Kinstellar has advised the majority shareholders of Agrotex on the sale of a significant stake to Promat Comimpex. PNSA reportedly advised Promat Comimpex.

A recent legislative amendment to Law no. 17/2014, concerning certain measures regulating the sale of extra muros agricultural land, which also amends Law no. 268/2001 on the privatisation of companies managing public and private state-owned agricultural land and the establishment of the State Domains Agency (“Law 17”), has been proposed in the Romanian Senate. This amendment aims to introduce a new category of pre-emptors: owners of land adjoining extra muros arable land, regardless of the location within or outside city limits and regardless of the land use category.

CMS has advised Alcedo on its acquisition of Naturevo Romania.

Zepos & Yannopoulos has advised UCI Greece Credit and Loans Receivables Servicing Company on the renewal of the company’s operating license by the Bank of Greece.

CMS has advised OMV Offshore Bulgaria on the permit transfer procedure with the Bulgarian Government and the issuance of a force majeure certificate by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Han Asparuh 1-21 offshore block.

Glatzova & Co has helped Pale Fire Capital obtain a license from the Czech National Bank for an investment company authorized to exceed the so-called "decisive limit."

A&O Shearman has advised Polenergia on the PLN 116.5 million financing of the 47-megawatt Szprotawa 1 photovoltaic farm from mBank and Bank Pekao. KLBF Kycia Legal reportedly advised the banks.

MFW Fialek has advised Langmedia and Tutore Poland on PLN 61.2 million financing from mBank for the buyout of minority shareholders of LangMedia. Gide advised mBank.

Taylor Wessing has advised PKO Bank Polski on the financing provided to Panattoni for the development of Panattoni Park Zgierz. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised Panattoni.

Schoenherr has advised Vehis Finanse on two public offerings of debt securities.

CK Legal Chabasiewicz Kowalska has advised PragmaGO on the issue of series C4 bonds with a total nominal value of PLN 30 million with a 67.56% subscription reduction.

DZP has promoted Beata Cieszynska, Anna Okla-Wozniak, Jaroslaw Przybylski, Krzysztof Stecyk, and Maciej Zajda to Partner.

Gessel has advised Gaz-System on the merger clearance of its acquisition of Gas Storage Poland from Orlen.

The Turkish Competition Authority's proactive measures in various sectors have been the element to follow in Turkiye according to Actecon Managing Partner Bahadir Balki, with the TCA's current priorities including labor market investigations, resale price maintenance, and digital market regulations.

Kocian Solc Balastik has successfully represented REMA before the European Commission regarding a complaint to investigate whether the Czech Republic, acting through the Ministry of the Environment, violated its obligations under EU law by creating an anti-competitive environment in the packaging sector in favor of EKO-KOM.

Articles 13 and 14, along with other provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR), require businesses to provide individuals with comprehensive information about the processing of their personal data.

The Act on Restrictive Measures (OG No. 133/2023, the “Act“) entered into force on 15 November 2023 (with the application of certain main provisions as of 15 May 2024). The Act establishes more effective due diligence and reporting procedures and mechanisms, which will enable the Republic of Croatia to implement new and more complex sanctions regimes from the European Union and United Nations.

The amendment to the ESG Act was published in the Hungarian Official Gazette of 17 April 2024 and entered into force in May 2024.

Dentons has advised CPI Property Group and its subsidiaries CPI FIM SA and Czech Property Investments on a partnership agreement to sell a 49% common equity stake in CPI Project Invest and Finance to funds managed by Sona Asset Management for EUR 250 million. A&O Shearman and, reportedly, Milbank advised Sona Asset Management. DLA Piper reportedly advised Aareal Bank on the deal.

CMS has advised Austria-based Rail Cargo Group on creating a joint venture with Serbia-based Transfera.

Turunc has advised Bogazici Ventures on its follow-on investment in Hiwell in a round that also saw Eksim Ventures, Unlu & Co, and Kinesis Teknoloji Yatirimlari join. Keco advised Hiwell. Gunduz & Gunduz reportedly advised Kinesis.

A&O Shearman has advised Polenergia on the PLN 116.5 million financing of the 47-megawatt Szprotawa 1 photovoltaic farm from mBank and Bank Pekao. KLBF Kycia Legal reportedly advised the banks.

Kinstellar has advised CSOB on financing a portfolio of rooftop solar power plants for CPI Property Group in the Czech Republic via a green loan.

Schoenherr has advised OMV Slovakia on the acquisition of a network of 27 filling stations from the Benzinol Group.

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.

Noor and the Lithuanian Red Cross Society have executed a memorandum of cooperation based upon which Noor will provide continuous legal advisory and assistance to the Red Cross on various legal matters.

Everlegal has partnered up with the Norwegian Refugee Council in Ukraine and will be offering the NRC legal support on a number of day-to-day legal issues.

DZP has promoted Beata Cieszynska, Anna Okla-Wozniak, Jaroslaw Przybylski, Krzysztof Stecyk, and Maciej Zajda to Partner.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov has successfully defended the Bulgarian Supreme Judicial Council in a public procurement dispute related to the creation of an optimization model of the judicial map of Bulgarian courts and prosecutor's offices as well as the development of a unified information system of the courts financed under the Good Governance 2014-2020 program.

On 26 April 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (“Government”) approved the Procedure for Using Funds from the State Budget to Provide State Support for the Implementation of Investment Projects Involving Significant Investments (“Budget Procedure”).

Bernitsas has advised BMW Hellas Trade of Cars SA on the successful spin-off of its vehicles leasing sector.

Wolf Theiss, working with Wiersholm, has advised the Schibsted group on the separation of its business into two companies – Schibsted Media and Schibsted Marketplaces.

Dunovska & Partners has promoted Vaclav Manek to Partner.

On 25 April 2024, Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine on Establishing Additional Grounds for Termination of Employment Agreement at the Initiative of the Employer and Certain Other Issues” (the “Law”), which is aimed at strengthening the protection of Ukraine's national security.

The announcements made by the Hungarian Government on 8 July 2024 envisage a number of new and higher payment obligations, as well as other public taxes and restrictions, that will include a defence contribution, increased administrative fines, extra profit tax, changes to social contribution tax on entering the labour market, transaction and currency exchange levies

In the practice of the Court of Appeal in Belgrade, in the judgment No. Gž1 1900/20 dated 19.03.2021 (“Judgment“), the following position was taken:

Dentons has advised CPI Property Group and its subsidiaries CPI FIM SA and Czech Property Investments on a partnership agreement to sell a 49% common equity stake in CPI Project Invest and Finance to funds managed by Sona Asset Management for EUR 250 million. A&O Shearman and, reportedly, Milbank advised Sona Asset Management. DLA Piper reportedly advised Aareal Bank on the deal.

Karanovic & Partners has advised BIG CEE on its acquisition of Promenada Novi Sad from NE Property. LEF Attorneys advised NE Property.

Taylor Wessing has advised PKO Bank Polski on the financing provided to Panattoni for the development of Panattoni Park Zgierz. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised Panattoni.

On 3 July 2024, the Austrian National Council adopted the draft COFAG Consolidation Act, which introduces significant changes to the handling and processing of funding claims and refunds by the COVID-19 Financing Agency of the Federal Government (COFAG). This marks a major step towards the final dissolution of COFAG.

The announcements made by the Hungarian Government on 8 July 2024 envisage a number of new and higher payment obligations, as well as other public taxes and restrictions, that will include a defence contribution, increased administrative fines, extra profit tax, changes to social contribution tax on entering the labour market, transaction and currency exchange levies

A bill amending certain laws affecting the functioning of the state was adopted by the Parliament in the middle of June 2024. The bill postpones again the entry into force of the new Land Registry Act to 15 January 2025. In addition, the bill amends provisions in several different areas of law (e.g. health, education, immigration).

What is the NIS2 Directive and from when does it apply?

Turunc has advised Bogazici Ventures on its follow-on investment in Hiwell in a round that also saw Eksim Ventures, Unlu & Co, and Kinesis Teknoloji Yatirimlari join. Keco advised Hiwell. Gunduz & Gunduz reportedly advised Kinesis.

The concept of exhaustion of trademark rights is a nuanced aspect of intellectual property law that might seem counterintuitive to those unfamiliar with the field.

Romania-based Mares & Mares and Cyprus-based Emilianides Katsaros have formed a partnership spanning Cyprus, Romania, and Greece.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an independent body of the European Union (EU) tasked with investigating criminal cases infringing the financial interests of the EU. The EPPO was formally established in 2017 and started operations in 2021. The first and current head of the European Chief Prosecutor is Laura Codruta Kovesi, former Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (Directia Nationala Anticoruptie; DNA), the Romanian agency tasked with investigating corruption cases.

Former Managing Associates Jesse Kivisaari and Lembit Tedder have been promoted to Partner at Cobalt Estonia.

DZP, working with Orrick, has advised Rubicon Partners on its USD 2.5 million investment in StaffHealth.

Kinstellar has advised Edwards Lifesciences on data protection legal matters via a secondment arrangement.

Ellex has advised Specialist VC as the lead investor on the EUR 1.75 million seed round for Estonian medtech company Nanordica Medical.

Leaua Damcali Deaconu Paunescu has promoted former Managing Associate Andra Soare-Filatov to Partner.

Walless has successfully represented Elektrum Lietuva before the Supreme Court of Lithuania.

DZP has promoted Beata Cieszynska, Anna Okla-Wozniak, Jaroslaw Przybylski, Krzysztof Stecyk, and Maciej Zajda to Partner.

CMS has advised Austria-based Rail Cargo Group on creating a joint venture with Serbia-based Transfera.

Popovici, Nitu, Stoica & Asociatii has advised Malherbe Transports on its acquisition of Contralog Europa.

Aksan has advised Horoz Logistics on its IPO.

Avellum has advised the Kernel Group on the acquisition of 100% of shares in Reni-Oil LLC – a sunflower oil transshipment terminal with a storage capacity of 15,000 tons, in the port of Reni, on the Danube – for a consideration of USD 24.75 million.

Fortsakis Diakopoulos & Associates has advised the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund on the sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised ICBC International Finance Limited on a USD 66.22 million ship financing extended to the Navibulgar group. Stephenson Harwood reportedly advised Navibulgar.

Turunc has advised Bogazici Ventures on its follow-on investment in Hiwell in a round that also saw Eksim Ventures, Unlu & Co, and Kinesis Teknoloji Yatirimlari join. Keco advised Hiwell. Gunduz & Gunduz reportedly advised Kinesis.

BPV Grigorescu Stefanica has advised Omnia Capital on its investment in Cargo Buddy.

Turunc has advised ComposeVC on the formation of its inaugural venture capital fund, ComposeVC Built-World Fund.

Wardynski & Partners has represented the Civil Society Drug Policy Initiative on a pro bono basis in a dispute with Meta.

Integrites has provided pro bono defense representation to a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine concerning criminal charges brought against him by the military command. The firm also advised the soldier's family on obtaining monetary compensation.

Schoenherr has signed new legal services and partnership agreements to continue providing pro bono legal advice to Concordia – an independent NGO supporting children, young people, and families in need in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Kosovo, and Austria – which the firm has been supporting for the past 15 years.