Public infrastructure projects in Austria and in particular PPPs are undergoing several changes. In the last few years, the focus of PPPs was on social infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and other clinics. Many of them have been structured as so-called Betreibermodelle, i.e., a form of build, finance, and operate models. However, the focus is clearly shifting towards infrastructure for digitalization and climate change.

ODI Law Partner Gjorgji Georgievski, EY Law North Macedonia Manager Jana Nikodinovska, CMS Partner Marija Filipovska, Popovski & Partners Partner Ognen Martinov, and Lalicic & Boskoski Partner Vedran Lalicic talk about what practices have been keeping their firms busy and their outlook.

On June 30, 2022, CEE Legal Matters hosted the fifth edition of the CEELM Budapest Law Firm Bowling Challenge: A competition of four-person teams from leading law firms in Hungary, with all proceeds going to the previous winner’s charity of choice. A total of 13 law firms competed for the trophy – and the bragging rights that go along with it.

Ulcar & Partners and Zivkovic Samardzic have advised the TCH Industrial Group on the sale of Cimos and its subsidiaries to Mutares. CMS and Luther reportedly advised the buyer.

CMS has advised a group of investors on a Sofina-led EUR 220 million series D financing round for the Rohlik Group. White & Case advised the Rohlik Group. Linklaters reportedly advised Sofina. Pierstone reportedly advised some of the investors.

The Walt Disney Company and Disney DTC EM Limited have appointed Petrikic & Partneri in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz as their Serbian Data Protection Representative.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised mBank on its financing for the construction of the 40-megawatt Pozarowo PV portfolio in Poland, sponsored by Afcon Renewable Energy. CMS advised Afcon.

CMS Budapest Partner and CEE Managing Director Dora Petranyi has been appointed as Global Co-Head of the firm's Technology, Media, and Communications Group, alongside CMS Germany's Pietro Fringuelli.

While the economy appears to have been doing better, on the back of infrastructural development, the internal judicial reorganization is leaving Albania in a bit of a bind, according to CMS Partner Besnik Duraj.

MPR Partners has advised GreenVolt subsidiaries V-Ridium Solar 45 and V-Ridium Renewables on their EUR 83 million acquisition of a photovoltaic project from the Samsung C&T Corporation. Schoenherr and, reportedly, Herbert Smith Freehills advised the seller. CMS reportedly advised a consortium of banks on financing the acquisition.

CMS has successfully defended hydropower producer Kooperatsiya Parallel 2000 in a post-privatization dispute initiated by Bulgaria’s Public Enterprises and Control Agency.

Clifford Chance has advised Hillwood Polska on the financing for the construction of a logistics park in Sycow provided by BNP Paribas Bank Polska.

CMS' Slawomir Czerwinski Talks About The Deal of the Year in Poland - InPost IPO.

CMS has advised Porsche on a new EUR 500 million investment round into Rimac that also included, among others, Softbank and Goldman Sachs as new investors. Reportedly, Kunstek Halle & Simac, working with Latham & Watkins, advised Rimac on the deal.

In 2019, the EU introduced the European Green Deal with clear sustainability goals to become climate neutral by 2050. Across industries, investors increasingly accept the high value of more sustainable business practices. ESG sustainability is a central consideration in business decisions in almost all economic areas. ESG covers corporate governance, environment and climate change, social and human rights, and sustainable finance. The question for companies is how they can or even must implement this and use legal instruments. However, the lack of binding law provisions, greenwashing, and the alleged sustainability of investments have undermined the importance of this topic.

Real estate is responsible for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Given the industry’s high impact, a comprehensive decarbonization strategy is essential. As environmentally conscious investors and tenants focus on zero-carbon buildings, green building ecosystems and life-cycle assessments become necessary. Accordingly, green building certification processes are needed to ensure that habitats are environmentally sustainable. These certification processes assess many building components, from ventilation systems to insulation materials, for their impact on human and environmental health.

The rules in Hungary for guarantees of origin (GO) changed at the beginning of this year to ensure the ascension of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (Hungarian Energy Authority) to the European Energy Certificate System, as a result of which Hungarian GOs will be accepted on international markets.

With the world slowly reaching what many scientists label “a point of no return” for climate change, countries worldwide are doing their best to combat environmental damage. To that end, the European Union has developed climate and energy targets for the upcoming decade, stating that it is “vital that we direct investments towards sustainable projects and activities.”