Schoenherr has advised Nufarm Hungary on the lease for its new office headquarters in the Budapest One Office building from Futureal Prime Properties.

Brandl Talos has advised European climate technology-focused fund Climentum Capital on leading a EUR 4.5 million seed investment round for Fermify.

Redcliffe Partners has advised the EBRD on its up to USD 100 million secured loan to Ukrainian poultry and grain producer MHP.

CMS has helped Global Biomet obtain a license for a photovoltaic plant in its portfolio – the 100-megawatt AC capacity Aratiden project – before the Bulgarian State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.

Weinhold Legal has successfully represented the City of Kladno before the Czech Republic's Supreme Administrative Court in a dispute regarding the determination of the municipality's contribution to transport services on intercity bus routes.

Following two (2) years of uncertainty, at the behest of the Romanian Government, the Ministry for Finance published the draft Government Decision for the approval of procedures for the authorisation and/or registration of providers engaged in exchange services between virtual currencies and fiat currencies, as well as custodian wallet providers, on 12 May 2023. The Decision also included procedures for granting and withdrawing technical endorsements (the "Draft Decision").

Legislative updates across the board in Bosnia & Herzegovina – with talks of criminalizing defamation, introducing electronic money, and overhauling the renewable energy framework – keep lawyers talking, according to Nikolina Bajic, Attorney at Law in cooperation with BDK Advokati.

On May 22, 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported that Wolf Theiss, working with Milbank, had advised the initial purchasers and lenders on Salzburg-based Benteler Group’s capital market debut issuance and loans amounting to over EUR 2 billion. CEELM reached out to Wolf Theiss Partner Matthias Schimka to learn more about the matter.

Kochanski & Partners, working with Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, has advised the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on securing Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego's JPY 93 billion issuance of aid bonds for Ukraine. CMS reportedly advised BGK.

On May 22, 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported that Wolf Theiss, working with Milbank, had advised the initial purchasers and lenders on Salzburg-based Benteler Group’s capital market debut issuance and loans amounting to over EUR 2 billion. CEELM reached out to Wolf Theiss Partner Matthias Schimka to learn more about the matter.

Kochanski & Partners, working with Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, has advised the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on securing Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego's JPY 93 billion issuance of aid bonds for Ukraine. CMS reportedly advised BGK.

With the Communiqué on Principles Regarding Companies Whose Shares Will Be Traded on the Venture Capital Market [II-16.3] [“Communiqué”] published in the Official Gazette on 18.5.2023, the procedures and principles regarding the sale of non-public joint stock companies to qualified investors for trading in the stock exchange came into effect.

Lauras Butkevicius has joined Ellex’s Lithuanian office as a Partner.

Former IBM Associate Partner Marcela Kanova has returned to private practice by joining Rowan Legal as a Partner in Prague.

On 16 March 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) published its judgment on Towercast’s appeal against the French Competition Authority’s decision in Towercast’s case (Case No. C-449/21), confirming that abuse of dominance rules may equally apply ex post to transactions in which national and EU merger control thresholds were not met.

Former PwC Legal Attorney at Law Simon Baier has launched the eponymous SHB Law Office Simon Harald Baier.

The legal environment in the Czech Republic is currently undergoing significant changes, primarily focusing on the implementation of the NIS2 cybersecurity Directive, whistleblowing legislation, tax reform, and class actions, according to Rowan Legal Partner Josef Donat.

Dariusz Dobkowski has joined Kochanski & Partners as an Equity Partner, while Marek Krol joined the firm as a Partner. Markiyan Malskyy and Karol Polosak have been elevated to Equity Partners and Monika Mackowska-Morytz was appointed a Partner, while Managing Partner Piotr Kochanski will Head the firm’s Technology practice.

Savoric & Partners has advised Biochem Polska on its acquisition of Croatian wholesale medical equipment distributor Kvantum-Tim. Bradvica Maric Wahl Cesarec advised an unidentified private individual on the sale.

Cobalt has advised BaltCap on its acquisition of Senior Baltic from Orpea. Ellex advised the seller.

American actor Jim Belushi met with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss the Albanian government’s initiative to legalize cannabis and the possibilities of exporting this product for medical purposes.

Clifford Chance has successfully represented Mostostal Zabrze in an arbitration dispute before the Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris against Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions concerning the construction of the AEGIS Ashore system base in Redzikowo, Poland.

In Hungarian civil and commercial litigations, the second instance court reviews the case in camera, yet either party has the right to request an oral hearing in the appeal procedure. Is the second instance court bound by such a request? Is the failure to hold an oral hearing considered as a serious breach, based on which new procedure shall be conducted? We answer these questions by analysing recent decision of the Hungarian Supreme Court in this article.

Weinhold Legal has successfully represented the City of Kladno before the Czech Republic's Supreme Administrative Court in a dispute regarding the determination of the municipality's contribution to transport services on intercity bus routes.

Weinhold Legal has successfully represented the City of Kladno before the Czech Republic's Supreme Administrative Court in a dispute regarding the determination of the municipality's contribution to transport services on intercity bus routes.

Former PwC Legal Attorney at Law Simon Baier has launched the eponymous SHB Law Office Simon Harald Baier.

TGS Baltic has advised Estonian national postal service provider Eesti Post (Omniva) on its acquisition of assets – including a network of smart mailboxes and the related IP rights – from Parcelsea.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine is to resume work leading up to the grant of concession of three terminals of the Chornomorsk seaport, one of the largest seaports in Ukraine. In particular, the concession is to cover the first (cargo) terminal, the container terminal, and the fifth (railway and ferry) terminal.

Cobalt has represented Hundipea in multiple disputes related to the Paljassaare port and related water area before the Estonian Transport Administration, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and the Administrative Court.

Clifford Chance has advised Baltic Hub on the expansion and refinancing of its existing debt and the construction of the third deep-water sea container terminal in Gdansk.

Dentons has advised London-based venture capital fund Dawn Capital on leading the USD 35 million Series A round for Flowx.AI joined by Day One Capital, PortfoLion, and SeedBlink.

Dentons Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership has advised Revo Capital on its investment in FileOrbis.

Cobalt has advised Change Ventures on launching its EUR 20 million Fund III.

Integrites has been providing pro bono legal advice to the military personnel protecting Ukraine in the war against Russia, as well as to members of their families.

Ilyashev & Partners has provided pro bono legal support to the family of a fallen Ukraine's Armed Forces soldier in receiving UAH 15 million in financial compensation.

Ilyashev & Partners has advised the Ukrainian Red Cross, on a pro bono basis, regarding the development of a construction contract for the capital repair of the old building of the First Medical Union of Lviv’s clinic, on Mykolaichuka Street in Lviv, on the basis of which the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center was created.

E+H has advised EcoWind on the sale of the Steinberger Alpe wind farm and the Soboth wind turbine to Kelag in an international bidding process.

Wolf Theiss has advised the Sekyra Group on its forward sale of the Opatov II residential project to Dostupne Bydleni Ceske Sporitelny and the Vienna Insurance Group's Kooperativa Pojistovna.

Former White & Case Local Partner Tomas Scerba and Michal Hink – previously Dentons’ Czech Republic Managing Partner – have joined DLA Piper’s Prague office as Partners. Alongside the two, Leo Javorek also joined the firm as a Counsel.

The energy development strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2025 with projections until 2030, as well as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which is
currently being developed and adopted, foresee an increase in the share of energy obtained from renewable energy sources in the energy balance of the Republic of Serbia
as a strategic goal.

Significant changes are expected in the Hungarian tax system in the coming years, which could have a major impact on economic operators and individuals alike. As a result of the changes, the State is likely to lose significant revenues and the means to replace these revenues are not yet known.

Former Counsels Kateryna Tsvetkova and Oleksandr Melnyk have been promoted to Partner, while former Associate Viktoriia Bublichenko became a Counsel and Head of the Tax, Restructuring, Claims, and Recoveries practice at GoLaw in Kyiv.

Legislative updates across the board in Bosnia & Herzegovina – with talks of criminalizing defamation, introducing electronic money, and overhauling the renewable energy framework – keep lawyers talking, according to Nikolina Bajic, Attorney at Law in cooperation with BDK Advokati.

MFW Fialek has advised the Play Group on the full acquisition of internet, digital TV, and telecommunications company Syrion. MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj and ITB Legal Bazanski Grabiec advised the owners and management board of Syrion.

Former White & Case Local Partner Tomas Scerba and Michal Hink – previously Dentons’ Czech Republic Managing Partner – have joined DLA Piper’s Prague office as Partners. Alongside the two, Leo Javorek also joined the firm as a Counsel.

While allegations of corruption continue to make headlines in Austria, the Ministry of Justice responded in January with draft legislation on the Corruption Law Amendment Act 2023.

Former Senior Associates Audrius Slazinskas, Evaldas Petraitis, and Ruslan Boiko have been promoted to Associate Partners at Noor.

Looking ahead to 2023, white-collar crime is likely to be a subject of close scrutiny by local and EU authorities across CEE. CMS CEE Partner Nedeljko Velisavljevic, from Serbia, and CMS Head of the Criminal Defense Practice in Romania Mihai Jiganie-Serban explore the current context, latest developments, and outlook of white-collar crime practices in CEE.

E+H has advised EcoWind on the sale of the Steinberger Alpe wind farm and the Soboth wind turbine to Kelag in an international bidding process.

Wolf Theiss has advised the Sekyra Group on its forward sale of the Opatov II residential project to Dostupne Bydleni Ceske Sporitelny and the Vienna Insurance Group's Kooperativa Pojistovna.

MFW Fialek has advised the Play Group on the full acquisition of internet, digital TV, and telecommunications company Syrion. MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj and ITB Legal Bazanski Grabiec advised the owners and management board of Syrion.

Legislative updates across the board in Bosnia & Herzegovina – with talks of criminalizing defamation, introducing electronic money, and overhauling the renewable energy framework – keep lawyers talking, according to Nikolina Bajic, Attorney at Law in cooperation with BDK Advokati.

CMS has helped Global Biomet obtain a license for a photovoltaic plant in its portfolio – the 100-megawatt AC capacity Aratiden project – before the Bulgarian State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.

E+H has advised EcoWind on the sale of the Steinberger Alpe wind farm and the Soboth wind turbine to Kelag in an international bidding process.

Legislative updates across the board in Bosnia & Herzegovina – with talks of criminalizing defamation, introducing electronic money, and overhauling the renewable energy framework – keep lawyers talking, according to Nikolina Bajic, Attorney at Law in cooperation with BDK Advokati.

Zivkovic Samardzic has successfully defended the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) on appeal in a case filed by Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs – and former Director of the country's Security Information Agency – Bratislav Gasic.

Arzinger has successfully represented the interests of Lyudmyla Ivanivna Mayboroda before the European Court of Human Rights in the Mayboroda versus Ukraine case, on a pro bono basis.

Clifford Chance has successfully represented Mostostal Zabrze in an arbitration dispute before the Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris against Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions concerning the construction of the AEGIS Ashore system base in Redzikowo, Poland.

A significant number of landmark energy and infrastructure projects are currently materializing in North Macedonia, with foreign direct investment interest constantly growing as well, according to Veton Qoku, Partner and Attorney-at-Law in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners.

Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), designed to ensure an optimal balance between EU priorities and Romania's development needs, provides significant opportunities for the private sector to benefit from financing to build and/or consolidate infrastructure capacity.

On May 22, 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported that Wolf Theiss, working with Milbank, had advised the initial purchasers and lenders on Salzburg-based Benteler Group’s capital market debut issuance and loans amounting to over EUR 2 billion. CEELM reached out to Wolf Theiss Partner Matthias Schimka to learn more about the matter.

AP Legal has advised the Serbian Export Credit and Insurance Agency on the sale of an NPL portfolio to EOS Matrix.

Dariusz Dobkowski has joined Kochanski & Partners as an Equity Partner, while Marek Krol joined the firm as a Partner. Markiyan Malskyy and Karol Polosak have been elevated to Equity Partners and Monika Mackowska-Morytz was appointed a Partner, while Managing Partner Piotr Kochanski will Head the firm’s Technology practice.

Serbian Parliament is currently deciding on two laws of major importance for foreigners seeking job opportunities or establishing businesses in Serbia. The first proposal concerns the Law on Foreigners, and the second the amendments to the Law on Employment of Foreigners. These two legal acts form general criteria for entry, movement, stay, and return of foreigners, as well as the conditions and procedures for the employment of foreign citizens in the Republic of Serbia.

Former KNP Law Attorney at Law Abigel Sill has been promoted to a Partner position with the Budapest firm.

The new Law on Safety and Health at Work was published on April 29, 2023, in the Official Gazette of RS no. 35/23 and went into force on May 7, 2023. With the entry into force of the new law, it completely ceases to be valid the previous Law on Safety and Health at Work (“Official Gazette of RS”, nos. 101/2005, 91/2015 and 113/2017).