The Commission for Protection of the Competition of North Macedonia (CPC) has significantly intensified its enforcement activities in the food retail sector, signalling a stricter regulatory approach toward potential anti-competitive behaviour.

Asters has advised the International Finance Corporation on the restructuring of a USD 120 million loan facility provided to Nibulon. Baker Botts reportedly advised Nibulon.

Walless has advised Scandi Standard on its EUR 18 million acquisition of six chicken farms in Lithuania.

CMS has advised Nikan Agro on the licensing process before the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission for its 50-megawatt Blatska photovoltaic project.

AP Legal has advised AikBank Beograd and Eurobank Direktna on their merger.

CMS has advised Geosolar Kamenyak on licensing for the 75-megawatt Kamenyak photovoltaic project by the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. 

DLA Piper has promoted Florin Tineghe, Gabor Simon, Michal Gajdus, and Piotr Miller to Partner as part of the firm's latest promotion round.

Kinstellar has promoted Magda Raducanu and Jan Lehky to Partner.

Romania is set to implement a significant legal framework aimed at enhancing the accessibility of products and services for all consumers, particularly those with disabilities.

White & Case Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners has advised Zorlu Enerji on the USD 100 million tap issuance of senior guaranteed sustainability-linked notes due 2030. Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate law firm Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised on the transaction as well.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in Cooperation with Schoenherr has advised Elixir Group on its recent green bond issuance totaling RSD 4.1 billion (approximately EUR 35 million). 

CMS has advised the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency of the Slovak Republic on the issuance of its first retail government bonds. 

In the last few months, the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of North Macedonia (the “Commission”) has stepped up its enforcement efforts of antitrust rules and food supply chain practices in the country.

The Romanian competition landscape has constantly been at the intersection of significant investment activity and intense regulatory enforcement.

North Macedonia has taken a significant step in regulating market competition with the enactment of the Law on the Prohibition of Unfair Trade Practices in the Supply Chain of Agricultural and Food Products (Law).

North Macedonia has taken a significant step in regulating market competition with the enactment of the Law on the Prohibition of Unfair Trade Practices in the Supply Chain of Agricultural and Food Products (Law).

CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.

Contributed by Arzinger.

DLA Piper has promoted Florin Tineghe, Gabor Simon, Michal Gajdus, and Piotr Miller to Partner as part of the firm's latest promotion round.

Merve Akkus and Elif Yaver have joined Tunc, Firat, Dereli's Corporate and M&A group as Partners.

Gessel has advised DP Polska Spolka Akcyjna on the sale of Mastergrupa to Domino’s Pizza Poland.

The Romanian energy sector has been a hot topic in recent years due to market developments as well as to the legal framework which continued to adapt to governmental policies and the market’s needs. 2024 was no exception to this trend, with several milestones reached, and 2025 is expected to bring further changes and evolutions on the market.

Romania is accelerating its transition to renewable energy, aiming to expand wind and solar power as key components of its energy mix. In 2024, several new regulations were introduced to incentivize private investment and streamline project approvals, fostering a more attractive environment for green energy development.

Sorainen has advised Eiffel Investment Group on a EUR 20 million debt financing provided by the Eiffel Energy Transition III fund to Envolve Capital.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Dentons has appointed Partner Anna Szymanska as the new Head of Public Procurement in its Warsaw office.

On 7 April 2025, Mr. János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Construction and Transport announced via social media his intention to introduce a major legislative initiative designed to overhaul the oversight of public investments.

TGS Baltic has successfully represented Neverhack Estonia in a dispute arising from the North Estonia Medical Centre’s Cybersecurity Services and Platform 2 public procurement.

Cobalt has advised Creditreform Latvija on a multi-stage reorganization. 

E+H has advised Megatech Industries on its reorganization from financial distress and subsequent sale to Italian mobility supplier Sapa. Wolf Theiss, working with Gianni & Origoni, advised Sapa.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner has advised approximately 38% of the creditors in the restructuring proceedings of Pierer Industrie on a vote under the Restructuring Ordinance in Austria.

Romania continues to experience a significant labor shortage due to widespread emigration and demographic decline, particularly in the construction, trade, and HoReCa (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) sectors.

JDP has promoted former Counsels Joanna Ostojska-Kolodziej and Mariusz Nowakowski to Partners.

The Chamber of Deputies has approved an amendment to the Labour Code, which should increase flexibility in employment relations. Unless something unexpected happens, most of the amendment will become

Schoenherr has advised Austrian health‑tech startup Hi.health and its shareholders on the sale of the business to Pliant. Studio Legal and Dorda advised Pilant.

Schoenherr has advised BPM Capital on providing mezzanine financing for a management buy-in acquisition of Medical Mazella while Gessel advised BNP Paribas Bank Polska on its co-investment in the buyout. Reportedly, Compliance Partners advised co-investor MedPack and Misiewicz, Mosek i Partnerzy advised Medical Mazella.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling has advised CityFit Group on the sale of CityFit fitness clubs chain to Medicover. CMS advised Medicover.

Georgiana Enache has joined KPMG Legal – Toncescu & Associates as Counsel and the firm's new Head of the Litigation team.

On April 8, 2025, the lower Romanian chamber of the Parliament approved the legislative proposal no. 606 (Proposal) that aims to raise the threshold pertaining to the initiation of a specific type of lawsuit concerning debt recovery.

JDP has promoted former Counsels Joanna Ostojska-Kolodziej and Mariusz Nowakowski to Partners.

Romania’s logistics and transportation sector is entering a new era. With the recent regulatory approval of DSV’s acquisition of DB Schenker, the industry is witnessing the most significant consolidation move in over a decade. The deal directly reshapes how logistics providers in Romania position themselves, scale their operations, and recalibrate strategic priorities.

Cerha Hempel has advised Flughafen Wien on a joint venture with international logistics company Bradford Airport Logistics to establish Vienna Airport Logistics GmbH. Sidley Austin and Schoenherr advised Bradford Airport Logistics.

DZP has successfully represented LOT Polish Airlines before the Court of Justice of the European Union against Ryanair.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Your Legal Partners’ Katerina Politopoulou, Maria Golfinopoulou, and Prokopis Linardos Talk About the Deal of the Year in Greece.

Dentons has advised Fio Realitni Fond SICAV on its acquisition the Czech company owning Stara Celnice, from BVK Europa‑Immobilien‑Spezialfonds. Wilsons reportedly advised BVK Europa Immobilien Spezialfonds.

TGS Baltic has advised 2C Ventures on leading a EUR 400,000 investment round in Esgrid that also saw the participation of Lemonade Stand, Startup Wise Guys, and Greenco Ventures.

Former Clifford Chance Senior Partner David Kolacek has joined KKCG as Group Chief Legal Officer.

Sayenko Kharenko has provided pro bono support for a cultural initiative that aims to set war-time poems, written by Ukrainian defenders, to music. 

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

Expropriation is the process of taking or limiting ownership and other property rights over real estate for the purpose of realizing a public interest as defined by law. In the Republic of North Macedonia, this process is regulated by a specific Law on Expropriation.

DLA Piper has promoted Florin Tineghe, Gabor Simon, Michal Gajdus, and Piotr Miller to Partner as part of the firm's latest promotion round.

On April 9, 2025, the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) published a press release with significant implications for urban planning practice and real estate development in Romania.

Camiel van der Meij has joined Drzewiecki Tomaszek & Partners as a Partner.

Kinstellar has announced Maja Mayrhuber as the fourth Partner to join its new Vienna office.

On 11 March 2025, the Ministry of National Economy and the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary published an opinion regarding the taxation of assigning dividend claims into a trust structure.

DLA Piper has promoted Florin Tineghe, Gabor Simon, Michal Gajdus, and Piotr Miller to Partner as part of the firm's latest promotion round.

PRK Partners has advised GoOut on its acquisition of Ticketstream.

In March 2025, the Hungarian Parliament enacted legislation expanding the use of facial recognition technologies in minor offence procedures. The law is a part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing child protection measures, but has sparked considerable legal debate due to potential conflicts with European data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the forthcoming EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Bribery & Corruption in CEE.

Contributed by Arzinger.

Contributed by Selih & Partnerji.