The expression “never a dull moment” could have been tailor-made to describe the ethics and compliance function and how it has evolved over the past decade or so. The well-publicized scandals that started to take place on the market (concerning, e.g., anti-money laundering or privacy incompliances) led the policy makers to pass sweeping legislation that called for increased regulation, greater transparency, and more rigorous scrutiny of corporations.

In The Corner Office we ask Managing Partners across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. The question this time: “What one ongoing pro bono initiative or project or charity/volunteering project that your firm is involved with has the most meaning for you personally, and why?”

Deloitte Legal has advised Kursenu ZUB on the intra-group restructuring of its four subsidiaries.

Schoenherr has advised Switzerland-based technology company ABB on the sale of its plant in Ozd, Hungary, to wellness equipment producer Wellis, which was advised by Deloitte Legal.

Deloitte Legal has advised New Energy Investments on a green bonds issue with a total nominal value of up to PLN 500 million. The issue had the form of a non-public offer.

On July 07, 2020, the Albanian Parliament approved Law no. 112/2020, dated 29.07.2020 “On the register of beneficial owners.”

In The Corner Office we ask Managing Partners across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. The question this time around: ”What is your single most favorite client matter in your career?”

“Things are, right now, Covid-driven again, really,” begins Partner Marc Lager, the head of the EU Competition Law and Global Trade practice in the Vienna office of Deloitte Legal. “The numbers have been going up a bit lately, as in other parts of Europe, and there have been talks of reintroducing some of the measures that were in place earlier in the year.”

White & Case and Lakatos Koves and Partners have advised Mid Europa Partners on the sale of 24% of the issued share capital of Waberer's International Nyrt to Trevelin Holding Zrt, the Hungarian-based member of Indotek Group. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised Trevelin Holding on the deal.

Deloitte Legal has announced that a dozen lawyers will be leaving White & Case in Poland — including Tomasz Ostrowski (who will take over at Deloitte Legal Warsaw as Managing Partner), Aneta Urban, Katarzyna Jakubiak, Sylwia Opiatowska, and Michal Oles — to join its Warsaw office.

DTB has advised US-based Devolver Digital on its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Croatian independent game development company Croteam. Krehic & Partners in cooperation with Deloitte Legal advised Croteam on the deal.

Reff & Associates have advised Romania's Haier Tech on a refrigeration factory construction project in Prahova county, Romania. 

CMS has advised AFI Europe, a property investment and development group in Romania, on its share acquisition of six companies owning four Class A office projects in Romania from NEPI Rockcastle. Herbert Smith Freehills and Reff & Associates – the Romanian member firm of Deloitte Legal – advised NEPI.

The Lithuania office of Deloitte Legal has advised Maskinhandler Indkobsringen A/S, a Danish farm equipment company, on the sale of a majority stake of shares in MI Agrotinklas UAB to one of MI Agrotinklas's founders.

Lawyers from Deloitte Legal's Lithuanian and Estonian offices have advised Lonas UAB, a manufacturer of mattresses and beds, on its acquisition of Estonia's Dreamland Home OU, a retailer and wholesaler of bedroom products, from ITIS Holding OU. Kaevando & Partnerid advised the sellers on the deal.

Mihnea Galgotiu-Sararu has made Partner at Reff & Associates/Deloitte Legal and will head the firm's Litigation and Arbitration Practice.

“The measures taken by the Czech Republic’s government during the pandemic were good and quick, but the discipline people have shown helped with the situation as well,” says Jan Spacil, Managing Partner at Deloitte Legal in Prague. “Various other countries that didn’t work as quickly later had to impose much stricter measures.”

Cerha Hempel, working alongside Deloitte Legal in Germany, has advised Germany's GBTEC Software + Consulting AG on the acquisition of all shares in Avedos, a Vienna-based GRC software specialist through direct and indirect share purchases and by means of a contribution by Samuel Brandstatter – the founder, managing director and shareholder of Avedos – who took equity in GBTEC as part payment for the sale of his stake in the company. 42law advised Brandstatter on the deal.