Did you know that while only five lawyers worked on ten or more CEE client matters reported by CEE Legal Matters in 2022, a total of fourteen lawyers reached that level in 2023? The 2023 leaderboard was led by Milos Felgr of Clifford Chance in Prague, who worked on a remarkable 20 CEELM-reported client matters last year, with Alper Onar of Istanbul’s Aksan Law Firm, who worked on 19, close behind. Fellow Turk Kerem Turunc, the Managing Partner of Turunc, worked on 17 reported deals, while Djordje Nikolic of NKO Partners in Belgrade worked on 16, and Tomasz Rogalski of Norton Rose Fulbright in Warsaw worked on 15.

Over this winter season, Romania has seen substantial legal changes to various aspects of its wider legal framework – from FDI and competition to consumer protection and taxation – according to Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Partner Alina Radu.

On January 4, 2024, Boyanov & Co announced that the EUR 1.4 billion sale of Cargo-Partner subsidiaries to Nippon Express (reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 17, 2023) had closed.

Kinstellar, working with Linklaters' Madrid office, has advised a consortium of lenders on their EUR 800 million financing for AmRest. Uria Menendez reportedly advised AmRest.

Firon Bar-Nir has advised David Shmuely on the development of a Bucharest residential project through a partnership with a Turkish real estate developer.

In a significant development, a provisional agreement between the Council presidency and the European Parliament has set the stage for a proposed EU law targeting businesses involved in waste generation, operation, or disposal. The agreement, which took place late last year, reflects a commitment to stricter penalties for environmental crimes, doubling the number of offences from the soon-to-be-replaced Directive 2008/99/EC.

Stalfort Energy & Environmental Practice Group Coordinator Laura Neacsu has been promoted to a Partner position with the firm.

Former Counsels Andrei Croitoru and Iustina Oblu have been appointed as Partners with Act Botezatu Estrade Partners.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2023 marching to an end, we looked ahead and asked about strategies for next year: As the budgeting period is around the corner, compared to 2023, what are the main budgeting lines you expect to increase for 2024 and why?

The VAT deduction right is probably the most important topic in the VAT system of the European Union. This is also confirmed by the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, where it represents the most addressed subject.

Schoenherr and sole practitioner Mihaela Aliman have advised Renovatio on its two-pronged transaction with OMV Petrom concerning the sale of a 50% stake in 1-gigawatt renewable projects company Electrocentrale Borzesti and the sale of Renovatio Asset Management, operating more than 400 electric-vehicle charging points in Romania. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised OMV Petrom.

Schoenherr has advised Polish rolling stock manufacturer Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz on a public procurement contract with the Romanian Railway Reform Authority for the delivery of 20 long-distance electric multiple-unit trains.

RTPR has advised Macquarie Asset Management on the sale of CEZ Vanzare to Premier Energy. BSMP Bohalteanu & Asociatii advised Premier Energy.

PGC Partners has advised MediFood International on entering the Romanian market and the establishment of its Romanian operations.

Ijdelea & Associates has advised the Romanian subsidiary of Nano Energies on obtaining a license from the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority "for the aggregation of both producers and consumers."

Wolf Theiss has advised the shareholders of Romania's DRIM Daniel FMCG on the sale of their majority stake in the company to Polish retail company Zabka, part of CVC Capital Partners. DLA Piper advised buyer Zabka Polska.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised the Amethyst Radiotherapy Group on the sale and lease-back of three buildings to the BT Property Alternative Real Estate Investment Fund.

RTPR has advised the Black Sea Fund on its acquisition of Gymboland in Romania. PeliPartners advised Gymboland.