Inflation, currency depreciation, and low foreign currency reserves might lead to early elections in Turkey, but Turunc Partner Kerem Turunc chooses to focus on the positives: the buzz around the startup scene in the country. 

Despite current geopolitical challenges and the related inflation and price hikes, the current situation in Greece is much better compared to the COVID-19 crisis, with increasing interest in the country's hospitality sector, according to Drakopoulos Partner Michalis Kosmopoulos.

All is quiet on the western front for Slovenia – apart from the outcome of the April 2022 parliamentary elections – but concerns over energy, exports, and the potential EU embargo against Russian oil and gas are mounting, according to Karmen Rebesco Law Firm Partner Karmen Rebesco.

Current geopolitical events might revolutionize Moldova’s energy industry, with progress being made on both legal and technical mechanisms, according to Dolea & Co Managing Attorney Sorin Dolea.

The strongest forces shaping the dynamics of legal work in Bulgaria, according to Kinstellar Partner Antonia Mavrova, are the country’s recently approved Recovery and Resilience Plan and the branching consequences of the war in Ukraine.

With inflation rates rising and investors hesitant to bring their capital to Poland, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a vicious circle, according to Penteris Partner Tomasz Kudelski.

As reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 24, 2022, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang announced that the firm has appointed Vitaliy Radchenko as a new Managing Partner in Kyiv, replacing Graham Conlon who held the role for five years. CEELM sat down with Radchenko and CMS CMNO CEE Managing Director Dora Petranyi to discuss the appointment and the firm's outlook for the future of the Kyiv office.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELMDirect online legal directory. Today’s interview: Katarina Mihalikova, Co-Founding Partner at Majernik & Mihalikova in Slovakia.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELMDirect online legal directory. Today’s interview: Victor Gugushev, Senior Partner at the Gugushev & Partners Law Office in Bulgaria.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELM Direct online legal directory. Today’s interview: Gergely Szabo, Partner at the Ban, S. Szabo, Rausch & Partners Law Office in Budapest.

With the increasing EU emphasis on regulating digital financial services and a growing market for them in the Czech Republic, CEE Legal Matters spoke to Noerr Attorneys-at-Law Filip Murar and Ludek Chvosta about the local regulatory framework, the pace of its development, and the ways in which the market has responded.

An in-depth look at Michal Simunic of Cechova & Partners covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

On March 9, 2022, four leading Estonian lawyers sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the current state of the startup environment in Estonia and analyze its main drivers, the local startup ecosystem, and the regulatory environment shaping it.

On March 10, five leading lawyers in Serbia sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the current state and outlook of the renewables market in Serbia, with topics covered including the goals set and the country's National Renewable Energy Action Plan, the challenges presented by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the "conservative wave" in the country, the main players and the deals pipeline in the sector, the availability of green financing for renewable projects in the country, as well as the biggest regulatory hurdles currently still affecting renewables in Serbia and the participants' wishlist of what could be done to remove some of these obstacles.

On February 25, four leading lawyers in Turkey sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the Turkish technology sector, its recent developments, and the technology sector-related regulatory landscape.

On February 24, four leading lawyers in Croatia sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea. The conversation focused on the current state of affairs of ESG in the country at the moment and the challenges of raising awareness in the topic.

On January 18, six leading real estate lawyers in Romania sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea. The conversation focused on the current state of affairs in the real estate sector, looking at who the main players are, the hottest assets, deal-making trends in the sector, and more.

On October 7, six leading labor lawyers in Hungary sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea. The conversation focused on the current state of affairs of labor regulations in Hungary and their evolution over the pandemic-marked last few months.

The following situation would cause me to pull my hair out – if I had any left.

When we think of a crisis, what usually comes to our mind is an unexpected, negative event, with a limited duration.

After billing 500 hours for the past month, you finally found some quality time to write an article for your loving clients. After you send it out, you watch your phone with bated breath, anticipating that avalanche of new business that’s just about to pour in. Then, nothing.

Over thirty years ago, journalists reported that a chemical had been released into the water pipes of Durand, Michigan. They warned citizens that the chemical DHMO could accelerate corrosion and in certain situations even cause suffocation. The city’s inhabitants were beside themselves in panic.

Once upon a time, you were a pretty good speaker, dominating the law conference circuit. Now, you find yourself holding webinars in your pajamas. Things got weird, fast.

Everyone knows that law firm pitches are terrible, and nobody is happy about it – not the lawyers, not the marketing/BD teams, and definitely not the clients.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Dentons has worked on the most deals reported on the CEE Legal Matters website this year: a remarkable 44 as of May 24, 2022. CMS is in second place with 33 deals reported on the website, with Clifford Chance (31), Sorainen (29), and Allen & Overy (25) rounding out the top five.

As reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 24, 2022, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang announced that the firm has appointed Vitaliy Radchenko as a new Managing Partner in Kyiv, replacing Graham Conlon who held the role for five years. CEELM sat down with Radchenko and CMS CMNO CEE Managing Director Dora Petranyi to discuss the appointment and the firm's outlook for the future of the Kyiv office.

With the global pandemic, high inflation rates, and the war in Ukraine being the main drivers of work in Serbia, PR Legal’s Corporate and M&A practice has been quite busy, according to PR Legal Partner Milan Petrovic.

Inflation, currency depreciation, and low foreign currency reserves might lead to early elections in Turkey, but Turunc Partner Kerem Turunc chooses to focus on the positives: the buzz around the startup scene in the country. 

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELMDirect online legal directory. Today’s interview: Katarina Mihalikova, Co-Founding Partner at Majernik & Mihalikova in Slovakia.

Despite current geopolitical challenges and the related inflation and price hikes, the current situation in Greece is much better compared to the COVID-19 crisis, with increasing interest in the country's hospitality sector, according to Drakopoulos Partner Michalis Kosmopoulos.