CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
On February 29, 2024, energy experts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Turkiye, and Ukraine sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the key developments in the field of oil & gas over the past few years.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. While in the legal field maintaining client relationships is vital, there are occasions when law firms must end engagements. To explore some of the reasons that might lead to this, we asked: After accepting mandates, what have been the main reasons for which you ended up having to drop clients?
In mid-2023, the Bulgarian Parliament finally formed a steady Government. The Parliament also introduced predictability in the regulatory environment for renewables along with several legislative developments.
Bardek, Lisac, Musec, Skoko, and Partners in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz has advised Erste&Steiermaerkische Bank and Privredna Banka Zagreb on the more than EUR 130 million Valamar Collection Resort financing.
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.
CMS has advised Chint/Astronergy on a supply agreement for the supply of photovoltaic panels and high-voltage transformers for the renewable energy market in Bulgaria.
Gide has advised Redkom Development on the forward sale of a retail park in Bielsko-Biala to Newgate Investment. CMS advised Newgate Investment. Dabrowski & Partners reportedly advised Redkom Development as well.
The Energy & Climate Change practice of CMS has been booming in Bulgaria, according to Sofia Managing Partner and CEE Head of Energy & Climate Change Kostadin Sirleshtov, with work ranging from project, acquisitions, and financing mandates on renewables, to oil and gas, nuclear power, and a significant number of disputes.
From a significant downturn in project financing to promising developments in green energy, particularly wind, CMS Partner Eszter Torok shares valuable insights into the complexities of the Hungarian market against the backdrop of shifting economic and regulatory landscapes.
CMS has advised R.Power Renewables on the up to PLN 190 million financing by Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski for the construction of a photovoltaic portfolio with a total capacity of about 59 megawatts. Dentons advised the bank.
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.
On March 26, 2024, TMT/IP, fintech, and emerging technology experts from Hungary, Romania, and Turkiye sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Neag to discuss how Blockchain-related technologies, businesses, and legislation are shaping up in their jurisdictions.
CMS Croatia Partner Marija Musec and CMS Poland Partner Lukasz Szatkowski discuss electricity storage regulatory developments and the unique challenges faced by stakeholders in the CEE energy market.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. Given the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the legal profession, we asked: What is the one critical skill that you’re investing time and energy in to develop within your team, and why?
Due to various historical reasons, a large percentage of undeveloped construction land in Croatia is still owned by the state. As a result, developers of (primarily greenfield) real estate projects have often had to go through a laborious and lengthy process to acquire construction land from the Republic of Croatia. Recent legislative changes could mark a decisive shift toward decentralization and a more efficient management system, potentially streamlining processes that were previously mired in bureaucratic complexities.
CMS has advised gas transmission system operator GAZ-System in the process of selecting a supplier and executing a floating regasification unit chartering agreement with White Eagle Energy. Reportedly, Mayer Brown advised Mitsui.
Kinstellar has advised Dutch aircraft maintenance provider SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance on the acquisition of Austrian Airlines Technik – Bratislava. CMS, working with Netherlands-based BarentsKrans, advised Austrian Airlines on the sell side.
CMS has advised energy company Iberdrola on the sale of Eolica Dobrogea One – an 80-megawatt wind energy production facility – to Premier Energy Group, for EUR 88 million.
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.