Contributed by Ments.

The latest DLA Piper GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey provides a comprehensive overview of data protection enforcement trends across Europe, including the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. CEE countries are in the mid-range in terms of total GDPR fines imposed since the regulation became applicable in 2018 and for last year, but enforcement activity is steadily increasing. Here are the latest trends and legal developments in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

Allen & Overy Shearman Sterling has advised on the approximately EUR 3.6 billion refinancing of Slovenske Elektrarne. Clifford Chance advised the UniCredit Bank-led banking club.

Nechala & Partners has announced it successfully represented Zdruzenie Realitnuch Kancelarii Slovenska and software provider BackOffice in their complaint before the Slovak Antimonopoly Office regarding United Classifieds.

Kinstellar has advised Mitiska REIM fund First Retail International 2 on the acquisition of land in Bratislava for the construction of the Podunajska Brana retail park via a joint venture between Mitiska Group and Asset Services.

CMS has promoted Martina Gavalec and Natalia Janoskova to Partner at the firm’s Slovakia office.

Havel & Partners has advised the founders of Luigi’s Box on establishing an employee stock ownership plan. 

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 turn our attention to setting up new practices and ask: When launching a new practice, what is your go-to strategy – do you look at internal team members to spearhead it, or are you more likely to turn to lateral hires? Why?

Competition clauses are found in a number of European jurisdictions. Slovak legislation on post-employment non-compete clauses is characterized by: the obligation to agree on a non-compete clause in an employment contract, the possibility to agree on it only with a certain type of employee, time limitation, and remuneration.

Dentons has advised VUJE on a cooperation agreement with Newcleo.

Squire Patton Boggs has successfully represented the Slovak Republic in an investment treaty claim originally worth USD 2.11 billion.

Dentons has advised Photoneo on the sale of its business to the Chicago-based Zebra Technologies. A&O Shearman's London office reportedly advised Zebra.

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

Havel & Partners has advised Photoneo on USD 12 million debt and equity financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Brightpick. Bird & Bird advised the EBRD.

White & Case has advised TPG Real Estate on the EUR 470 million sale of CT Real Estate to funds managed by Blackstone. Schoenherr, working with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, advised Blackstone. Talers reportedly advised TPG Real Estate as well.

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?

On December 12, 2024, Wolf Theiss announced that Standard Motor Products' acquisition of Nissens Automotive (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 23, 2024) has closed.

Peterka & Partners has appointed Bratislava-based Attorney at Law Michal Rampasek as the new Co-Leader of its Polish desk.