CEE Legal Matters

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  • Eversheds Sutherland Advises PFR’s Foreign Expansion Fund 2 FIZAN on Debt Financing to Euvic

    Eversheds Sutherland has advised the Foreign Expansion Fund 2 FIZAN of Polski Fundusz Rozwoju on debt financing to Euvic for the acquisition of stakes in five companies operating in the IT sector in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia.

    Euvic is a Polis IT service provider.

    According to Eversheds Sutherland, this marks the PFR Group’s inaugural project financing investment in Ukraine.

    The Eversheds Sutherland team included Partner Mateusz Dereszynski, Of Counsel Adrian Ziolkowski, and Lawyer Rafal Wlodzimierz Piasecki.

    Eversheds Sutherland did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

  • CMS and Taylor Wessing Advise on EGLS Founders Holding’s Partnership with Kamco Invest for European Logistics Platform

    CMS has advised EGLS Founders Holding on its partnership arrangements with Kamco Invest centering on European Green Logistics Space. Taylor Wessing advised Kamco Invest.

    Kamco Invest is an asset manager in the MENA region.

    EGLS is a new company established for this joint venture.

    According to CMS, EGLS intends to develop modern, sustainable big box, and urban logistics facilities by both upgrading existing properties and undertaking ground-up developments. Working with Kamco Invest and a small number of other large investors, EGLS already has a pipeline of sites and standing assets for acquisition.

    The CMS team included Partners Helen Rodwell and David Cranfield and Senior Associate Eliska Copland.

    The Taylor Wessing team included Czech Republic-based Partner Thomas Rechberger and Senior Associate David Volek and London-based Partner Leona Ahmed, Consultant Peter Jackson, Senior Associate Lacy Gratton, and Associate Sam Tee.

  • Bernhard Mueller Joins PwC Legal

    Former Dorda Partner Bernhard Mueller has joined PwC Legal’s affiliated Vienna office of Oehner & Partner as a Partner.

    Mueller’s primary focus is on public law.

    Before the move, he was with Dorda as a Partner between 2011 and 2025. Earlier, he was a Partner with Weber, Maxl & Partner between 2006 and 2007.

  • Tiberiu Protopopescu Joins Schoenherr

    Former Protopopescu & Partners Founding Partner Tiberiu Protopopescu has joined Schoenherr as a Senior Attorney at Law.

    Before the move, Protopopescu was at the helm of Protopopescu & Partners between 2017 and 2025. Earlier, he was an Associate with Vilau & Associates, as well as its legacy firm Vilau, Mitel si Asociatii, between 2013 and 2017. 

    “As to what regards the amazing people and the great projects, that I was lucky to be a part of up to this point, please know that I am looking forward to continuing our collaboration in this new format and exploring new horizons together,” commented Protopopescu. “As part of Schoenherr’s team, we will be able to provide you with full-service legal advice in connection with all facets of your business needs in Romania, beyond IP.”

  • Greenberg Traurig and SKJB Advise on Manova Partners’ Lease Agreements with PFR

    Greenberg Traurig has advised Manova Partners on the negotiation of six lease agreements for the Cedet building with companies of the Polski Fundusz Rozwoju group. SKJB Szybkowski Kuzma Jelen Brzoza-Ostrowska advised Polski Fundusz Rozwoju.

    According to Greenberg Traurig, “the joined area of the office space leased to PFR amounts to 9,500 square meters.”

    The Greenberg Traurig team included Counsel Anna Kokeli.

    The SKJB team included Partner Agnieszka Kuzma and Associate Tomasz Ciszunski.

  • Pelinari & Pelinari and Lexters Successful for Romania in ICSID Renewable Energy Dispute

    Pelinari & Pelinari and Lexters, working alongside Dechamps International Law and Essex Court Chambers, have successfully defended the Romanian state in an ICSID renewable energy dispute against Findoc and others.

    According to Pelinari & Pelinari, the dispute ended with the tribunal dismissing all claims on the merits. The case, launched by 44 renewable energy investors, alleged that Romania’s regulatory reforms in the renewable energy support scheme breached the Energy Charter Treaty. The tribunal’s decision found no violation and ordered the claimants to bear half of Romania’s legal costs.

    The Pelinari & Pelinari team included Partners Andrei Pelinari and Andreea Pelinari and Counsel Brasovschi Dumitru.

    The Lexters team included Partner Alexandru Stanescu.

  • Cobalt and Eversheds Sutherland Bitans Advise on AirBaltic’s Minority Stake Sale to Lufthansa Group

    Cobalt, working with Dentons, has advised AirBaltic on the sale of a minority stake to Lufthansa Group. Eversheds Sutherland Bitans advised Lufthansa Group.

    The transaction remains contingent on regulatory approval.

    According to Cobalt, “the Ministry of Transport of Latvia, airBaltic, and Lufthansa Group have announced the signing of an agreement for Lufthansa Group to invest EUR 14 million in airBaltic to acquire a minority stake and the Supervisory Board seat. In return for its investment, Lufthansa Group will receive a convertible share granting a 10% stake, which will be issued at a subscription price of EUR 14 million and converted into ordinary shares upon a potential IPO of airBaltic. After the IPO, the size of Lufthansa Group’s stake will be determined by market pricing of the potential IPO, with Lufthansa Group’s holding amounting to no less than 5% of airBaltic capital.”

    Lufthansa Group will also appoint a Supervisory Board member upon closing of the investment. 

    In 2024, Cobalt advised on AirBaltic’s EUR 40 million issuance (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 18, 2024), on its EUR 340 million bond issuance (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 27, 2024), and on the construction of the Baltic cargo hub (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 21, 2024).

    The Cobalt team included Partners Gatis Flinters, Guntars Zile, Edgars Lodzins, and Ugis Zeltins and Senior Associates Diana Zepa, Krisjanis Buss, and Kristine Ravina.   

    The Eversheds Sutherland Bitans team included Counsel Lauma Berzina and Senior Associates Karlis Jekabs Ivans, Elina Vilde, and Gunta Lokastova.

    Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Dentons announced that its team advising AirBaltic included Partners Nik Colbridge, Christopher Graf, and Maren Tamke, Counsel Arne Karsten, Senior Associates Christopher Winn, Wei Wu, and Tanya Macrae, and Trainees Suilen Perez Sera and Kelly Johnson.

  • RPCK Advises Farm-ING on Conversion into FlexCo

    RPCK has advised Farm-ING on its conversion from a GmbH into a flexible company.

    Farm-ING operates in the agricultural sector.

    “With the FlexCo, we are taking an innovative approach that gives us more flexibility, faster decision-making, and modern employee participation,” commented Farm-ING founder and Managing Director Gregor Witzmann. “The FlexCo enables us to react even more effectively to market changes and strengthen our position as a pioneer in the field of smart farm equipment. This transformation brings many advantages: faster decisions, more flexible employee participation, and less bureaucracy.”

    The RPCK team included Partner Keyvan Rastegar and Senior Counsel Katharina Rastegar.

  • Havel & Partners Advises Luigi’s Box Founders on Employee Stock Ownership Plan Setup

    Havel & Partners has advised the founders of Luigi’s Box on establishing an employee stock ownership plan. 

    Luigi’s Box, founded in 2016, provides personalized search and product recommendations for e-shops and online platforms. According to Havel & Partners, this arrangement allows key collaborators to gain an equity stake in the company.

    In 2024, Havel & Partners advised on Luigi’s Box acquisition of Persoo (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 18, 2024).

    The Havel & Partners team included Partner Jaroslav Baier, Managing Associate Josef Bouchal, Associate Andrea Mochorovska, and Junior Associate Robert Kosala.

  • Mandatory Liability Insurance for Construction Contractors Effective 15 January 2025

    Based on the contents of the government decree on construction works in effect since 1 October 2024, all domestic construction or design firms and self-employed persons must have compulsory contractors’ liability insurance starting from 15 January 2025.

    Contractors are obliged to take out liability insurance to cover damages, including personal injury and damage to property, and the associated costs, caused in the course of the construction work they undertake. The liability insurance shall cover, inter alia, persons employed by the insured contractor and persons having other employment or service relationships with the insured contractor, as well as subcontractors.

    The government decree sets the coverage of the insurance, i.e. the upper limit of the amount to be paid by the insurer in the event of damage, based on the net turnover of the company or self-employed person in the last closed financial year. The lowest tier of the insurance is below HUF 100 million yearly net turnover (ca. EUR 240,000), with further tiers between HUF 100 and 500 million, HUF 500 million and 2 billion, HUF 2 billion and 10 billion HUF and the final tier above HUF 10 billion. Most contractors in the domestic construction industry are in the lowest tier, meaning that the decree obliges them to take out insurance with a maximum coverage of HUF 20 million (ca. EUR 48,000 euros) per claim and HUF 40 million (ca. EUR 96,000) as total for one year.

    Contractors must notify the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) by submitting a copy of the policy within 8 days of concluding a liability insurance contract. MKIK is responsible for verifying compliance at least once annually. Failure to secure insurance will prevent contractors from receiving construction site handovers, opening electronic construction logbooks, or commencing construction activities.

    In cases of non-compliance, MKIK may initially suspend the contractor’s professional activities. If the issue is not resolved within the grace period, the contractor will be removed from the official registry. Liability insurance requirements do not apply retroactively to contracts or construction activities initiated before 1 October 2024. However, for contracts signed or projects commenced after this date, contractors must obtain liability insurance. Additionally, the policy number or a declaration of compliance must be included in the construction contract.

    By Denes Glavatity, Attorney-at-Law, KCG Partners Law Firm