CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
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.
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.
Schoenherr has advised Schott Hungary on four EPC projects with Strabag, Weinberg, and Szarnyas related to the construction of new production facilities called Bau5, Bau6, Bau9, and Bau10.
Digest of recent legislative developments in the fields of energy and natural resources.
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.
Dentons has advised Qair Polska on securing up to PLN 575 million (EUR 135 million) in financing from Brookfield for the acquisition of the Rzepin and Linowo wind farms with a combined capacity of 106 megawatts, the refinancing of existing mezzanine debt, and the further development of wind, solar, and storage projects in Poland. Norton Rose Fulbright advised Brookfield.
LCF Law Group has successfully represented Inzhur Energy in overturning a court-imposed ban on the construction of a distributed generation power plant near Kyiv.
