Consumer protection is strongly enshrined in the Czech legal system and will be strengthened or clarified even further. It will therefore be necessary for sellers to adjust their terms and conditions in this regard.

Schoenherr has advised Singapore-based Harps Global on its acquisition of the medical business division Sempermed from the Austrian Semperit Group for an enterprise value of EUR 115 million.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, E+H Partner Ulrike Sehrschoen has worked on eight reported client matters in Austria in 2022 – more than any other lawyer? It's been a good year for E+H, as Sehrschoen’s chief competition for the end-of-year title comes from a colleague, E+H Partner Judith Feldner, who has worked on seven reported client matters this year.

On December 20, 2022, PPG Lawyers announced that KKCG's and Aricoma Group International’s acquisition of Musala Soft (reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 22, 2022) had closed.

DLA Piper has advised the shareholders of OptiBuy on its sale to the WNS group. Schoenherr reportedly advised WNS on the deal.

Dorda, working with Bird & Bird, has advised Nosto on its acquisition of Findologic Gesellschaft. Schoenherr, working with Roschier, advised the shareholders of Findologic.

The amendment to the Austrian Copyright Act introduces a whole range of new provisions on copyright contract law, strengthening the position of authors and performers.

Schoenherr has advised IT, consultancy, and recruitment company IDBC Hungary on securing its new headquarters in the Duna Tower through a lease agreement with GTC.

Binder Groesswang has advises Mutares on its acquisition of Steyr Motors Betriebs and Steyr Motors Immo from Thales. Schoenherr reportedly advised Thales.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Kinstellar Partner Viliam Mysicka has worked on more reported deals in Slovakia over the past nine years than any other lawyer?

Under art. 90, par. 1 of the Bulgarian Contracts and Obligations Act, a party may refuse to perform its obligations if there is non-performance by the counterparty under the same transaction ("Statutory Retention Right").

On December 13, 2022, Schoenherr announced that Jade Power's sale of its Romanian renewable energy portfolio to Enery (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 9, 2022) had closed.

Since 1 March 2021, Slovakia had a limited FDI regime applicable only to critical infrastructure. However, right after it was adopted, the government started preparing comprehensive legislation that would apply not only to selected industries but to all foreign investments in general (in line with FDI regimes in other EU Member States). After many drafts and lengthy negotiations, this new regime was finally adopted in late November 2022.

In a recent decision, the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) addressed party status and the requirements for an eligible complaint by recognised environmental organisations (EOs) in permit procedures under water law.

The amendment to the Austrian Copyright Act introduces a whole range of new provisions on copyright contract law, strengthening the position of authors and performers. In our first Legal Insight ("Austria: The (new) Copyright Contract Law") we provided some background information and an overview. In our second and third Legal Insights, we introduced the new remuneration provisions ("Austria: The (new) copyright remuneration rules for authors and performers") and the transparency obligation ("Austria: The (new) copyright transparency obligation"), which are based on the DSM Directive.

Schoenherr has advised the MET Group on its full acquisition of a solar photovoltaic project in Southern Romania currently in the late planning stages.

What's new in Polish corporate law?

An amendment to the Czech Significant Market Power Act (the "SMP Act"), which should harmonise Czech law with the EU directive on unfair business practices (the "Directive"), was recently signed by the President and will become effective as of 1 January 2023.