June 2023 – In May 2023, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (the “DPA”) published two data breach notifications but did not publish decision.

Kinstellar has advised Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on its EUR 85 million long-term financing for a retail and logistics real estate portfolio of the CPI Property Group in the Czech Republic. 

Kinstellar has advised Localazy's founder on the approximately EUR 500,000 venture capital investment into the company by Garage Angels, 12Bullets, Lighthouse Ventures, and JIC Ventures. Hladky Legal advised Garage Angels on leading the round. Hladky Legal and, reportedly, KroupaHelan also advised the other investors.

Kinstellar has announced it is strengthening its presence in Serbia by teaming up with the local SOG Law Firm in a strategic partnership.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With the first quarter of 2023 wrapped up, we turned to the future and asked: In which practice area do you expect the most growth – in terms of work volume – in the next 12 months?

Kinstellar has advised Danish developer Jantzen Renewables ApS on its sale of the Helios 1 photovoltaic cluster in Romania to OMV Petrom. Schoenherr reportedly advised OMV.

In June 2023, Kinstellar announced that the first step of OTP Bank's acquisition of Ipoteka Bank in Uzbekistan – the acquisition of a 73.71% stake from the state – (reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 22, 2022) had closed. 

Paksoy, working with Gowling WLG, has advised UK-listed Volex on its acquisition of Turkish complex wire harness manufacturer Murat Ticaret Kablo for a total consideration of up to approximately EUR 178.1 million. Kinstellar and its Turkish affiliate Gen Temizer Ozer advised the Gora family on the sale of 100% of their shares in Murat Ticaret.

Kinstellar has advised the Budapest Stock Exchange Plc on listing its shares in the BSE regulated market Standard category. The company went public on June 21, 2023, on the 33rd anniversary of its re-establishment.

The Government of the Slovak Republic has introduced a draft law on the conversions of companies and cooperatives (the Draft Law) that implements EU Directive 2019/2121, amending Directive 2017/1132 with regard to cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions (the Directive).

Kinstellar, working with William Fry and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, has advised human capital management cloud company UKG on its acquisition of payroll provider Immedis.

Bulgaria’s infrastructure sector has seen major projects completed and many more are planned. With the country facing political turmoil and corruption still an infrastructure buzzword, Kinstellar Partner Antonia Mavrova and Gugushev and Partners Senior Partner Victor Gugushev navigate the intricacies of Bulgarian infrastructure.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. Keeping in mind last year’s complexities and the uncertainties ahead, this time we asked: Has your team shrunk or increased in the last 12 months and what are your expectations for 2023?

Did You Know that a total of 15 partners have worked on multiple reported Hungarian Banking/Finance client matters in the ten years that CEE Legal Matters has been covering the market? The Banking/Finance leaderboard over the past decade is led by CMS Budapest Partner Erika Papp, who has worked on 14 reported Banking/Finance client matters in that time.

Kinstellar has advised the founders of Czech crowdfunding platform Roier on an investment from Jan Blasko and Jiri Wallenfels. Finreg Partners advised the investors.

Lakatos Koves & Partners, working with Clifford Chance, has advised Hungary's Eximbank Zrt on its USD 1.25 billion offering of 6.125% notes due 2027. Kinstellar, working with Latham & Watkins, advised the joint lead managers.

Kinstellar, working with Winston & Strawn, has advised Tempo Software on its agreement to acquire Old Street Solutions brand operator Amovos.

Kinstellar has advised Rheinmetall on executing a cooperation agreement with Ukrainian state-owned defense industry concern Ukroboronprom.