CMS has advised Bonafarm Group on its acquisition of a 97.57% stake in FrieslandCampina Romania from Royal FrieslandCampina.

Kinstellar has advised East Grain on its acquisition of a 90% stake in Maragro Group.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia recently adopted a Decree on Additional Requirements for Placing on the Market Products Containing Palm Oil, Palm Fat, or Other Vegetable Oils and Fats ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 47/2025), which entered into force on 7 June 2025 (“the Decree”).

Fort Legal has successfully advised Bondea on obtaining a crowdfunding license from the Bank of Lithuania.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised the Tasuleasa Social Association on the legislative process leading to the adoption of the Long-Distance Hiking Trail Law in Romania. Reff & Asociatii | Deloitte Legal reportedly advised the Tasuleasa Social Association as well.

Fort Legal has advised Axiology on obtaining a license enabling the company to operate as a depository, exchange, and broker in Lithuania.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on a EUR 30 million unfunded portfolio risk-sharing facility with Ukrsibbank.

Dentons has advised the Board of Directors of Purcari Wineries on the RON 604 million public takeover bid launched by Maspex Romania. Schoenherr advised the founders of the winery. CMS, working with Turcan Cazac and Georgiades & Pelides, advised Maspex. Norton Rose Fulbright advised PKO Bank Polski on a loan facility to Maspex Romania to support the acquisition.

Fort Legal has successfully advised Bondea on obtaining a crowdfunding license from the Bank of Lithuania.

Dentons has advised the Board of Directors of Purcari Wineries on the RON 604 million public takeover bid launched by Maspex Romania. Schoenherr advised the founders of the winery. CMS, working with Turcan Cazac and Georgiades & Pelides, advised Maspex. Norton Rose Fulbright advised PKO Bank Polski on a loan facility to Maspex Romania to support the acquisition.

Fort Legal has successfully advised Bondea on obtaining a crowdfunding license from the Bank of Lithuania.

Bernitsas has advised Metlen Energy & Metals on its dual listing on the London Stock Exchange and the Athens Stock Exchange.

As a follow-up to the piece I previously published on CEELM – FDI Is 4.52x Cooler Than Merger Control – Romania’s latest guidelines on investments’ screening brings important clarifications to an already far-reaching regime.

The end of July brings much-anticipated news, as the FDI Guidelines were published on 30 July and have now entered into force. We previously examined the draft Guidelines proposed by the authority back in February (see here) and are now analysing the changes introduced by lawmakers in the final version that are particularly relevant for practitioners.

On 11 July 2025, Governmental Decision 437/2025 ("GD 437/2025") was published and entered into force. Through this piece of secondary legislation, the Moldovan Government has approved new rules governing the procedure for the prior examination and approval of investments of importance to state security. GD 437/2025 is intended to supplement the provisions of the recently updated FDI Law. But will this actually make things easier for existing and future investors?

Damla Aygun Yararca has become the Senior Director, Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality at Novo Nordisk Turkiye.

In a significant development for the personal data protection landscape in Albania, the Council of Ministers has adopted Decision No. 347, dated 19 June 2025, establishing a new state database titled “Electronic Registry of Data Protection Officers” (DPO Registry). This marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to align its data governance infrastructure with international and European standards, in line with the newly reformed legal framework on personal data protection.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

Dentons has advised the Board of Directors of Purcari Wineries on the RON 604 million public takeover bid launched by Maspex Romania. Schoenherr advised the founders of the winery. CMS, working with Turcan Cazac and Georgiades & Pelides, advised Maspex. Norton Rose Fulbright advised PKO Bank Polski on a loan facility to Maspex Romania to support the acquisition.

Dimitrov Petrov & Co has advised DHH on the acquisition of the remaining 40% stake in Evolink for a transaction value of over EUR 2.2 million.

Dorda, working with Heuking and Goerg, has advised German investor DRS Investment on its acquisition of a majority stake in Aurena. Brandl Talos, working with Ego Humrich Wyen, advised Aurena founder Karl Kuehberger.

European industry is going through a period of fundamental change. Rising (not only) energy costs, the pressure of global competition and, above all, new public expectations and the requirements of EU environmental regulation. All of these factors are putting pressure on the current EU industrial environment, which is looking for new ways to optimise production processes, reduce costs and meet regulatory obligations.

Cobalt has advised Stargate Hydrogen on a partnership with Respol, including Repsol’s venture capital fund acquiring a minority stake in the company.

Leroy si Asociatii has advised Vinci Energies on its agreement to acquire EnergoBit Group. PwC’s Romanian affiliate D&B David and Baias reportedly advised the founders of EnergoBit.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Havel & Partners has advised Arriva on a purchase agreement with Skoda Transportation for the delivery of 22 new railway units.

White & Case has successfully represented the State of Georgia in a dispute concerning the Anaklia Port project, with an ICSID tribunal’s unanimous dismissal of claims filed by Dutch businessman Bob Meijer under the Georgia-Netherlands BIT.

Law Office Zornada and Law Office Krehic have jointly advised Croatia Osiguranje on two related transactions carried out with Adris Grupa, including the sale of a minority shareholding in Professio Energia, listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange, and the acquisition of a minority stake in Sava Re, an insurance company listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

SK&S has advised Intrum AB on its recapitalization transaction through which it restructured approximately EUR 4.48 billion in financial indebtedness.

The adoption of The Personal Bankruptcy Act ( the“Act“), published in the State Gazette, issue 54 of July 4, 2025, marks a significant milestone in the development of Bulgarian law. This legislative act fills a long-standing gap in the national legal framework, as Bulgaria was until recently the only European Union member state without comprehensive personal insolvency legislation. This lack has led to serious social and economic difficulties for citizens burdened with unmanageable debts, who often find themselves in a permanent state of inability to repay them.

Avellum and Hillmont Partners have successfully defended Argentem Creek Partners and Innovatus Capital Partners in a bankruptcy dispute against GNT Group member Olimpex Coupe International before Ukraine’s Supreme Court.

This summer, the Albanian National Assembly adopted a significant package of amendments to the Law on Foreigners, signalling a clear shift toward aligning national migration rules with key EU directives. While the legal changes are substantial, their purpose is broader: to simplify how Albania governs entry, residence, and work rights for foreign nationals, especially those from the European Union. The reform reflects both Albania’s political will to approximate the EU acquis and a growing recognition that the country must adapt to new demographic, labour, and mobility dynamics. While the amendments cover a wide range of areas, we highlight below the provisions most likely to impact foreign nationals and their interactions with Albanian institutions.

The adoption of The Personal Bankruptcy Act ( the“Act“), published in the State Gazette, issue 54 of July 4, 2025, marks a significant milestone in the development of Bulgarian law. This legislative act fills a long-standing gap in the national legal framework, as Bulgaria was until recently the only European Union member state without comprehensive personal insolvency legislation. This lack has led to serious social and economic difficulties for citizens burdened with unmanageable debts, who often find themselves in a permanent state of inability to repay them.

Although Serbia’s Labor Law has remained unchanged for years, adjacent legislative developments reflect how employers are adapting to evolving workplace realities. Two such areas, work from home and labor shortages, have been addressed through the new Law on Safety and Health at Work and updated regulations on employing foreign nationals, both adopted in 2023. These developments indicate a gradual but meaningful adjustment in regulatory priorities in response to practical challenges faced by employers.

Brandl Talos has advised Vienna-based biotech company Resonate Bio on its spin-off from the University of Vienna. 

Damla Aygun Yararca has become the Senior Director, Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality at Novo Nordisk Turkiye.

NKO Partners has advised Sopharma on its full acquisition of Pharmanova. Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners advised Pharmanova.

White & Case has successfully represented the State of Georgia in a dispute concerning the Anaklia Port project, with an ICSID tribunal’s unanimous dismissal of claims filed by Dutch businessman Bob Meijer under the Georgia-Netherlands BIT.

Avellum and Hillmont Partners have successfully defended Argentem Creek Partners and Innovatus Capital Partners in a bankruptcy dispute against GNT Group member Olimpex Coupe International before Ukraine’s Supreme Court.

Properly defined, provisional measures are awards or orders issued for the purpose of protecting one or both parties from the potential damage during the court process. Most often, provisional measures are intended to preserve a factual or legal situation in order to safeguard a right, the recognition of which is sought from the court having jurisdiction over the substance of the case. Additionally, provisional measures can extend beyond merely preserving the factual or legal status quo to require restoring a previous state of affairs or taking new actions.

Law office Zornada has advised DDL Zagreb and its shareholders on the sale of a majority shareholding in the company to Neftys Pharma. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and ODI Law advised Neftys Pharma.

SRC has advised MLP Group on the lease of 24,000 square meters of warehouse space to Sarantis Poland within the MLP Pruszkow II logistics park near Warsaw.

SSW has advised Eika Asset Management on securing financing from Santander Bank Polska for the development of a logistics facility in Sochaczew, Poland. DLA Piper reportedly advised Santander Bank Polska.

Pohla & Hallmagi, working with Wikborg Rein, has advised Marine Energy Solutions on its acquisition of the PRIME oil tanker. Reed Smith reportedly advised the unidentified sellers.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Ellex has advised early-stage investors Superangel and Specialist VC on their participation in Lightyear’s USD 23 million Series B funding round led by NordicNinja.

Schoenherr, working with Sidley Austin, has advised Preservation Capital Partners on the sale of its majority stake in Hanseatic Broking Center to Bridgepoint. Kirkland & Ellis advised Bridgepoint.

Cobalt has advised Stargate Hydrogen on a partnership with Respol, including Repsol’s venture capital fund acquiring a minority stake in the company.

Pekin & Pekin has provided pro bono advice to Fenerbahce SK, Fenerium, Fenerbahce Futbol on its partnership with Adidas.

Sayenko Kharenko has provided pro bono support for a cultural initiative that aims to set war-time poems, written by Ukrainian defenders, to music. 

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos has advised the Ioannou Family and Donkey Hotels & Resorts on their partnership with funds managed by Azora Gestion.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised Oschadbank as the coordinating bank of a consortium of Ukrainian state-owned banks in securing ownership of BFC Gulliver. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan reportedly advised Oschadbank as well.

SKJB Szybkowski Kuzma Jelen Brzoza-Ostrowska has advised Polish industrial real estate developer 7R on the sale of 7R BTS Bielsko-Biala West I, a 20,000-square-meter warehouse fully leased to Aluprof, to Accolade through a joint venture with Conseq. Norton Rose Fulbright advised Accolade.

Octavian Ionascu has joined DLA Piper's Romania office as a Tax Director.

The Hungarian Parliament adopted a tax package in June, amending the Financial Transaction Tax Act to close existing loopholes and ensure that all market participants are subject to the tax.

Integrites has joined the Diia City Union as a legal partner, aligning itself with the professional association of resident companies within Ukraine’s Diia.City legal and tax framework.

Dimitrov Petrov & Co has advised DHH on the acquisition of the remaining 40% stake in Evolink for a transaction value of over EUR 2.2 million.

Dorda, working with Heuking and Goerg, has advised German investor DRS Investment on its acquisition of a majority stake in Aurena. Brandl Talos, working with Ego Humrich Wyen, advised Aurena founder Karl Kuehberger.

Ellex has advised early-stage investors Superangel and Specialist VC on their participation in Lightyear’s USD 23 million Series B funding round led by NordicNinja.

Anagnostopoulos has successfully represented a former director of Werfen Hellas before the Athens Criminal Court, which cleared the defendant of healthcare fraud charges related to product pricing practices for healthcare organizations.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners has promoted George Alexandris to Partner.