Ukraine’s legal market continues to operate under the shadow of the war, where reconstruction planning and defense-sector expansion dominate nearly every strategic discussion, according to Baker McKenzie Partner Lina Nemchenko, who observes that both clients and law firms are positioning themselves for the post-war landscape.

Poland’s legal and business landscape is being shaped by a mix of geopolitical uncertainty and strong domestic fundamentals, creating a nuanced environment for investors and advisers alike, according to Addleshaw Goddard National Managing Partner for Poland and Head of Real Estate Janusz Dzianachowski.

Bulgaria’s legal and business landscape is currently being shaped by a combination of major defense-sector projects and sweeping regulatory adjustments, according to Gugushev & Partners Senior Partner Antoniya Markova, who highlights how a simultaneous push toward defense modernization, euro adoption, and AI-related reforms is creating a dynamic period for policymakers and market participants.

Lithuania’s regulatory landscape is undergoing a very significant shift, with crypto-asset licensing reforms and stricter fintech governance rules reshaping the market, according to Walless Partner Laurynas Narvydas.

Austria’s market has been navigating a challenging economic climate, marked by restructurings, uneven deal momentum, and rising operational pressures, yet, if one looks beyond volatility, regulatory refinement, renewed banking activity, and a flourishing startup ecosystem are creating pockets of opportunity and forward motion, according to Kinstellar Managing Partner Horst Ebhardt.

Serbia is entering a turbulent but transformative phase in property regulation as the government launches an unprecedented effort to register millions of illegally built structures, according to Djokic + Partners Senior Partner Djordje Djokic, who reports that the reform promises long-term clarity but raises immediate questions about administrative capacity, legal certainty, and the sheer feasibility of processing such an enormous volume of ownership claims.

Hungary’s legal and transactional market is navigating a period defined by heightened uncertainty, shifting investor profiles, and evolving legislative frameworks, according to Lakatos, Koves and Partners Partner Szabolcs Mestyan.

Kosovo’s prolonged political deadlock has slowed down the pace of reforms and delayed progress under the Growth Plan, leaving the country in a transitional period ahead of the December 28 elections, according to PRI Legal & Partners Partner Festa Stavileci.

Turkiye’s deal market accelerated into 2025, driven by strong tech, infrastructure, and renewable-energy activity, alongside tighter regulation and growing sophistication in transactions, according to Herguner Bilgen Ucer Partner Deniz Tuncel.

EU accession dominates Montenegro’s political and economic agenda at the moment, according to Vujacic Law Office Partner Sasa Vujacic, who stresses that the country is experiencing a level of momentum not seen in years. Beyond the technical progress on negotiation chapters, he notes that access to new EU funds and a markedly positive cost-of-accession outlook are shaping both policy priorities and market expectations.

Romania is experiencing significant pressure in pharmaceutical reimbursement and increasingly heavy FDI scrutiny, creating uncertainty and added complexity across the market, according to DLA Piper Romania Partner Alina Lacatus.

North Macedonia’s legal and business landscape is entering a period of renewed momentum, with several structural trends converging at once, according to DDK Managing Partner Dragan Dameski.

The Slovak legal market is being pulled in two directions at once at the moment – inward by the practical realities of AI adoption inside law firms, and outward by geopolitical uncertainty that’s cooling foreign investment, according to Taylor Wessing Co-Managing Partner Andrej Leontiev.

Montenegro is moving forward with a new wave of legislative reforms, from the digitalization of immigration procedures and clearer residency rules to real-estate measures aimed at improving compliance and market transparency, according to Prelevic Law Firm Partner Gorjana Lekovic, who also reports that the spotlight is on the new planning regulation, judicial efficiency, and a domestic bond program opening to retail investors. 

Hungarian companies are being hit by a wave of EU tech rules, according to BLB Legal Managing Partner Adam Liber, who stresses how this wave is reshaping the compliance function. 

The Czech financing market is buzzing, with deal activity picking up over the past months, according to Eversheds Sutherland Head of Banking & Finance Vojtech Laga.

Ukraine has moved quickly to bolster its defense industrial base, with a new Defense City regime offering tax, customs, and administrative incentives to manufacturers, according to Kinstellar Partner Natalia Kirichenko, with the framework aiming to cut red tape, speed up production, and attract both domestic and international players under wartime conditions.

Latvia’s defense sector is taking off, drawing fresh investments and reshaping legal work, while renewable energy projects move into full swing and law firms race to keep up with talent and tech changes, according to Cobalt Partner Gatis Flinters.