TGS Baltic has advised Latvian agricultural cooperative LPKS Latraps on the EUR 8 million issuance and listing of bonds on the Nasdaq Riga First North alternative market with Signet Bank as the arranger.

Sayenko Kharenko, working with Hogan Lovells, has advised the International Finance Corporation on two risk-sharing facilities for Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine totaling approximately USD 210 million equivalent, one of which IFC cooperated on with the US International Development Finance Corporation. Redcliffe Partners and Mayer Brown reportedly advised the DFC.

Brandl Talos has advised DirectSens on the sale of its LactoSens biosensor technology to Kerry Group. Wolf Theiss reportedly advised Kerry Group.

CMS has advised Florian Prasky on co-founding with Katharina Porenta Wattwise FlexCo.

JPM Partners has advised Presto Pay on obtaining a payment institution license from the Central Bank of Montenegro.

If you manage an alternative fund under Section 15 of the Czech Act on Investment Companies and Investment Funds (ZISIF), you will need to comply with new legislation by 31 December 2024. Every manager will be required to amend the name of their company to include the term "venture capital entity", while the word "fund" must be removed.

White & Case's Turkish affiliate law firm GKC Partners has advised Turkiye Is Bankasi and TSKB on EUR 342 million financing for the Ankara Esenboga airport. Clifford Chance advised TAV Airports as the borrower.

Bernitsas Law has advised Thanos Hotels & Resorts on a EUR 107 million refinancing package from Piraeus Bank.

A&O Shearman has advised the European Investment Bank on its successful subscription for a total of EUR 2.236 billion in five tranches of bonds issued by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

A&O Shearman has advised the European Investment Bank on its successful subscription for a total of EUR 2.236 billion in five tranches of bonds issued by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

A&O Shearman and its Turkish affiliate law firm Gedik & Eraksoy have advised the joint bookrunners of Garanti BVA's USD 750 million fixed rate resettable tier 2 notes and the dealer managers on the tender for the USD 750 million nominal value of the tier 2 bond issued in 2017.

MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj i Partnerzy has advised Yuniversal Development on a bond issuance totaling PLN 15 million.

Former Baker McKenzie affiliate law firm Esin Attorney Partnership Co-Head of the Competition Practice Sinan Diniz has joined KST Law as a Partner.

WKB Lawyers has advised Lisner Holding on obtaining the competition clearance for the acquisition of Greenwich Investments, a company controlling the Graal Group.

White & Case has announced a new Local Partner hire in Prague as well as four new Local Partners in Prague and Warsaw as part of its latest promotion round.

On 6 December 2024, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Amendments to the Law on Public Notaries entered into force. These two laws were adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia on 28 November 2024.

The Ministry of Energy, taking into account regulatory experience as well as public feedback, has adjusted the emission limits for several particularly toxic air pollutants in factories, raising them to stricter levels in line with German standards, which are more stringent than the EU regulations.

The European Commission recently launched the consultation phase on two essential draft regulations to strengthen the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation’s operational structure. These include the draft Implementing Regulation for Authorized Declarants and creating a comprehensive CBAM registry. Stakeholders can submit feedback until November 28, 2024. These regulations clarify key aspects of the definitive CBAM implementation, set to begin on January 1, 2026.

TGS Baltic has advised INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund on its acquisition of Pehart Group in Romania from Abris Capital Partners. RTPR advised Abris Capital Partners.

Schoenherr has advised Siemens Energy Holding on the acquisition of a 76% stake in Slovenia-based Gridpulse from Mosdorfer and C&G Skupina Investiranje in Svetovanje. Advant Beiten reportedly advised the sellers.

Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli has advised Volt Motor and its individual shareholders on the sale of the company to WEG. Herguner advised WEG.

Schoenherr has advised Siemens Energy Holding on the acquisition of a 76% stake in Slovenia-based Gridpulse from Mosdorfer and C&G Skupina Investiranje in Svetovanje. Advant Beiten reportedly advised the sellers.

Greece’s renewable energy sector has been experiencing a surge in activity, according to Junior Partner Prokopis Linardos. Prokopis discusses the rise of corporate PPAs, the impact of streamlined licensing processes, and the growing focus on energy storage and offshore wind projects while reflecting on the country’s ambitious decarbonization targets and what the future holds for the sector.

Lambadarios has advised Piraeus Bank on the EUR 620 million financing of a Terna Energy pumped hydro storage station in the municipality of Amfilochia, Western Greece. Marinos | Petroulias & Partners reportedly advised Terna Energy.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Noor and the Lithuanian Red Cross Society have executed a memorandum of cooperation based upon which Noor will provide continuous legal advisory and assistance to the Red Cross on various legal matters.

Koutalidis has advised a consortium comprising Fraport Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, Delta Airport Investments, and Pileas on a 40-year concession for Kalamata Airport Captain Vassilis Konstantakopoulos via a tender conducted by Growthfund, the National Fund of Greece.

Schoenherr has advised Otokar on a USD 1 billion public contract with Romanian state company Romtehnica, an entity of the Ministry of National Defence.

JDP has advised the consortium of Gulermak and Budimex whose bid was selected in a tender for the construction of the Jawornik–Lutcza section of the S19 expressway.

Filing a claim in insolvency proceedings may be the only way for creditors to recover at least part of the amount they are owed. In the Czech legal system, however, creditors face an understated but significant risk: if they overstate the amount of their claim, not only do they risk having it disregarded but they may also be required to pay a penalty to the debtor’s estate. This provision, embedded in the Czech Insolvency Act, acts as a double-edged sword: while it aims to prevent unfounded claims and speculation in insolvency proceedings, it often deters legitimate creditors from fully asserting their claims. This financial penalty has no equivalent in other European countries. So, how can creditors avoid penalties, and what should they know before submitting a claim in insolvency proceedings?

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised the bankruptcy trustee of Getin Noble Bank on the sale of Noble Securities to Skarbiec Holding.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised the bankruptcy trustee of Getin Noble Bank and Idea Bank on the sale of a total holding of approximately 86.83% of the shares in Noble Funds TFI fund management company to VeloBank.

Recent legislative developments in Romania, such as the Methodology for Preventing and Combating Harassment Based on Gender and Moral Harassment in the Workplace (October 12, 2023) and the ratification of Convention No. 190/2019 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, have created a robust framework to address workplace harassment. These changes reflect an international push for safer, more inclusive work environments, but their implementation raises questions about practical challenges and long-term impact.

On 29 October 2024, the Hungarian Ministry of National Economy announced that new laws are submitted to the Parliament to increase the period available for requesting paternity leave.

A recent ruling by Hungary's Curia could signal a wave of lawsuits and substantial overtime compensation claims, potentially impacting millions of workers. According to a March 2023 ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the daily rest period - a minimum break between shifts - is distinct from the weekly rest period and must be provided beforehand.

Lakatos, Koves & Partners has advised Ceva-Phylaxia on establishing a new vaccine production facility in Monor, Hungary.

NKO Partners has advised Dr Max on its acquisition of the Ivancic i Sin pharmacy chain in Serbia from Bratislav Ivancic and Nada Milovanovic Ivancic. BIT Law advised the sellers.

Eversheds Sutherland has advised Everfield on its acquisition of Meditec AB and Medicloud SIA. Cobalt advised the sellers.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

A recent ruling by Hungary's Curia could signal a wave of lawsuits and substantial overtime compensation claims, potentially impacting millions of workers. According to a March 2023 ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the daily rest period - a minimum break between shifts - is distinct from the weekly rest period and must be provided beforehand.

In light of Elon Musk’s recently expanded lawsuit, which includes antitrust claims and names Microsoft as an additional defendant, OpenAI faces yet another legal challenge. As a global leader in the development of generative artificial intelligence, OpenAI remains committed to its mission: creating AI technology that benefits humanity while actively addressing legal and ethical dilemmas.

Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal has advised Damen Galati Shipyard on EUR 25 million in financing from Exim Banca Romaneasca.

Cobalt has advised PSA on its acquisition of 50% of Parnu Sadam shares from Transcom.

Baker McKenzie and its Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised DFDS on its acquisition of Ekol Transport and the international transport network connecting Turkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics and individual sellers led by founder Ahmet Musul. Caliskan Okkan Toker reportedly advised the sellers.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Your Legal Partners’ Katerina Politopoulou, Maria Golfinopoulou, and Prokopis Linardos Talk About the Deal of the Year in Greece.

TGS Baltic has advised INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund on its acquisition of Pehart Group in Romania from Abris Capital Partners. RTPR advised Abris Capital Partners.

Schindler Attorneys, working with Kirkland & Ellis, has advised GTCR on its USD 1.33 billion investment in Tricentis.

KWKR has advised NCBR Investment Fund on its PLN 6 million co-investment in Imagene.me alongside Aban.VC fund. Triloka reportedly advised Aban.VC.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

Dentons has successfully represented an unlawfully sterilized woman in administrative court proceedings against the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic regarding a denied claim for compensation and subsequent appeal on a pro bono basis.

Wardynski & Partners has represented the Civil Society Drug Policy Initiative on a pro bono basis in a dispute with Meta.

Bernitsas Law has advised Thanos Hotels & Resorts on a EUR 107 million refinancing package from Piraeus Bank.

Wolf Theiss has advised Banca Comerciala Romana on a EUR 29.5 million credit facility granted to Unirii View. Tuca, Zbarcea & Associates advised Unirii View.

Cobalt has advised Decathlon on a new lease agreement with Spice Home shopping center in Riga, Latvia. Azanda & Associates reportedly advised Spice Home.

The Hungarian Parliament approved the autumn tax package on 26 November 2024. The amendments introduce significant changes to direct and indirect taxes alike, the most important changes are summarized below.

Following the restrictions in the Far East, all companies operating online marketplaces in Hungary can expect significant tax changes and a new tax burden from January 2025.

The longstanding partnership between Hungary and Serbia has taken another step forward with the recent amendment to the double taxation convention. These agreements are crucial for eliminating double taxation on income and assets for both individuals and companies, fostering a more favorable business climate.

Following the restrictions in the Far East, all companies operating online marketplaces in Hungary can expect significant tax changes and a new tax burden from January 2025.

The European Commission and the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) have recently published reports on the first year of implementation of the new EU–U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“DPF”). These reports analyze the application of data protection mechanisms in cross-border transfers between the EU and the U.S., as well as ongoing challenges.

KWKR has advised NCBR Investment Fund on its PLN 6 million co-investment in Imagene.me alongside Aban.VC fund. Triloka reportedly advised Aban.VC.

On 6 December 2024, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Amendments to the Law on Public Notaries entered into force. These two laws were adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia on 28 November 2024.

The UK government recently unveiled guidance on a major update to its corporate fraud laws: the “failure to prevent fraud” offence, introduced through the 2023 Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT). Taking effect on September 1, 2025, this law could have serious implications for companies operating within the EU.

Romania-based Mares & Mares and Cyprus-based Emilianides Katsaros have formed a partnership spanning Cyprus, Romania, and Greece.