It is without a doubt that, like the economy in general, the legal market was also affected in recent years. Though the economy has been turbulent for a longer period than during the crisis that started in 2008, this time, the number of large disputes has remained constant. Despite the growing legal costs, high-value disputes rarely dropped due to costs. Smaller law firms, however, seem to have more problems when navigating in this economy – there are cases of closing businesses or consolidating to survive. 

Labor shortages have emerged as a pressing issue across CEE, prompting diverse responses from governments, businesses, and the public as they navigate the challenges of workforce gaps and economic sustainability.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As sunny days recede, the fall conference season is upon us, so we asked: How do you determine which Partner attends which events?

Popescu & Asociatii Partner Loredana Popescu and Avellum Partner Maksym Maksymenko look at the current status of agribusiness in their countries – both traditional powerhouses in the sector – highlighting how they are managing to show resilience despite tough years.

Albania’s gambling industry has undergone significant transformations over the past decade, shifting from a thriving sector to one under stringent regulation. Lalaj & Partners Partner Sabina Lalaj explores the evolution of gambling in Albania, the impact of regulatory changes, its current status in the economy, and the future outlook of the industry.

Turkiye has recently witnessed a surge in initial public offerings. White & Case affiliate law firm GKC Partners’ Head of Capital Markets Practice Derin Altan and Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli Partner Hasan Yasar explore this phenomenon and what it means for the wider market conditions.

In September 2024, Turkiye applied for membership in the BRICS bloc of developing economies. ADMD Law Office Managing Partner Orhan Yavuz Mavioglu and Bicak Law Firm Founding Partner Vahit Bicak explore the key political, economic, and legal motivations behind Turkiye’s move.

An in-depth look at Emre Atayilmaz of AECO Law covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

On December 7, 2023, Austria saw a significant shift in its tax regulations with the suspension of key provisions in the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Russia.

As of December 14, 2022, the Tax Administration of the Republic of Serbia started passing temporary tax decisions imposing payment of individual income tax based on agreed remuneration for the copyright and related rights and agreed remuneration for performed work with contributions for mandatory social insurance. These decisions targeted both Serbian and foreign citizens who made a profit abroad and transferred it to bank accounts in the Republic of Serbia during 2017 and 2018. For the first time in the country’s tax practice, tax liability was assessed automatically by passing temporary tax decisions, without conducting tax proceedings.

One of the sectors contributing the most to the Hungarian GDP is tourism, with nearly 16 million guests spending more than 41 million overnight stays in Hungary in 2023. According to the data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, foreign tourists spent 11,866,669 overnight stays in Hungary in 2023, of which 59.20% chose hotels, 32.36% stayed overnight in private and other accommodations, and 8.44% chose community accommodations.

In 2024, Croatia introduced another round of changes to its tax rules, with further novelties announced for 2025 aimed at fair taxation of property and bringing order to the residential rent market.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has sparked governments to take defense seriously. The Lithuanian government is no exception here – as of 2025, Lithuania is set to increase defense spending.

Debt pushdown structures have become a prevalent strategy in Estonia for company acquisitions. However, up until now, the absence of clear regulatory guidance has left companies and their legal advisors navigating uncertain terrain, particularly concerning the tax implications. The (at the time of writing) soon-to-be-published guidance on the taxation of debt pushdowns is poised to provide much-needed clarity.

The Slovenian Financial Administration has recently provided clarification on the tax treatment of share buybacks conducted through intermediaries. This article offers valuable insights for companies and tax professionals navigating the complexities of corporate restructuring and employee incentive programs.

In recent years, many countries have revised their tax legislation to improve and stabilize their national economies. The Republic of North Macedonia is among the countries with one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe, set at 10%, making it an attractive destination for investment. However, as a nation still undergoing transition and in need of new investments, the new Macedonian government believes that further reducing the tax rate will create better opportunities to attract new investments, which is crucial for improving and stabilizing the economic situation.

Romania remains an attractive jurisdiction for many foreign investors across various industries, but it faces challenges related to fiscal administration and predictability. A notable example is the introduction of a new taxation regime for large companies, which became effective on January 1, 2024. Naturally, this initiative triggered several reactions from the business community. Initially, efforts were made to prevent the enactment of such legislation or to propose amendments to mitigate the envisaged fiscal impact. Subsequently, in response to the law’s implementation, companies have begun analyzing different restructuring scenarios to establish optimal business structures that would allow them to continue operating while neutralizing the fiscal burden.

Turkiye has witnessed significant tax developments in recent months, including amendments in real estate-related taxation. These changes primarily arise from the need to address budgetary concerns in the current economic climate, which has led to the repeal of certain frequently utilized tax exemption provisions. This article provides an overview of these developments and their implications for taxpayers or investors whose business structures include real estate in Turkiye.