In early January 2024, many managing directors in Hungary of companies with any agriculture-related activity could be surprised to receive a letter of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture stating that the company has become a member of the Chamber by law from 1^st January. What does this chamber do, and what are the main consequences of the membership?  Why it is worth to consider an opt-out from the Chamber? In this article, we address these issues.

In The Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. Given the importance of relationships between in-house legal departments and law firms, this time we asked GCs: What is the most common reason for which you cease working with a specific law firm and what would you suggest firms definitely do to ensure they do not make the same mistake?

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2023 marching to an end, we looked ahead and asked about strategies for next year: As the budgeting period is around the corner, compared to 2023, what are the main budgeting lines you expect to increase for 2024 and why?

With artificial intelligence dominating tech conversations over the last year and with a draft AI Act being looked at by the EU, CMS Partners Dora Petranyi, Gabriela Staber, Klaus Pateter, and Olga Belyakova look at where AI is today and how European legislation might impact its future.

I’ve always been very interested in trends and statistics, and recently have been looking at potential trends in applications for a legal award. Based on the call for submissions, you can apply in six categories, which include, of course, very trendy topics such as data protection, digital solutions, and ESG, the more traditional ones of M&A and intellectual property, but for the sixth consecutive year, there is a tax law category. Moreover, not only does such a category exist, but the number of applicants is outstanding.

Sam MacMahon Baldwin has been promoted to a Partner position with Szecskay Attorneys at Law in Budapest.

There is nothing new in fancying competitiveness. There is also little that one can meaningfully add to the dialogue. Yet, it is surprising how the subject of “Europe’s competitiveness” climbs up the ladder of timely discourses, and repeatedly does so; finds its way onto the list of “final novel plans”, “last grand projects”, or, for the matter of pure practicality, to agendas of the European Union’s presiding troika.

Aiming to create a modern, transparent, and unified regulatory framework by replacing the current fragmented regime, the new Hungarian Construction Act was adopted in December 2023.The new Act makes such substantial changes that most of its provisions will enter into force in phases between 2024 and 2027. In the following, we outline the basic features of the new Act.

Schoenherr has advised Standard Motor Products on its acquisition of an industrial facility in Hungary from Mektec Manufacturing Corporation Europe HU. The sellers were represented by solo practitioner Peter Zsadon.

David Hanis has been appointed as a new Partner with Oppenheim.

Schoenherr has advised Ceres Pharma on the acquisition of the Hungarian pharmaceutical companies VitaPlus and Innopharm, including their Innopharm Austrian subsidiary.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Inter Cars on the extension, increase, and reorganization of its senior facilities in the aggregate amount of approximately PLN 2.54 billion (USD 642 million). Kinstellar, Magnusson, Kelemenis, and Glimstedt reportedly advised on the matter as well.

Allen & Overy has advised CMC Europe on the sale of a 100-megawatt combined capacity solar plant in Kaposvar, Hungary to MVM Green Generation. Reportedly, Kinstellar advised MVM Green Generation.

The current rules on foreign direct investments (FDI), which are already quite restrictive, will be tightened further from January next year: the current exemptions will be narrowed, and the Hungarian State will have a right of first refusal for solar power plant investments. The government is trying to address a long-standing and sensitive issue for domestic energy policy, while also affecting other non-renewable investments by tightening the exemptions.

In its recent judgment, the Supreme Court of Hungary examined the right of the employer to unilaterally determine the employee’s place of work, within the geographical area stipulated in the labour contract. In our article we examine what aspects shall the employer take into account and what are the employee’s rights in such cases, based on Hungarian case law.

As of 1 January 2024, the Hungarian Parliament is expected to introduce a new framework for the conditions of residence and employment of third-country nationals in Hungary, significantly rewriting the existing rules.

According to the opinion released yesterday by the advocate general of the European Court of Justice, the Hungarian regulation that prohibits foreign taxpayers from submitting their documents in the second instance (appeal) procedures in VAT refund cases violates European law. If the final judgment will align with this opinion, it would not only simplify the process for foreign businesses to claim VAT refunds in Hungary but would also open the possibility to reclaim previous VAT payments.

In Hungary, adherence to regulatory requirements is pivotal for the operations of domestic legal entities or businesses. Recently, there have been discussions regarding the significance of possessing a domestic bank account as mandated by Hungarian law, and the implications for companies failing to meet these criteria.