CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
On 26 May 2025, the Hungarian Government published Government Decree 110/2025. (V. 26.) (the Decree), introducing a mandatory centralised inventory management regime for medical consumables used by public healthcare institutions. The Decree amends the regulatory framework under:
Wolf Theiss has advised Raiffeisenbank Austria on its recent tender offer for outstanding notes and the successful issuance of new EUR 300 million ordinary senior eligible notes. Linklaters reportedly advised an international banking consortium that participated in the offering.
Wolf Theiss has advised Erste Group Bank and Banca Comerciala Romana on the EUR 21 million financing facility extended to Danube Capital Partners for the Day Tower office building in Bucharest. Stratulat Albuescu advised Danube Capital Partners.
On 2 May 2025, the Law of Ukraine No. 4339-IX “On Amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine on Improving the Legal Regulation of Certain Issues of Home and Remote Work” (the “Law”) came into force. The Law is aimed at regulating issues related to sending home-based and remote employees on business trips and creating favourable conditions for parents whose children are studying remotely.
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
Wolf Theiss has advised DSK Bank and OTP Bank on the EUR 88 million real estate financing of Bravo Sky. Lex Locus reportedly advised the borrowers.
Ilej & Partners, in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners, has advised Cirtuo on the sale to Coupa. Wolf Theiss, working with Kirkland & Ellis, advised Coupa on the deal.
Wolf Theiss, working with Gorrissen Federspiel, has advised Vestas on its acquisition of LM Wind Power Blades. DLA Piper and Plesner reportedly advised LM Wind Power.
Greenberg Traurig has advised Manova Partners on the sale of the Zaulek Piekna office building in Warsaw to Syrena Real Estate. Wolf Theiss advised Syrena Real Estate. Addleshaw Goddard advised mBank as the financing bank.
Wolf Theiss has advised GoldenPeaks Capital on the commissioning of its 64.56-megawatt Bodroghalom solar power plant in Hungary.
DLA Piper has advised UBM Development on the issuance of its first deeply subordinated green hybrid bond, raising EUR 65 million under UBM’s Green Finance Framework. Wolf Theiss advised Raiffeisen Bank International as sole structuring adviser, bookrunner, paying agent, and dealer manager for the buy-back offer.
Greenberg Traurig has advised Banco Santander on its agreement with Erste Group Bank to sell a 49% stake in Santander Bank Polska for EUR 6.8 billion alongside 50% of its Polish asset management arm, Santander TFI, for EUR 200 million. Rymarz Zdort Maruta and Wolf Theiss advised Erste Group Bank.
Following an amendment in the Bulgarian Labour Code in late 2023 which will enter into force on 1 June 2025, Bulgaria is moving towards the introduction of a unified electronic employment record. This change will affect all Bulgarian employers and their employees and bring an end to the issuance and maintenance of paper-based labour books.
Wolf Theiss, working with Morrison Foerster, has advised SoftBank Group Corp on its planned all‑cash acquisition of Ampere Computing from lead investors Carlyle and Oracle Corp.
The regulatory landscape for crypto assets is undergoing significant changes, driven by the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) (Regulation 2023/1114).
Wardynski & Partners, working with Vinge, has advised Scania on its acquisition of assets from Northvolt Systems’ Industrial Division. Wolf Theiss and Mannheimer Swartling advised the sellers.
Wolf Theiss, working with Hengeler Mueller, has advised Grenke on the sale of its factoring business to Teylor. White & Case advised Teylor.
In recent years, the European Union has paid special attention to the management of non-performing loans (NPLs), as these loans significantly impact the economic and financial stability of member states. As part of this effort, (EU) Directive 2021/2167 was introduced, which member states were originally required to implement into national law by 29 December 2023. However, in Hungary, the draft law aimed at implementing the directive was only presented to Parliament in March 2025.
With over 360 lawyers in 13 countries, over 80% of the firm’s work involves cross-border representation of international clients. We have concentrated our energies on a unique part of the world: the complex, fast-developing markets of the CEE/SEE region. Through our international network of offices, we work closely with our clients to develop innovate solutions that integrate legal, financial, and business know-how.
Wolf Theiss provides fully integrated corporate services in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, banking and finance, tax and insurance, employment law, competition law, energy law, privatisation, restructuring, public procurement and litigation. At Wolf Theiss, we measure our success by the success of our clients. We align our goals with yours to ensure that your needs are being met in even the most complex of cross-border matters. This means that we know how to listen to you and help you use the assets you already have while finding opportunities.
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