With ESG and AI becoming increasingly important for all businesses, the two are set to impact law firms in Hungary as well while the country looks to tackle immigration reforms and enhance consumer protections, according to Schoenherr Hungary Managing Partner Daniel Gera. Against this background, a noticeable trend of FDI sources tilting East is registered.

Schoenherr has advised the B&C Group on the sale of a 15% stake in Lenzing to Suzano and on the establishment of a long-term shareholder syndicate. Freshfields advised Suzano.

Schoenherr, working with Ashurst, has advised Ergo Vorsorge Lebensversicherung and DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung on the EUR 90 million refinancing for Vantage Group’s rental housing portfolio in Poland.

Schoenherr, working with Wenger Vieli and CCA Law Firm, has advised Ascent Group on the acquisition of Parkside Informationstechnologie, with subsidiaries in Switzerland and Portugal. Herbst Kinsky advised the sellers.

Schoenherr, working with Jones Day, has advised HES International on its EUR 1 billion debt capital raise. Wardynski and Partners, working with Latham & Watkins, advised the National Westminster Bank and Kroll Trustee Services Limited on the raise.

Schoenherr, working with Legance and Ypog, has advised Verdane on its investment in Fiskaly. Herbst Kinsky advised Fiskaly.

The Hungarian Parliament recently adopted amendments to the notarial procedure, introducing significant changes that affect the reading of documents during notarial acts from 1 January 2025.

The Romanian Energy Regulator (ANRE) recently published a proposal for a new procedure regarding the passporting in Romania of energy or natural gas supply and trading licenses issued in other EU countries, based on ANRE’s confirmatory decisions (New Passporting Procedure).

Class Actions Act in force: a game-changer in consumer claims enforcement against businesses in the Czech Republic?

Schoenherr has advised the BHM Group on the sale of its majority stake in the Block Group to the Czech investment fund Central Europe Industry Partners. Rowan Legal reportedly advised CEIP.

Schoenherr has advised Storyblok on its USD 80 million Series C financing led by US investment firm Brighton Park Capital. Wolf Theiss, working with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, advised Brighton Park Capital.

Moravcevic, Vojnovic, and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr has advised Menzies Aviation on a joint venture with Air Serbia. Markovic, Vukotic, Jovkovic advised Air Serbia.

The development of the hydrogen economy has been recognised as one of the priorities for the implementation of the European Green Deal, the main goal of which is to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. Poland is Europe's third-largest producer of hydrogen; however, its production is done exclusively with fossil fuels for companies' own needs. The regulations currently in force in Poland do not provide adequate conditions for the effective implementation of the strategy for the development of the green (renewable) hydrogen market.

Discussing the draft bill aimed at increasing the contribution to legal costs for suspects not found guilty in criminal proceedings. Recently, the government has published its revised bill.

Wolf Theiss has advised Addiko Bank on navigating the takeover bids submitted by Agri Europe Cyprus Limited and Nova Ljubljanska Banka. Cerha Hempel advised Agri Europe. Schoenherr advised NLB.

Schoenherr has advised Chengdu Datang Communication Cable on the establishment of its Hungarian subsidiary, Zettanet Kft., and the acquisition of a 25,000-square-meter industrial site in Kisber from Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Limited. Sole practitioner Zsolt Fuesthy advised the sellers.

Schoenherr has advised Piraeus Bank on the sale of its participation in a EUR 400 million primarily non-performing exposures portfolio to APS. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised APS.

Schoenherr has advised Santander Bank Polska on its financing agreement with publicly listed company OEX to support the acquisition of a majority stake in Loyalty Point.