CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
On 21 August 2024, the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy opened a tender procedure for National infrastructure for storage of renewable energy (RESTORE) for granting stand-alone battery energy storage system (BESS) tender funded under the EU’s Recovery Resilience Facility (the “Procedure”).
Kinstellar has advised the Mitiska European Real Estate Partners 3 on its entry in Bulgaria via a joint venture with Park Lane Developments. CMS advised Park Lane Developments.
CMS has successfully represented MET’s subsidiary MET Suvorovo Wind Park in its claim against the Republic of Bulgaria, represented by the Minister of Finance, for the return of unconstitutional wind taxes imposed by the Republic of Bulgaria back in 2014.
CMS Hungary Partner Katalin Horvath and CMS Austria Partner Stefan Paulmayer discuss the implications of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the evolving landscape of digital payments in Europe.
Slovenia’s economy has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, with a projected GDP growth rate of 2.3% in 2024, up from 1.6% the previous year. Inflation has stabilized at around 2.8%, and unemployment is at a historically low rate of 3.7%.
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.
CMS has advised Krafton on the acquisition of a minority stake in Far From Home game studio.
Summer is traditionally a slower period for many, including the legal sector, but, if used right, the time can pay dividends for law firms.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With managing firm clients being a critical aspect of firms’ operations, we asked: What are the three most important elements when onboarding a new client?
The Macedonian legislature has amended multiple laws for the purpose of introducing special rules for facilities of strategic importance, which are highly significant for the development of the infrastructure. Pursuant to the latest amendments of the Law on Spatial Planning (LSP) and the Law on Construction (LC), both of which entered into force on May 30, 2023, the “facilities of strategic importance” category includes state roads, railway lines, backbone gas pipelines, and any other facilities of public interest that are built as strategic investment projects or projects of strategic national importance.
Wolf Theiss has advised Digi Tavkozlesi es Szolgaltato Kft. on acquiring Direct One from Canal+ Luxembourg S.ar.l. CMS advised the seller.
A&O Shearman and RTPR have advised OX2 on its sale of a 99.2-megawatt onshore wind project in Romania to Nala Renewables in a transaction valued at approximately EUR 214 million. CMS reportedly advised the buyer.
Clifford Chance has advised Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on financing the acquisition of Solarpark Kamenicna by Enery Development. CMS reportedly advised Enery.
Integrites, working with Holman Fenwick Willan, has advised Nibulon on reprofiling a USD 80 million pre-export credit facility extended by a syndicate of banks, including ING Bank NV, Credit Agricole CIB, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. CMS advised the lenders.
On August 1, 2024, Filip & Company and CMS announced that Banca Transilvania's purchase of OTP Bank Romania (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 21, 2024) has now closed.
CMS, working with Herbert Smith Freehills, has advised IFC on its EUR 200 million blue and green sustainability loan loan for Maistra Hospitality. Dentons reportedly advised Maistra Hospitality.
CMS has advised mBank on financing to Green On Energy for the Profbud wind farm.
Schoenherr has advised R-GOL.com on its acquisition of a majority stake in SportBM.
CMS Sofia is a full-service law firm, the largest international law firm in Bulgaria and one of the largest providers of legal services in the local market as a whole. The breadth and depth of our practice means that our lawyers are specialised, with a level of specialisation that few of our competitors can match.
CMS Sofia is the Bulgarian branch of CMS, a top ten global legal and tax services provider with over 5000 lawyers in 43 countries and 78 offices across the world.
CMS entered the Bulgarian market as one of the first internationally active law firms in 2005 and is now among the most respected legal advisors in the country. We have 7 partners, 4 counsel and over 30 lawyers in our office in Sofia.
Our legal experts, who are rooted in Bulgaria’s local culture, can also draw on years of experience in foreign countries and are at home in several legal systems at once. We know the particularities of the local market just as well as the needs of our clients and combine both to achieve optimum solutions. Our lawyers are Bulgarian qualified and we also have English qualified experts – all of them regularly working on cross-border mandates.
In our work, we focus on M&A, Energy, Projects and Construction, Banking and Finance, Real Estate, Media, IP and IT law, Tax, Employment law, Competition, Procurement and any kind of Dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. What’s more, we also take care of the entire legal management of our clients’ projects.