Category: News

  • Sayenko Kharenko: Report on the Activity of the “Breathe” Charity Fund in May

    Sayenko Kharenko, Jun 3: After three months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we are beginning to adjust to the new conditions of life, while other countries worldwide are gradually removing the war from their agendas. But this should not be allowed to happen, so in May, the Fund’s volunteers tried to spread the word about the need to help Ukraine and the activities of the “Breathe” Charity Fund at every possible venue.

    One of them was the Andersen Network’s European Partner Meeting held in Berlin from 8 to 11 May 2022. At the event, Sayenko Kharenko’s team talked about the situation in Ukraine, shared their own stories, thanked Andersen for all the support, and presented the results of the Fund’s activities to over 270 colleagues from 30+ countries across Europe.

    Also, thanks to the work of the firm’s partners, the Fund received a donation from an English Premier League football club, the top division of the English football leagues.

    In May, thanks to our volunteers’ charitable contributions and dedication, the Fund delivered necessary medicines and equipment to Kyiv City Clinical Oncological Centre, Sumy Regional Clinical Hospital, and many others. We helped purchase necessary raw materials and equipment for the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” used to manufacture therapeutic hydrogel dressings. We also sent humanitarian aid to Kherson and helped set up field hospitals in different regions of Ukraine.

    Apart from financial support, the “Breathe” Charity Fund receives humanitarian aid. In May, we received a delivery from our new partner from Canada – Toddington International Inc.

    We heartfully thank you for supporting those who are in most need. We will continue to inform you about the distribution of aid obtained with your generous assistance.

    Donations can be made via the Fund’s website. 

    More about the fund.

    Unlike any other news items in CEELM, these are published as received with no other edits than outlined in this editorial note.

  • Clifford Chance Advises UniCredit Bank on Refinancing of Mattoni 1873

    Clifford Chance has advised UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia on the refinancing of the existing financial indebtedness of the Mattoni 1873 group. 

    The value of the transaction was EUR 260 million.

    According to Clifford Chance, “initially, UniCredit acted as the sole underwriter in the transaction but was later, still in the pre-signing phase, joined by Ceska Sporitelna and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka.”

    Mattoni 1873 group is a producer of soft drinks in Central Europe that expanded via acquisitions to South Europe in recent years. It produces its own brands of traditional mineral waters – Mattoni, Szentkiralyi, and Knjaz Milos – and produces and distributes brands of soft drinks and snacks, such as Pepsi, Mirinda, Lipton, Schweppes, and Lay’s.

    The Clifford Chance team included Partner Milos Felgr, Senior Associate Dominik Vojta, and Junior Lawyer Tomas Kubala.

    Clifford Chance could not provide additional information on the matter.

    Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Kocian, Solc, Balastik announced it had advised Mattoni 1873 on the deal. The firm’s team included Partner Martin Krejci and Counsel Ivo Prusa.

  • Krehic & Partners and Wolf Theiss Advise on Sale of Heloo to TaskUs

    Deloitte Legal’s Krehic & Partners has advised sellers Tomislav Plesa and Domagoj Makar on the sale of their shares in Heloo to TaskUs. Wolf Theiss, working with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, advised the buyer.

    Heloo, formerly known as Q Experience, is a Zagreb-headquartered customer support outsourcing company providing digital customer experience solutions to European technology companies.

    TaskUs is a US provider of outsourced digital services and customer experience to technology companies.

    The Krehic & Partners team was led by Partner Ivan Zornada and included Managing Partner Tarja Krehic and Associate Jelena Kraljevic.

    The Wolf Theiss team was led by Partner Luka Tadic-Colic and included Partner Dora Gazi Kovacevic, Counsel Josip Martinic, Senior Associates Lucia Mocibob and Nevena Skocic, Associates Marija Lalin, Berislav Draskovic, Ana Slovenec, Benjamin Sadric, and Mateja Jelacic, and Consultant Ira Peric Ostojic.

  • AgiLawyer: UA.SUPPORT – Legal Volunteers Wanted (Romania)

    AgiLawyer, May 24, 2022: We are seeking Romanian volunteering lawyers to join our international pro bono legal platform called #UA.SUPPORT.

    In response to the situation in Ukraine, AgiLawyer s.r.o., in cooperation with the Czech law firm Holubová Advokáti, has established this platform dedicated to assisting Ukrainian refugees in need of requesting legal help.

    Currently, as the number of legal requests from Romania are dramatically increasing, we would welcome any pro bono lawyers (or coordinators of lawyers) from Romania to register in our system. If you are interested, please fill out the easy-to-use a form on our website (UA.SUPPORT or contact us at info@ua.support. to discuss possible cooperation.

    Unlike any other news items in CEELM, these are published as received with no other edits than outlined in this editorial note.

  • AgiLawyer: UA.SUPPORT – Pro Bono Legal Help for Ukrainian Refugees

    AgiLawyer, May 23, 2022: In response to the situation in Ukraine, AgiLawyer s.r.o., in cooperation with the Czech law firm Holubová Advokáti, has established #UA.SUPPORT, an international pro bono platform that links Ukrainian refugees requesting legal help with appropriate lawyers.

    The platform accepts more than 100 requests for legal aid per week as many Ukrainian refugees need legal aid concerning immigration, employment, schooling, healthcare, business development, or other areas.

    The project has joined so far more than 150 volunteer lawyers from 25 mostly European countries and the numbers are constantly increasing.

    UA.SUPPORT is officially recognized or supported by a number of European bar associations, emergency services, global legal institutions, independent non-profit NGO organizations, and embassies of Ukraine.

    For more information, please visit our website UA.SUPPORT – Linking help or write to info@ua.support.

    Unlike any other news items in CEELM, these are published as received with no other edits than outlined in this editorial note.

  • Anna Zorya Joins Rymarz Zdort as Partner

    Former Arzinger Law Office Partner Anna Zorya has joined Rymarz Zdort as Partner. She is joined by former Arzinger Associate Viktoriia Dobrynska.

    Specializing in corporate and M&A, prior to her move, Zorya was a Partner at Arzinger Law Office, where he spent over eight years from 2013 to 2022. Previously, she also was a Partner at Ulysses between 2010 and 2013. Between 2005 and 2010, she was a Senior Lawyer at Magisters.

    “Anna has led several M&A/Corporate projects in various jurisdictions in the CEE region,” Rymarz Zdort Managing Partner Pawel Rymarz commented. “We are convinced that thanks to the unique combination of her specialization and experience, we will be able to provide our clients in Poland with the highest quality of services in more and more complex projects.”

  • Doklestic Repic & Gajin Advises BNBM on EUR 50 Million Joint Venture in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Doklestic Repic & Gajin has advised Beijing New Building Materials Plc on the transaction with the Coal Mine and Thermal Power Plant Ugljevik for the creation of a EUR 50 million gypsum board joint venture. China’s Shihui Partners reportedly advised BNBM on the deal as well.

    BNBM is a Chinese gypsum board company that was established 43 years ago. It currently has nearly 80 gypsum board production lines in China, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Thailand, with a production capacity of about 3 billion square meters.

    The Coal Mine and Thermal Power Plant Ugljevik (RiTE) is a subsidiary of state-owned utility company Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske.

    According to DR&G, the joint venture “envisages the establishment of a joint venture company in Ugljevik, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be co-owned by BNBM (90%) and RiTE (10%). The company will build a factory for the production of gypsum board construction products. The annual output of the factory is projected to be 40 million square meters of gypsum boards … The factory will consume the gypsum obtained from the flue gas desulfurization systems of RiTE and is expected to employ around 100 workers.”

    According to the firm, “more than 90% of the gypsum board products will be exported to meet the demand for gypsum board products in the European market.”

    DR&G’s team was led by Partner Slobodan Doklestic and included Partners Marko Repic, Ljubinka Pljevaljcic, and Milos Pandzic, Senior Associate Aleksandra Stojanovic, and Attorney Bojan Peulic.

  • Wolf Theiss and Yavuz & Uyanik & Akalin Advise on 4iG Acquisition of AlbTelecom

    Wolf Theiss and Yavuz & Uyanik & Akalin have advised 4iG Nyrt on the acquisition of an 80.27% stake in AlbTelecom from a subsidiary of Turkey’s Calik Holding. Tashko Pustina reportedly advised the sellers. The deal was cleared by the Albanian Competition Authority on March 4, 2022.

    Following 4iG’s subsequent acquisition of One Telecommunications (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 5, 2022), Wolf Theiss advised 4iG on obtaining Albanian merger clearance.

    4iG Nyrt is a Hungarian stock exchange-listed IT and Technology group.

    AlbTelecom is a landline voice, internet, and TV provider in Albania. One Telecommunications is an Albanian mobile telecom operator.

    Calik Holding is a Turkish privately held industrial group.

    “We are pleased that AlbTelecom is now owned by a strategic investor committed to the company,” commented Calik Holding President Ahmet Calik. “By taking this opportunity, I would like to thank all employees of AlbTelecom for their efforts and dedication and we are confident that AlbTelecom will continue to achieve remarkable successes.”

    Earlier this year, Wolf Theiss won the 2021 Deal of the Year award for Albania for this very transaction (as announced by CEE Legal Matters on April 7, 2022).

    Wolf Theiss’ team included Sofia-based Partner Richard Clegg and Consultant Irina Dekova, Hungary-based Counsel Norbert Balint, and Albania-based Partner Sokol Nako and Associate Kristaq Profkola.

    The Yavuz & Uyanik & Akalin team included Of Counsel Ali Can Kolay.

    Wolf Theiss did not reply to our inquiry on the matter.

  • Stratulat Albulescu and Cobalt Advise on Druid’s USD 15 Million Series A

    Stratulat Albulescu has advised Al start-up Druid on its USD 15 million series A financing round led by Karma Ventures and Hoxton Ventures. Cobalt advised Karma Ventures. Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe reportedly advised Druid as well. Hoxton was reportedly advised by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo.

    According to Cobalt, the lead investors were “joined by GapMinder and four other investors from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and Romania.”

    “The new funding will be used to accelerate the company’s international expansion and footprint by actively hiring new talent and increasing platform versatility,” Stratulat Albulescu informed.

    Founded in 2018, Druid is a Romanian start-up that offers a no-code enterprise conversational Al platform.

    Karma Ventures is a venture capital firm that specializes in late seed and A-round investments in Europe’s technology start-ups.

    The Stratulat Albulescu team was led by Managing Partner Silviu Stratulat and included Senior Associate Vlad Sandulescu and Associates Roxana Ioncu and Adina Popescu.

    The Cobalt team included Partner Kristel Raidla-Talur, Counsel Greete-Kristiine Kuru, Associate Johanna Lumiste, and Assistant Lawyer Marit Raatma.

  • Sayenko Kharenko: Thank You – In April 2022, UAH 11.5 Million have been Raised To Help Ukrainians

    Sayenko Kharenko, May 9: The invasion of Ukraine has now entered its third month. The “Breathe” Charity Fund continues to expand its efforts to help Ukrainian hospitals and civilians affected by the war. Our volunteers and philanthropists are doing their best every day to support those who need it most. 

    Without monetary donations which amounted to almost UAH 11.5 million in April, our activity would be impossible. The main focus of the Fund is to help hospitals and civilians affected by the war, thus, all donations are directed towards purchase of essential equipment, medicines and supplies.

    In April, thanks to the charitable contributions and dedication of our volunteers, we have helped: 

    • Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine
    • National Cancer Institute
    • Vinnytsya Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital
    • Sumy Regional Clinical Hospital
    • Nemyriv City Hospital
    • Kharkiv Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital
    • Slobozhanske Hospital
    • NGO “Public Council of Kryukovshchyna”
    • State Institution “Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”
    • Central Polyclinic of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
    • Geriatric boarding house “Lifehouse”
    • Rivne Regional Hospital for War Veterans of Rivne Regional Council
    • Kholmin village council and many others

    In addition to financial support, the “Breathe” Charity Fund has also receives humanitarian aid. In April, the Fund received 351,000 units of pre-injection wipes and humanitarian aid from our Polish fellow lawyers. 

    We continue to cooperate and coordinate with Unchain Ukraine, Kyiv Defenders, 99 Problems, volunteers and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and attract new partners. 

    We heartfully thank you for supporting those who are in most need! 

    We will continue to inform you about the distribution of aid obtained with your generous assistance.

    More about the fund.

    Unlike any other news items in CEELM, these are published as received with no other edits than outlined in this editorial note.