The Government of the Republic of Serbia recently adopted a Decree on Additional Requirements for Placing on the Market Products Containing Palm Oil, Palm Fat, or Other Vegetable Oils and Fats ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 47/2025), which entered into force on 7 June 2025 (“the Decree”).

Greenberg Traurig has represented Animex Foods and Agri Plus on the sale of part of their goose processing business to Cedrob.

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.

Fort Legal has advised Axiology on obtaining a license enabling the company to operate as a depository, exchange, and broker in Lithuania.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in Cooperation with Schoenherr has advised UniCredit Bank Serbia and Structured Invest on the establishment of UniCredit Invest JSC, a UCITS management company licensed in Serbia.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Paysera North Macedonia on obtaining an Electronic Money Institution license.

Harrisons has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the EUR 10 million loan to NLB Komercijalna Banka in Serbia, as part of the EBRD’s Go Digital in the Western Balkans program.

Reals has advised UniCredit Bank CZ & SK on the acquisition financing, refinancing, and reconstruction funding of three Albert hypermarkets. Giese & Partners advised Helaba on the refinancing of one of the hypermarkets. 

Dentons and its Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Eymirlioglu Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership have advised a syndicate of lenders, including Mizuho Bank, Mashreqbank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, among others, on the renewal of QNB Bank’s USD 600 million sustainability multi-tranche term loan facility.

White & Case has advised Orlen on the issuance of EUR 600 million in seven-year unsecured green bonds with a 3.625% annual coupon.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling has advised PKO Bank Polski on the issuance of EUR 500 million in 3.625% green senior non-preferred callable fixed-to-floating interest rate notes due 2031. White & Case reportedly advised joint lead managers BNP Paribas, Erste, PKO Bank Polski, UBS, and UniCredit.

Filip & Company has advised Banca Comerciala Romana, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Europe, ING Bank, J.P. Morgan, Raiffeisen Bank International, BT Capital Partners, Intesa Sanpaolo, Societe Generale, and UniCredit Bank on the EUR 500 million green bond issuance by Societatea Energetica Electrica. Clifford Chance advised Electrica.

RTPR has obtained a final decision reducing a fine imposed by Romania’s Competition Council on Zenith by over 85%.

Budapest-based Dentons Partner Rob Irving has been reappointed as the Co-Head of Corporate and M&A, while Warsaw-based Partner Agnieszka Stefanowicz-Baranska has been appointed the Co-Head of the Competition and Antitrust practice.

Integrites has initiated an antidumping investigation on behalf of Ukratlantik LLC and Hydroprom LLC, targeting imports of electric storage water heaters from China into Ukraine.

In a significant development for the personal data protection landscape in Albania, the Council of Ministers has adopted Decision No. 347, dated 19 June 2025, establishing a new state database titled “Electronic Registry of Data Protection Officers” (DPO Registry). This marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to align its data governance infrastructure with international and European standards, in line with the newly reformed legal framework on personal data protection.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

As Brussels adopts one of the most ambitious environmental regulations in recent years, Albania once again finds itself at a familiar crossroads. The country faces pressure to align but still lacks the institutional capacity and market readiness to act meaningfully.

With the adoption of the Amendment and Supplement to the Investment Promotion Act (the “FDI Act”) in March 2024, along with the publication in the State Gazette of the long-awaited secondary legislation – the Amendment and Supplement to the Rules on the Implementation of the Investment Promotion Act (the “Rules”) –on 22 July 2025, the FDI screening regime became applicable in Bulgaria. Transactions by foreign investors in the areas outlined in the law, above the set thresholds, would need to obtain FDI approval before closing.

Sorainen has advised the shareholders of UAB Peraltis on the sale of their business to UAB Ronelda.

CMS has advised Inter Europol on its acquisition of Pan-Pek from Enterprise VII private equity fund. Schoenherr advised the sellers.

Luiza Alexandra Ionescu has joined Stratulat Albulescu as Special Counsel and the firm's new Head of the Energy Department. Ionescu joins alongside Industry Expert Andreea Paraschiv.

White & Case has advised Orlen on the issuance of EUR 600 million in seven-year unsecured green bonds with a 3.625% annual coupon.

Havel & Partners has advised OMV Group on an electric mobility joint venture with Prazska Energetika. Krutak & Partners advised Prazska Energetika.

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.

Ilyashev & Partners has advised the Estonian Centre for International Development on the registration and legal implementation of an international technical assistance project in Ukraine, aimed at constructing a modern family-type orphanage in the Zhytomyr region.

Lambadarios has advised the four systemic Greek banks Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, and the National Bank of Greece on the EUR 1.3 billion financing of the new Northern Road Axis of Crete. Marinos Petroulias advised the developer, GEK Terna.

Wardynski & Partners has advised ICEYE on the contract to supply a MicroSAR Satellite Earth Observation System to the Polish Armed Forces.

Czech insolvency law provides multiple options for resolving corporate insolvency. Alongside liquidation and reorganisation—which aim to wind down or rehabilitate a business—the law also offers preventive restructuring tools. These early intervention mechanisms allow a company to address temporary financial difficulties without initiating formal insolvency proceedings. 

Freshfields has advised Traton on the implementation of a new joint group R&D organization across its brands Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has secured the admission of a revision against a final judgment ordering the dissolution of the Bucharest Municipal Football Association, as well as the definitive rejection of the applications for dissolution of the association.

On 14 June 2025, Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Organisation of Labour Relations under Martial Law" Regarding Information Exchange and Suspension of Employment Agreements" (the "Law") entered into force.

This Legal Monitoring Report highlights key legislative developments in Moldova, including the launch of a grant program for tech start-ups, proposed excise duty reductions for small producers, extended paternity leave, enhanced protections for minor employees, regulation of temporary agency work, and time limits on meal voucher usage. Tax updates feature a new regime for freelancers, extended deductions for rural tourism and sports facilities, broader non-taxable income categories, and incentives for SMEs.

With the adoption of a new legislative solution in the Republic of North Macedonia, introduced through the Law on Labour Engagement of Persons, which shall enter into force on 1 January 2026, a systemic and coherent framework will be established for the regulation of temporary and seasonal labour engagement. The primary objective of this law is to formalize a segment of the labour market that, to date, has remained largely unregulated or informal, with particular focus placed on three sectors: agriculture, hospitality, and domestic services.

Law office Zornada has advised DDL Zagreb and its shareholders on the sale of a majority shareholding in the company to Neftys Pharma. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and ODI Law advised Neftys Pharma.

Anagnostopoulos has successfully represented a former director of Werfen Hellas before the Athens Criminal Court, which cleared the defendant of healthcare fraud charges related to product pricing practices for healthcare organizations.

Rowan Legal has advised CasInvent Pharma on the successful closing of a new investment round. Kristyna & Mikulas advised i&i Prague and Havel & Partners advised the Holecek Family Foundation as the investors. Hladky Legal reportedly advised other investors.

A new legislative proposal aims to introduce several exciting innovations in civil litigation. The objectives include speeding up court proceedings, increasing public oversight over litigation, modernizing legal education and academic research, enhancing the Supreme Court’s (Kúria) function of ensuring legal uniformity, and reducing the administrative burden on courts related to their obligation to provide reasoning. We’ve summarized the most intriguing innovations from the proposal below.

Jalsovszky has launched a dedicated “second opinion” service, offering clients, including individuals, companies, and even fellow lawyers, an independent external perspective in legal disputes.

RTPR has obtained a final decision reducing a fine imposed by Romania’s Competition Council on Zenith by over 85%.

Law office Zornada has advised DDL Zagreb and its shareholders on the sale of a majority shareholding in the company to Neftys Pharma. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and ODI Law advised Neftys Pharma.

SRC has advised MLP Group on the lease of 24,000 square meters of warehouse space to Sarantis Poland within the MLP Pruszkow II logistics park near Warsaw.

SSW has advised Eika Asset Management on securing financing from Santander Bank Polska for the development of a logistics facility in Sochaczew, Poland. DLA Piper reportedly advised Santander Bank Polska.

Pohla & Hallmagi, working with Wikborg Rein, has advised Marine Energy Solutions on its acquisition of the PRIME oil tanker. Reed Smith reportedly advised the unidentified sellers.

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.

Sorainen has advised the shareholders of UAB Peraltis on the sale of their business to UAB Ronelda.

CMS has advised Inter Europol on its acquisition of Pan-Pek from Enterprise VII private equity fund. Schoenherr advised the sellers.

Baker McKenzie’s Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership has advised Lonca and its founders on an investment from Tibas and Sankonline through subscription as a continuation of the investment round led by E2VC.

Pekin & Pekin has provided pro bono advice to Fenerbahce SK, Fenerium, Fenerbahce Futbol on its partnership with Adidas.

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.

Reals has advised UniCredit Bank CZ & SK on the acquisition financing, refinancing, and reconstruction funding of three Albert hypermarkets. Giese & Partners advised Helaba on the refinancing of one of the hypermarkets. 

Glatzova & Co has advised the Jan Hotels group on its acquisition of the four-star Pentahotel Prague, located in the Karlin district of the Czech capital.

Ilyashev & Partners has advised the Estonian Centre for International Development on the registration and legal implementation of an international technical assistance project in Ukraine, aimed at constructing a modern family-type orphanage in the Zhytomyr region.

The Hungarian Parliament adopted a tax package in June, amending the Financial Transaction Tax Act to close existing loopholes and ensure that all market participants are subject to the tax.

Integrites has joined the Diia City Union as a legal partner, aligning itself with the professional association of resident companies within Ukraine’s Diia.City legal and tax framework.

This Legal Monitoring Report highlights key legislative developments in Moldova, including the launch of a grant program for tech start-ups, proposed excise duty reductions for small producers, extended paternity leave, enhanced protections for minor employees, regulation of temporary agency work, and time limits on meal voucher usage. Tax updates feature a new regime for freelancers, extended deductions for rural tourism and sports facilities, broader non-taxable income categories, and incentives for SMEs.

Global business doesn’t stop at the border. Neither do contracts. Whether it’s a financing arrangement with a Dutch fund or a supply contract with a Romanian distributor, Moldovan companies routinely deal with foreign partners, and naturally, electronic signatures have become a tool of choice. But one simple question continues to surface: are electronic signatures issued by foreign trust service providers (TSPs not qualified in Moldova) treated the same as those issued locally?

Wolf Theiss has advised Chatlyn on its EUR 8 million series A financing round led by London-based private equity firm Smedvig Ventures. Brandl Talos advised Smedvig Ventures.

Tunca Attorney Partnership has advised Milvus Robotics on two consecutive investment rounds totalling USD 5.5 million. BBO Legal advised investors Istanbul Portfoy Yonetimi TT Ventures Girisim Sermayesi Yatirim Fonu.

Anagnostopoulos has successfully represented a former director of Werfen Hellas before the Athens Criminal Court, which cleared the defendant of healthcare fraud charges related to product pricing practices for healthcare organizations.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners has promoted George Alexandris to Partner.