CEE Legal Matters

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  • Dentons Launches Projects Team and Infrastructure Group in Poland

    Former DLA Piper Partner Adriana Mierzwa-Bronikowska has joined Dentons’ Warsaw office with a team of four lawyers to form a Projects team to focus on infrastructure. As part of the same expansion move, Dentons also hired Former DLA Piper Counsel Aleksander Haleniuk, who joined as Counsel, and four additional lawyers.

    Before the move, Mierzwa-Bronikowska was with DLA Piper as the firm’s Head of Projects/PPP since 2019 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 29, 2019) and a Local Partner since 2022 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 12, 2022). Earlier, she was a Counsel at Hogan Lovells from 2014 to 2019 and at Chadbourne & Parke from 2008 to 2013. Earlier still, she worked as a Senior Associate at Eversheds Sutherland from 2006 to 2008, and at Gide Loyrette Nouel from 2005 to 2006.

    “Providing comprehensive advice on infrastructure projects requires a multidisciplinary approach across several areas of law, such as corporate and tax, public procurement, real estate, environmental law, and finance, coupled with specialized industry knowledge. Dentons boasts robust, market-leading teams in all these fields and is consistently committed to its continuous growth,” commented Mierzwa-Bronikowska.

    “The addition of Adriana Mierzwa-Bronikowska and her highly regarded team, along with the recruitment of Aleksander Haleniuk and a group of lawyers experienced in infrastructure and energy finance, aligns with our insights into market trends and client needs,” said Poland Co-managing Partner Jakub Celinski. “Infrastructure and energy are critical to the Polish and European economies, and the demand for legal services in these sectors will continue to grow.”

  • Anneli Krunks Appointed as Head of FinTech at Ellex in Estonia

    Ellex has appointed Counsel Anneli Krunks as the Head of the Fintech practice in Estonia.

    Krunks has been with the firm since 2019 when she joined as a Senior Associate. She became a Counsel in 2025. Earlier, she was with Sorainen as an Associate between 2017 and 2019. Earlier still, she served as a Compliance Officer with Danske Bank between 2014 and 2017.

    “The steady introduction of new regulations in the financial sector will continue through 2025 and beyond,” Krunks commented. “Financial sector technology is evolving at an incredibly fast pace. The past decade has brought new demands by the clients for financial service providers as well as to the understanding of what financial services are. Technological advancements lead to more specific rules, and high-quality legal advisors must have strong industry-specific expertise and an openness to change – essentially staying one step ahead of current regulations.”

  • White & Case Advises Rohlik.cz Finance II on CZK 4 Billion Retail Bond Issuance with Equity Upside

    White & Case has advised Rohlik.cz Finance II on a CZK 4 billion retail offering of senior secured fixed rate bonds due in 2029 which feature an equity-linked bonus.

    J&T IB Capital Markets was the arranger and J&T Banka, Ceska Sporitelna, and PPF Banka were the joint lead managers.

    Rohlik Group is an online food delivery service operating in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Romania.

    According to White & Case, the bonds are guaranteed by Rohlik.cz Investment – the largest shareholder of Rohlik Group – and secured by shares in Rohlik Group. Alongside a fixed annual coupon of six percent, investors may receive an extraordinary bonus at final or early maturity ranging from 20% to 27.5%, subject to Rohlik Group’s valuation. “This is the first time such novel feature, which provides investors in corporate bonds with an upside linked to equity value, has been used in the domestic retail bond market.”

    The White & Case team included Prague-based Partner Petr Hudec, Local Partner Jan Vacula, Counsel Petr Smerkl, and Associate Josef Levy.

    White & Case did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

  • Gide and Wardynski & Partners Advise on Remake’s Acquisition of Four Hotels in Poland

    Gide has advised Remake Asset Management, acting for the SCPI Remake Live fund, on its EUR 33.5 million acquisition of four hotels in Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, and Lublin from Covivio. Wardynski & Partners advised the sellers.

    According to Gide, “the hotels are fully leased to B&B Hotels under long-term lease agreements.”

    The Gide team included Partner Blazej Czwarnok, Counsel Rafal Osetek, and Associates Agnieszka Dabrowska, Michal Wisniewski, Agnieszka Myszor, and Maciej Grela.

    The Wardynski & Partners team included Partners Michal Glinski and Jakub Macek and Counsel Jakub Baranowski.

  • KSB Advises Webglobe on Acquisition of Cesky Webhosting

    Kocian, Solc, Balastik has advised Webglobe on the acquisition of Cesky Webhosting.

    Webglobe is a provider of web hosting and cloud services.

    Cesky Webhosting operates the Webhosting C4 platform. According to KSB, “this acquisition is another step in Webglobe’s growth strategy, focused on strengthening its market position following its integration into the group.one group.”

    In 2024, KSB advised on the sale of Webglobe (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 5, 2024).

    The KSB team included Partner Drahomir Tomasuk and Lawyers Jan Beres, Katerina Vosatkova, Barbora Musilova, and Milada Kurtosiova.

    KSB did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

  • Measuring Productivity and Client Satisfaction: Essential Operational KPIs for Law Firms

    Measuring Productivity and Client Satisfaction: Essential Operational KPIs for Law Firms

    Beyond financial indicators, a law firm’s performance also depends on operational and client satisfaction KPIs. These metrics enable firms to optimize time management and enhance service quality, directly impacting client loyalty and the firm’s long-term growth.

    Productivity KPIs for Law Firms

    Utilization Rate and Billable Hours per Attorney

    Maximizing billable time is a key driver of performance for law firms. To fully leverage this potential:

    • Set individualized and realistic billable targets for each attorney.
    • Encourage specialization in high-value practice areas, enabling higher billing rates.

    Train your teams in personal efficiency techniques and time management. Identify and eliminate non-productive, time-consuming tasks. Invest in technology tools that automate administrative processes.

    Regularly analyze time allocation across different case types. Prioritize complex matters that yield higher billable hours. Implement a mentorship program to help junior attorneys enhance their productivity.

    Average Case Resolution Time

    The time taken to resolve matters is a critical indicator of a law firm’s efficiency. Closely monitoring this metric helps identify bottlenecks in workflow.

    To reduce resolution time, consider adopting project management tools tailored to the legal industry. These solutions enhance team collaboration and automate certain administrative tasks.

    Jarvis Legal, for instance, enables centralized case and task management while providing clear visibility into deadlines and responsibility allocation. This streamlines teamwork and boosts productivity.

    Client Satisfaction and Retention KPIs

    Client Satisfaction Rate:

    Evaluating client satisfaction is a cornerstone for law firms. To gather accurate feedback, consider using online surveys after each resolved case. Include targeted questions about communication, legal expertise, and turnaround times.

    Analyze the feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Use these insights to train your team and continuously refine your services.

    Implement a star-rating system on your website to provide immediate visibility into overall client satisfaction. This transparency builds trust with prospective clients and highlights your firm’s expertise.

    Additionally, request detailed testimonials from satisfied clients to enhance your brand reputation and attract new mandates.

    Retention and Referral Rates:

    Tracking your retention rate provides valuable insight into the stability of your client base. Calculate it by dividing the number of repeat clients by the total number of clients over a given period. A high retention rate signals strong client loyalty.

    To assess your referral rate, use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). This metric gauges how likely clients are to recommend your services. A positive NPS indicates a satisfied and loyal client base.

    Analyze these indicators quarterly to identify trends. A decline may indicate the need to adjust your practices, while an increase validates your retention strategies.

    These metrics directly impact the long-term growth of your firm. Loyal clients generate recurring revenue and attract new business through word-of-mouth referrals.

    Number of New Clients and Acquisition Rate

    The influx of new clients is a critical indicator of a law firm’s growth. Closely monitor the number of new mandates on a monthly or quarterly basis.

    Calculate your acquisition rate by dividing the number of new cases by the total number of prospects contacted. A high ratio reflects an effective business development strategy.

    Identify your most effective acquisition channels—referrals, website, social media, or professional events—and focus your efforts on the most fruitful sources.

    Evaluate your cost per client acquisition by dividing your marketing expenses by the number of new mandates obtained. Optimize this ratio to maximize your return on investment and ensure sustainable, profitable growth for your firm.

    Operational KPIs, from attorney productivity to client satisfaction, play a fundamental role in a law firm’s overall performance. By tracking these indicators and implementing continuous improvement strategies, firms can enhance efficiency, strengthen client relationships, and achieve sustainable growth in a highly competitive market.

    With its analytics and management modules, Jarvis Legal becomes a strategic partner for firms seeking to improve profitability and competitiveness in a demanding environment.

    By LexisNexis

    LexisNexis

     

  • NKO Partners Advises Dr Max on Acquisition of VIVA Pharm

    NKO Partners has advised Dr Max on its acquisition of VIVA Pharm pharmacy chain.

    VIVA Pharm pharmacy chain is headquartered in Valjevo and consists of 20 retail units throughout Serbia.

    In 2024, NKO Partners advised Dr Max on the acquisitions of the Ivancic i Sin Pharmacy Chain in Serbia (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 10, 2024), the Miletic Plus pharmacy chain (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 21, 2024), and Pet-Sar Farm (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 15, 2024). In 2023, the firm advised Dr Max on the acquisitions of Melem Pharmacy (as reported on December 1, 2023), the Dr Ristic pharmacy chain (as reported on November 9, 2023), the Uniprom pharmacy chain in Zajecar (as reported on October 4, 2023), Nova Pharm (as reported on March 28, 2023), Beolek (as reported on March 9, 2023), Cvejic (as reported on January 31, 2023), as well as AU Medis Lek (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 6, 2023).

    The firm had also advised the Dr Max Group on its acquisition of several other pharmacy chains in Serbia in 2022, including Pancevo-based AU Kod Suncanog Sata and Veliko Gradiste-based AU Selic (as reported on October 11, 2022), Belgrade-based K-Pharma (as reported on June 8, 2022), the Janja pharmacy chain (as reported on March 28, 2022), and the Zlatni Lav pharmacies (as reported on January 5, 2022).

    The NKO Partners team included Partners Djordje Nikolic and Branko Jankovic.

  • CMS and Forgo, Damjanovic & Partners Advise on K&H Bank’s Refinancing of Obton Group PV Portfolio

    CMS has advised K&H Bank on the refinancing of the solar portfolio consisting of Obton Group PV plants situated on 15 different locations across Hungary, with a total installed DC capacity of 71.107 megawatts. Forgo, Damjanovic & Partners reportedly advised Obton Group.

    K&H Bank is one of the biggest commercial banks in Hungary and is owned by the Brussels-based KBC Group since 1999.

    Obton is a Danish investment and development company.

    The CMS team included Partners Eszter Torok, Jozsef Varady, and Peter Simon, Senior Counsel Zsofia Hermann, Senior Associate Dorottya Varga-Giesz, Associates Nora Devenyi and Istvan Rigo, and Trainee Lawyers Marton Lazar and Rebeka Erdosi.

    The Forgo, Damjanovic & Partners team included Partners Zsofia Fuzi and Reka Bali and Associate Eszter Bedo. 

  • Schoenherr, Freshfields, and Binder Groesswang Advise on NXP’s Acquisition of TTTech Auto

    Schoenherr, working alongside Skadden, has advised NXP on its acquisition of TTTech Auto. Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer advised TTTech majority owners Audi, Aptiv, and Infineon on the sale. Binder Groesswang, working with Clifford Chance’s Munich office, advised Aptiv as well.

    The transaction is valued at USD 625 million and remains contingent on regulatory approval.

    NXP operates in automotive processing and networking.

    TTTech Auto is a Vienna-based automotive software solutions company.

    According to Schoenherr, “NXP intends to integrate TTTech Auto’s management team, intellectual property, assets, and approximately 1,100 engineering staff into its automotive portfolio. Under the NXP brand, TTTech Auto will continue to serve existing customers and further expand its global footprint. TTTech’s systems, safety, and security software solutions complement NXP’s CoreRide platform, which enables automakers to maximize and simplify system performance and shorten time to market.”

    The Schoenherr team included Partners Sascha Hoedl, Teresa Waidmann, Marco Thorbauer, Luka Lopicic, and Andrea Radonjanin, Counsel Stephan Roedler, Attorneys at Law Alexander Pabst, Nina Zafoschnig, Marija Vlajkovic, Dina Vlahov Buhin, and Didem Kara, and Associate Markus Fasching.

    The Freshfields team included Vienna-based Partners Ludwig Hartenau, Maria Dreher-Lorje, and Katharina Kubik, Counsel Gernot Fritz, Principal Associates Noel Zamani, Florian Reiter-Werzin, Andreas Langer, Kathrin Wildmoser-Zeller, Leonhard Prasser, and Matthias Hofer, and Associates Martin Zankl, Sabeth Rivero Mendez, Gloria Kremser, Christina Hinterschweiger, Jakob Tschachler, Daniel Grimmer, Rosa Glunz, and Markus Mittendorfer, as well as further team members in London.

    The Binder Groesswang team included Partner Thomas Schirmer, Senior Associate Christoph Schober, and Associate Michael Mittermair.

  • Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners Advises Allianz Bank Bulgaria on EUR 50 Million Notes Issuance

    Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, member of Eversheds Sutherland, has advised Allianz Bank Bulgaria on its issuance of EUR 50 million MREL notes due December 2028.

    Allianz Bank Bulgaria specializes in corporate, retail, and mortgage lending and is part of Allianz Group. 

    According to Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, “these senior preferred notes contribute to the minimum requirement for eligible liabilities of Allianz Bank Bulgaria, as set by Bulgarian National Bank in its capacity of resolution authority.”

    The Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners team included Managing Partner Nikolay Bebov, Partner Damyan Leshev, Counsel Maria Karacholova, and Senior Associate Petar Ivanov.