CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2024 behind us, we asked: Looking at transactional volumes for this year, would you say that 2024 was better or worse than what you originally expected it to be, and why?
Eversheds Sutherland Managing Partner Bernhard Hager talks about energy in Slovakia in 2025.
Slovakia is currently still in the process of approving the draft legislation for the implementation of Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (NIS2 Directive). However, Slovakia has missed the implementation deadline of October 17, 2024, with the draft pending approval in Parliament, expected by late November 2024.
With the end of the 2024 calendar year accounting period, companies must focus on key obligations associated with it. This overview, prepared by the law firm Eversheds Sutherland, summarizes the most important deadlines and obligations related to financial statements, the annual report, the related parties report, and the filing of the corporate income tax return. Proper and timely fulfillment of these obligations is essential to comply with legal requirements.
Eversheds Sutherland has advised Orbian on its acquisition of Platebni Instituce Roger from KB SmartSolutions and other shareholders. BPV Braun Partners advised one of the selling shareholders, Echilon Capital.
Recently, more and more European environmental regulations have been issued, that are directly binding and applicable, with the aim of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality within a specified period.
Eversheds Sutherland has advised the Foreign Expansion Fund 2 FIZAN of Polski Fundusz Rozwoju on debt financing to Euvic for the acquisition of stakes in five companies operating in the IT sector in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia.
Cobalt, working with Dentons, has advised AirBaltic on the sale of a minority stake to Lufthansa Group. Eversheds Sutherland Bitans advised Lufthansa Group.
Competition clauses are found in a number of European jurisdictions. Slovak legislation on post-employment non-compete clauses is characterized by: the obligation to agree on a non-compete clause in an employment contract, the possibility to agree on it only with a certain type of employee, time limitation, and remuneration.
The past year has brought several important changes in the employment area. Most of the new developments are already in force, but for some we had to wait until the beginning of 2025. However, some important changes are still not in force, nor have they been approved. Also due to considerable media support, part of the public is confused, and unexpected situations may arise. Below is a summary of the most important changes.
Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, member of Eversheds Sutherland, has advised Allianz Bank Bulgaria on its issuance of EUR 50 million MREL notes due December 2028.
Former Hogan Lovells Counsel and Head of the Warsaw M&A Practice Tomasz Zak has joined Eversheds Sutherland as a Partner.
Eversheds Sutherland has advised TSG Austria on the acquisition of E-Port Elektrotechnik from Marin Bruckmueller, Harald Winkler, and Kerstin Peinbauer. SWS Scheed Woess advised the sellers.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As sunny days recede, the fall conference season is upon us, so we asked: How do you determine which Partner attends which events?
Eversheds Sutherland has advised Everfield on its acquisition of Meditec AB and Medicloud SIA. Cobalt advised the sellers.
CMS, working with Vedder Price, has advised Ceska Sporitelna and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on the financing for the Silon Group, including a sustainability-linked loan, which will be linked to the environmental goals of the entire group. Eversheds Sutherland advised the Silon Group.
Eversheds Sutherland has advised E. Hofmann Plastics on its acquisition of PAP Packaging from Manfreplast in Liquidazione. Urban & Hejduk advised the sellers.
Eversheds Sutherland has advised Quad/Graphics on the sale of its European operations to Capmont.
Eversheds Sutherland with offices in Bratislava and Prague and as part of an international network, provides comprehensive legal advice also in foreign jurisdictions.
Our team consists of a total of more than 40 lawyers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, most of whom have previously worked at major international and local law firms and have extensive experience in particular in the areas of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, real estate, employment law, competition law, litigation and arbitration, energy, infrastructure, as well as environmental and ESG law.
Our advisory services are offered in Slovak, German, Czech and English language. Members of our team include attorneys registered with the Austrian Bar Association. On this basis, and because we are part of Eversheds Sutherland, we are also able to offer extensive legal support on various foreign legal issues.
We listen to our clients, we understand their business and we also understand what they need. So we can always find the best solution for the particular situation. We work quickly, efficiently and take responsibility for our work.