Category: On the Move

Wolf Theiss has opened a new office in Brussels under the joint leadership of Partners Anca Jurcovan, Guenter Bauer, Robert Wagner, and Stefan Wartinger.

According to Wolf Theiss, the goal behind setting up this new office is to enhance its ability to connect clients directly to the “core of EU operations while supporting partner firms in navigating regulatory matters across the CEE/SEE region.” Moreover, the firm believes that the new office will allow it to “offer enhanced advice on competition law, mergers, FDI, state aid and compliance.”

Jurcovan has been with Wolf Theiss since 2020 when she joined as a Partner. Earlier, she spent almost 15 years with Tuca, Zbarcea & Asociatii between 2005 and 2019. 

Bauer has been with Wolf Theiss since 2007. Before that, he was with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer between 1999 and 2005.

Wagner has been with the firm since 2009 when he joined as an Associate. He became a Senior Associate in 2013, a Counsel in 2018, and a Partner in 2020 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 3, 2020).

Wartinger joined Wolf Theiss in 2021 as a Senior Associate and was promoted to Counsel that same year. In 2023, he was promoted to partner (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 20, 2023). Earlier, he worked for E+H as an Associate between 2013 and 2018 and Attorney at Law between 2018 and 2021.

Wolf Theiss has promoted former Counsels Andreea Zvac, Oleg Temnikov, Stefan Horn, and Alexander Zollner to Partner.

Zvac is a member of the Dispute Resolution practice in Wolf Theiss’ Bucharest office. She has been with the firm since 2012. Before that, she worked at Zamfirescu Racoti Predoiu between 2007 and 2012 and with Sova & Asociatii between 2005 and 2007. Zvac began her career in 2002, spending three years with Igret & Oancea.

“I’m excited to step into this new role as Partner and am grateful for the trust and support from my colleagues and clients,” commented Zvac. “It’s been a journey of hard work and dedication and I’m eager to continue building on that foundation with our excellent team, in order to achieve even greater success and deliver excellent results!”

Temnikov is part of Wolf Theiss’ Sofia office, working in the Projects, Regulatory, and Dispute Resolution teams. He has been with the firm since 2011, when he joined as an Associate. He became a Senior Associate in 2016 and Counsel in 2019. 

“The promotion to Partner at Wolf Theiss for me is more than just a title or a career achievement – it’s a testament to years of hard work, trust, and dedication,” said Temnikov. “It’s the next stage of a journey where every challenge sharpened my skills, every success built my confidence and every failure reminded me of humility. This is the moment where personal growth and collective achievement intertwine since the way wouldn’t be possible without the support and leadership of the Wolf Theiss partnership.”

Horn is a member of the Real Estate and Construction team in the Vienna office. He has been with the firm since 2017, when he joined as an Associate. He was promoted to Senior Associate in 2019 and Counsel in 2022.

“This promotion marks a significant milestone in my career,” Horn said. “Becoming a Partner feels like a testament to hard work, dedication, and the invaluable support of mentors and colleagues. I am honored to continue on this journey, building on the trust and responsibility placed in me.”

Finally, Zollner is part of the Dispute Resolution team in the Vienna office. He has been with the firm since 2018. He joined as an Associate and was promoted to Senior Associate that same year. He became a Counsel in 2020. Earlier, he was a Junior Associate with Baker McKenzie between 2013 and 2017.

“I am deeply honored to be promoted to Partner and grateful for the trust that is put in me by Wolf Theiss,” Zollner stated. “It motivates me to continue the hard work and to push myself even further on the journey ahead. I’d also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to my team and fellow colleagues at the firm who have supported me over the years. I am very grateful to have you by my side.”

Kinstellar has announced it successfully completed the acquisition of Noerr’s Bratislava, Bucharest, and Prague operations.

This acquisition was originally reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 3, 2024. An acquisition of Noerr’s Budapest office was also planned, however, the local office went solo (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 31, 2024) before joining WTS Legal in June 2024 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 28, 2024).

According to Kinstllar, “with the addition of the new operations, first in the Czech Republic in Slovakia earlier this week and now in Romania, Kinstellar’s presence in these markets has substantially expanded. With the addition of the new colleagues, Kinstellar Bucharest Office now boasts an even stronger team of seven partners and approximately 50 highly skilled lawyers and business professionals.”

The Bucharest office is led by Managing Partner Victor Constantinescu and also includes Partners Zsuzsa Csiki, Iustinian Captariu, Remus Codreanu, Rusandra Sandu, Iulian Sorescu, and Luiza Bedros.

Furthermore, Kinstellar reports that another “highlight of this transaction is the acquisition of Noerr’s renowned tax & financial advisory team into Kinstellar’s Romanian operations. This team brings specialized expertise in state aid projects, financial structuring, and tax advisory services, significantly strengthening Kinstellar’s multidisciplinary full-service offerings.”

“We are thrilled to finalize this strategic acquisition, further solidifying Kinstellar’s presence in the Czech, Romanian, and Slovak markets,” Kinstellar’s Firm Managing Partner Kristof Ferenczi commented. “We extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues now in Bucharest and are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings.”

BPV Braun Partners has announced the re-election of Arthur Braun as its Managing Partner.

Braun was elected for another two-year term at the last Partners’ meeting in Popovicky.

“Besides helping the team to continue our success story also in the probably challenging next years I see my task for the next two years as promoting digitization of our firm as well as continuing to build up our next generation partners,” commented Braun.

Viliam Mysicka has been appointed as the new Managing Partner of Kinstellar’s Bratislava office and Jan Juroska has taken over as the new Managing Partner of the firm’s Prague office.

Additionally, Adam Hodon has been appointed as the new Kinstellar Chief Operating Officer.

Mysicka has been with Kinstellar’s Bratislava office since 2012 when he started as a Managing Associate before making Counsel in 2015 and Partner in 2018. Earlier, he spent two years with Linklaters, a year in-house with Procter & Gamble, and a year with CMS as a Junior Associate.

Juroska has been with Kinstellar since 2008 when he joined as an Associate. He was promoted to Managing Associate in 2012, Counsel in 2015, and Partner in 2016. Earlier, he spent more than two years with Linklaters as an Associate.

“I am delighted to see these talented leaders, nurtured within our firm, stepping into new and important leadership roles,” commented Firm Managing Partner Ferenczi Kristof. “They bring fresh perspectives to our leadership and firm management, and I am confident that they will drive the continued growth and success of their respective offices and the firm.”

Former Counsels Robert Wippel, Desiree Prantl, and Claudia Fochtmann-Tischler and former Senior Associate Daniel Orosz were promoted to Partners at Baker McKenzie as part of the firm’s 2024 promotions round.

Vienna-based Robert Wippel is a banking and finance expert. He joined Baker McKenzie in 2019. Earlier, he spent five years with Binder Groesswang. Earlier still, he was an Associate with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer between 2011 and 2014.

Desiree Prantl, also based in Vienna, is a dispute resolution specialist. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie in 2021, Prantl spent almost nine years with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Claudia Fochtmann-Tischler, who focuses primarily on M&A and reorganization, has been with the firm’s Vienna office since 2021. Earlier, she spent ten and a half years with Binder Groesswang.

Budapest-based Daniel Orosz, who is an M&A and energy expert, has been with Baker McKenzie since 2015.

“Each year, it is an honor to announce our promotions to Partner and I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to these exceptionally talented and diverse lawyers whose significant career milestone coincides with Baker McKenzie’s 75th anniversary,” commented Baker McKenzie Global Chair Milton Cheng. “Their dedication to our clients has been instrumental in driving our firm’s success and we look forward to their many more contributions in the years to come.”

Havel & Partners has announced it opened an office in Frankfurt am Main on May 1, 2024. The new German office will be managed by former Squire Patton Boggs Partner Philip Smitka.

Smitka, who will lead a three-person team in Frankfurt, specializes in corporate/M&A (including real estate transactions), international trade and litigation, and commercial and investment arbitration. He joins Havel & Partners after working for over five years as a Partner at Squire Patton Boggs in Stuttgart. Before that, he worked for Noerr for 18 years, including seven years as a Partner in its Prague office. 

“We want to be closer to our international clients and international law firms that work with us, as well as to international private equity and venture capital funds, investment and private banks, family offices, and other stakeholders and business partners,” Havel & Partners Managing Partner Jaroslav Havel commented. “That is why we have taken the important step of expanding our direct representation to include an office in Frankfurt, the gateway for business worldwide.”

CMS has appointed Tomas Matejovsky as the new Managing Partner of CMS Prague and Juraj Fuska as the new Managing Partner of CMS (CMNO) in Bratislava, effective May 1, 2024.

Matejovsky took the role after Helen Rodwell concluded her third consecutive term as the Prague Managing Partner. She will continue to be based in Prague, focusing on clients and complex M&A transactions across CEE, and will also continue to serve as a member of the global Board of CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang.

Currently head of the Commercial, Regulatory, and Disputes practice, Matejovsky has been with the firm since 2008, first joining as a Senior Associate. In 2011, he was promoted to Partner. Before that, he was a Senior Associate with Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol. between 1999 and 2008.

“Becoming the Managing Partner of CMS Prague is a privilege,” Matejovsky commented. “I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to lead and contribute to the continued success of our Prague office and the firm as a whole. I would like to thank Helen for her unwavering commitment to leading the Prague office and building a world-class team dedicated to the success of our clients. The Prague office has grown significantly under Helen’s leadership to become one of the leading law firms in Prague and I look forward to working with Helen and the wider team to deliver on our ambitious plans.”

Currently head of the Corporate/M&A team at CMS Bratislava, Fuska joined the firm in 2023 (reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 10, 2023). Before joining CMS, he was a Partner with White & Case Slovakia, where he spent over ten years. After that firm’s withdrawal from Slovakia (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 8, 2022) Fuska managed the rebranded operation – Aldtree Legal – for a year. 

“I am honored to take on the role of Managing Partner for CMS in Bratislava,” Fuska commented. “Helen has done a remarkable job leading our Bratislava office since its inception and I am eager to build on this strong foundation. I look forward to bringing my experience to this new leadership role as I am committed to pursuing excellence in every endeavor while continuing to deliver exceptional service to our clients. I have no doubt that working with our talented, globally-minded team will fortify our market reputation as the leading law firm in Slovakia. I am very grateful for the trust and support that I have received from CMS and I am very much looking forward to building on that trust and support in the future.”

The most recent promotion round at CMS saw 54 lawyers promoted to the firm’s partnership ranks, including Austria-based Daniela Kroemer, David Kohl, Florian Mayer, Kai Ruckelshausen, Lukas Peissl, Marlene Wimmer-Nistelberger, and Sonja Otenhajmer, Bulgaria-based Jenia Dimitrova, Hungary-based Agnes Solyom, Eszter Torok, and Katalin Horvath, and Poland-based Tomasz Sancewicz.

Kroemer is also the firm’s Co-Head of the Employment and Pensions practice area group. She’s been with CMS since 2013 when she joined as an Associate.

Kohl, who focuses on corporate/M&A and insolvency and restructuring, has been with the firm since 2018. Before that, he spent two years with Scherbaum Seebacher, a year with the Graz Court of Appeal, and a year with KPMG.

Mayer, a corporate/M&A expert, has been with the firm since 2019. Before that, he spent almost four years with Dorda as an Associate.

A banking & finance expert, Ruckelshausen has been a part of CMS since 2013 when he joined as an Associate. He became an Attorney at Law in 2019, before becoming a Partner.

Peissl focuses on dispute resolution and corporate/M&A. He joined CMS in 2018, after almost two years at Wolf Theiss. Before that, he spent a year with Baker & McKenzie.

Marlene Wimmer-Nistelberger is an expert in public law, competition, and EU law, as well as ESG. She joined CMS in 2010 as an Assistant and became a Trainee Lawyer in 2014, Lawyer in 2017, Attorney at Law in 2019, and Partner in 2023.

Otenhajmer, a dispute resolution specialist, joined CMS in 2016. After four years as an Associate, she became an Attorney at Law, before becoming a Partner.

Bulgaria’s Dimitrova joined CMS in 2019. She is the firm’s Head of Real Estate in Sofia.

Torok, a former Senior Counsel, initially spent nine years with CMS between 1995 and 2004, before moving in-house and taking over as General Counsel of Teva Pharmaceuticals for Hungary, between 2004 and 2014. She re-joined CMS in 2015, as a Senior Counsel. Her primary areas of focus are finance and corporate/M&A.

Horvath, a former Senior Counsel as well, has been with the firm since 2018. Before that, she spent over 14 years with Sar and Partners. She is a commercial, IP, and TMT expert.

Another Senior Counsel, Solyom first joined CMS as a Trainee in 2005, before becoming an Associate in 2009. She was promoted to Senior Associate in 2017 and a Senior Counsel in 2021, and her areas of focus are commercial, IP, and TMT.

Poland’s Sancewicz, a labor law specialist, has been with the CMS Poland office since 2005. He was promoted to Senior Associate in 2012 and to Counsel in 2017, before the partnership move.

“We’re delighted to welcome this exceptional group of lawyers to the partnership,” Senior Partner Elect for CMS UK Charles Currier commented. “Our new partners embody the collaborative, innovative, and supportive values that define CMS and have shown a real commitment to our clients and sectors.”

“Congratulations to our new partners,” CMS Chairman Pierre-Sebastien Thill added. “In addition to their legal expertise and cutting-edge sector knowledge, they demonstrate deep curiosity about future business challenges and opportunities as well as help foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability within our organization.”

Estonian law firm Lextal, Latvian law firm RER Lextal, and Lithuanian law firm ILAW Lextal have unveiled their new name and identity: Widen, “a Baltic law firm that sees itself as the Legal Jazz Company.”

Widen is a full-service Baltic law firm with more than 100 legal professionals and offices in all Baltic capitals. Since their initial merger in 2021 under the Lextal name, the three local law firms report expanding by over 60%. The firm boasts an above 50% female partner ratio, while its operations place “equal emphasis on professionalism and creative thinking.”

According to Widen, “the Legal Jazz Company has the meaning of focusing on two values. First, mastery in the craft of law – forward-thinking expertise. Second, mastery in the arts of teamwork and listening to the client – to give the client the best possible client experience.”