CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
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").
Dentons and its Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki have advised Grand Games on its USD 30 million series A led by Balderton Capital with participation from existing investors Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures. Kinstellar's Turkish affiliate KST Law advised Balderton. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised BEK Ventures.
Starting 1 January 2025, only citizens of Georgia and Armenia will be eligible for residence permits for the purpose of employment and guest worker residence permits. This marks a significant tightening of the previous rules, which allowed citizens of 10 countries to obtain guest worker residence permits and had no such restrictions for residence permits for the purpose of employment. Although these changes do not affect currently valid permits, the new rules will apply to all new permit issuances
CMS Poland has advised COBI and its founder on the sale of a 40% stake to private equity fund Resource Partners. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised Resource Partners.
On 13 December 2024, the new "Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on General Product Safety" ("GPSR") came into force.
Penteris has advised Summus Capital on the acquisition of the Lakeside office building in Warsaw from real estate developer Atenor. Schoenherr advised Erste Group Bank as the financing institution. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised Atenor.
Former Rymarz Zdort Maruta Partner Agnieszka Skorupinska has joined Baker McKenzie as a Partner in its International, Commercial and Trade practice. She will lead the firm's Warsaw-based sustainability and energy transition practice.
On 25 October 2024, new rules for the registration of inventions and utility models in Ukraine ("Rules") came into force. Pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine No. 23301 dated 9 September 2024, the Rules set out the requirements for the drafting, filing and examining of an invention and utility model applications.
Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised DFDS on its acquisition of Ekol Transport and the international transport network connecting Turkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics and individual sellers led by founder Ahmet Musul. Caliskan Okkan Toker reportedly advised the sellers.
Nechala and Partners has advised Heimo Wallisch on the sale of Easys to BizLink Group. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised BizLink.
Deloitte Legal has advised Bank Pekao on financing to an MCI Capital portfolio company for the acquisition of a 55% stake in NTFY - Nice To Fit You. Baker McKenzie advised the founders of Nice to Fit You Sebastian Rabiej and Radoslaw Jezak. Dubinski Jelenski Masiarz i Wspolnicy reportedly advised MCI Capital.
Greenberg Traurig has advised two shareholders of Elektromontaz-Poznan – Pawel Gricuk and Artur Cakala – on the sale of their shares to Spie Group. Baker McKenzie advised Spie Group.
Baker McKenzie has advised Emirates NBD Bank, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Bank J.P. Morgan Securities, and Merrill Lynch International as joint bookrunners on Zorlu Enerji's USD 800 million debut Rule 144A/Reg S senior guaranteed sustainability-linked notes issuance. White & Case and its Turkish affiliate GKC Partners advised Zorly Enerji.
SSW, working with K&L Gates Volckrick Luxembourg, has advised a group of minority shareholders of Zabka Group on issues related to the public offering of Zabka. Reportedly, Greenberg Traurig, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Elvinger Hoss Prussen advised the shareholders of Zabka as well. Baker McKenzie and Allen Overy Shearman Sterling reportedly advised the managers.
Former Baker McKenzie Senior Associate Katerina Schenkova has joined Thyssenkrupp as its new Regional Compliance Officer.
Greenberg Traurig has advised Nrep on the acquisition of a plot of land in the Bielany district of Warsaw and a development agreement with White Stone Development for the construction of a building. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised White Stone Development.
Baker McKenzie has advised MHP on its acquisition of KTL Ukraine Group from Ihor Khokhlov, Andriy Kuzmin, and Serhii Kocherhin.
Baker McKenzie has advised Bank Pekao on the issuance of EUR 500 million 4.00% senior non-preferred Eurobonds due 2030 under its EMTN program established in November 2023. Clifford Chance reportedly advised JP Morgan on the deal.
Baker McKenzie brings insight and foresight to clients across more than 70 global offices. Our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers, works alongside our clients to drive growth that is both sustainable – and inclusive. The global business community is more interconnected than ever before. Opportunities and risks spill across different markets, sectors and areas of law, so a connected perspective is essential in delivering business objectives while mitigating risk. Our integrated client solutions provide seamless advice, underpinned by deep practice and sector expertise, as well as first-rate local market knowledge.
In the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, Baker McKenzie's expansion remains steadfast, with a thriving team of over legal professionals. Our footprint extends across six offices in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Türkiye, and Ukraine. As part of our global network, coupled with well-established partnerships throughout the entire CEE landscape, we proudly stand as one of the foremost international law firms in this dynamic territory. Our reputation as a premier business law firm in CEE is a testament to our extensive experience in advising on a multitude of prestigious projects and nurturing enduring client relationships.