Schoenherr has advised Nufarm Hungary on the lease for its new office headquarters in the Budapest One Office building from Futureal Prime Properties.

Brandl Talos has advised European climate technology-focused fund Climentum Capital on leading a EUR 4.5 million seed investment round for Fermify.

Redcliffe Partners has advised the EBRD on its up to USD 100 million secured loan to Ukrainian poultry and grain producer MHP.

Following two (2) years of uncertainty, at the behest of the Romanian Government, the Ministry for Finance published the draft Government Decision for the approval of procedures for the authorisation and/or registration of providers engaged in exchange services between virtual currencies and fiat currencies, as well as custodian wallet providers, on 12 May 2023. The Decision also included procedures for granting and withdrawing technical endorsements (the "Draft Decision").

In the previous article, we reviewed in detail some of the proposals of the European Commission for a comprehensive overhaul of European pharmaceutical legislation, contained in the new draft Directive on the Union code relating to medicinal products for human use (the “Directive”) and in the draft Regulation laying down Union procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human use and establishing rules governing the European Medicines Agency (the “Regulation”), which were not addressed by the Bulgarian media.

On 26 April 2023, the European Commission presented its long-awaited proposal for a comprehensive reform of the European pharmaceutical legislation.

In June 2023, Boyanov & Co announced that the sale of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria to Eurobank (reported by CEE Legal Matters on February  14, 2023) had closed.

Clifford Chance has advised documentation and facility agent ABN AMRO Bank and lenders Banco Sabadell, Credit Industriel et Commercial, BNP Paribas, Citi, Commerzbank, and SEB on BDR Thermea Group's EUR 650 million revolving credit facility.

Dentons has advised Komercni Banka and Ceska Sporitelna on a sustainability-linked ESG loan amendment for the 2022 W.A.G. Payment Solutions (Eurowag) multicurrency term and revolving facilities agreement. White & Case advised Eurowag.

With the Communiqué on Principles Regarding Companies Whose Shares Will Be Traded on the Venture Capital Market [II-16.3] [“Communiqué”] published in the Official Gazette on 18.5.2023, the procedures and principles regarding the sale of non-public joint stock companies to qualified investors for trading in the stock exchange came into effect.

DWF has advised shareholder Gold Town Inv. Limited on the sale of shares in Wittchen via an accelerated book-building process with sole global coordinator and bookrunner Ipopema Securities.

CMS has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on its acquisition of a 35% stake in the Lviv M10 industrial park project in Western Ukraine, developed by Dragon Capital. Aequo reportedly advised Dragon Capital.

Lauras Butkevicius has joined Ellex’s Lithuanian office as a Partner.

Former IBM Associate Partner Marcela Kanova has returned to private practice by joining Rowan Legal as a Partner in Prague.

On 16 March 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) published its judgment on Towercast’s appeal against the French Competition Authority’s decision in Towercast’s case (Case No. C-449/21), confirming that abuse of dominance rules may equally apply ex post to transactions in which national and EU merger control thresholds were not met.

The legal environment in the Czech Republic is currently undergoing significant changes, primarily focusing on the implementation of the NIS2 cybersecurity Directive, whistleblowing legislation, tax reform, and class actions, according to Rowan Legal Partner Josef Donat.

Dariusz Dobkowski has joined Kochanski & Partners as an Equity Partner, while Marek Krol joined the firm as a Partner. Markiyan Malskyy and Karol Polosak have been elevated to Equity Partners and Monika Mackowska-Morytz was appointed a Partner, while Managing Partner Piotr Kochanski will Head the firm’s Technology practice.

Former Counsel Nicole Daniel has been promoted to a Partner position in DLA Piper's Austrian office.

Savoric & Partners has advised Biochem Polska on its acquisition of Croatian wholesale medical equipment distributor Kvantum-Tim. Bradvica Maric Wahl Cesarec advised an unidentified private individual on the sale.

Cobalt has advised BaltCap on its acquisition of Senior Baltic from Orpea. Ellex advised the seller.

American actor Jim Belushi met with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss the Albanian government’s initiative to legalize cannabis and the possibilities of exporting this product for medical purposes.

Zivkovic Samardzic has successfully defended the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) on appeal in a case filed by Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs – and former Director of the country's Security Information Agency – Bratislav Gasic.

SSW Pragmatic Solutions and Soltysinski Kawecki i Szlezak have successfully represented the interests of Cinkciarz.pl in its dispute with Currency One regarding the latter's use of the “cinkciarz” and “cinkciarz.pl” keywords in Google Ads.

Fieldfisher opened an office in Vienna on June 1 with former SCWP Schindhelm Partners and by integrating Meissner & Passin.

TGS Baltic has advised Estonian national postal service provider Eesti Post (Omniva) on its acquisition of assets – including a network of smart mailboxes and the related IP rights – from Parcelsea.

CMS has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on its acquisition of a 35% stake in the Lviv M10 industrial park project in Western Ukraine, developed by Dragon Capital. Aequo reportedly advised Dragon Capital.

Stratulat Albulescu has advised the Walden Group on its acquisition of Alex International Transport 94 from Alexandru Constantinescu. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised the seller.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine is to resume work leading up to the grant of concession of three terminals of the Chornomorsk seaport, one of the largest seaports in Ukraine. In particular, the concession is to cover the first (cargo) terminal, the container terminal, and the fifth (railway and ferry) terminal.

Cobalt has represented Hundipea in multiple disputes related to the Paljassaare port and related water area before the Estonian Transport Administration, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and the Administrative Court.

Clifford Chance has advised Baltic Hub on the expansion and refinancing of its existing debt and the construction of the third deep-water sea container terminal in Gdansk.

Dentons Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership has advised Revo Capital on its investment in FileOrbis.

Cobalt has advised Change Ventures on launching its EUR 20 million Fund III.

Reals has advised Fio Financial Group's investment company on Fio Real Estate Fund's EUR 31.3 million acquisition of the Rohan Business Center office building in Prague from Reico CS Nemovitostni. Wilsons advised the seller.

Integrites has been providing pro bono legal advice to the military personnel protecting Ukraine in the war against Russia, as well as to members of their families.

Ilyashev & Partners has provided pro bono legal support to the family of a fallen Ukraine's Armed Forces soldier in receiving UAH 15 million in financial compensation.

Ilyashev & Partners has advised the Ukrainian Red Cross, on a pro bono basis, regarding the development of a construction contract for the capital repair of the old building of the First Medical Union of Lviv’s clinic, on Mykolaichuka Street in Lviv, on the basis of which the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center was created.

Linklaters has advised Polish developer Develia on its acquisition of 19 Polish subsidiaries from French developer Nexity for EUR 100 million. Dentons advised Nexity.

CMS has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on its acquisition of a 35% stake in the Lviv M10 industrial park project in Western Ukraine, developed by Dragon Capital. Aequo reportedly advised Dragon Capital.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia, at its session held on 4 May 2023, adopted the Draft Amendments to the Planning and Construction Act, so that, in due course, the adoption of the Draft and the adoption of the amendments to the Planning and Construction Act can be expected.

The energy development strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2025 with projections until 2030, as well as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which is
currently being developed and adopted, foresee an increase in the share of energy obtained from renewable energy sources in the energy balance of the Republic of Serbia
as a strategic goal.

Significant changes are expected in the Hungarian tax system in the coming years, which could have a major impact on economic operators and individuals alike. As a result of the changes, the State is likely to lose significant revenues and the means to replace these revenues are not yet known.

Former Counsels Kateryna Tsvetkova and Oleksandr Melnyk have been promoted to Partner, while former Associate Viktoriia Bublichenko became a Counsel and Head of the Tax, Restructuring, Claims, and Recoveries practice at GoLaw in Kyiv.

Zivkovic Samardzic has successfully defended the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) on appeal in a case filed by Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs – and former Director of the country's Security Information Agency – Bratislav Gasic.

Dentons Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership has advised Revo Capital on its investment in FileOrbis.

Glatzova & Co has advised Pale Fire Capital and Tomas Kacena on their full sale of Extra Online Media to Burda International CZ. Novalia advised Burda International.

While allegations of corruption continue to make headlines in Austria, the Ministry of Justice responded in January with draft legislation on the Corruption Law Amendment Act 2023.

Former Senior Associates Audrius Slazinskas, Evaldas Petraitis, and Ruslan Boiko have been promoted to Associate Partners at Noor.

Looking ahead to 2023, white-collar crime is likely to be a subject of close scrutiny by local and EU authorities across CEE. CMS CEE Partner Nedeljko Velisavljevic, from Serbia, and CMS Head of the Criminal Defense Practice in Romania Mihai Jiganie-Serban explore the current context, latest developments, and outlook of white-collar crime practices in CEE.

Dentons Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership has advised Revo Capital on its investment in FileOrbis.

Glatzova & Co has advised Pale Fire Capital and Tomas Kacena on their full sale of Extra Online Media to Burda International CZ. Novalia advised Burda International.

Dentons has advised the shareholders of the Meopta Group on the sale of the company to Carlyle. White & Case and, reportedly, Linklaters and Latham & Watkins advised Carlyle.

The energy development strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2025 with projections until 2030, as well as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which is
currently being developed and adopted, foresee an increase in the share of energy obtained from renewable energy sources in the energy balance of the Republic of Serbia
as a strategic goal.

At the end of March, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the "AMC") published its Annual Report for 2022 (the "Report").

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised a financial consortium on its PLN 10.5 billion financing for Grupa Polsat Plus entities Cyfrowy Polsat and Polkomtel. Greenberg Traurig advised Grupa Polsat Plus. Pestalozzi reportedly also advised the lenders.

Zivkovic Samardzic has successfully defended the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) on appeal in a case filed by Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs – and former Director of the country's Security Information Agency – Bratislav Gasic.

Arzinger has successfully represented the interests of Lyudmyla Ivanivna Mayboroda before the European Court of Human Rights in the Mayboroda versus Ukraine case, on a pro bono basis.

Sorainen has provided pro bono legal representation to Re:Baltica Center for Investigative Journalism journalist Inga Springe in harassment proceedings against Janis Sondars.

Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), designed to ensure an optimal balance between EU priorities and Romania's development needs, provides significant opportunities for the private sector to benefit from financing to build and/or consolidate infrastructure capacity.

The Public Enterprise for Railway Infrastructure Railways of the Republic of North Macedonia – Skopje has published a contract notice for project implementation support and safeguard services for the construction of a new railway section from Kriva Palanka to the border with the Republic of Bulgaria (“Project”). The 24 km section is the last part – the third phase of the railway Corridor VIII to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Former IBM Associate Partner Marcela Kanova has returned to private practice by joining Rowan Legal as a Partner in Prague.

AP Legal has advised the Serbian Export Credit and Insurance Agency on the sale of an NPL portfolio to EOS Matrix.

Dariusz Dobkowski has joined Kochanski & Partners as an Equity Partner, while Marek Krol joined the firm as a Partner. Markiyan Malskyy and Karol Polosak have been elevated to Equity Partners and Monika Mackowska-Morytz was appointed a Partner, while Managing Partner Piotr Kochanski will Head the firm’s Technology practice.

Glatzova & Co has advised Vitkovicke Slevarny on restructuring 16 loans – provided by Ceska Sporitelna, CSOB, Komercni Banka, and UniCredit Bank – amounting to almost CZK 600 million in total. Havel & Partners advised the banks.

Former KNP Law Attorney at Law Abigel Sill has been promoted to a Partner position with the Budapest firm.

The new Law on Safety and Health at Work was published on April 29, 2023, in the Official Gazette of RS no. 35/23 and went into force on May 7, 2023. With the entry into force of the new law, it completely ceases to be valid the previous Law on Safety and Health at Work (“Official Gazette of RS”, nos. 101/2005, 91/2015 and 113/2017).

Former Counsel Dogukan Berk Aksoy and former Senior Lawyer Ece Alkan have both been promoted to Partner with Yetkin Attorneys at Law in Ankara.