Under Hungarian law, conciliation boards were set up more than two decades ago, which provide a fast, efficient and inexpensive forum for dispute resolution compared to litigation in specific cases. The competence of the conciliation boards in relation to goods and services covers (i) the quality and safety of the services; (ii) application of product liability rules; and (iii) conclusion and performance of contracts. This type of conciliation can only be initiated by the consumer as an individual.

From 1 January 2024, taxpayers can benefit from a tax allowance for investments in the construction of electricity storage facilities. The tax allowance is available for 6 tax years, with the first tax year being either the year of installation or the following tax year, at the taxpayer's option. This incentive is intended to encourage the installation of new electricity storage facilities which enable the taxpayer to store electricity generated for its own use.

Ban, S. Szabo, Rausch & Partners has advised E.On Drive Infrastructure on establishing a new Hungarian subsidiary and acquiring the electro-mobility charging infrastructure from E.ON Hungaria, to continue operating as a stand-alone network in Hungary.

Starting on 1 January 2024, a new feature was launched regarding personal income allowances, meaning that certain tax base reduction allowances can also be claimed on a continuing basis. The purpose of the existing tax advance return is to allow the employer to determine and deduct the tax advance, considering both benefits and costs.

Nowadays, one can hear a lot about generative artificial intelligence ("Generative AI"), which can be used to create different types of content (e.g., text, images, software source code) in an automated way by giving simple instructions (so-called "prompts"). Companies may reasonably ask whether it is worth investing, at this point, in software using Generative AI; however, the current Hungarian legislative environment does not provide answers to this question, which could clearly provide guidance in all cases, on a general basis. For this reason, the legal implications of each investment (be it either procurement or "in-house" development) need to be examined on a case-by-case basis.

According to a draft legislation on digital companies issued at the end of 2023, “digital companies” would be exempt from paying public burdens and local business tax. Employees in employment relationships and the executives of companies could fulfil their tax payment obligations after their income through special public burden contributions.

Wolf Theiss has advised Uniper on the sale of the Gonyu gas-fired combined-cycle 430-megawatt power plant to Veolia. BDO Legal Hungary and Cleary Gottlieb reportedly advised Veolia.

The legal status of platform workers (e.g. food couriers) is continuously subject to interpretation and often times scrutiny from the authorities. The Hungarian Curia settled the status in its latest decision, at least from a labour law point of view.

CMS has advised the OTP Group on the binding agreement to sell its stake in OTP Bank Romania and all subsidiaries to Banca Transilvania for a combined purchase price is EUR 347.5 million. Filip & Company advised Banca Transilvania on the acquisition.

Schoenherr has advised Enery on its ten-year virtual cross-border power purchase agreement with Asahi Europe & International's Dreher Breweries in Hungary.

David Hanis joined Oppenheim in Budapest to specialize in energy fresh out of law school, and has never looked back. 15 years later, just before Christmas 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported on his appointment to a Partner position at the same firm. Demonstrating you can move forward by staying in the same place, he shares his story below.

A reorganisation of the authorities regulating the pharma sector and new legislative pieces have brought notable changes to the life sciences sector in Hungary.

Schoenherr has advised the TeraPlast Group on its acquisition of the Wolfgang Freiler Group from Austria's Uhl family.

Gabor Pazsitka has joined Schonherr's Budapest office as a Partner and the Head of the firm's local Banking & Finance practice.

Most of us have likely encountered a situation where we bought our favourite chocolate at the grocery store, only to be surprised upon opening it at home to find that the size and weight of the chocolate had decreased, while the packaging and price remained unchanged.

Ban & Karika Attorneys at Law recently announced that Partner Marton Karika has left the team in a move that became effective on February 1, 2024.

Oppenheim has recently announced the appointment of Peter Virag – formerly of DLA Piper – as Head of its Antitrust, Competition, and Trade team.

On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament passed Act C of 2021 on Land Registration that was supposed to enter into force on 1 February 2023. As this deadline neared, it became evident that neither private citizens, companies, lawyers nor authorities were adequately prepared for the change.