Discussing how the energy markets are evolving – diversifying, moving away from dependence on Russian gas, and becoming ever-greener – CMS Partners Horea Popescu, Blazej Zagorski, Thomas Hamerl, and Maria Orlyk take a deep dive into the dynamic shifts in the energy landscape post-2022.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As we bid farewell to 2023, this time around we turn our attention forward: What is your one main wish for 2024 and what do you see as the biggest potential risk?

In The Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. Since now is the time when plans for next year are made (and budgeted for) this time we asked GCs: Is your in-house legal function’s budget increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same in 2024?

In our Looking In series, we talk to Partners from outside CEE who are keeping an eye on the region (and often pop up in our deal ticker) to learn how they perceive CEE markets and their evolution. For this issue, we sat down with Slaughter and May Partners Jonathan Marks and Richard Jones.

In a time of economic turmoil, company directors and owners focus on maintaining their businesses as going concerns, ensuring financial stability, and managing relationships with their creditors, contractors, and employees. When necessary, that includes considering strategic debt management options. On the other hand, creditors and contractors concentrate on properly assessing and understanding the risks associated with a dynamically changing commercial environment, evaluating their strategies toward clients, and implementing adequate safeguards and responses to emerging threats.

DWF has advised Baltic Towers on the over PLN 400 million design and construction agreement with general contractor Erbud for a factory set to produce offshore wind towers on Ostrow Island, near Gdansk, Poland.

Schoenherr, working with Legance and Cuatrecasas, has advised Hartree Partners on its acquisition of a 50% stake in the Botres Group. CMS reportedly advised the sellers.

CK Legal Chabasiewicz Kowalska has advised the shareholders of Metkom Krol and SW Armatura on the sale of the companies to Takoni. MFW Fialek advised Takoni.

Czabanski & Galuszynski has advised the Focus Estate Fund on obtaining financing for the acquisition of the Galeria Sandecja shopping center in Nowy Sacz from BNP Paribas. Dentons reportedly advised BNP Paribas.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised PKO Bank Polski, EBRD, ING Bank, Credit Agricole, Santander, Bank Pekao, mBank, and PZU on their PLN 2.8 billion syndicated refinancing of Fiberhost, INEA, and their associated companies. Clifford Chance advised the borrowers.

Clifford Chance has advised Northrop Grumman on executing an offset agreement – covering eight different projects and valued at over PLN 300 million – with the Polish State Treasury as part of the implementation of Phase II of the Wisla air/missile defense program.

Former Deloitte Legal Partners Ryszard Manteuffel and Robert Semczuk have joined the CMS Corporate/M&A practice in Poland as a Partner and a Counsel, respectively.

Gide has advised KGHM Polska Miedz on receiving a USD 450 million unsecured working capital loan from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

Eversheds Sutherland has advised Bank Pekao on its financing for 7R's warehouse development in Katy Wroclawskie.

MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj has advised a consortium of investors including Smyk Management Board President Michal Grom, Maciej Zuzalek, and an Accession Capital Partners-managed private equity fund on the management buyout of Smyk from the Bridgepoint private equity fund.

Wolf Theiss, working with Ropes & Gray, has advised IT services company Virtusa on its acquisition of Bulgarian digital innovation, automation, and seamless integration specialist Bright Consulting.

Schoenherr has advised Polish renewable energy solution provider Sunex on the accelerated bookbuilding process and sale of 2 million shares – 9.86% of the company's share capital – by its shareholder.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised mBank on providing a multi-product working capital financing to an Apple Premium Reseller in Poland.