The Bank of Albania has introduced a new regulatory framework on marketing and advertising by financial institutions, significantly enhancing consumer protection and transparency in the financial sector. The changes, enacted through Decision No. 11, dated 5 February 2025, amend the Regulation “On Transparency for Banking and Financial Products and Services” and enter into force on 1 May 2025.

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), approved in 2019, takes effect on June 28, 2025. The Act requires a wide range of products and services – such as consumer electronics, vending machines, websites, and mobile apps – to meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities.

Freshfields has advised SMS group on its acquisition of the agglomeration and calcination technologies business from Metso. 

Herbst Kinsky has advised Wahl & Partner Management and Beteiligungs on the acquisition of Scheybal Matten Nach Mass. Jank Weiler Operenyi | Deloitte Legal advised the sellers, Scheybal.

Wolf Theiss has advised Raiffeisenbank Austria on its recent tender offer for outstanding notes and the successful issuance of new EUR 300 million ordinary senior eligible notes. Linklaters reportedly advised an international banking consortium that participated in the offering.

Contributed by Arzinger

The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures. 

Gecic Law has successfully represented Arena Channels Group, alongside BH Telecom and Mtel Banja Luka, in an antitrust dispute before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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 asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

Bulgaria’s energy sector has seen a wave of activity over the past year, spanning offshore oil and gas exploration, large-scale renewables, and battery storage projects, keeping CMS Sofia’s Energy, Projects, and Construction team at full speed, according to Partner Kostadin Sirleshtov. Backed by strong investor interest and a more stable regulatory environment, the sector’s upward trend looks set to continue into 2025.

Elena Stoilova-Dobreva has become a Co-Managing Partner at Tzvetkova & Partners and, as a result, the firm has changed its name to Tzvetkova, Tzvetkov & Dobreva.

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.

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.

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 asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

If you have received a Cease and Desist (C&D) letter, it usually means that you have violated someone else’s intellectual property rights. However, this may not necessarily be the case if you are doing business in Croatia.

Kocian, Solc, Balastik has advised Gridarch on the sale of a 110,000-square-meter land plot located within the Ostrava Airport Multimodal Park to EQT Exeter.

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.

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 asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

Lambadarios has advised the International Schools Partnership on its acquisition of Ellinogermaniki Agogi. 

Kyriakides Georgopoulos has advised Sirec Energy on its joint participation in Larissa Thermoelectric alongside Clavenia, DEPA Commercial, and Volton.

Lambadarios has advised the four systemic Greek banks Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, and the National Bank of Greece on the EUR 1.3 billion financing of the new Northern Road Axis of Crete. Marinos Petroulias advised the developer, GEK Terna.

Schoenherr has advised Bell Food Group on the sale of its Eisberg business units in Poland, Romania, and Hungary to Green Factory.

According to Jalsovszky Partner Tamas Feher, white-collar crime and commercial litigation have been the key growth areas for the firm's Dispute Resolution Practice over the past year, driven by shifts in tax authority behavior, legislative changes, and a more cautious business climate.

New amendments were implemented to the Hungarian Competition Act in 2024 and early 2025. Merger control proceedings increased by almost a third in 2024 compared to the previous year. The enforcement activity of the Hungarian Competition Authority (HCA) was also noteworthy, with the Hungarian watchdog imposing more fines for competition infringements than in the previous year, especially in cartel cases. In this article we explore recent legislative changes and enforcement trends, while highlighting what companies can expect for the rest of 2025.

TGS Baltic has advised Invego Latvia on its EUR 8 million secured bond issue, with the bonds now admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Baltic First North alternative market in Tallinn. Triniti reportedly acted as the collateral agent.

Walless has advised Saare Wind Energy on securing the seabed use rights for an offshore wind farm project in Estonia. 

Cobalt has advised Combiwood Grupp on its acquisition of Toftan from its existing shareholders Mattsbo Sag, Wigert Invest, Lars Lindgren Invest, Marnefeldt Invest, Investyno, Martin Arula, Jaanus Lehes, and Merli Randoja. Eversheds Sutherland and Vinge reportedly advised the sellers.

Kosovo is in political limbo after the February elections, with stalled government formation affecting key decisions, according to Ardian Rexha, an Attorney at Law associated with Deloitte Kosova. At the same time, energy reforms and price hikes by the regulator are causing strong reactions from businesses and the public.

Kosovo is accelerating its energy transition, SEPA integration, and corporate transparency, aligning with EU standards to boost investment, competition, and economic stability, according to Nallbani Law Office Managing Partner Delvina Nallbani.

On the evening of April 1, 2025, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, over 200 top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and General Counsel from across the region in Prague.

Cobalt has advised Luminor Bank as the sole lead manager on Altum's issuance of five-year bonds in the amount of EUR 70 million. 

On June 3, 2025, Sorainen announced that ICA Gruppen's sale of Rimi Baltic Group to Salling Group (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 12, 2025) has now closed.

Sorainen has successfully defended Nasdaq CSD SE in a dispute brought by AS Grindeks concerning the recovery of shareholder dividends. 

Former Ellex Partner Migle Petkeviciene has joined Sorainen as a Partner.

Sorainen has successfully advised Saferoad on obtaining Lithuanian Competition Council clearance for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Gatas.

On June 3, 2025, Sorainen announced that ICA Gruppen's sale of Rimi Baltic Group to Salling Group (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 12, 2025) has now closed.

In a progressive move towards formalising seasonal and occasional work, the Assembly of North Macedonia has adopted a groundbreaking law to regulate temporary employment across key sectors. This legislative development aims to streamline the hiring process for temporary workers while ensuring they receive essential social security benefits.

Starting from 29 May 2025 a new Energy Law starts to apply in North Macedonia. This new regulatory framework serves for transposition of the Clean Energy Package into the national legislation and introducing major novelties, such as new development process for energy generation and storage capacities, integration of e-mobility to the electricity grid, additional possibilities for development of natural gas and heating networks, etc.

On 14 May 2025, significant changes were made to North Macedonia’s personal data protection legislation. The Assembly of the Republic passed an amendment to expand the nations where personal data can be shared freely, without facing third-country transfer restrictions.

On 17 March 2025, a new Regulation of the Moldovan Competition Council (the "MCC") on Economic Concentrations (the "New EC Regulation") entered into force in Moldova (as secondary legislation). It introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing the enforcement of competition legislation and increasing transparency. The New EC Regulation transposes several European Union regulations, including the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/914 of 20 April 2023 and the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations 2023/C 160/01.

On 22 April 2025, Law No. 66/2025 on combating delayed performance of payment obligations in contracts between professionals or between professionals and public authorities was published ("Law No. 66").

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

PPPs represent a long-term collaboration between the public and private sectors, enabling more efficient construction, maintenance, and management of infrastructure, with an optimal distribution of risks and financial obligations.

The Draft Law on Mediation in the Sale and Lease of Real Estate, following public consultation in the summer of 2023, is expected to be submitted to Parliament for adoption shortly.

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised PKO Bank Polski on the financing of a 54-megawatt-peak portfolio of photovoltaic projects being developed by PVE Group.

Wardynski & Partners has advised Animex Holding on its acquisition of Pupil Foods from Fundacja Rodzinna Rodziny Suleckich. GKR Legal advised the seller.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has appointed Katarzyna Lukaszewicz as the new Co-Managing Partner of its Financial Regulatory Practice, alongside Partner Lukasz Gasinski.

Former Managing Associate Cosmin Pohaci has been promoted to Partner at Ijdelea & Associates.

From a kitchen-table startup in the wake of Romania’s 1990 revolution to one of the nation’s first full-service firms, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen marks its 35th anniversary this year. Founding Partner Ion Nestor together with newly-appointed Executive Partners Adina Chilim-Dumitriu and Emil Bivolaru talk about the firm's growth from two lawyers to more than 120.

Liviu Togan has rejoined Musat & Asociatii as a Partner.

Contributed by Clifford Chance.

Contributed by Alrud.

The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures. 

The Law on the Protection of Personal Data ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 87/2018) - hereinafter: "the Law", and following the example of the Regulation (EU) - 2016/679 - General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), introduced the term and consequently the function – Data Protection Officer ("DPO").

Serbia’s economy remains stable despite slower growth, with signs of renewed M&A activity, ongoing regulatory reforms, and progress in renewables and the capital market, according to Karanovic & Partners Partner Maja Jovancevic Setka.

BDK Advokati, working alongside Kvale, has advised Norway-based Entec Evotec on its acquisition of Fortaco Gruza. Advokatfirmaet Selmer reportedly advised the sellers.

Following the criticism of the current state of regulatory burden in The Future of European Competitiveness report by Mario Draghi (issued in September 2024) and in the Budapest Declaration by the European Council which called upon European Commission to reduce reporting requirements by at least 25 % in the first half of 2025 (issued in November 2024) the European Commission announced a series of so-called “Omnibus” simplification packages.

According to a preliminary legislative notice issued by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic and published on 15 May 2025, the Ministry is preparing a draft law on pay transparency.

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 asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

Slovenia’s dynamic political environment is keeping the legal market on its toes, with pressing developments in taxation, employment law, cybersecurity, capital markets, and infrastructure all demanding close attention, according to Peterka Partners Senior Associate and Head of Slovenian office Pia Florjancic Pozeg Vancas.

Sibincic, Novak & Partners and Doklestic, Repic & Gajin have advised Intersport ISI on its exit from the Serbian market via the sale of its stores to N Sport. Mrakovic, Markovic & Partners advised N Sport.

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is currently witnessing a substantial increase in the development of Class A office spaces. Over the next three years, the city is set to introduce more than 100,000 square meters of new Class A office spaces. These developments are characterized by modern designs and a strong emphasis on sustainability, aiming to achieve energy certifications that are crucial for ESG compliance.

Pekin & Pekin has advised Arda Turan on his recent appointment as Head Coach of Ukrainian club FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Former Akol Partner Tugce Tatari has joined Abdi Ibrahim Pharmaceuticals as its new Legal Director.

Stratulat Albulescu and Paksoy, working with Latham & Watkins, have advised Protective Industrial Products on the acquisition of Honeywell’s personal protective equipment business. EY Legal Romania and Simmons & Simmons reportedly advised the sellers.

On 2 May 2025, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine Regarding the Improvement of Legal Regulation of Certain Issues of Home-based and Remote Work" (the "Law") entered into force.

On 14 May 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Law No. 4434-IX, amending paragraph 19 of the “Final and Transitional Provisions” of the Civil Code of Ukraine regarding the resumption of the statute of limitations.

On 2 May 2025, the Law of Ukraine No. 4339-IX “On Amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine on Improving the Legal Regulation of Certain Issues of Home and Remote Work” (the “Law”) came into force. The Law is aimed at regulating issues related to sending home-based and remote employees on business trips and creating favourable conditions for parents whose children are studying remotely.