Aside from Croatia entering the Euro and Schengen zones, there have been numerous other legislative updates of note – primarily in the spheres of labor and land rights – according to Miroslav Plascar, Co-Managing Partner of Zuric i Partneri in cooperation with Kinstellar.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised J&T Agriculture and Ecology on its acquisition of 11 companies within Spearhead Czech and Spearhead Slovakia and the related acquisition financing by a banking group led by Komercni Banka. Clifford Chance advised the lenders.

On 1 January 2023, an amendment to the Act on Significant Market Power in the Sale of Agricultural and Food Products and Its Abuse (the “Act”) comes into effect. The amendment significantly expands the Act’s scope both in terms of who is affected as well as the obligations it imposes.

Kocian Solc Balastik has helped the Czech National Theatre obtain a building permit for the redevelopment of its New Stage and Operations buildings.

Former Ellex Raidla Senior Partner Juri Raidla has stepped down from his position on January 1, 2023, to continue as a Counsel with the firm. 

In 2019, Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the "Directive") was adopted at the European Union level.

Allen & Overy has advised Raiffeisenbank on its EUR 500 million issuance of senior non-preferred sustainable notes under its international debt issuance program. White & Case reportedly advised the managers.

Schoenherr and Norton Rose Fulbright, working with Davis Polk & Wardwell and Ashurst, have advised JP Morgan Chase and other financing parties on the refinancing of Diebold Nixdorf debt and the provision of USD 400 million in new capital. Sullivan & Cromwell and K2Legal Korbonski i Partnerzy reportedly advised the borrower.

Former UPC Polska Board Member and Chief Legal, Regulatory, Corporate Affairs Officer Dominika Niewiadomska-Siniecka has joined VeloBank as CEO Advisor, Proxy, and Managing Director.

Allen & Overy has advised Raiffeisenbank on its EUR 500 million issuance of senior non-preferred sustainable notes under its international debt issuance program. White & Case reportedly advised the managers.

Former Counsel Gergana Monovska and former Senior Associate Valentin Bojilov have been promoted to Partner at Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov.

TGS Baltic has announced the appointment of Dalia Augaite, Sandra Bliuvaite-Sulciene, Marius Brasiunas, Martti Peetsalu, and Chirag Mody as Partners, while Tadas Varapnickas, Karolina Lapinskaite, and Triinu Jarviste have been appointed as Associate Partners at the firm.

TGS Baltic has announced the appointment of Dalia Augaite, Sandra Bliuvaite-Sulciene, Marius Brasiunas, Martti Peetsalu, and Chirag Mody as Partners, while Tadas Varapnickas, Karolina Lapinskaite, and Triinu Jarviste have been appointed as Associate Partners at the firm.

Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition (“Competition Law”) applies to merger and acquisition transactions ("Transactions") since they may lead to consequences such as establishing/strengthening a dominant position or restricting effective competition in the market. Additionally, as per Communiqué No. 2010/4 Concerning the Mergers and Acquisitions Calling for the Authorization of the Competition Board ("Communiqué"), some Transactions are subject to the Competition Board's ("Board") approval. In this regard, the Turkish Competition Authority ("Authority") releases the Mergers and Acquisitions Overview Report each year to describe the overview of the Transactions examined within its body and thus provides a breakdown of the Transactions that took place in the market as along with a broad market overview. The Mergers and Acquisitions Report for 2022 ("Report") was published and made public by the Authority on January 6, 2023.

Sibincic Krizanec has appointed Matic Novak to Senior Partner and Dinar Rahmatullin to Junior Partner. The firm updated its name after the promotion round to Sibincic Krizanec Novak.

Following their appointment to Counsel in January 2023, former Senior Associate Inna Kostrytska will lead Integrites' Employment practice while former Senior Associate Kristina Shyposha heads the firm's Business Protection, Compliance, and Anti-Corruption practice.

Petrovic Legal has advised Hefestos Capital on its acquisition of TMK Europe from undisclosed sellers.

Former Telekom Romania Data Protection Officer George Manea has joined KPMG Legal Toncescu si Asociatii as a Senior Managing Associate and Head of the firm’s Life Sciences, Technology & Compliance practice.

On 14 December 2022 the lower house, Sejm, passed a bill on family foundations. The law was then sent to the Senate, where amendments were made to it, now pending before the Sejm. Regardless of these legislative works, it is expected that the law will come into force 3 months after its promulgation. It should therefore be possible to establish a family foundation as early as the first half of 2023. 

TGS Baltic has advised Vilnius-headquartered renewable energy company Green Genius on its acquisition of a 100-megawatt solar PV project in Latvia.

Following their appointment to Counsel in January 2023, former Senior Associate Inna Kostrytska will lead Integrites' Employment practice while former Senior Associate Kristina Shyposha heads the firm's Business Protection, Compliance, and Anti-Corruption practice.

In a recent case (C-61/21), contrary to settled case-law, the Court of Justice of the European Union did not oblige a Member State to pay compensation. Article 13 of the 2008/50/EC Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe obliges Member States to ensure that ambient air levels of NO2 and PM10 do not exceed EU-wide limit values. A resident in the Paris region considered that the French State had failed to ensure this and by this he has suffered damage to his health since 2003, caused by the deterioration of the ambient air quality in the Paris agglomeration. For these damages, he has claimed a total of EUR 21 million from the French State as compensation.

TGS Baltic has advised Vilnius-headquartered renewable energy company Green Genius on its acquisition of a 100-megawatt solar PV project in Latvia.

BPV Braun Partners, working with Watson Farley & Williams, has advised the Creditas Group on the acquisition of British energy group InterGen. Herbert Smith Freehills reportedly advised the sellers.

In the 25 January 2023 final decision in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. russia, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (“ECHR”) declared the complaints partly admissibile. The Grand Chamber will now decide the case on the merits.

Ellex Valiunas has successfully represented Neringa Dangvyde Macate before the European Court of Human Rights, on a pro bono basis, in a dispute related to restrictions on the distribution of Dangvyde Macate’s fairy tale book, Amber Heart, depicting same-sex relationships and its subsequent labeling as harmful to children under the age of 14.

PRK Partners has successfully represented the interests of a client who completed a gender transition process in a matter regarding the issuance of official documents bearing the applicant's new personal data before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka has advised Polregio on the preparation of framework agreements and tender documentation for the supply of 200 trains. 

An economic crisis is definitely upon us. Factors such as inflation, reduced availability of raw materials and skyrocketing material prices and costs triggered by, among other things, the armed conflict in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, are having a direct impact on performance of contracts and their profitability. Among those hardest hit in these circumstances are parties to public procurement contracts.

On November 16, CEE Legal Matters reported that Popescu & Asociatii had successfully represented the interests of the City of Sinaia in a construction dispute. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, to learn more about the matter.

Gide Turkish affiliate Ozdirekcan Dundar Senocak has advised the Turkiye Wealth Fund on its acquisition of Bereket Katilim insurance companies and the subsequent restructuring of TWF subsidiaries' takaful insurance operations.

In its recent decision in re Smusta a.s., the Supreme Court ruled on the possibility to avoid a corporate transformation in insolvency proceedings.

A draft of a preventive restructuring act is being discussed in the Czech legal environment to implement the EU directive on restructuring and insolvency (directive (EU) 2019/1023). The aim of the new legal regulation is to introduce an out-of-court restructuring model with shorter times to improve operations and the balance sheets of debtors in financial difficulties. Different forms of out-of-court restructuring are common and frequently used in many foreign jurisdictions, e.g. arrangements in England and Wales. Unlike insolvencies, in preventive restructuring the court is a “mere” supervisor supported by the restructuring trustee in certain situations.

Following their appointment to Counsel in January 2023, former Senior Associate Inna Kostrytska will lead Integrites' Employment practice while former Senior Associate Kristina Shyposha heads the firm's Business Protection, Compliance, and Anti-Corruption practice.

Recruiting staff in Romania may seem daunting to employers, specifically to those foreign-owned, unfamiliar with Romanian employment legislation. Nevertheless, if certain basic rules are determined and further observed, the recruiting procedure should run smooth and clean from a legal perspective.

Aside from Croatia entering the Euro and Schengen zones, there have been numerous other legislative updates of note – primarily in the spheres of labor and land rights – according to Miroslav Plascar, Co-Managing Partner of Zuric i Partneri in cooperation with Kinstellar.

Former Diageo Head of Legal & Operations and DPO Gabor Kukovecz has joined the Phoenix Group in Hungary as the Group Legal Director.

Wardynski & Partners has advised CNS Pharmaceuticals on negotiating a contract to supply Berubicin to the Pomeranian Medical University.

On January 4, CEE Legal Matters reported that Dorda, working with Loyens & Loeff, had advised Croma-Pharma on entering into a business combination agreement with the European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Andreas Prinz, Managing Director at Croma Pharma, to learn more about the deal.

Sole practitioner Liviu Bosoanca has joined Baiculescu & Asociatii as an Of Counsel and Head of the firm's Dispute Resolution department.

Former Counsel Gergana Monovska and former Senior Associate Valentin Bojilov have been promoted to Partner at Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov.

Ellex Valiunas has successfully represented Neringa Dangvyde Macate before the European Court of Human Rights, on a pro bono basis, in a dispute related to restrictions on the distribution of Dangvyde Macate’s fairy tale book, Amber Heart, depicting same-sex relationships and its subsequent labeling as harmful to children under the age of 14.

Triniti has advised Fort Aero on the addition of Piaggio P.180 Avanti II push-prop aircraft to its fleet.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka has advised Polregio on the preparation of framework agreements and tender documentation for the supply of 200 trains. 

Turunc has advised intercity bus operator Kamil Koc on its alliance with Istanbul-based bus companies Ses Turizm and Gulen Turizm.

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.

Ellex and Wardynski & Partners, working with Thommessen, have advised Hampidjan on its acquisition of the Morenot Group from FSN Capital Partners. Norway's Haavind and Iceland's BBA Fjeldco advised FSN Capital.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has advised Sea/ by Maritech company Maritech Holdings Limited on its acquisition of Setapp. Lukasz Lenartowicz reportedly advised the seller.

Turunc has advised Bogazici Ventures on its investment in UP School's first financing round. Bagzibagli Erdem & Sahin advised UP School.

Cytowski & Partners has advised Polish start-up Eleven Labs on its USD 2 million pre-seed financing round with Credo Ventures, Concept Ventures, and angel investors from the UK and CEE.

Cytowski & Partners has advised Czech start-up Filuta AI on its USD 2.5 million pre-seed financing with Nation 1, SPM Invest, and Czech Founders VC.

Ellex Valiunas has successfully represented Neringa Dangvyde Macate before the European Court of Human Rights, on a pro bono basis, in a dispute related to restrictions on the distribution of Dangvyde Macate’s fairy tale book, Amber Heart, depicting same-sex relationships and its subsequent labeling as harmful to children under the age of 14.

Integrites has signed a pro bono collaboration agreement with the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs of Ukraine and the Affordable Housing Institute aimed at developing housing for war veterans and their families.

Sorainen has provided pro bono legal advice to the Entrepreneurs for Peace foundation on repairing all the explosion-damaged windows at the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf educational and manufacturing company in Chernihiv and preparing the building for the winter. 

Bozhko Poryazov has been promoted to a Partner position with Popov Arnaudov & Partners in Sofia.

Sorainen has advised Tietoevry on its lease agreement with developer Capitalica for office space in the Verde office center in Riga's Skanste district.

TGS Baltic has announced the appointment of Dalia Augaite, Sandra Bliuvaite-Sulciene, Marius Brasiunas, Martti Peetsalu, and Chirag Mody as Partners, while Tadas Varapnickas, Karolina Lapinskaite, and Triinu Jarviste have been appointed as Associate Partners at the firm.

Dentons has successfully represented the interests of Porsche Inter Auto Polska in multiple cases concerning excise taxation on intra-community acquisitions of passenger cars before the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw and the Supreme Administrative Court.

Circular products, extended producer responsibility, mandatory return system: new terms and new concept behind the new green tax regulation coming in 2023 in Hungary. The modification of the Green Tax Act has been already adopted, and the governmental decree with the specifications is to follow.

Law 39/2023, which was published in Official Gazette No. 40/13.01.2023, contains important amendments to the Romanian Fiscal Code.

Romanian lawyer Dan Rugina has joined V-Nova in London as VP Head of Legal.

The rapid developments in the world of technology put the law into a difficult concept puzzle to follow. While the discussions on smart contracts made with blockchain technology have not yet ended, a new organization that can direct the life of business has taken its place in the international market; Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). This mechanism offers people new democratized ways to operate their organizations, radically separated traditional institutions.

Turunc has advised Bogazici Ventures on its investment in UP School's first financing round. Bagzibagli Erdem & Sahin advised UP School.

Following their appointment to Counsel in January 2023, former Senior Associate Inna Kostrytska will lead Integrites' Employment practice while former Senior Associate Kristina Shyposha heads the firm's Business Protection, Compliance, and Anti-Corruption practice.

Maciej Antoniak, Radoslaw Cebelinski, Tomasz Kaczmarek, and Rafal Wozniak were promoted to International Partners while Wiktoria Rogaska and Marta Wysokinska made Local Partners at DWF.

It’s been four years since we sat down with Octavian Popescu, Managing Partner at Popescu & Asociatii, and discussed what was at that time the new firm’s perspective and its future plans. We reached out again, on the firm’s Fourth Anniversary, to see how those plans have been progressing and chart the firm’s development.