With preparations for the 2024 CEE Legal Matters Hungary General Counsel Summit in full swing, Pontes' Csaba Polgar talks about the upcoming event and what he's looking forward to the most.
CEELM: Why did you choose to participate in the event?
Polgar: First of all, thank you for the opportunity to do so! It’s great to return to in-person events after the pandemic.
Events like these are always a fantastic way to strengthen our visibility, especially after the CEELM GC Summit in Warsaw this past April. It always feels like the right thing to do and with CEELM putting in the effort to organize these events — I believe we will all have a great opportunity to reconnect with people and have fruitful discussions.
CEELM: What topics are you particularly interested in exploring at the event?
Polgar: There are quite a few that catch my interest. Given the type of law firm we are—a boutique, transactions-oriented firm with about 12-13 people in Budapest—I'm keen to hear from larger organizations with more substantial in-house teams. I want to understand the niche legal needs that we might be able to assist with. We’re not here to create standard contract templates; our strength lies in crafting sophisticated, tailor-made solutions for complex legal problems. I’m particularly interested in learning what’s at the top of the agenda for large corporates.
Another area of curiosity for me is how cautiously General Counsels are viewing the current state of Hungarian legislation. How confident do they feel within the existing legal framework? What’s the general sense of the rule of law in Hungary? It’s a sensitive topic, but in a more relaxed setting—perhaps not on stage—we might gain insights into the challenges they’ve faced over the past few years and the direction in which good governance should be taking the country.
CEELM: What are the key questions you plan to ask during the event?
Polgar: First, I’m keen to know how GCs foresee the long-term plans of their employers. It’s a fast-changing world, and in certain industries, we see significant movements—some players entering, others leaving the market. While I wouldn’t ask a question like this from local Hungarian champions, for certain organizations, it’s crucial to understand how they view their long-term presence in Hungary.
Second, and perhaps a bit selfishly, I want to understand how we can become part of their legal panels if we’re not already on them. What do they look for when refreshing their panels? What are the key factors they consider? We need to evaluate whether we meet those requirements and if there’s an opportunity for us.
Lastly, I’m interested in a broader CEE perspective. I want to see if they have initiatives not just in Hungary but across the CEE region. This could potentially allow us to export contacts to our other offices in the region, expanding our referral-based work.
CEELM: Why should attendees make sure not to miss this event?
Polgar: This is a unique event where they can share their concerns, challenges, and experiences with peers. Peer-to-peer conversations in a condensed setting like this provide an invaluable opportunity. In just one day, they can meet others facing the same challenges and tasks, exchange notes with bright minds, and, of course, have a great time.
The 2024 CEE Legal Matters Hungary General Counsel Summit is sponsored by Jalsovszky, Oppenheim, Schoenherr, Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper, and PONTES Budapest and is organized in partnership with the Hungarian Corporate Compliance Society. Find out more about the event here or register to attend here.
