In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
The Corner Office: Skills of Tomorrow
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. Given the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the legal profession, we asked: What is the one critical skill that you’re investing time and energy in to develop within your team, and why?
Slovakia: The Problem with Building Permits
Permitting of any projects is a long-standing problem in the Slovak Republic. In international surveys, Slovakia ranks at the bottom, as it takes an average of 300 days to permit a simple building such as a family house. This problem becomes much more acute in the case of constructions that are more complicated and require the assessment of several administrative bodies or may have a significant impact on the environment.
Kinstellar and CMS Advise on SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance's Acquisition of Austrian Airlines Technik – Bratislava
Kinstellar has advised Dutch aircraft maintenance provider SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance on the acquisition of Austrian Airlines Technik – Bratislava. CMS, working with Netherlands-based BarentsKrans, advised Austrian Airlines on the sell side.
Nedelka Kubac Advokati Successful for Klement in Energy Cartel Case
Nedelka Kubac Advokati has successfully represented Klement in an energy construction bid rigging case before the Slovak Competition Authority.
Employment Brief: Clarification of guidelines on Whistleblowing Officers in Slovakia
The requirements for the Whistleblowing Officer’s (WO) role are covered by various guidelines that have been published by the Slovak Office for Protection of Whistleblowers over the past several months. The multitude of information sources now requires clarification, as the role of the WO leading internal investigations of reports is becoming increasingly prominent.
Key Takeaways From Year One of the Slovak FDI regime
The first comprehensive Slovak foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime entered into force on 1 March 2023. Now that the first year of this new FDI regime is behind us, below we summarise the key takeaways based on our practical experience with this law.
Taylor Wessing Advises Denkstatt on Integration with EY in Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia
Taylor Wessing has advised the shareholders of the international Denkstatt Group on its integration with EY in Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. EY Law reportedly advised EY.
CMS Unveils New Managing Partners in Prague and Bratislava
CMS has appointed Tomas Matejovsky as the new Managing Partner of CMS Prague and Juraj Fuska as the new Managing Partner of CMS (CMNO) in Bratislava, effective May 1, 2024.
CEELM Deal of the Year Awards Banquet: And the Winner Is…
On the evening of April 25, 2024, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms in the region in Warsaw.
Preparing Companies for New Cybersecurity Obligations
The question is not "if" you will face a cyberattack, but "when". Ensure your cyberspace is resilient to security risks early. New cybersecurity regulation will impact many Slovak companies this year and next.
Transformative Legal Changes: Slovakia's New Transformations Landscape
1 March 2024 marks the date when the Transformations Act No. 309/2023 came into force in Slovakia. This regulation comprehensively outlines the procedures for national and cross-border mergers, divisions, and conversions of companies and cooperatives, moving away from the previously scattered provisions in the Commercial Code.
Noerr's Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, and Prague Offices To Transfer to Kinstellar
Noerr has announced it is taking "a new direction in its business in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe," with its Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, and Slovak offices to be transferred to Kinstellar.
Hospital Debt: The Scourge of the Supply Chain
There are few healthcare reforms that could be called revolutionary. Even fewer have been initiated in the courtroom. Case C-412/23 could be one of those rare cases. On July 5, 2023, the European Commission brought an action against the Slovak Republic for allegedly infringing Directive 2011/7 on combating late payment in commercial transactions by continuously failing in 2015, 2016, 2017, and from 2018 onward to ensure that public entities providing healthcare pay their commercial debts within a maximum period of 60 calendar days.
New Legislation Impacting Transformations of Companies and Introduction of Spin-Offs
Recently, Slovak legislation underwent a significant change with the adoption of the Act on Transformations of Commercial Companies and Cooperatives. Effective as of March 1, 2024, the act marks a departure from previous regulations within the Slovak Commercial Code, which had grown rather inflexible and outdated in the area of corporate transformations.
The Debrief: April 2024
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
Allen & Overy Advises Lenders on EUR 100 Million Financing for ITIS Holding's Acquisition of Vitronic Machine Vision
Allen & Overy has advised Raiffeisen Bank International and a syndicate of lenders on their EUR 100 million financing package for ITIS Holding to support the acquisition of Vitronic Machine Vision. BBH reportedly advised the borrowers.
Slovakia Aims for Investor-Friendly but Fair Legislation: A Buzz Interview with Peter Vrabel of Legate
Slovakia is witnessing an increased number of vital amendments across legal sectors, from construction to cybersecurity, tax law, and criminal law, according to Legate Managing Partner Peter Vrabel, who posits that these changes aim to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and bolster investor confidence.