Wolf Theiss has advised Rheinmetall on its joint venture with Vazovski Mashinostroitelni Zavodi for the development and manufacture of artillery shells and energetic materials in Bulgaria. 

Clinical trials are and will remain crucial to drug development and the improvement of patient health. In Europe, approximately 80 per cent of clinical trials experience difficulties in obtaining or retaining an adequate number of participants, leading to increased costs and delays in bringing a medicinal product to market or even abandonment of the project altogether. Despite the increasing number of clinical trials and maintaining a strong position in the global clinical trials market, Poland is no exception.

In a sweeping legislative overhaul, Bulgaria is redefining the framework governing corporate liability for criminal offences. The reform package – encompassing amendments to the Bulgarian Criminal Code, the Bulgarian Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and most notably the Bulgarian Administrative Violations and Sanctions Act (AVSA) – marks a pivotal shift in the prosecution and sanctioning of corporate misconduct.

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.

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).

Wolf Theiss, working with Advokatfirmaet Haavind, has advised Embron Group on the sale of Norautron to private equity firm Norvestor. 

Wolf Theiss, working with Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovichi, has advised Guala Closures on its acquisition of Kunststoffwerk Kremsmuenster from the Habermann family. Torggler advised the sellers.

After nearly nine years, Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (the CPC) has a new board of commissioners. The newly appointed leadership has launched its mandate with a sweeping agenda of reforms, intensified enforcement and strong focus on Bulgaria’s upcoming euro adoption. With Bulgaria set to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, the CPC has begun operations under the concern that some businesses may exploit the currency transition to unjustifiably raise prices.

Wolf Theiss has advised Duo Energy on its acquisition of a 24-megawatt solar project in Nyirpazony, eastern Hungary, from Reol Invest, HT Solar PV Holding, and Vitam et Sanguinem. Lendvai and Partners advised the sellers.

Wolf Theiss has announced the addition of six new Partners through the promotions of Hungary-based Norbert Balint, Austria-based Johann Hwezda, Christopher Juenger, and Eva Stadler, and Poland-based Marcin Rudnik, as well as Romania-based Claudia Popescu joining the team.

The Croatian Ministry of Finance has introduced a draft of the new Foreign Direct Investment Screening Act (FDI Act), aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for the screening of foreign direct investments. The proposal seeks to align national legislation with EU Regulation 2019/452, ensuring consistency with European standards on security and public order.

As Europe recalibrates its security architecture, military procurement has become a strategic policy lever. The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 envisions mobilising up to EUR 800 billion to reinforce Europe’s defence industrial base, while placing clear responsibility on Member States to build national capabilities, including through joint procurement, as part of a broader European readiness effort.

On September 24, 2025, Wolf Theiss announced that Vestas' acquisition of LM Wind Power’s Polish blade facility (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 29, 2025) closed on September 1, 2025.

Wolf Theiss has advised SpringWater on its acquisition of FirstPromoter.

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.

Wolf Theiss has advised Centaurus Group member AGENA3000 on its acquisition of DocProcess from founders Liviu and Daniela Apolozan and private equity fund Morphosis Capital.

On 18 August 2025, Government Decree No. 274/2025 (VIII. 18.), amending Government Decree No. 143/2018 (VIII. 13.) on the detailed rules applicable during the change-of-use authorisation procedure (the “Amendment”), was published in the Hungarian Gazette. The Amendment will enter into force on 17 September 2025. In June 2025, the Hungarian Government submitted the draft legislation for public consultation. The draft proposed amendments to the decree known as part of the “mall stop” regulation, which applies to retail units larger than 400 m2. The essence of the Amendment is to define additional cases where a change-of-use authorisation procedure becomes necessary.

Bulgaria is undergoing a transformative period, with the euro transition, a fully operational FDI regime, the newly adopted Personal Insolvency Act, and major energy and infrastructure initiatives reshaping the legal and business landscape across multiple sectors, according to Wolf Theiss Partner Radosveta Kojuharova.