The energy sector in CEE has undergone unprecedented transformation since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, forcing governments and energy companies to align their economies, businesses, and strategies with energy security objectives, transforming energy landscapes, and keeping legal teams extremely busy. Law firms have found themselves at the center of energy market changes and the renewables revolution that shows no signs of slowing.

As the region rounds the summer bend, Kinstellar Partner in Serbia Milan Samardzic, Avellum Managing Partner Mykola Stetsenko in Ukraine, and PwC Director and Head of Legal Practice in Georgia Vano Gogelia unpack what moved and why in terms of summer levels of activity, the macro and political levers at play, and what they expect to drive closings into year-end.

White & Case Local Partner Jana Chwaszcz, Havel & Partners Partner Jaroslav Baier, DLA Piper Czech Republic Country Managing Partner Miroslav Dubovsky, and Schoenherr Partner Vladimir Cizek discuss the forces behind Czech investors increasingly looking beyond their borders, the sectors and destinations attracting the most interest, and the challenges that come with navigating foreign markets.

As of June 1, 2025, changes in labor law, also known as the “Flexi-Amendment,” came into effect in the Czech Republic, with the purpose of enhancing flexibility in employment relationships and in the labor market. Peterka & Partners Partner Adela Krbcova, Sedlakova Legal Partner David Supej, Glatzova & Co Partner Jiri Sixta, Act Legal Partner Lenka Droscova, and Legalite Partner Marie Jansova discuss how the reforms are shaping the Czech labor market.

An in-depth look at Prokop Verner of  A&O Shearman, covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

Cechova & Partners Partner Michaela Jurkova and Ruzicka & Partners Partner and Co-Head of the Banking and Finance practice Jan Hanko discuss Slovakia’s banking sector’s modest but meaningful consolidation over the last five years.

An in-depth look at Bernhard Hager of Eversheds Sutherland, covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

Corwin Head of Legal Services Department Marek Kundrat discusses balancing legal precision with business agility, the realities of cross-border in-house work, and the shifting regulatory landscape in Slovakia’s real estate sector.

Heineken Slovakia Legal & Compliance Director and board member Martina Ondrasova discusses her career, the realities of moving in-house, building a legal team from scratch, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the GC role in Slovakia.

Dark patterns have become a common feature of digital consumer interaction. While their manipulative nature leads to unfair commercial practices, the current applicable regulatory framework and a lack of case law pose challenges to enforcing fair commercial practices by online businesses. A recent court decision in Germany gives the first clarifications by giving an interpretation of the overlaps in scope of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCP Directive).

AI is gradually becoming part of everyday HR practice in Hungary. Tools already support recruitment, onboarding, and talent and performance management. More advanced systems – like AI-powered HR assistants and workforce planning tools – can also be expected.

Romania is nearing full implementation of the NIS2 Directive, with secondary legislation expected to be enacted by the end of this summer. The legal framework is largely in place, and Romanian entities will have to begin their compliance efforts ahead of most other EU jurisdictions.

Slovakia is one of the more active Member States of the EU when it comes to implementing Directive 2022/2555 (NIS2). A substantial amendment (effective from January 1, 2025) to Slovakia’s existing Cybersecurity Act No. 69/2018 introduced a new regulatory framework. Deadlines are now in place and regulatory activity is increasing. Businesses across various sectors, particularly in digital infrastructure, energy, finance, and manufacturing, are expected to adapt to the updated legal landscape rapidly.

As of early August 2025, Poland has yet to adopt the long-awaited amendment to its Act on the National Cybersecurity System (KSC Act), the key legislation designed to implement the EU’s NIS2 Directive.

2025 may well be remembered as Year Zero for the Serbian telecommunications market – and with good reason.  It marked the acquisition and effective split of Serbia Broadband (SBB), the second-largest player in Serbia’s cable and broadband market, by Telekom Srbija (TS) and Yettel (e&/PPF Telecom Group).

Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), which is gradually coming into force, is already impacting many businesses in the Greek market. While some enterprises have taken a slower approach, many recognize that AI transformation and AI Act compliance can prove a gateway to future growth and survival in a highly competitive landscape.

In July 2025, North Macedonia adopted a new Law on Electronic Communications, replacing the 2014 legislation and laying the foundation for a modern digital framework. The new law aligns the national regulatory environment with key European Union instruments, including Directive (EU) 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (CELEX No. 32018L1972) and Regulation (EU) 2024/1309 on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks (CELEX No. 32024R1309). It introduces a series of important reforms aimed at strengthening consumer rights, fostering market competition, and facilitating the rollout of next-generation infrastructure, including 5G networks.

The widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in Croatia’s tech, media, and professional services sectors is raising a simple but crucial question: who owns the outputs created by these tools, and what can users legally do with them?