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.

Kocian Solc Balastik and Nitschneider & Partners have advised the Seyfor Group on its acquisition of NCC from its founders. Zahradnik reportedly advised the sellers.

A tax reform, updated labor costs, and ESG compliance challenges are some of the main challenges facing businesses in Slovakia at the moment, according to CMS Partner Sona Hankova.

Former NGL Symbio alliance founding members Rowan Legal, Erdos Partners, Biris Goran, and HKV have announced a new set-up under the Horizons Alliance brand.

Renatus Kollar and Lucia Raimanova have been appointed as Co-Managing Partners of A&O Shearman's Bratislava Office.

Martin Jurecko has joined CMS as a Partner in its Bratislava office's Real Estate practice.

Ments has launched a new Dispute Resolution practice in Slovakia with the addition of Counsel Tomas Langer and Associate Anna Kocurova.

In recent weeks, the Slovak Parliament has approved two laws that could substantially increase labour costs for employers in Slovakia. One amendment to the Minimum Wage Act raises the automatic determination rate of the minimum wage, while another introduces a new contribution to cover sports activities for employees' children.

The National Council of the Slovak Republic has recently approved significant changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates, which will come into effect as of January 1, 2025. Here are the key updates:

On October 25, 2024, White & Case has announced that E&'s acquisition of PPF Telecom Bulgarian, Hungarian, Serbian, and Slovakian assets (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 9, 2023) has now closed.

From 1 April 2025, Slovakia will introduce a new financial transactions tax (daň z finančných transakcií) as part of the government´s consolidation package. This is not an early April fools' day joke.

Dentons, working with E+H, has advised a club of senior lenders, led by Tatra Banka as the global coordinator, on financing for Tatry Mountain Resorts consisting of a EUR 180 million senior facility and a EUR 110 million junior facility. Kinstellar advised J&T Banka as the junior lender. A&O Shearman advised Tatry Mountain Resorts.

Earlier in 2024, DLA Piper published its Medical Devices Advertising: CEE Comparison Guide, which reviews advertising regulations for medical devices in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Life sciences team members who worked on the guide spoke with CEE Legal Matters about some of the regulatory differences across CEE and the practical implications for businesses.