With criminal charges brought against Bulgarian crypto platform Nexo, while everyone is waiting for the MiCA regulation, the country's latest developments will potentially have far-reaching implications worldwide, according to Mikov＆Attorneys Managing Partner Konstantin Mikov.

A paradigm shift in Romania’s labor law granting additional powers to trade unions will likely liven up the area and lead to an increase in related mandates, according to Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Serban Paslaru.

A growing number of employment and consumer protection-related disputes are on the horizon in Hungary, while revised arbitration rules promise swift and more efficient alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, according to Smartlegal Schmidt & Partners Managing Partner Richard Schmidt.

A busy legislative start to 2023 is in store for Poland, with significant changes made to the consumer protection and electronic communication frameworks, as well as amendments to the Legal Advisors' code of ethics being introduced, according to Traple, Konarski, Podrecki & Partners Senior Partner Xawery Konarski.

Green energy and ESG will be a significant focus in the coming year in Austria, with a slight upward trend expected in restructuring, alternative finance, and regulatory work, according to Wolf Theiss Banking & Finance Partner Andrea Gritsch.

The Czech legislature has been recently working on several new laws and amendments, including adopting whistleblowing and energy price cap-related regulations, according to Kocian Solc Balastik Partner Sylvie Sobolova.

In the past few months, the vibrant IT sector has been rapidly developing in Serbia, with the emergence and growth of highly digitalized companies at the forefront, according to Cvjeticanin & Partners Managing Partner Nenad Cvjeticanin.

Aside from Croatia entering the Euro and Schengen zones, there have been numerous other legislative updates of note – primarily in the spheres of labor and land rights – according to Miroslav Plascar, Co-Managing Partner of Zuric i Partneri in cooperation with Kinstellar.

Real estate is going through a transitional period, the Recovery and Resilience Plan's short deadlines are creating both pressure and legal work, while sustainability and waste management take center stage in Romania, according to Popescu & Asociatii Partner Loredana Popescu.

Renewable energy is slowly becoming an evergreen industry in Greece, with strong investor interest in wind and solar power projects that stand to hasten the recovery of the country, according to Reed Smith Partner Dimitris Assimakis.

The country's EU candidate status and grave security concerns gave rise to far-reaching legislative reform in Moldova, with IPOs and digitalization in full swing, according to ACI Partners Partner Cristina Martin.

The Czech Republic is looking at a promising start to the year, after somewhat of a market slowdown towards the end of 2022, with no dark clouds on the horizon just yet, according to Schoenherr Partner Vladimir Cizek.

Developments in legislation, controversy on the measures dealing with the energy crisis, and interesting M&A transactions are the major talking points in Slovenia, according to Ulcar & Partnerji Managing Partner Matjaz Ulcar.

Much like in other countries in the region, Latvia experienced a strong finish to 2022, with bustling M&A activity being driven primarily by the current geopolitical and economic developments, according to Vilgerts Partner Julija Jerneva.

Poland is experiencing a lot of regulatory and legislative changes, primarily driven by (new) EU directives. The energy, commercial, employment, and consumer protection sectors are all in flux, according to Cezary Zelaznicki, PwC Legal Poland Managing Partner and PwC EMEA Legal Business Solutions Leader.

This is a breakthrough moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina as the country receives the EU membership candidacy status but, still, there are difficulties ahead, according to Miljkovic & Partners Managing Partner Sead Miljkovic.

Estonia’s present and future are linked to information technology, blockchain, and different technology-currency relations, with new regulations on the horizon, according to Hedman Law Firm Partner Toomas Seppel.

Despite missile strikes, businesses and society adapt to the new reality, with some non-war-related transactions in the works, according to Peterka & Partners Partner Taras Utiralov.