As part of the broader effort to harmonise national legislation with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the Albanian Data Protection Commissioner issued Instruction No. 2, dated 30 April 2025 (Instruction No. 2), on the protection of personal data in the health sector. This Instruction repeals the previous 2020 framework and establishes a comprehensive set of rules governing the collection, use, and disclosure of health and genetic data.

The Bank of Albania has introduced a new regulatory framework on marketing and advertising by financial institutions, significantly enhancing consumer protection and transparency in the financial sector. The changes, enacted through Decision No. 11, dated 5 February 2025, amend the Regulation “On Transparency for Banking and Financial Products and Services” and enter into force on 1 May 2025.

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

Schoenherr and Cerha Hempel have advised OMV on global regulatory filings, including merger control procedures before the European Commission and national competition authorities, related to the combination of OMV subsidiary Borealis, ADNOC subsidiary Borouge, and NOVA Chemicals. White & Case's Dubai office reportedly advised OMV as well. Freshfields, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, and Latham & Watkins reportedly advised ADNOC.

E+H has advised Munich-based investment firm VTC on its acquisition of NBG Group from NBG Bauer as part of a broader succession plan. Hasch & Partner advised NBG Bauer. DKFE Attorneys at Law acted as one of the trustees and also advised the other trustee, acting for the financing banks’ syndicate. BPV Huegel reportedly advised NBG Group.

CMS has advised Bruker Corporation on its acquisition of Biocrates Life Sciences.

Contributed by Arzinger

The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures. 

Gecic Law has successfully represented Arena Channels Group, alongside BH Telecom and Mtel Banja Luka, in an antitrust dispute before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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 asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling has advised Citigroup Global Markets Europe, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, and J.P. Morgan as joint bookrunners and joint lead managers, as well as The Law Debenture Trust Corporation as trustee, on the EUR 700 million issuance of 8% senior guaranteed green notes by Energo-Pro. Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, member of Eversheds Sutherland, advised the issuer. BLC Law Office and White & Case and its Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners reportedly advised the issuer and guarantors. Boyanov & Co and, reportedly, BGI Advisory Services advised the joint bookrunners, the joint lead managers, and the trustee as well.

Kinstellar has advised First Big Orange Garden on its acquisition of the FairPlay Business Hub from Fairplay International. Jordanov, Ignatov & Ivanov reportedly advised Fairplay International.

Tabakov, Tabakova & Partners has advised Mineral Water Hissar on the protected designation of origin registration of Naturalna mineralna voda Hissar / Naturalna mineralna voda Hissarya / Hissarska naturalna mineralna voda in the Register of Geographical Indications of the European Union.

The intersection of law and emerging technologies has kept the TMT team at MGG Law Office exceptionally busy, with a sharp focus on AI, machine learning, and their commercial applications. Partner Dino Gliha says the practice has been driven by both the rapid pace of innovation and a fluid regulatory landscape that’s forcing businesses to proactively rethink compliance, governance, and strategic planning.

Croatia’s transactional and legal landscape is heating up, with a strong pre-summer push across multiple sectors and a growing alignment with international standards, according to Gospic Plazina Stojs Partner Matea Gospic Plazina, who reports that this environment is driving fresh momentum in capital markets, M&A, and the increasingly layered world of family wealth management.

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.

White & Case has advised CEZ Group on the issuance of EUR 750 million in 4.125% sustainability-linked notes due in 2033, under the company’s updated EUR 8 billion EMTN program with CaixaBank, Citigroup Global Markets Europe, Intesa Sanpaolo, Raiffeisen Bank International, SMBC Bank EU, Societe Generale, and UniCredit Bank as the joint lead managers and PKO Bank Polski as co-manager. Dentons advised the banks.

Kocian, Solc, Balastik has advised J&T on the launch of a bond issuance program for the EMMA Capital investment group. White & Case reportedly advised EMMA Capital.

Kinstellar has appointed Karla Rundtova as the Co-Head of the firm-wide Automotive & Industrials Sector.

Zepos & Yannopoulos has advised Procureship on an investment from True Wind Capital.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos has advised Sitecore on the sale of its Moosend business, including both company shares and related assets, to Constant Contact. Bernitsas advised Constant Contact.

Zepos & Yannopoulos, working with LLA Logos Legal Advisor, has advised Tao Digital Solutions on its acquisition of Software Competitiveness International.

Oppenheim has advised MagNet Bank on the acquisition of a controlling participation in Polgari Bank. Gardos, Mosonyi, Tomori advised the sellers.

Diverse trends, selective focuses and energy-efficient solutions will define the real estate market in 2025, according to DLA Piper Hungary's annual real estate intelligence report. Here is a summary of some of the key trends featured in the Hungarian Real Estate Intelligence Report. 

Countries in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region have set ambitious targets to increase the share of renewable energy sources. However, in many cases, there remains a significant gap between planned objectives and the actual installed energy generation capacities. Support schemes implemented in various countries—such as CAPEX subsidies—are increasingly making the sector attractive to investors, which in turn stimulates mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity. The growing reliance on weather-dependent renewable electricity generation is also driving substantial investment demand in energy storage. Additionally, the region is seeing a rise in R+D projects focused on small modular reactors (SMRs) and alternative fuels, while the Li-ion battery recycling market is expected to experience explosive growth.

Pohla & Hallmagi has successfully represented Rein Valk and Luite Arendus OU before the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Estonia against Harju Infra OU in a case concerning limitation periods applicable to claims between companies and shareholders.

TGS Baltic has advised Lendurai on a EUR 5.5 million investment round led by Expeditions Fund, HCVC, and Vsquared Ventures. Ellex advised the investors.

Cobalt has promoted former Managing Associate Rauno Ligi to Partner.

Kosovo is in political limbo after the February elections, with stalled government formation affecting key decisions, according to Ardian Rexha, an Attorney at Law associated with Deloitte Kosova. At the same time, energy reforms and price hikes by the regulator are causing strong reactions from businesses and the public.

Kosovo is accelerating its energy transition, SEPA integration, and corporate transparency, aligning with EU standards to boost investment, competition, and economic stability, according to Nallbani Law Office Managing Partner Delvina Nallbani.

On the evening of April 1, 2025, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, over 200 top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and General Counsel from across the region in Prague.

Sorainen has advised Activate Capital on its investment in Aerones as part of a USD 62 million round. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo reportedly advised Activate Capital as well.

TGS Baltic has successfully represented LDZ Cargo and its parent company in overturning a EUR 5.7 million fine imposed by the Latvian Competition Council for alleged abuse of dominant position in the rail freight sector.

Cobalt has advised Rigas Udens on its EUR 20 million European Green Bond issuance and admission to trading on the Nasdaq Baltic Bond List with Signet Bank as the bond program arranger and dealer.

Sorainen has successfully represented Gintarine Vaistine and Limedika in an antitrust case before Lithuanian courts, resulting in the annulment of over EUR 25 million in cartel fines imposed by the Lithuanian Competition Council.

Cytowski & Partners and Motieka & Audzevicius have advised Lithuania-based SintraAi on its USD 17 million seed financing round, which saw the participation from Earlybird Ventures, Inovo VC, Practice Capital, and several angel investors from Silicon Valley and Central and Eastern Europe. Goodwin reportedly advised Earlybird Ventures. 

Sorainen has advised UAB Sostines Bokstai on the launch of the sixth tranche of its bond issue. 

In a progressive move towards formalising seasonal and occasional work, the Assembly of North Macedonia has adopted a groundbreaking law to regulate temporary employment across key sectors. This legislative development aims to streamline the hiring process for temporary workers while ensuring they receive essential social security benefits.

Starting from 29 May 2025 a new Energy Law starts to apply in North Macedonia. This new regulatory framework serves for transposition of the Clean Energy Package into the national legislation and introducing major novelties, such as new development process for energy generation and storage capacities, integration of e-mobility to the electricity grid, additional possibilities for development of natural gas and heating networks, etc.

On 14 May 2025, significant changes were made to North Macedonia’s personal data protection legislation. The Assembly of the Republic passed an amendment to expand the nations where personal data can be shared freely, without facing third-country transfer restrictions.

On 17 March 2025, a new Regulation of the Moldovan Competition Council (the "MCC") on Economic Concentrations (the "New EC Regulation") entered into force in Moldova (as secondary legislation). It introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing the enforcement of competition legislation and increasing transparency. The New EC Regulation transposes several European Union regulations, including the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/914 of 20 April 2023 and the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations 2023/C 160/01.

On 22 April 2025, Law No. 66/2025 on combating delayed performance of payment obligations in contracts between professionals or between professionals and public authorities was published ("Law No. 66").

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

JPM Partners has advised MFI Flex Credit on obtaining a license to operate as a microcredit financial institution from the Central Bank of Montenegro.

PPPs represent a long-term collaboration between the public and private sectors, enabling more efficient construction, maintenance, and management of infrastructure, with an optimal distribution of risks and financial obligations.

The Draft Law on Mediation in the Sale and Lease of Real Estate, following public consultation in the summer of 2023, is expected to be submitted to Parliament for adoption shortly.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised LOT Polish Airlines on its purchase agreement with Airbus Canada for the acquisition of up to 84 Airbus A220 aircraft, comprising 40 firm orders and options and purchase rights for an additional 44 aircraft.

Greenberg Traurig has advised the CCC Group on its debt refinancing involving the early redemption of Modivo bonds previously acquired by Softbank, financed through a term loan granted by UniCredit. Clifford Chance reportedly advised Softbank. White & Case reportedly advised UniCredit.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling has advised Bank Polska Kasa Opieki on its successful issuance of EUR 500 million in 3.750% senior non-preferred fixed-to-floating rate notes due 2031. Bank Pekao, Commerzbank, J.P. Morgan, Societe Generale, and UniCredit were the joint lead managers. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised the banks.

Heightened institutional scrutiny and evolving enforcement have kept Popescu & Asociatii's white-collar practice exceptionally busy, with EU-fund mandates, tax-evasion probes, and cybercrime cases leading the charge, according to Partner Adrian Chirvase.

RTPR has advised Tensa Art Design and its shareholders, Daniel Craciun, Florin Nita, and ATM Ventures, on an investment from OH Holding. Filip & Company advised OH Holding.

Bondoc si Asociatii, working with White & Case, has advised CVC Capital Partners on a joint venture with Therme Group, in a transaction valued at EUR 1 billion. Slaughter and May and K&L Gates reportedly advised Therme Group.

Contributed by Clifford Chance.

Contributed by Alrud.

The commercial legal markets of Central & Eastern Europe didn’t appear automatically. They didn’t develop in a vacuum. They were formed, shaped, and led, by lawyers – visionary, hard-working, commercially-minded, and client-focused individuals pulling the development of CEE’s legal markets along behind them as they labored relentlessly for their clients, their careers, their futures. 

Vukovic & Partners Firm has advised JCG on its acquisition of Tivao Sub Properties from Atlas E75. VN Legal reportedly advised Atlas E75.

JPM & Partners’ energy practice has been busy with projects ranging from drafting Network Codes for transmission system operators, expanding Serbia's gas storage, advising on certification for and obtaining different energy licenses, and the developments of several renewable energy projects, their regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation, according to Senior Partner Jelena Gazivoda, with the current breadth and complexity of energy-related mandates stemming from a pronounced investment cycle in the energy sector of Serbia.

In our previous practice, we have assisted clients in the course of implementation of AI systems (“AIS”), i.e., assessment of the impact of risks of AIS, especially in the medical and research sector. While working on these projects, we came to the conclusion that many companies overlook obligations or are not even aware of risks for safety, health and fundamental human rights which are tied to the implementation and use of high-risk AIS and can result in significant compliance risks under the applicable legal framework.

The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic recently presented a draft of a new legislation governing the Slovak Commercial Register, amending the Slovak Commercial Code and other acts (New Legislation).

Kocian, Solc, Balastik has advised J&T on the launch of a bond issuance program for the EMMA Capital investment group. White & Case reportedly advised EMMA Capital.

The National Labour Inspectorate's report on the status of equality and discrimination in employment relations for the year 2024 shows that discrimination in the workplace is a hot topic.

Slovenia’s dynamic political environment is keeping the legal market on its toes, with pressing developments in taxation, employment law, cybersecurity, capital markets, and infrastructure all demanding close attention, according to Peterka Partners Senior Associate and Head of Slovenian office Pia Florjancic Pozeg Vancas.

Sibincic, Novak & Partners and Doklestic, Repic & Gajin have advised Intersport ISI on its exit from the Serbian market via the sale of its stores to N Sport. Mrakovic, Markovic & Partners advised N Sport.

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is currently witnessing a substantial increase in the development of Class A office spaces. Over the next three years, the city is set to introduce more than 100,000 square meters of new Class A office spaces. These developments are characterized by modern designs and a strong emphasis on sustainability, aiming to achieve energy certifications that are crucial for ESG compliance.

Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate firm Esin Attorney Partnership have advised Akbank on its TRY 3.9 billion (approximately USD 100 million) mortgage-backed covered bond issuance to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Allen Overy Shearman Sterling and its Turkish affiliate firm Gedik & Eraksoy advised the EBRD.

Interim attachment is a provisional remedy under the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004 [the “EBL”] which individuals or legal entities can request for their monetary claims. Thanks to this institution, the debtor’s assets could be frozen to secure due yet unsecured debts, and as a result, the debtor would be forced to pay its debt.

White & Case and its Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners have advised joint bookrunners Citigroup Global Markets, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC Bank, ING Bank, and BofA Securities on the USD 300 million Rule 144A/Reg S Eurobond issuance by Cimko Cimento ve Beton Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi.

The intersection of law and emerging technologies has kept the TMT team at MGG Law Office exceptionally busy, with a sharp focus on AI, machine learning, and their commercial applications. Partner Dino Gliha says the practice has been driven by both the rapid pace of innovation and a fluid regulatory landscape that’s forcing businesses to proactively rethink compliance, governance, and strategic planning.

Redcliffe Partners’ competition practice is driven by increased enforcement and transactional activities, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, retail, and agribusiness, according to Co-Head of Competition Yuriy Terentyev. Key factors include regulatory changes, strategic investments, and Ukraine's alignment with EU competition law, which have spurred demand for merger control assessments and compliance advice.

Digest of recent legislative developments in the fields of energy and natural resources.