In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around we asked: If you have a formal partnership track, how do you handle lawyers on it who do NOT end up living up to the requirements to make a Partner?

Over the past few years, the gaming sector has been thriving in CEE. Kinstellar Partner Milan Samardzic, Rowan Legal Partner Milos Olik, ACI Partners Head of Fintech and E-Payments Nicolina Turcan, and Linklaters Warsaw Associate Aleksandra Czubek explore how CEE jurisdictions are driving the industry forward and unlocking new potential.

Recent court decisions in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector are expected to influence the way in which businesses manage, protect, and enforce their intellectual property rights and trade secrets in Bulgaria.

Kinstellar and Binder Groesswang, working with Jeantet, have advised LC Hospitality Holding on the acquisition of a 60% majority stake in Loisium Wine & SPA Holding via a share deal. FWP advised the seller – Soravia Group.

Kinstellar has advised Globe Trade Centre on the sale of its subsidiary Glamp Beograd, which owns the GTC X Building, to Forstone Realty.

Kinstellar has advised Paradox Interactive on its acquisition of Haemimont Games.

Kinstellar has advised Lafarge Serbia on its acquisition of Tribex Mining.

Gecic Law, working with Clifford Chance, has advised Telekom Srbija on its acquisition of Eon TV International from United Group as part of a deal that also saw United Group sell SBB Belgrade to e& PPF Telecom Group. Kinstellar, working with Sullivan & Cromwell, advised e& PPF Telecom Group. Moravcevic Vojnovic and partners in cooperation with Schoenherr, working with Kirkland & Ellis, advised United Group.

Kinstellar has advised TSH Investment on the acquisition of the Park Center shopping mall in Sofia from Revetas Capital Advisors. Schoenherr advised Revetas on the deal.

Kinstellar has advised UniCredit Bulbank as the lead manager on the private placement of a EUR 25 million corporate bond issuance by Minimart. Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov advised Minimart.

Former Binder Groesswang Partner Philipp Kapl has joined Kinstellar as a Partner.

Kinstellar has advised the BHM Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in Prague Port Group from HD&PB. Glatzova & Co reportedly advised the sellers.

The Ukrainian parliament recently adopted Law of Ukraine No. 4116-IX[1] to combat gambling addiction (ludomania) and to improve the state regulation of activities related to the organisation and conduct of gambling and lotteries. Most of the amendments will come into force on 1 April 2025.

In January 2025, Kinstellar announced that Quexco Incorporated's acquisition of Mutlu Aku (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 26, 2024) has closed.

Dentons and its Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki have advised Grand Games on its USD 30 million series A led by Balderton Capital with participation from existing investors Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures. Kinstellar's Turkish affiliate KST Law advised Balderton. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised BEK Ventures.

Kinstellar, working with Luxembourg-based Brouxel & Rabia, has advised Genesis Growth Equity Fund I on the acquisition of a majority stake in LLP Group from Adam Bager, Tim Smulders, Barbara Dreska, and Jiri Stiller. Wolf Theiss, working with Ashurst, advised the sellers.

On 5 January 2025, the Real Estate Register in the Slovak Republic (the “Register”) was subject to a ransomware cyberattack.

Kinstellar has advised European Imaging Group Limited on its acquisition of Megapixel from Tomas Matejcek. Tarpan Legal reportedly advised the seller.