Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, including in Austria, with the drone global market to exceed USD 55 billion by 2030, reflecting their global importance. Drones can serve both as recreational gadgets and as professional tools for photographers, farmers, emergency responders, and other professionals. As with any new technology the benefits must be weighed against the risks.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2024 behind us, we asked: Looking at transactional volumes for this year, would you say that 2024 was better or worse than what you originally expected it to be, and why?

DLA Piper has advised Marinomed Biotech on the sale of its Carragelose business to Unither Pharmaceuticals. Lamartine Conseil reportedly advised Unither Pharmaceuticals.

Hungary’s legal and business landscape is undergoing significant transformation, driven by a steady increase in M&A activity, rapid digitalization, and evolving regulatory frameworks, according to DLA Piper Hungary Partner and Head of Intellectual Property and Technology Zoltan Kozma.

DLA Piper Hungary Senior Associate and ESG Practice Coordinator Dora Dranovits talks about ESG in Hungary in 2025.

Austria’s data strategy is derived from the European data strategy. It aims to improve the framework conditions for the data economy and to promote the secure exchange and broad use of data.

The latest DLA Piper GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey provides a comprehensive overview of data protection enforcement trends across Europe, including the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. CEE countries are in the mid-range in terms of total GDPR fines imposed since the regulation became applicable in 2018 and for last year, but enforcement activity is steadily increasing. Here are the latest trends and legal developments in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

A new amendment to the ESG Act has entered into force, which, in addition to changes to the personal and material scope of the Act, contains provisions primarily aimed at easing the burden on businesses and the application of the Act. According to the proposal of the Act, the amendments are necessary in light of the experience gained in the practical application of the ESG Act since its entry into force. The changes entered into force on 19 January, except for the amendment on fines. The main amendments are summarised below, without being exhaustive.

The world of data centres is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by the ever-increasing demand for AI solutions. At the same time, sustainability challenges, energy efficiency and security of supply are becoming increasingly in focus due to the significant energy demands of data centres. The growth potential of the sector remains attractive, with 70% of investors expecting further growth over the next two years, according to a recent international report* by DLA Piper.

In 2024, EU data protection authorities imposed a total of EUR 1.2 billion in fines. This brings the total value of fines to EUR 5.88 billion since the GDPR became applicable, DLA Piper's latest report reveals.* The technology sector has been hit the hardest, with data protection focusing on managerial responsibility and privacy issues in AI tools.

DLA Piper has advised the H&M Group on a long-term corporate power purchase agreement with R.Power to supply 50 gigawatt-hours of solar-generated electricity annually for H&M’s operations in Poland.

1 January 2025 marked the entry into force of the obligation for Romanian established taxpayers that carry out taxable operations in Romania to report in the Romanian invoicing System the invoices issued in B2C transactions.

Weinhold Legal and Cytowski & Partners have advised Czech Republic-based technology company ThreatMark on its series A financing round, securing an investment exceeding USD 23 million from London-based Octopus Ventures and The Riverside Company investment firm. Dentons' New York office reportedly advised Octopus Ventures. DLA Piper's New York office reportedly advised The Riverside Company.

CMS' Croatian affiliate Bardek, Lisac, Musec, Skoko, and Partners has advised Privredna Banka Zagreb as the leading mandated arranger, coordinator, and agent on a EUR 283 million club loan, which also included Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank, Zagrebacka Banka, and OTP Banka, for Podravka's acquisition of companies from the Fortenova Group. Podravka also received a EUR 50 million equity investment from the EBRD, following the acquisition. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic advised Podravka. Mamic, Peric, Reberski, Rimac advised Fortenova Group. Wolf Theiss advised the EBRD. DLA Piper reportedly advised Podravka as well.

DLA Piper has advised the Government Debt Management Agency (AKK), acting on behalf of the Republic of Hungary, on an international syndicated revolving credit facility agreement for a total amount of EUR 1.5 billion with 13 undisclosed Hungarian and international banks. CMS advised the coordinating banks.

The legislator recently introduced a number of implementing regulations for the Architecture Act and more are expected in the near future. In this article, DLA Piper Hungary's lawyers outline the key details of the new, generally mandatory contractor's professional liability insurance, taking into account that contractors must have such insurance from 15 January 2025.

ZSP has advised NLB Komercijalna Banka on a EUR 45.5 million facility for Delta Real Estate for the refinancing of Crowne Plaza Belgrade.

Linklaters has advised Qualitas Energy on its acquisition of a 117-megawatt-peak solar farm portfolio from Ib Vogt in Poland. DLA Piper advised Ib Vogt.