Global economic movements have led the real estate and construction sectors across CEE to face several issues: supply chain problems, rising construction material prices, and labor shortages, to name but a few, have made it difficult for real estate and construction projects to be completed with the same efficiency as before. Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners Partner Marija Bojovic, SOG Law Firm Partner Milos Gledovic, and Andrejic & Partners Partner Aleksandar Andrejic look at the extent to which these issues are reflected in the Serbian real estate market. 

Kinstellar has advised OTP Bank on its acquisition of Uzbekistan’s Ipoteka Bank. The White & Case London and Tashkent offices reportedly advised the seller.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Kinstellar Partner Viliam Mysicka has worked on more reported deals in Slovakia over the past nine years than any other lawyer?

Kinstellar has advised the owners of Zoo Group Stefanov on the sale of their company to A&M Capital Europe.

December 2022 – On 1 December 2022, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (“the Ministry”) published a call for the submission of applications for the provision of a subsidy to cover additional costs due to the increase in gas and electricity prices (“the Call”). The aim of the Call is to compensate qualifying companies and natural persons (entrepreneurs) for excessive energy prices in August and September 2022. In this article, we present an overview of the related key information.

Kinstellar Croatian affiliate Zuric i Partneri has advised Insite's former shareholders on the sale of their shares in the company to Halcom. Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic reportedly advised the buyer.

Turkey's high inflation stirs real estate disputes while logistics tenants and labor-intensive sectors are deeply affected, according to Ebru Temizer, Partner of Kinstellar Turkish affiliate Gen Temizer Ozer.

Sorainen has provided pro bono legal advice to the Entrepreneurs for Peace foundation on repairing all the explosion-damaged windows at the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf educational and manufacturing company in Chernihiv and preparing the building for the winter. 

Following a thorough evaluation and review of the 2010 rules regarding vertical agreements and concerted practices, the European Commission adopted the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (“VBER”), which entered into force on 1 June 2022, accompanied by revised Guidelines on Vertical Restraints. It is assumed that the latest alterations and their potential effects on the commercial ecosystem will slowly find their place in Turkish competition legislation and practice.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Havel & Partners has worked on 25 Czech client matters so far this year – more than any other law firm?

On 4 October 2022, the Slovak parliament adopted an amendment to the Labour Code (the "Amendment") that enters into effect on 1 November 2022. The aim of the Amendment is mainly to implement two EU directives (No. 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the EU and No. 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers) and to respond to certain requirements resulting from application practice. In this article, we present an overview of the most important changes.

Kinstellar has advised S Immo on its EUR 238.3 million acquisition of Budapest office properties and a land plot from the CPI Property Group. Dentons advised the seller.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Kinstellar Bucharest Managing Partner Victor Constantinescu has worked on 12 reported Real Estate deals in Romania over the past nine years – the most of any lawyer in the country?

Kinstellar has advised a syndicate of banks led by VUB Banka on their EUR 100 million loan facility for refinancing and investment in Bratislava's Bory Mall. Skubla & Partneri advised Penta Real Estate on receiving the loan.

CMS has advised Marsh on its sale of an 80% stake in Insia to the Unilink Group. Kinstellar advised the buyer.

Kinstellar has advised Powerful Medical on its EUR 6.2 million seed funding round from investors including Arieli Capital, Venture To Future Fund, CB ESPRI Impact One, BPD partners, and several angel investors. Wise3 advised CB ESPRI Impact One.

Kinstellar has advised the Genesis Private Equity Fund I on its acquisition of JP-Prolak from Jaroslav Prokop. Moore Legal CZ advised Prokop on the sale.

Drakopoulos has advised the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy on reviewing the transposition process of Directive 2018/2001 (RED II) on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources into the Greek legal framework. Dimitrov Petrov & Co, Kirm Perpar, Wardynski & Partners, and Kinstellar Croatian affiliate Zuric i Partneri advised on the transposition review in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Poland, and Croatia, respectively. CLM Bitai & Partners and Vojcik & Partners also reportedly advised the European Commission.