CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
On February 9, 2023, the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy voted in favor of a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which is a part of the EU’s new extensive climate and energy legislation known as “Fit for 55”. The main objective of the revised EPBD is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the overall energy consumption of buildings by 2030 with the eventual goal of reaching climate-neutral buildings in the EU by 2050.
Following a tumultuous year marked by the ongoing conflict in the region and rising financing expenses, we reached out to experts across CEE to gain a deeper understanding of the real estate landscape, including key factors driving the industry and the primary obstacles it faces.
Contributed by Kocian Solc Balastik
Wolf Theiss has advised the Sekyra Group on its forward sale of the Opatov II residential project to Dostupne Bydleni Ceske Sporitelny and the Vienna Insurance Group's Kooperativa Pojistovna.
Former White & Case Local Partner Tomas Scerba and Michal Hink – previously Dentons’ Czech Republic Managing Partner – have joined DLA Piper’s Prague office as Partners. Alongside the two, Leo Javorek also joined the firm as a Counsel.
Weinhold Legal has successfully represented the City of Kladno before the Czech Republic's Supreme Administrative Court in a dispute regarding the determination of the municipality's contribution to transport services on intercity bus routes.
White & Case has advised the PPF Group on its acquisition of a 15% shareholding in InPost from Advent International for EUR 10 per share. Weil, Gotshal & Manges advised Advent.
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.
Just in time for Children's Day, the dreams of many adult inventors came true!
Former IBM Associate Partner Marcela Kanova has returned to private practice by joining Rowan Legal as a Partner in Prague.
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.
Glatzova & Co has advised J&T Bank on a CZK 700 million Trigema Real Estate Finance publicly offered senior secured bond issuance.
On 24 May 2023, the European Commission published "the most ambitious legislative proposal since the inception of EU financial regulation ", as the Commissioner for Financial Services Mairead McGuinnes described the proposal for a directive as regards the retail investor protection rules (Retail Investment Package).
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.
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.
Kinstellar has advised the founders of Czech crowdfunding platform Roier on an investment from Jan Blasko and Jiri Wallenfels. Finreg Partners advised the investors.
On May 24, 2023, PRK Partners announced that Yokohama Rubber’s acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems (reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 13, 2022) had closed.
PRK Partners, one of the leading Central European law firms, has been helping clients achieve their business objectives almost 30 years. Our team of lawyers, based in our Prague, Ostrava, and Bratislava offices, has a unique knowledge of Czech and Slovak law and of the business environment. Our lawyers studied at top law schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and elsewhere. They also have experience working for leading international and domestic law firms in a number of jurisdictions. We speak your language, too. Our legal team is fluent in more than 15 languages, including all the key languages of the region.
PRK Partners has one of the most experienced legal teams on the market. We are consistently rated as one of the leading law firms in the region. We have received many significant honours and awards for our work. We represent the interests of international clients operating in the Czech Republic in an efficient way, combining local knowledge with an understanding of their global requirements in a business-friendly approach. We are one of the largest law firms in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Our specialised teams of lawyers and tax advisors advise major global corporations as well as local companies. We provide comprehensive legal advice drawing on our profound knowledge of local law and markets.
Our legal advice delivers tangible results – as proven by our strong track record. We are the only Czech member firm of Lex Mundi, the world's leading network of independent law firms. As one of the leading law firms in the region, we have received many national and international awards, in some cases several years in a row. Honours include the Chambers Europe Award for Excellence, The Lawyer and Czech and Slovak Law Firm of the Year. Thanks to our close cooperation with leading international law firms and strong local players, we can serve clients in multiple jurisdictions around the globe. Our strong network means that we can meet your needs, wherever you do business.
PRK Partners has been repeatedly voted among the most socially responsible firms in the category of small and mid-sized firms and was awarded the bronze certificate at the annual TOP Responsible Firm of the Year Awards.
Our work is not only “business”: we have participated on a longstanding basis in a wide variety of pro bono projects and supported our partners from the non-profit sector (Kaplicky Centre Endowment Fund, Tereza Maxová Foundation, Czech Donors Forum, etc.).
Firm's website: www.prkpartners.com
