribas Bank Polska and mBank on a PLN 321 million (approximately EUR 69 million) financing facility provided to R.Power. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised R.Power.

On 19 December 2024, Ukraine experienced one of the largest cyberattacks on its public registers launched by the Russian Federation. Among the many targeted registers was the State Register of Property Rights to Real Estate ("Real Estate Register").