For a long time, the Slovak insolvency law landscape was overshadowed by deep structural problems that resulted in a dire outlook for creditors in insolvency and restructuring proceedings.

Expectations are high in Slovakia for the mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and energy sector pipelines, according to Hillbridges Partner Miroslav Trencan, who highlights a series of shifts and trends shaping the market, from the challenges of financing and the impact of regulatory changes to geopolitical influences and the strategic decisions driving large-scale M&A projects.

Nedelka Kubac Advokati has successfully represented the interests of the Zlavomat discount portal through an investigation by the Slovak Competition Authority for possible abuse of a dominant position.

Havel & Partners has advised the Slovak Investment Holding on its EUR 12 million investment in battery R&D and production specialist Inobat.

Roman Vydra has been promoted to a Partner position with BBH in Bratislava.

Glatzova & Co has advised the shareholders of Jarident and Janouch Dental on the sale of the companies to the Nuent Group.

Eversheds Sutherland has advised the shareholders of SWS on the full sale of the company – including subsidiaries Entec Solutions and SWS International in Slovakia – to Also Holding.

Poland's Weronika Kapica and Daria Rutecka, Romania's Adina Damaschin and Mara Moga-Paler, Serbia's Zoran Soljaga, Slovakia's Michal Lucivjansky, and Slovenia's Peter Gorse have all been appointed to Partner positions with Schoenherr.

Kinstellar has announced several appointments to firm-wide practice and sector leadership positions, including Partner Csilla Andreko in Budapest, Partner Iustinian Captariu and Special Counsel Magda Raducanu in Bucharest, Managing Partner Milos Velimirovic in Belgrade, Managing Partner Lukas Sevcik and Counsel Jan Lehky in Prague, and Managing Associate Lukas Mrazik in Bratislava.

Dentons has advised HB Reavis on the sale of its in-house-developed technology platform Symbiosy to HqO.

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.

The Ministry of Economy has extended the eligible period for electricity and gas price compensations. In addition to 2023, it will also be possible to apply for compensation for the period up to 30 June 2024. Applications can be submitted until 15 June 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.

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.

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?

Slovakia-headquartered GHS Legal has announced it is changing its name to FairSquare.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Inter Cars on the extension, increase, and reorganization of its senior facilities in the aggregate amount of approximately PLN 2.54 billion (USD 642 million). Kinstellar, Magnusson, Kelemenis, and Glimstedt reportedly advised on the matter as well.

On November 21, 2023, corporate/M&A and private equity experts from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkiye, and Ukraine sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the key developments in the field over the past decade.