CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Penteris has advised Summus Capital on the acquisition of the Lakeside office building in Warsaw from real estate developer Atenor. Schoenherr advised Erste Group Bank as the financing institution. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised Atenor.
Former Rymarz Zdort Maruta Partner Agnieszka Skorupinska has joined Baker McKenzie as a Partner in its International, Commercial and Trade practice. She will lead the firm's Warsaw-based sustainability and energy transition practice.
On 25 October 2024, new rules for the registration of inventions and utility models in Ukraine ("Rules") came into force. Pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine No. 23301 dated 9 September 2024, the Rules set out the requirements for the drafting, filing and examining of an invention and utility model applications.
Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised DFDS on its acquisition of Ekol Transport and the international transport network connecting Turkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics and individual sellers led by founder Ahmet Musul. Caliskan Okkan Toker reportedly advised the sellers.
Nechala and Partners has advised Heimo Wallisch on the sale of Easys to BizLink Group. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised BizLink.
Deloitte Legal has advised Bank Pekao on financing to an MCI Capital portfolio company for the acquisition of a 55% stake in NTFY - Nice To Fit You. Baker McKenzie advised the founders of Nice to Fit You Sebastian Rabiej and Radoslaw Jezak. Dubinski Jelenski Masiarz i Wspolnicy reportedly advised MCI Capital.
Greenberg Traurig has advised two shareholders of Elektromontaz-Poznan – Pawel Gricuk and Artur Cakala – on the sale of their shares to Spie Group. Baker McKenzie advised Spie Group.
Baker McKenzie has advised Emirates NBD Bank, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Bank J.P. Morgan Securities, and Merrill Lynch International as joint bookrunners on Zorlu Enerji's USD 800 million debut Rule 144A/Reg S senior guaranteed sustainability-linked notes issuance. White & Case and its Turkish affiliate GKC Partners advised Zorly Enerji.
SSW, working with K&L Gates Volckrick Luxembourg, has advised a group of minority shareholders of Zabka Group on issues related to the public offering of Zabka. Reportedly, Greenberg Traurig, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Elvinger Hoss Prussen advised the shareholders of Zabka as well. Baker McKenzie and Allen Overy Shearman Sterling reportedly advised the managers.
Former Baker McKenzie Senior Associate Katerina Schenkova has joined Thyssenkrupp as its new Regional Compliance Officer.
Greenberg Traurig has advised Nrep on the acquisition of a plot of land in the Bielany district of Warsaw and a development agreement with White Stone Development for the construction of a building. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised White Stone Development.
Baker McKenzie has advised MHP on its acquisition of KTL Ukraine Group from Ihor Khokhlov, Andriy Kuzmin, and Serhii Kocherhin.
Baker McKenzie has advised Bank Pekao on the issuance of EUR 500 million 4.00% senior non-preferred Eurobonds due 2030 under its EMTN program established in November 2023. Clifford Chance reportedly advised JP Morgan on the deal.
On 27 September 2024, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Labor Code of Ukraine on Establishing Additional Grounds for Termination of Employment Agreements at the Initiative of the Employer and Certain Other Issues" No. 3768-IX dated 4 June 2024 ("Law") (with certain exceptions) will come into force.
For the pharmaceutical industry in the Hungarian market, the first half of 2024 involved several legislative changes with significant practical implications. Some of these changes have yet to unfold their full impact, due to the lack of implementing regulations and prerequisite authority actions.
White & Case’s Turkish affiliate GKC Partners has advised Zurich Insurance on its acquisition of NN Hayat ve Emeklilik. Baker McKenzie's Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised the sellers.
With its resolution numbered i-SPK.35.B.1 (dated 19 September 2024 and numbered 1484) (the “Resolution“), the Capital Markets Board (the “CMB“) clarified the legal status of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs“) and crypto assets used in virtual games.
White & Case and its Turkish affiliate GKC Partners have advised Pegasus Airlines on its USD 500 million Eurobond issuance with Citigroup Group Markets Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co International as the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners and J.P. Morgan Securities, HSBC Bank, SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited, and BCP Securities as the joint bookrunners. Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners.
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In the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, Baker McKenzie's expansion remains steadfast, with a thriving team of over legal professionals. Our footprint extends across six offices in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Türkiye, and Ukraine. As part of our global network, coupled with well-established partnerships throughout the entire CEE landscape, we proudly stand as one of the foremost international law firms in this dynamic territory. Our reputation as a premier business law firm in CEE is a testament to our extensive experience in advising on a multitude of prestigious projects and nurturing enduring client relationships.