The private healthcare sector across CEE has been expanding at a remarkable pace, reshaping the way people access and experience medical care.
Lithuania: The Launch of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation
The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) has just been launched, and this brings big changes for crypto-asset markets in the European Union. MiCAR applies to both crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and crypto-asset issuers, but it focuses mainly on CASPs due to the higher risks involved with their activities. Each EU member state has the option to set its own transition periods for implementing the CASP regulations.
Latvia: Third-Party Assets Held by a Credit Institution in Cases of Insolvency
A credit institution typically possesses funds belonging to depositors. However, there may be situations when the institution also holds property that belongs to third parties. This article aims to examine the concept of third-party property in the case of a credit institution’s insolvency.
Lithuania: Implementation of the NIS2 Directive
Lithuania has updated its national legislation, with the revised Cybersecurity Law aligning with Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (NIS2 Directive). The new Cybersecurity Law took effect on October 18, 2024. The implementing legislation was adopted on November 6, 2024.
The Corner Office: New Practice Development Strategy
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around we turn our attention to setting up new practices and ask: When launching a new practice, what is your go-to strategy – do you look at internal team members to spearhead it, or are you more likely to turn to lateral hires? Why?
5 Things You Need to Know About the New EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR)
On December 30, 2024, a new European Union crypto-asset regulation, known as MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), came into effect. This regulation establishes unified rules for the crypto-asset market and imposes stricter requirements on crypto service providers. Additionally, on July 1, 2024, a new crypto-asset market law came into force in Estonia (krüptovaraturu seadus or KrüTS in Estonian).
The Legal and Ethical Aspects of Employee Poaching
The labor shortage issue has been a growing problem in the job market for a long time now. In the long-term employers are looking for ways to improve working conditions, to keep employees engaged and to attract new ones. One of the ways to fix the labor shortage issue is employee poaching. What are the legal and ethical aspects of employee poaching and how to lessen the risk of another job market recruiting employees?
Lithuania: Tax Increases to Fund National Defense
The ongoing war in Ukraine has sparked governments to take defense seriously. The Lithuanian government is no exception here – as of 2025, Lithuania is set to increase defense spending.
Wild West, Bonanza, and Artificial Intelligence – Do They Have Anything in Common?
Presumably many of us have watched Bonanza when they were younger. Bonanza is an American Western TV series about the Wild West of the 1860s. It wasn’t an easy life – lawlessness reigned, and justice was only for the strong.However, in 2024, it’s a different story – the laws are in place and being effectively enforced. The development and use of artificial intelligence is no longer a lawless environment. Existing regulations remain in place, and now a new Artificial Intelligence Regulation has entered into force, carrying hefty fines of up to €35 million or up to 7% of a company’s global turnover. So, the answer to the question in the headline is already a pre-emptive 'no'.
What to Expect When an Investigator Calls for Questioning?
People, as individual sources of evidence, are crucial in criminal cases. In more complex cases, even hundreds of people may be interrogated. So it is not uncommon in Widen’s practice to receive a concerned phone call from a client who has been called in for questioning. What to expect in such a case?
Lithuania: Balancing the Scales – Addressing Disparities Between Public and Private Healthcare
Healthcare is a fundamental component of any society, reflecting its core values and priorities. In Lithuania, the healthcare system is marked by a pronounced division between private and public hospitals. Lithuania’s healthcare services are divided into outpatient (ambulatory) and inpatient (stationary) services.
CEE Legal Matters Comparative Legal Guide: Oil & Gas 2024 is Now Out!
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Oil & Gas in CEE.
Oil & Gas Laws and Regulations in Lithuania (2024)
Contributed by Widen.
Challenges in the Classification of Goods in Trade Transactions
When importing goods from third countries into the European Union (EU), you must adhere to EU and national laws regarding importing, declaring, and applying customs duties (such as import duty, value-added tax, and excise duty on certain products).
The Corner Office: Onboarding Clients
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With managing firm clients being a critical aspect of firms’ operations, we asked: What are the three most important elements when onboarding a new client?
Lithuania: Capital Market of the Baltic States and the Trends – A Q1 Outlook
The Baltic region, comprising Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, boasts an emerging public capital market facilitated by the unified securities trading platform – the Nasdaq Baltic Stock Exchange.
How Can Legal Design Make Private Policies More Effective?
Articles 13 and 14, along with other provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR), require businesses to provide individuals with comprehensive information about the processing of their personal data.
New EU Directive: Better Working Conditions for Bolt and Wolt Couriers
On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution for a directive aimed at improving working conditions on platforms. This is a significant step towards addressing the needs of platform workers, such as 'Bolt' and 'Wolt' couriers, throughout the European Union.