CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
The Czech real estate market is experiencing its strongest periods since before the pandemic, with significant activity across hotels, retail, logistics, and offices, according to CMS Partner and Head of CEE Real Estate and Construction, Lukas Hejduk. Strong domestic capital, successful investment legislation, and high demand are driving the market.
White & Case has advised Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding on the issuance of EUR 500 million in green bonds due 2032 by EPH Financing International, guaranteed by EPH.
Kinstellar has advised PPF Group and its shareholders on their agreement with ForteBank for the sale of 100% of Home Credit Bank Kazakhstan and its associated businesses.
Clifford Chance has advised Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on the project financing for the development and operation of the FVE Saxonie solar power plant.
Kocian Solc Balastik has advised the J&T Group on the launch of a new bond program related to the Europacity Berlin project.
Elementz Legal has advised Bubblify International on its acquisition of 22 OXO-brand shopping center retail locations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.
KPMG has named Partner Martin Hrdlik as the new CEE Head of Legal.
As of 1 July 2025, lobbying activities in the Czech Republic are subject to regulation for the first time. The new Regulation of Lobbying Act aims to enhance transparency by defining who qualifies as a lobbyist, identifying the targets of lobbying (primarily public officials) and introducing record-keeping obligations. A key element is the creation of a publicly accessible register, where lobbyists must disclose their identity and the parties they represent.
On 7 May 2025, the Czech government approved a draft amendment to Act No. 164/2013 Coll., on International Cooperation in Tax Administration and on Amendments to Related Acts, introducing two key innovations regarding crypto-assets and the taxation of large multinational groups.
Wolf Theiss, working with Maqs Advokatbyra, has advised New Wave Group on the acquisition of Cotton Classics Handels.
Kinstellar, working alongside Noerr, has advised Strabag on the Romanian, Croatian, Czech, and Montenegrin aspects of its EUR 100 million acquisition of WTE Wassertechnik from EVN. Freshfields advised EVN.
By 31 July 2025, all entities that were authorised to provide crypto-asset-related services (so-called VASPs) before 30 December 2024 must apply for authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the MiCA Regulation.
On July 1, 2025, Act No. 168/2025 Coll. on the regulation of lobbying will come into effect, serving as the first comprehensive regulation introducing clear rules for influencing state decisions.
In the coming weeks, the European Commission is expected to discuss amendments to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around, we dug deeper into a discussion point that came up during our last event: During our annual General Counsel Summit held in Prague recently, we’ve learned that even with the inflation in CEE having hovered around 14-20% in recent years, legal fees have remained static or have even decreased in some jurisdictions. Given that, how has your firm managed to consistently deliver high-quality service under these constraints?
An increasing number of law firms have been publicly warning about the misuse of their names in phishing and cyberattacks. PRK Partners Partner Michal Matejka, Musat & Asociatii Partner Stefan Diaconescu, Gugushev & Partners Partner and Head of Data Protection Yoanna Ivanova, and DLA Piper Hungary Partner and Head of Intellectual Property and Technology Zoltan Kozma discuss the growing trend.
A breach of labor obligations by an employee has been discovered in your company, the investigation and assessment have taken several weeks, and since immediate dismissal is risky, you have decided to proceed with dismissal for a serious breach of labor obligations. If this decision is made at the beginning of the month and no one is ready to agree on mutual termination, you won’t get rid of the employee any sooner than a timeframe of almost three months. Furthermore, if there are delays in the delivery of mail by the post office or the employee falls ill, it will take even longer.
PRK Partners, one of the leading Central European law firms, has been helping clients achieve their business objectives almost 30 years. Our team of lawyers, based in our Prague, Ostrava, and Bratislava offices, has a unique knowledge of Czech and Slovak law and of the business environment. Our lawyers studied at top law schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and elsewhere. They also have experience working for leading international and domestic law firms in a number of jurisdictions. We speak your language, too. Our legal team is fluent in more than 15 languages, including all the key languages of the region.
PRK Partners has one of the most experienced legal teams on the market. We are consistently rated as one of the leading law firms in the region. We have received many significant honours and awards for our work. We represent the interests of international clients operating in the Czech Republic in an efficient way, combining local knowledge with an understanding of their global requirements in a business-friendly approach. We are one of the largest law firms in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Our specialised teams of lawyers and tax advisors advise major global corporations as well as local companies. We provide comprehensive legal advice drawing on our profound knowledge of local law and markets.
Our legal advice delivers tangible results – as proven by our strong track record. We are the only Czech member firm of Lex Mundi, the world's leading network of independent law firms. As one of the leading law firms in the region, we have received many national and international awards, in some cases several years in a row. Honours include the Chambers Europe Award for Excellence, The Lawyer and Czech and Slovak Law Firm of the Year. Thanks to our close cooperation with leading international law firms and strong local players, we can serve clients in multiple jurisdictions around the globe. Our strong network means that we can meet your needs, wherever you do business.
PRK Partners has been repeatedly voted among the most socially responsible firms in the category of small and mid-sized firms and was awarded the bronze certificate at the annual TOP Responsible Firm of the Year Awards.
Our work is not only “business”: we have participated on a longstanding basis in a wide variety of pro bono projects and supported our partners from the non-profit sector (Kaplicky Centre Endowment Fund, Tereza Maxová Foundation, Czech Donors Forum, etc.).
Firm's website: www.prkpartners.com
