The Commission for Protection of the Competition of North Macedonia (CPC) has significantly intensified its enforcement activities in the food retail sector, signalling a stricter regulatory approach toward potential anti-competitive behaviour.

Asters has advised the International Finance Corporation on the restructuring of a USD 120 million loan facility provided to Nibulon. Baker Botts reportedly advised Nibulon.

Walless has advised Scandi Standard on its EUR 18 million acquisition of six chicken farms in Lithuania.

Ellex has advised Finterest Eesti on obtaining a credit intermediary license from the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority.

CMS has advised Shell Exploration and Production 96 on winning the tender and concluding the prospecting and exploration agreement for Block 1-26 Han Tervel offshore Bulgaria.

CMS has advised Nikan Agro on the licensing process before the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission for its 50-megawatt Blatska photovoltaic project.

DLA Piper has advised TAG on the refinancing of its syndicated credit facilities, outstanding Schuldschein notes, and bilateral credit lines. 

Greenberg Traurig has advised Banco Santander on its agreement with Erste Group Bank to sell a 49% stake in Santander Bank Polska for EUR 6.8 billion alongside 50% of its Polish asset management arm, Santander TFI, for EUR 200 million. Rymarz Zdort Maruta and Wolf Theiss advised Erste Group Bank.

CMS has advised the Investment Fund for Developing Countries on its EUR 7 million subordinated debt investment in Bank Lviv.

Herbst Kinsky has advised Biogena on its EUR 10 million bond issuance.

RKKW has advised closed-end investment fund Value on its investment agreement and conditional purchase of PLN 100 million of series A bonds convertible into shares of Cognor Holding from 4Workers.

PRK Partners has promoted Daniel Vejsada, Jan Ditrych, Robert Reiss, and Shiyang Zhang to Associate Partners.

Integrites has represented Elba Basincli Dokum and its trading arm Eleks Dis in the Ukrainian antidumping investigation into imports of radiators for heating originating from Turkiye and the People’s Republic of China.

Eversheds Sutherland has promoted former Counsel Michal Hrabovsky to Partner.

As a driving force behind human progress, Intellectual Property represents property arising from the creative, inventive, or innovative activity of a human being. Such activities are protected by permitted monopolies made possible through Intellectual Property Rights. A particular challenge lies in finding a balance between protecting innovation through Intellectual Property Rights and the public interest—especially in industries where this balance plays a significant role, such as the pharmaceutical industry.

In line with relevant European legislation, from 28 June 2025, new accessibility provisions will apply in Hungary to certain products and services, affecting a wide range of companies.

Given the growing emphasis on sustainability and responsible business practices, obligations in the field of ESG are becoming increasingly significant. The banking sector is emerging as one of the key players in this transformation, with evolving regulatory frameworks influencing its operations.

With the adoption of the Law on the Central Register of Beneficial Owners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 19/2025), which entered into force on 14 March 2025, the legal framework governing this area has undergone significant changes. The application of most provisions is postponed until 15 September 2026, while certain provisions are applicable earlier.

Fieldfisher has announced the launch of its Polish operation with offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a team led by Rafal Stroinski and Piotr Szelenbaum as joint Country Managing Partners.

Schoenherr has advised Enterprise Investors on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Centrum Medyczne Internus. DLA Piper reportedly advised the sellers.

CMS has advised the founders and shareholders of Coorum Informationstechnologie on the sale of 100% of shares to Kendox. Oberhammer advised Kendox.

WKB has advised Greenvolt Group on the sale of VRW 11 to Energa Wytwarzanie. Bird & Bird advised Energa Wytwarzanie.

RTPR has advised the syndicate of banks including mandated lead arrangers Banca Transilvania and Banca Comerciala Romana and lenders Raiffeisen Bank, BRD – Groupe Societe Generale, CEC Bank, ING Bank, and Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania on a RON 3.1 billion syndicated loan facility granted to Electrica with Raiffeisen Bank also serving as a sustainability agent. Dentons adivsed Electrica.

Ukraine's infrastructure sector is experiencing heightened activity driven by urgent reconstruction needs and modernization efforts following the impact of the war with Kinstellar Partner Oleg Matiusha expressing cautious optimism over the significant opportunities awaiting investors as recovery efforts accelerate.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Ukraine's infrastructure sector is experiencing heightened activity driven by urgent reconstruction needs and modernization efforts following the impact of the war with Kinstellar Partner Oleg Matiusha expressing cautious optimism over the significant opportunities awaiting investors as recovery efforts accelerate.

Asters has advised Shark Robotics on the supply of 40 AI-powered Colossus firefighting robots to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service under a French-Ukrainian grant program. 

Integrites has advised Wartsila Finland and the municipal enterprise Teplokomunenerho of Chernihiv City Council on securing public financing from the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Facility. 

Cobalt has advised Creditreform Latvija on a multi-stage reorganization. 

E+H has advised Megatech Industries on its reorganization from financial distress and subsequent sale to Italian mobility supplier Sapa. Wolf Theiss, working with Gianni & Origoni, advised Sapa.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner has advised approximately 38% of the creditors in the restructuring proceedings of Pierer Industrie on a vote under the Restructuring Ordinance in Austria.

The latest amendment to the Labour Code, the so-called Flexinovela, which will be effective from 1 June 2025, introduces a number of changes that need to be reflected in employment documentation. We focus on the following key areas where we recommend making adjustments:

When it comes to foreigners residing or planning to reside in the Republic of Serbia, the most common practical issue involves the procedure for issuing a single permit for residence and work in the Republic of Serbia (“Single permit”).

Addleshaw Goddard has promoted Monika Krzyszkowska-Dabrowska and Joanna Gawlicka to Partner at their office in Poland.

Schoenherr has advised Enterprise Investors on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Centrum Medyczne Internus. DLA Piper reportedly advised the sellers.

Herbst Kinsky has advised Biogena on its EUR 10 million bond issuance.

NKO Partners has advised Levante HC on the acquisition of Megapharm Beograd. Joksovic, Stojanovic & Partners advised Megapharm.

Fieldfisher has announced the launch of its Polish operation with offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a team led by Rafal Stroinski and Piotr Szelenbaum as joint Country Managing Partners.

Consumer-focused litigation, especially relating to Swiss loan credit contracts, has driven significant growth in dispute resolution practices in Slovenia since 2022, according to Ketler & Partners, member of Karanovic Partner Minu Anamaria Gvardjancic. With the courts adopting a very proactive stance and wide interpretation of the impact of EU case law increasingly asserting consumers’ rights, disputes are expected to continue expanding in the coming months.

Arzinger has successfully defended Aroma Perfume in a dispute with the customs authorities.

Romania’s logistics and transportation sector is entering a new era. With the recent regulatory approval of DSV’s acquisition of DB Schenker, the industry is witnessing the most significant consolidation move in over a decade. The deal directly reshapes how logistics providers in Romania position themselves, scale their operations, and recalibrate strategic priorities.

Cerha Hempel has advised Flughafen Wien on a joint venture with international logistics company Bradford Airport Logistics to establish Vienna Airport Logistics GmbH. Sidley Austin and Schoenherr advised Bradford Airport Logistics.

DZP has successfully represented LOT Polish Airlines before the Court of Justice of the European Union against Ryanair.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Your Legal Partners’ Katerina Politopoulou, Maria Golfinopoulou, and Prokopis Linardos Talk About the Deal of the Year in Greece.

Fieldfisher has announced the launch of its Polish operation with offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a team led by Rafal Stroinski and Piotr Szelenbaum as joint Country Managing Partners.

Schoenherr has advised Enterprise Investors on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Centrum Medyczne Internus. DLA Piper reportedly advised the sellers.

Turunc has advised Lycian Capital and Maxis on their joint investment in Sneaks Up. Sole practitioner Ebru Kiper Demirhan advised Sneaks Up.

Sayenko Kharenko has provided pro bono support for a cultural initiative that aims to set war-time poems, written by Ukrainian defenders, to music. 

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

Fieldfisher has announced the launch of its Polish operation with offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a team led by Rafal Stroinski and Piotr Szelenbaum as joint Country Managing Partners.

Slovakia’s new Building Act, effective as of April 2025, is significantly reshaping the construction and permitting landscape, according to Legate Partner Norbert Havrila. The act introduces major reforms designed to streamline and modernize construction procedures, impacting not only real estate development but also telecommunications infrastructure.

TGS Baltic has advised SEB on the lease of its future Baltic headquarters in the Talsinki quarter of central Tallinn.

With the rise of digital platforms and the possibilities that the internet provides for businesses, more and more sellers are able to offer goods and services via these platforms and the internet. In this context, it has been difficult for the Ukrainian tax authorities to trace the flow of goods and services as well as to identify sellers to ensure that these goods and services are duly taxed.

Camiel van der Meij has joined Drzewiecki Tomaszek & Partners as a Partner.

Kinstellar has announced Maja Mayrhuber as the fourth Partner to join its new Vienna office.

Fieldfisher has announced the launch of its Polish operation with offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a team led by Rafal Stroinski and Piotr Szelenbaum as joint Country Managing Partners.

In line with relevant European legislation, from 28 June 2025, new accessibility provisions will apply in Hungary to certain products and services, affecting a wide range of companies.

CMS has advised the founders and shareholders of Coorum Informationstechnologie on the sale of 100% of shares to Kendox. Oberhammer advised Kendox.

CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.

Contributed by Arzinger.

Contributed by Selih & Partnerji.