Did you know that while only five lawyers worked on ten or more CEE client matters reported by CEE Legal Matters in 2022, a total of fourteen lawyers reached that level in 2023? The 2023 leaderboard was led by Milos Felgr of Clifford Chance in Prague, who worked on a remarkable 20 CEELM-reported client matters last year, with Alper Onar of Istanbul’s Aksan Law Firm, who worked on 19, close behind. Fellow Turk Kerem Turunc, the Managing Partner of Turunc, worked on 17 reported deals, while Djordje Nikolic of NKO Partners in Belgrade worked on 16, and Tomasz Rogalski of Norton Rose Fulbright in Warsaw worked on 15.
PRK Partners Advises Thomayer University Hospital on Gender Equality Plan
PRK Partners has advised the Thomayer University Hospital in Prague on the development of its gender equality plan.
Closing: Sale of Cargo-Partner Subsidiaries to Nippon Express Now Closed
On January 4, 2024, Boyanov & Co announced that the EUR 1.4 billion sale of Cargo-Partner subsidiaries to Nippon Express (reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 17, 2023) had closed.
Havel & Partners and Novalia Advise on Luigi’s Box Acquisition of Persoo
Havel & Partners has advised Luigi’s Box on the acquisition of Persoo. Novalia advised Persoo.
Kinstellar Advises on EUR 800 Million Financing for AmRest
Kinstellar, working with Linklaters' Madrid office, has advised a consortium of lenders on their EUR 800 million financing for AmRest. Uria Menendez reportedly advised AmRest.
Clifford Chance and White & Case Advise on Financing for CTP Vlnena Campus Project
Clifford Chance has advised CTP on the EUR 100 million club financing of the Vlnena campus in Brno with main arranger, agent, and security agent Komercni Banka and second mandated lead arranger UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia. White & Case advised the banks.
BBH Advises Kaprain Group on Acquisition of Trelleborg Bohemia
BBH has advised the Kaprain Group on its acquisition of Trelleborg Bohemia from Trelleborg.
Lucie Kalasova Makes Partner at BPV Braun Partners
Former Of Counsel Lucie Kalasova has been promoted to a Partner position with BPV Braun Partners in Prague.
White & Case and Dentons Advise on EBRD Equity Investment in Pelion
White & Case has advised Pelion on a EUR 25 million equity investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development through a capital increase. Dentons advised the EBRD.
Kinstellar and GT Legal Advise on Genesis Capital's Sale of Sanborn to Oriens
Kinstellar has advised the Genesis Private Equity Fund III on the sale of Sanborn to the Oriens industrial group. GT Legal advised Oriens.
The Debrief: January 2024
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.
Guest Editorial: Lawyering in CEE – Then and Now
CEE Legal Matters invited me to write about “lawyering in CEE.” My “lawyering” in the region started on January 2, 2000, when I was a young graduate working in Vienna for clients with business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and soon I was sent to Prague, and Bratislava. Over time, I witnessed not only economic booms and crises and political and economic transformations but also changes in the legal market and how law firms work.
The Inside Track: Parting Ways
In The Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. Given the importance of relationships between in-house legal departments and law firms, this time we asked GCs: What is the most common reason for which you cease working with a specific law firm and what would you suggest firms definitely do to ensure they do not make the same mistake?
The Corner Office: Budget, Budget, Budget
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2023 marching to an end, we looked ahead and asked about strategies for next year: As the budgeting period is around the corner, compared to 2023, what are the main budgeting lines you expect to increase for 2024 and why?
Czech Republic: An Introduction to the Top-Up Tax
The Czech Republic is one of the first countries to have commenced the implementation process of a top-up tax into the tax system. The Czech Top-Up Tax Act is a transposition of an EU Directive (Council Directive 2022/2523 of December 14, 2022) and is based on the OECD BEPS project Pillar Two initiative. It is definitely worth becoming acquainted with the basic principles of this new tax.
Allen & Overy and Havel & Partners Advise on Maspex Acquisition of Becherovka from Pernod Ricard
Allen & Overy has advised Grupa Maspex on its acquisition of Becherovka from Pernod Ricard. Havel & Partners advised Pernod Ricard.
GHS Legal Rebrands to FairSquare
Slovakia-headquartered GHS Legal has announced it is changing its name to FairSquare.
CMS Advises Touzimsky Airlines on Sale of Stake in Kiwi.com
CMS has advised Touzimsky Airlines on the sale of its shareholding in Kiwi.com to General Atlantic. Weil Gotshal & Manges reportedly advised General Atlantic.