Kinstellar

(The following information was supplied by the firm)

Firm Managing Partner: Patrik Bolf
Slovakia Managing Partner: Adam Hodoň
Number of partners: 30 Number of lawyers: 250+
Languages: Bulgarian, Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Kazakh, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Turkish, Ukrainian

Firm Overview:
Kinstellar is a leading independent law firm in emerging Europe, Turkey and Central Asia, with offices in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Belgrade (Serbia), Bratislava (Slovakia), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Istanbul (Turkey), Kyiv (Ukraine), Prague (the Czech Republic), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Operating as a single fully integrated firm, Kinstellar delivers consistently high quality services across all jurisdictions in an integrated and seamless style. The firm is particularly well suited to servicing complex transactions and advisory requirements spanning several jurisdictions.

Main Areas of Practice:
The range and breadth of the firm’s specialist practices and sectors set it apart in emerging Europe and Central Asia.

Sectors:

Asset Solutions
Automotive & Industrials
Aviation
Banks & Financial Institutions
Energy & Natural Resources
Infrastructure
Life Sciences & Healthcare
Private Equity
Real Estate
Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Practices:

Banking, Finance & Capital Markets
Competition & State Aid
Compliance, Risk & Sensitive Investigations
Dispute Resolution
Employment & Labour Law
Energy & Natural Resources
Infrastructure & Projects
Intellectual Property
M&A & Corporate
Real Estate, Construction & Planning
Restructuring & Insolvency
Tax
Technology, Media & Telecommunications
White Collar Crime

Key Contacts

Slovakia Managing Partner: 

Adam Hodoň
[email protected]

Firm Rankings

Banking & Finance
Band 1

9.0

Capital Markets: Debt
Band 3

7.0

Capital markets: Equity
Band 2

8.0

Competition/Antitrust
Band 2

8.0

Corporate/M&A
Band 1

Dispute Resolution
Band 2

8.0

Energy
Band 2

8.0

Labour & Employment
Band 1

9.0

Projects
Band 1

Real Estate
Band 1

9.0

Restructuring & Insolvency
Band 2

8.0

Articles

The AI Act is adopted, what to do now?

On March 13th the EU Parliament adopted the AI Act, marking a significant milestone in shaping the region’s AI landscape. The Act will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and 20 days after publication, the AI Act will enter into force. Although it will take two full years until the grace period […]

Coffee industry leaders face EUR 2 million fine…

And secure a conditional merger before Serbian Competition Authority On 29 February 2024, the Serbian Competition Authority (the “SCA”) published two detailed decisions involving two largest undertakings on the Serbian coffee market. The first one relates to concerted practices that resulted in a joint fine of approximately EUR 2 million, while the other one relates […]

Do you want to litigate in Slovakia? From 1 April 2024 you will pay more

At the end of last year, the National Council of the Slovak Republic adopted changes to administrative fees, court fees and fees in other areas of public administration. From 1 April 2024—just a few days from now—not only will it be necessary to pay more for various administrative matters, but court fees will also increase. […]

The AI Act – EU’s First Artificial Intelligence Regulation

In a ground-breaking move, on 8 December 2023, the European Parliament officially reached a provisional agreement with the Council on the AI act. With this agreement, the European Union has implemented the world’s first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, known as the AI Act. This landmark regulation is now in it’s final stage of implementation, […]

New Frequency Allocation Plan and Licensing Conditions come into force in Ukraine

The Plan for the Allocation and Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum of Ukraine (the “Plan”) and Conditions of Licencing for the Use of the ‘L02’ Radio Frequency Spectrum (the “Licensing Conditions”) have recently come into force in Ukraine. The Plan and Licensing Conditions are developed in compliance with Ukraine’s existing undertaking to bring its […]

Government’s decree on reducing food inflation to enter into force

The Hungarian government’s decree on measures to combat the so-called “shrinkflation” will enter into force on 1 February 2024. “Shrinkflation” refers to the hidden raising of prices by reducing the size of products. The measures apply to pre-packaged products that are sold by retailers in one or more sizes in a uniform appearance. The new measures primarily […]

Advertising Regulatory Landscape in Ukraine

Amendments to Law of Ukraine on Advertising No. 270/96-ВР of 3 July 1996 have recently come into force. The amendments update obsolete regulations on advertising in Ukraine, thus ensuring advertising standards correspond to current technological developments. Click on the following links to read the overview in English or in Ukrainian.

Gotta catch ’em all

Extending the scope of the Romanian FDI Screening Regime to EU investors and below-control acquisitions A little over one year since Romania’s new foreign direct investment (“FDI”) screening regime (that we previously wrote about here and here) became fully operational, the Romanian government passed an emergency ordinance meant to further clarify particular aspects under the law (such as […]

ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia

Since the ESG reporting obligations in the EU, i.e. the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force earlier this year, the transposition clock has been ticking for Member States with a deadline expiring on 6 July 2024. At the time of writing, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have proposed draft laws implementing […]

Subsidies for the construction of Renewable Energy Sources

Are you considering building your own Renewable Energy Source (“RES”) in order to reduce your electricity costs, comply with internal ESG policies, or for any other reason? If so, you may find this overview of currently available subsidies to entrepreneurs in Slovakia for the construction of RES helpful. Currently, there are two opened calls for the […]

Transposition of the CSRD in the Czech Republic

 Directive (EU) 2022/2464 on corporate sustainability reporting (the “CSRD”) was adopted at the end of 2022 and entered into force in January 2023, with a transposition deadline of 6 July 2024. The Czech Republic has opted for a phased-in transposition process in two stages corresponding to the implementation timeframe under the CSRD: This first phase, carried […]

Renewable Energy – Simplified legislation in favour of national interest projects and state entities

On Friday 27 October 2023, GEO 91/2023, regarding certain measures related to the exercise of the state’s public and private property rights, as well as the efficient administration of state properties and the amendment of some normative acts (“GEO 91/2023”), entered into force. Among others, by means of GEO 91/2023, long-criticised measures that substantially favour […]

Amendment to the Labour Code 2023

On 12 September 2023, the Chamber of Deputies approved an amendment to the Labour Code after the legislation was returned by the Senate in July with several amendments. The Chamber of Deputies, however, ultimately approved the amendment in its original wording. After it is signed by the President, the amendment will come in to effect […]

EU publishes new regulation on alternative fuel infrastructure

At the end of September, the long-awaited Regulation (EU) 2023/1804) on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU (“AFIR”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Though the entry into force of AFIR is 13 April 2024, it is worth reviewing the key takeaways that the AFIR introduces as […]

Non-Bank Lending in Serbia

According to Article 5 of the Serbian Banking Act (Zakon o bankama), no person other than a bank licensed in Serbia may engage in the granting of loans unless authorised by law. One Serbian law that does allow foreign banks (i.e., banks not established and licensed in Serbia) to provide cross-border loans to Serbian entities is the […]

Uzbekistan introduces a new legal framework to govern competition within commodity and financial markets

On 3 July 2023, the President of Uzbekistan signed the Law No. ЗРУ- 850 “[o]n competition” (the “New Law”), which comes into force on 4 October 2023, replacing the law on competition No. ЗРУ-319 dated 6 January 2012 (the “Old Law”). The New Law (i) defines new criteria for identifying a dominant market position, (ii) introduces the concept of superior […]

Study of the Romanian Competition Council and Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority identifies grid connection barriers

The Romanian Competition Council (RCC) continues to focus on the energy markets, not only through investigations and merger control analysis, but also by carefully reviewing the markets through sector inquiries and studies. Given Romania’s declared interest in considerably bolstering its renewable energy capacities in the short term—which is also supported by EU funds and the […]

Long-awaited changes to the competition law in Ukraine

9 August 2023, the Ukrainian parliament adopted long-awaited amendments to the country’s competition law (the “Amendments“), which is the first step towards an extensive overhaul of Ukraine’s antitrust and merger control rules. The Amendments are pending the signature of the president and are expected to come into force on 1 January 2024 (except for certain […]

New legislative changes promote flexicurity in employment relations in Romania

The first part of 2023 continued last year’s trend of substantial changes to Romanian labour legislation, which is of real interest to both employers and employees. As such, both Law no. 53/2003 on the Labour Code (“Labour Code”) and Law no. 367/2022 on social dialogue (“Law on Social Dialogue”) have undergone several changes, some aimed at […]

Turkey’s Competition Board sets the rules for online sales restrictions

Turkey’s Competition Board (the “Board”) rendered two significant decisions last year concerning online sales restrictions that provide a view forward for many undertakings. In its decisions, the Board scrutinised the commitment packages offered by BSH and Arçelik, two of the major small and large household appliances manufacturers in Turkey. The investigations against the companies (the […]

Class actions to protect collective interests of consumers in Slovakia

July 2023 – The new Act on Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts (the “Act“) was adopted by the Slovak Parliament on 21 June 2023 and will enter into force on 25 July 2023, with the exception of some special and temporary provisions, which […]

Workforce restructuring in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

July 2023 – Recent economic and regulatory trends such as high inflation rates and the need to transition to a green economy have pressured employers to consider cost cutting measures. Organisations have various responses with many taking steps to reduce labour costs and/or reallocate resources which may lead to recruitment freezes or even redundancies. These measures […]

Ukraine Parliament mandates electronic presence for court proceedings

August 2023 – The Ukrainian parliament has passed the Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Mandatory Registration and Use of Electronic Offices in the Unified Judicial Information and Telecommunication System or Its Separate Subsystem (Module) that Ensures Document Exchange”. The law is due to take effect on 18 October 2023. The Law […]

Further changes introduced to Romania’s FDI regime

Romania has just introduced additional amendments to its foreign direct investment (“FDI”) screening regime, further broadening the scope of what was already one of the more far-reaching FDI regimes in the European Union. The changes were enacted under Law no. 164/2023, published in the Official Gazette of Romania on 7 June 2023 (the “FDI Amendment […]

Amendment to the Medicines Act seeks to address drug shortages

On 14 June 2023, the Czech government approved a draft amendment to the Medicines Act. The aim is to improve the availability of medicines on the market and to mitigate the potential negative impacts of recent and ongoing medicines supply shortages. To this end, the proposed amendment creates new obligations for operators in the medicines […]

Currency restrictions in Ukraine: Changes to the rules for external debt financing

Following the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) implemented temporary restrictions on cross-border foreign currency transactions. These restrictions were outlined in Resolution No. 18 of the NBU Board “On the Operation of the Banking System during the Period of Martial Law” (NBU Resolution No. 18). NBU Resolution No. 18 […]

Recent changes to the Whistleblower Act

Slovakia currently has an outdated Whistleblower Act (Act No. 54/2019 on the Protection of Persons Who Report Antisocial Activities). The relevant EU Whistleblower Directive (No. 2019/1937 on the Protection of Persons Who Report Breaches of Union Law) has not yet been fully implemented in the act. Consequently, the EU initiated an infringement procedure for non-compliance […]

Uzbekistan introduces amendments to banks’ capitalisation requirements and liberalises access…

On 19 April 2023, the President of Uzbekistan signed law No. ЗРУ-831, which came into force on 20 April 2023 and introduced changes to the law “[o]n banks and banking activities” (the “Amended Banking Law”). Law on Banking The Amended Banking Law (i) increases the minimum charter capital requirement for banks and (ii) lifts certain restrictions on ownership of […]

Five years of GDPR: An overview of GDPR implementation

As May 2023 marks the fifth anniversary of the implementation of GDPR[1], we have prepared an overview of the five years of regulatory struggle in Romania since the regulation came into effect. By examining the value of the sanctions and the types of violations, we can identify some regulatory trends of the local practice. Statistics […]

Reform of the “judicial map” of the Slovak Republic

From 1 June 2023, the so-called reform of the “judicial map” of Slovakia enters into force, which according to its proponents should bring faster and better decision-making by the courts and ensure better working conditions for judges. The basic premise of the reform is the specialisation of judges and courts under five main agendas—family, civil, criminal, commercial, […]

Hungarian parliament adopts new Whistleblowing Act

The Hungarian parliament has adopted a new law implementing the EU directive on the mandatory protection of (even anonymous) whistleblowers, which in many respects imposes stricter rules on companies and puts whistleblowers in a more favourable position. The new law, which repeals the previous rules on complaints and whistleblowing, poses significant challenges to most of […]

Europe Summit creates the International Register of Damage Caused by the Russian Aggression…

The Council of Europe announced the establishment of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine through an Enlarged Partial Agreement dated 12 May 2023. The Register is signed by 43 member states of the Council of Europe and representatives of the European Union, the USA, Canada and Japan. […]

Recent normative acts impacting the activity of employers

Early 2023 is shedding light on how to implement the numerous changes to Romanian labour law that occurred during 2022. In addition, at the EU level, a new directive which is set to come into force provides for equal pay for women and men. Collective bargaining in Romania at the sector level On 29 March […]

Senate to approve the Amendment to the New Building Act

An amendment to Act no. 283/2021, Building Act (the “New Building Act”) has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies, bringing key changes to Czech construction laws and permitting processes (the “New Amendment”). The New Amendment has been passed to the Senate, which should approve it shortly. The original New Building Act, representing a major […]

Loot boxes – still a mystery in CEE?

The recent resolution of the European Parliament on video games calls on the European Commission to take the necessary steps to bring about a European approach to loot boxes which could lead to more restrictive regulation. At the beginning of 2023 the European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on online video games The EP notes […]

Ukraine introduces a new law to strengthen IP rights protection

aA new Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Strengthening the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights” No. 2974-IX (the “Law”), entered into force on 15 April 2023. The Law’s aim is to strengthen IP rights protection in Ukraine and harmonise Ukrainian intellectual property legislation with EU standards on the protection […]

Setting up operations in Slovakia

Today’s uncertainties at the European Union’s eastern border have left companies questioning the safety of their people and the continuity of their operations in that part of the world. Businesses in the IT and BPO sectors that had found talent and growth opportunities in counties such as Ukraine or Moldova are now rethinking their strategy […]

Two new recent normative acts impacting the activity of employers

Early 2023 is shedding light on how to implement the numerous changes to Romanian labour law that occurred during 2022. In addition, at the EU level, a new directive which is set to come into force provides for equal pay for women and men. Collective bargaining in Romania at the sector level On 29 March […]

Bulgarian Parliament passes the Whistleblowing Act

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed an Act on protection of persons who report breaches or publicly disclose information on violations (the “Whistleblowing Act”, the “Act”), implementing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. The Whistleblowing Act will become […]

Law on Payment Services: Overview of rules for Ukrainian payment services market

he Law of Ukraine “On Payment Services” creating a new legal landscape for the provision of payment services in Ukraine, came into force on 1 August 2022. At the same time, certain provisions of the law, which mostly relate to open banking, will become effective in 2025. Read more

Slovak court orders public health insurance provider to pay EUR 2 million for Zolgensma, citing discrimination

Zolgensma[i] is an orphan medicinal product designated by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (“SMA”), a long-term debilitating and life-threatening disease that causes breathing difficulties and paralysis that worsens over time. Zolgensma, which has been authorised in the EU since 18 May 2020, was developed by AveXis EU, Ltd. and later […]

New updates to the Labour Act in Croatia

The Act on Amendments to the Labor Act in Croatia entered into force on 1 January 2023 and brings numerous changes that require employers to make certain adjustments. In our newsletter, we provide an overview of the most important changes to the Labor Act that relate to the obligation to harmonize the Rules of Procedure […]

Impact of intellectual property on M&A transactions in Bulgaria and beyond

Unlocking the value of intellectual property (IP) Hardly anyone could argue against the constantly increasing importance of IP to companies. IP not only affects the business models of companies but also brings additional value to the table (e.g., in addition to its client list and personnel, a target offers proprietary software solutions facilitating and supplementing […]

Compensations for energy prices in Slovakia

On 21 February 2023, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (“the Ministry”) published a call for the submission of applications for a subsidy to cover additional costs due to the increase in gas and electricity prices (“the Call”). The aim of the Call is to compensate qualifying companies and natural persons (entrepreneurs) for excessive energy […]

Engaging employees|contractors in S/CEE

Engaging employees and contractors requires different approaches. In this article, we’ll explore the key aspects of each and provide insights on best practices for collaboration. Whether you’re a manager, a recruiter, or a worker, this article can help you make informed decisions about employment relationships and contractor partnerships. Click on this link to read more.

Unpacking the European Parliament’s Recent Resolution on Online Video Games

Last week, the European Parliament (“EP”) adopted a resolution on online video games (the “Resolution”) . In essence, the Resolution calls for strong enforcement of consumer protection rules in the video game industry, requires stricter regulation of loot boxes and emphasizes the enormous potential of the gaming sector. The EU-wide video gaming industry is viewed […]

The relaunch of social dialogue in Romania and its impact on employers

A new law on social dialogue has recently been adopted in Romania, Law No 367/2022 on social dialogue 1 (“Law No. 367/2022“), repealing the previous regulation, Law No. 62/2011. The new law on social dialogue is a true game changer and brings four significant reforms, respectively: the obligation to perform collective bargaining at both the […]

An Amendment to the Czech Labour Code

An amendment to the Czech Labour Code is expected imminently. This Monday, following the closing of an input window as part of an interdepartmental feedback procedure, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs published an updated draft amendment to the Labour Code Read more

Major consumer-related amendment to the Civil Code and the Consumer Protection Act

On 6 January 2023, a so-called “major consumer-related amendment” to the Civil Code and the Consumer Protection Act will come into force. The amendment (the “Amendment”) significantly strengthens the position of consumers, responds to digital technologies and introduces a number of changes, in particular for businesses engaged in e-commerce. The Amendment also introduces significant fines for non-compliance with the […]

Cryptocurrency exchanges: how to choose a reliable one?

Investing in crypto assets is a high-risk activity. The existing structure of the crypto market, its supervision and its participants, is currently such that it cannot guarantee the security of funds, even for the customers of the best-known and, seemingly, best-protected exchanges. Given these inherent risks, there are several aspects that should be considered when […]

New updates to the Companies Act in Croatia

On 1 January 2023, the euro became the official currency of the Republic of Croatia. As a result, a number of laws in Croatia have been amended. The changes mostly apply to amounts that were previously regulated in Croatian kuna. The amendments to the Companies Act prescribe the conversion of share capital from kuna to euro as […]

Focus on Merger Control in the Balkans: Kosovo

A new Competition Act entered into force in Kosovo in summer 2022. The most important change introduced by the new Competition Act is the change of the merger control threshold. A new Competition Act entered into force in Kosovo in summer 2022. The most important change introduced by the new Competition Act is the change […]

Romania approves secondary norms to its new FDI regime

The Romanian government has adopted secondary legislation for the organisation and functioning of the FDI Screening Commission (the “CEISD”)—the authority tasked with the review of foreign investments under Romania’s new foreign direct investment (“FDI”) regime. Specifically, the government adopted Government Decision no. 1,326/2022 approving the Regulation on the functioning of the CEISD, which came into […]

Ukraine: An introduction to war-inflicted damages

What do you do if your country is invaded, your parents and kids are killed when trying to escape the occupation, your wife is gang-raped, and you are beaten to death because you speak a language the invaders hate? What do you do if the invaders have looted your house, plundered your farm, or taken […]

Romania towards enhanced work life balance and better working conditions

In the era of digitalisation, the labour market is also experiencing continuous transformation. This causes a rethink of traditional labour relations, as well as the adoption of strategies to increase competitiveness and flexibility at work while maintaining a high level of social protection for employees. In order to align the legislative framework in Europe to […]

Recent changes to the Slovak Labour Code

On 4 October 2022, the Slovak parliament adopted an amendment to the Labour Code (the “Amendment”) that enters into effect on 1 November 2022. The aim of the Amendment is mainly to implement two EU directives (No. 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable… Read more

The problem with Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

If a German tourist withdraws cash from an ATM in Prague, the ATM screen may display a choice whether the tourist’s euro account should be charged in the currency of their account (i.e., euro), or in the local currency – Czech koruna. If the tourist chooses the former, they opt for the so-called Dynamic Currency […]

Changes to Bulgaria’s Labour Code and other legislative acts are now in effect

New important amendments to the Labour Code, the Social Insurance Code and the Health Insurance Act have come into effect in Bulgaria. They include changes to parental leave, work-life balance measures, shorter trial period, new timing and procedures for amendments to employment agreements, limited non-compete, and the provision of information and training programmes. Read more […]

83 days of war in Ukraine: Tax considerations for refugees and their employers

The war in Ukraine has now passed the 183-day mark. This unfortunate milestone is a reminder to employers with a dispersed workforce of Ukrainian refugees to take a look at the status of these employees. Under many tax treaties mirrored after the OECD Model Treaty, the 183-day period implicates a significant threshold: individuals temporarily present in the […]

The problem with Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

If a German tourist withdraws cash from an ATM in Prague, the ATM screen may display a choice whether the tourist’s euro account should be charged in the currency of their account (i.e., euro), or in the local currency – Czech koruna. If the tourist chooses the latter, they opt for the so-called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) service. DCC is […]

Overview of the new Ukrainian Law on joint stock companies

On 18 August 2022, the President of Ukraine signed the new Law “On Joint Stock Companies” No. 2493 (“the Law”). It will enter into force on 1 January 2023. The Law was enacted to ensure the fulfilment of Ukraine’s obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU regarding the harmonisation of national legislation with EU legislation […]

“Buy Now, Pay Later” solutions on the rise – regulatory aspects in Bulgaria

The rapid growth of online shopping as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased demand for different payment options for consumers at the checkout. One such option that is increasingly popular with consumers is the “buy now, pay later” (“BNPL”) solution. The hot trend in consumer credit BNPL allows consumers to defer the payment […]

Government law sanctioning speculative actions during times of crisis and regulating the abuse of superior bargaining position

In the context of a looming post-COVID-19 financial crisis, exacerbated by the Russian intervention in Ukraine, soaring energy and fuel prices, and rapidly rising inflation, the Romanian government has recently adopted Government Emergency Ordinance 84/2022 on combating speculative actions and amending and supplementing certain normative acts (the “GEO”). The GEO was published in the Official Gazette on […]

The Digital Services Act – an overview of the new online intermediary liability rules

An intense effort to agree on unified directly applicable European rules for digital services is finally yielding results. On 5 July 2022, almost two years after their introduction by the European Commission, the European Parliament adopted in the first reading the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), following an earlier deal reached […]

The potential inclusion of the Russian Federation in the ‘FATF Blacklist’ – Part II

June 2022 – The global community is considering various legal and other reactions to the unprovoked, unjustified, and aggressive war launched by the Russian Federation and its satellites against Ukraine. Among potential steps on the table are the inclusion of the Russian Federation to the Black List being administrated by the Financial Action Task Force (the FATF) […]

The potential inclusion of the Russian Federation in the ‘FATF Blacklist’ – Part I

June 2022 – The global community is considering various legal and other reactions to the unprovoked, unjustified, and aggressive war launched by the Russian Federation and its satellites against Ukraine. Among potential steps on the table are the inclusion of the Russian Federation to the Black List being administrated by the Financial Action Task Force (the FATF) […]

“Buy Now, Pay Later” solutions on the rise – regulatory aspects in Bulgaria

June 2022 – The rapid growth of online shopping as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased demand for different payment options for consumers at the checkout. One such option that is increasingly popular with consumers is the “buy now, pay later” (“BNPL”) solution. The hot trend in consumer credit BNPL allows consumers to defer […]

Cookies

With France and Austria deciding on data protection issues in relation to Google Analytics, many more countries have followed suit in relevant changes to so-called web browser cookies. In order to limit the amount and quality of data retrieved by providers from users, mainly without them realising the true scope of this data and the […]

Setting up operations in Slovakia

Today’s uncertainties at the European Union’s eastern border have left companies questioning the safety of their people and the continuity of their operations in that part of the world. Businesses in the IT and BPO sectors that had found talent and growth opportunities in counties such as Ukraine, or Moldova are now rethinking their strategy […]

Ukraine introduces a new type of sanction

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, there has been a plethora of new legislation establishing mechanisms for an adequate political and legal response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Another such mechanism was introduced on 13 May 2022, when the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a new law amending the existing sanctions legislation. The law enacts a new type […]

International sanctions – direct impact on individuals and businesses in the Czech Republic

In response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the European Union continues (along with other countries) to announce additional sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Presently, sanctions include, inter alia, bans on the export and import of certain types of goods, doing business with sanctioned individuals and companies and restrictions on new investment activities in […]

Long term renewable power purchase agreements with renewable energy generators

May 2022 – The sale of the generated electricity by renewable energy generators through market-based long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) is a fairly new phenomenon in the Hungarian electricity market. Whilst PPAs have already been concluded between conventional power plants and off-takers in the past, the interest towards renewable PPAs has only started to increase recently, […]

Unblocking the registration of presence of foreign NGOs in Ukraine

Following the introduction of martial law in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, registration actions were significantly limited and the registration of presence of foreign NGOs was suspended. On 28 April 2022, the CMU introduced further legislative amendments that have expanded the list of available registration actions. Below we provide important highlights related to the new […]

Good news for renewable energy producers following amendments to the Romanian Energy Law

On 31 December 2021, Government Emergency Ordinance no. 143/2021 amending the Romanian Energy Law no. 123/2012 (the “Energy Law”) and other normative acts was published in the Official Gazette (“GEO no. 143/2021”) and entered… Continue reading

Russian property to be nationalised: Risks to consider when doing business with Russia-related counterparties in Ukraine

March 2022 – Recently, the Parliament of Ukraine has adopted a law on the nationalisation of property belonging to the Russian Federation and its entities in Ukraine. Continue reading

Documentation of Damaged Property in Ukraine and Possible Legal Remedies: Steps and Options to Consider

March 2022 – While we hope that there will be no need to use the below manual, we want to ensure that companies are aware of the steps to take if their property in Ukraine is damaged as a result of the Russian invasion. Continue reading

Setting up operations in Serbia

April 2022 – Today’s uncertainties at the European Union’s eastern border have left companies questioning the safety of their people and the continuity of their operations in that part of the world. Businesses in the IT and BPO sectors that had… Continue reading

Update of current eHealth trends in CEE

As previously reported, eHealth (including telemedicine) has been one of the fastest growing areas within the healthcare sector over the last two years. Governments as well as healthcare sector operators across Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey continue to implement new solutions with a view to improving the provision of healthcare services and to enhance […]

Open Banking in Europe in Light of PSD2 Review

Open banking is changing the way people use banking services in the modern world. Europe prides itself on being the cradle of the open banking revolution, with the EU’s Payment Services Directive[1] (PSD2) being one of the first regulatory initiatives to open up bank-held account data. PSD2 has been in force now for more than four […]

Changes to legislation in the Czech Republic in 2022

January 2022 – On 18 January, Kinstellar’s Prague team hosted an online conference for our client’s senior management as well as for our partners and local institutions entitled “Changes to Legislation 2022″. As we have been receiving information about new laws, decrees, regulations and directives literally every day, we decided to help our clients and partners […]

Czech Government extends “Antivirus” programme offering employer financial aid

December 2021 – The Government of the Czech Republic has extended its “Antivirus” programme, offering employment protections for businesses affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Antivirus provides a partial reimbursement of employee remuneration costs incurred as result of an inability to allocate work due to certain so-called barriers on the part of the employer or the […]

Tax law required for Diia City regime to go live has been adopted

December 2021 – Ukraine is strengthening its position as an IT hub of choice by adopting new legislation aimed at creating favourable tax and legal conditions for tech companies operating in the country and fostering further investment in the sector. On 14 December 2021, the Ukrainian parliament adopted draft law No. 5376 “On amendments to the Tax Code […]

Ukraine and EU sign Common Civil Aviation Area Agreement

A recent article in Ukrainian legal affairs newspaper “Yurydychna Praktyka” (“Юридична Практика) features the comments of three Kinstellar experts—Vincent Morand (Senior Legal Advisor based in Prague), Oleksandr Kurdydyk (Partner and Head of Banking and Energy & Natural Resources in Kyiv, firm-wide Head of Projects & Infrastructure, and firm-wide Co-head of Energy & Natural Resources) and Yuliia Eismont (Senior Associate in […]

New rules for the cultivation and export of medical cannabis and increased limits for THC concentrations in industrial hemp in the Czech Republic

On 8 October 2021, an amendment to the Act on Addictive Substances (the “Amendment”) was published. The Amendment is designed to expand the possibilities for cultivating medical use cannabis to a broader range of subjects, including natural person entrepreneurs, thus increasing its availability to Czech patients. It is expected that increased production will lead to […]

European Commission adopts new data protection-related standard contractual clauses

June 2021 – On 4 June 2021, the European Commission updated its standard contractual clauses for transfers of personal data to third countries and also released new standard clauses for controller-to-processor relationships. As data transfer standard contractual clauses (“SCCs”) can easily be incorporated into data processing agreements, they represent a widely sought-out mechanism for businesses […]

Slovakia: Subsidy for shortened work paid by the state

On 4 May 2021 the Slovak parliament adopted Act No. 215/2021 on compensation for shortened work, widely known as Kurzarbeit (the “Act”). The Act aims to ensure that the state will partially compensate employer costs for employee wage compensation during periods of shortened work caused by external factors (the “Subsidy”). The Act will become effective as of 1 January 2022, as […]

European Commission adopts new data protection-related standard contractual clauses

June 2021 – On 4 June 2021, the European Commission updated its standard contractual clauses for transfers of personal data to third countries and also released new standard clauses for controller-to-processor relationships. As data transfer standard contractual clauses (“SCCs”) can easily be incorporated into data processing agreements, they represent a widely sought-out mechanism for businesses to ensure data protection […]

Press Releases

Kazakhstan office advises Kaspi.kz on historic NASDAQ IPO

Kinstellar’s Kazakhstan office, a prominent legal advisor in the region, played a crucial role in guiding Kaspi.kz, a leading financial technology company headquartered in Kazakhstan, through its successful upsized U.S. Initial Public Offering (IPO) on January 23, 2024. The offering, featuring the sale of 11,300,000 American depositary shares (ADSs), raised an impressive USD 1.04 billion. This significant achievement […]

19 Mar 2024
Advises IMMOFINANZ on the sale of Grand Center Zagreb

Kinstellar has successfully advised IMMOFINANZ on the sale of the Grand Center Zagreb office building to a Croatian real estate investment company. Kinstellar advised IMMOFINANZ throughout the process including on structuring of the sale process, structuring of the transaction, due diligence, and transaction negotiations. Located in the heart of the Croatian capital, Grand Center Zagreb stands as a […]

19 Mar 2024
Advises Genesis Capital on the acquisition of a big player in heating and cooling installations

Kinstellar’s Prague office has successfully advised Genesis Private Equity Fund IV (GPEF IV), from the established private equity group Genesis Capital, on the acquisition of Schulte Group, a key player in heating and cooling installations. Genesis Capital is buying a majority stake. Private equity investors believe that businesses will continue to focus on energy savings and emissions reductions. […]

19 Mar 2024
Advised The Associated Press in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary

Kinstellar is honoured to have provided intellectual property and privacy-related advice to The Associated Press (AP) during the production of 20 Days in Mariupol, a feature-length documentary about the brutal Russian invasion and devastation of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in 2022. The documentary was recently honoured with an Academy Award for Best Documentary, adding to […]

19 Mar 2024
Kinstellar expands its Corporate M&A practice in Bucharest with a new senior hire

Kinstellar is pleased to announce that Claudia Popescu has joined the firm’s Bucharest office as Special Counsel in its Corporate M&A practice. Claudia will strengthen the office’s capabilities and will generate further support for the team in responding to the growing need for corporate and M&A projects in Romania. Claudia Popescu is specialized in M&A, […]

02 Feb 2024
Kinstellar’s Kazakhstan office advises Kaspi.kz on historic NASDAQ IPO

Kinstellar’s Kazakhstan office, a prominent legal advisor in the region, played a crucial role in guiding Kaspi.kz, a leading financial technology company headquartered in Kazakhstan, through its successful upsized U.S. Initial Public Offering (IPO) on January 23, 2024. The offering, featuring the sale of 11,300,000 American depositary shares (ADSs), raised an impressive USD 1.04 billion. This significant achievement […]

02 Feb 2024
Kinstellar advises banking consortium on Telekom Srbija’s tower deal

Kinstellar’s team in Serbia, together with global law firm Paul Hastings, has successfully advised Deutsche Bank, Alpha Bank, UniCredit, and UniCredit Bank Serbia on a EUR 205 million financing for global investment firm Actis in relation to their acquisition of a carved-out tower portfolio from Telekom Srbija, a leading telecommunications operator in the Central and Eastern European (“CEE”) region. The carved-out […]

02 Feb 2024
Kinstellar advises S IMMO AG on the sale of Eurocenter office building in Zagreb

Kinstellar has successfully advised S IMMO AG, a real estate investment company, on the sale of Eurocenter, one of its office buildings in Zagreb, to Atlantic Grupa d.d.  The transaction, which was carried out by way of a share deal, has an asset value of EUR 26.5 million. Eurocenter has been part of S IMMO AG’s […]

03 Jan 2024
Kinstellar advises Nova Ljubljanska Banka, d.d. (NLB) on the acquisition of Summit Leasing

Kinstellar has successfully advised Slovenia’s largest banking group, Nova Ljubljanska Banka, d.d. Ljubljana (“NLB”), on the acquisition of 100% shareholding in SLS Holdco, the parent company of Summit Leasing, a leading provider of car financing in Slovenia, and its subsidiaries, from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). […]

03 Jan 2024
Kinstellar advises on the CZK 530 million sale of Hair Servis

Kinstellar’s Prague office has successfully advised the owners of Hair Servis, a major distributor of hairdressing brands to the Czech market, on its sale to Bezvavlasy, the second-largest seller of hair cosmetics in the Czech Republic. The value of the transaction is CZK 530 million, with part of the purchase price to be paid by the sellers receiving […]

03 Jan 2024
Kinstellar advise British Petroleum (bp) on the sale of its downstream business in Türkiye

Kinstellar, Gen Temizer | Özer have successfully advised British Petroleum (bp) on the sale of its downstream business in Türkiye to Petrol Ofisi, Vitol’s Turkish subsidiary. The transaction is the most significant oil & gas deal of recent times in Türkiye and is expected to close in 2024, subject to, inter alia, anti-trust approval. The team was led by […]

29 Nov 2023
Kinstellar advises Siemens Mobility on the acquisition of the Slovak company

Siemens Mobility, part of the Siemens multinational conglomerate, has been a leader in transport solutions for more than 160 years. It offers a comprehensive portfolio through its five business units: Rail Infrastructure, Turnkey, Rolling Stock, Customer Services and Intelligent Traffic Systems. HMH is a Slovak-based technology company and producer of the MIREL national train protection […]

29 Nov 2023
Kinstellar advises S IMMO AG on its acquisition of EUR 481 million property portfolio

Kinstellar has successfully advised S IMMO AG, a real estate investment company, on acquiring a property portfolio in the Czech Republic from CPI Property Group. The property portfolio comprises 11 office and retail properties, as well as development land. The transaction’s property value is EUR 481 million, with an annual rental income of approximately EUR […]

29 Nov 2023
Advises Electrolux Group on the successful divestment of its Nyíregyháza factory in Hungary to Qvantum

Kinstellar is proud to announce that it has advised the Swedish appliances manufacturer Electrolux Group on the successful sale of its manufacturing facility in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, to the Swedish high-quality electric heat pumps manufacturer Qvantum for a cash consideration of EUR 38 million. The Kinstellar team was led by Barnabás Sági, Co-Head of the Budapest Real […]

09 Oct 2023
Advises a significant global player on the lease of its headquarters in Hungary

Kinstellar’s team in Hungary has successfully advised a Hungarian company with a global presence in connection with the preparation and negotiation of a lease agreement for its new office headquarters. The deal is one of the largest transactions of its kind on the Hungarian real estate market. The Budapest office advised on various legal aspects […]

09 Oct 2023
Advises on EUR 2 billion long-term financing for the BENTELER Group

Kinstellar acted as the Czech counsel for the initial purchasers and lenders in connection with the debut offering by BENTELER International AG of two senior secured high-yield bonds due in 2028 with volumes of EUR 525 million and USD 500 million, together with the provision of a EUR 810 million syndicated term loan and a EUR 250 million revolving credit […]

06 Sep 2023
Advises SFC Solutions on the sale-and-leaseback of its industrial facilities to WDP Romania

uly 2023 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has advised SFC Solutions Automotive Romania, a leading automotive-parts producer, on the sale-and-leaseback transaction of an industrial site, to the Belgian logistics property developer, WDP Romania. The facility is situated in Arges county, in an established automotive production cluster centered around Dacia Renault’s production facilities. The facility […]

08 Aug 2023
Advises YouGov on the acquisition of GfK’s consumer panel business

Kinstellar, in conjunction with DLA Piper, has advised international online research data and analytics technology group YouGov plc on the acquisition of the European Consumer Panel Business of GfK, a German market research firm, for EUR 315 million. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, YouGov has one of the world’s largest research networks. Its products and […]

08 Aug 2023
Dispute resolution team in Bratislava successfully defends its client in commercial litigation

Kinstellar’s dispute resolution team in Bratislava, led by Michal Hrušovský, has successfully defended its client in commercial litigation before Slovak courts against the “alleged” owner of a receivable. The dispute contained various foreign elements. The claimant asserted that a receivable of the original owner (the client’s former supplier of automotive components) was assigned to it based on an […]

04 Jul 2023
Advises Jantzen Renewables on the sale of the Helios 1 photovoltaic cluster in Romania to OMV Petrom

Kinstellar’s team in Romania has advised Danish developer Jantzen Renewables ApS on its transaction with OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy company in Southeast Europe, for the purchase of the Helios 1 photovoltaic cluster in Romania. With the installed power estimated to be approximately 710 MW, the cluster will be one of Southeast Europe’s most significant photovoltaic projects, powering […]

04 Jul 2023
Kinstellar strengthens its presence in Serbia by teaming up with and integrating SOG Law Firm

Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has joined forces with leading Serbian law firm SOG in a strategic partnership that will significantly enhance our capabilities and position on the Serbian market. This new partnership brings together the collective strengths, resources, and experience of both law firms, creating a stronger offering in Serbia and the Western Balkans […]

04 Jul 2023
Aadvise Tempo Software, (with Winston & Strawn) on the agreement to acquire Amovos

Kinstellar has recently advised Tempo Software, a leading provider of portfolio management solutions for product development organizations, on the acquisition of Amovos, which operates the Old Street Solutions brand. Old Street Solutions is an Atlassian Marketplace Partner simplifying Jira and Confluence with their popular Custom Charts for Jira and Custom Charts for Confluence apps. The acquisition will […]

01 Jun 2023
Advises Rheinmetall on the cooperation agreement with Ukraine’s defence industry concern, Ukroboronprom

Kinstellar is proud to have advised Rheinmetall on the signing of a cooperation agreement with Ukraine’s state-owned defence industry concern, Ukroboronprom. The two major defence manufacturers intend to create joint capabilities domiciled in Ukraine through setting up a joint venture, which is expected to be operational from mid-July 2023. Starting with the maintenance of military vehicles, the parties […]

01 Jun 2023
Advises Roier crowdfunding platform on a new investment

Kinstellar has successfully advised the founders of the Czech crowdfunding platform Roier on a new, multi-million Czech crown investment. Roier brings together investors and companies seeking financing for their real estate projects. It enables investment in corporate loans secured by real estate property and has financed projects totalling approximately CZK 275 million in two years of market presence. The Kinstellar team was led by Kamil Blažek (Partner) and Martina Březinová (Counsel). Other team members […]

01 Jun 2023
Announces new promotions to Partner and Counsel

Kinstellar is delighted and proud to announce the promotions to Partner of Tomáš Melišek (Bratislava), Levente Hegedűs (Budapest), Bulut Girgin (Istanbul), Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova, Natalia Kirichenko, Oleg Matiusha, Illya Muchnyk (all in our Kyiv office), and to Counsel of Dominika Bajzáthová (Bratislava). PARTNERS Tomáš Melišek, Bratislava Tomáš is the Head of the local Banking & Finance service line. He has 15 years of experience in banking and finance, focusing on project and acquisition […]

04 May 2023
Advises syndicate of leading banks on a EUR 500 million senior facility granted to RCS & RDS in Romania

Kinstellar, together with Linklaters LLP, has successfully advised a syndicate of leading banks—led by ING Bank N.V., London Branch and comprising ING Bank N.V., Citigroup Europe plc Dublin – Romania Branch, UniCredit Bank S.A., Raiffeisen Bank S.A., BRD – Groupe Société Générale S.A., and ING Bank N.V. Amsterdam, Bucharest Branch—on a EUR 500 million senior facility […]

03 May 2023
Advises S IMMO AG on its acquisition of office buildings and a hotel in the Czech Republic

Kinstellar has successfully advised S IMMO AG, a real estate investment company, on its acquisition of three office buildings and one hotel in the Czech Republic from CPI Property Group. The assets include the Mayhouse and Luxembourg Plaza offices in Prague, ZET.office in Brno, and the Courtyard by Marriott Prague City hotel. The four assets have a total value […]

03 May 2023
Kinstellar advises S IMMO AG on the expansion of its office portfolio in Budapest

Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has once again successfully advised S Immo AG, a leading Vienna-listed real estate investor and developer, on the acquisition of six office properties in Budapest, from Immofinanz AG. The acquisition includes the following six buildings comprising around 124,000 m² of main usable space: Thirteen Globe, Thirteen Xenter, Greenpoint […]

03 Jan 2023
Kinstellar expands its Dispute Resolution service in Prague

Kinstellar is pleased to announce the addition of Radim Kotrba to its Dispute Resolution service line in Prague. Radim is a litigation expert with over ten years of experience advising clients on disputes involving, among other things, damage recovery, trademarks, financing, and complicated debt recovery. He has a strong market reputation for providing hands-on, highly qualified advice […]

03 Jan 2023
Kinstellar advises Genesis Growth Equity Fund I (GGEF I) on the acquisition of JP-PROLAK

Kinstellar has successfully advised Genesis Private Equity Fund I (GPEF I) on its acquisition of JP-PROLAK, a Czech engineering company specializing in the custom manufacturing of a wide range of industrial products. Based in the town of Opatov u Svitav (Pardubice region), JP-PROLAK specialises in the custom manufacturing of small and medium-sized batches of a wide range of […]

02 Dec 2022
Kinstellar advises Powerful Medical on EUR 6.2 million seed funding

Kinstellar’s Bratislava office has recently advised Powerful Medical, a Slovak artificial intelligence and machine-learning MedTech company, in its negotiation of new financing agreements with investors. Powerful Medical successfully raised a total of EUR 6.2 million in seed fundingfrom several US and EU investors, including Arieli Capital, Venture To Future Fund (VFF), CB ESPRI Impact One, […]

31 Oct 2022
Kinstellar, Gen Temizer Özer advise Unifonic on the acquisition of Sestek in Turkey

Kinstellar, Gen Temizer Özer are delighted to have advised Unifonic, a leading cloud-based customer communication and engagement solutions (CPaaS) provider in the MENA region, on the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Sestek, an R&D-focused AI-powered conversational automation company in Turkey. Unifonic’s solutions integrate customer communication channels, including text, voice, messaging and web, […]

31 Oct 2022
Žurić i Partneri (ŽiP) Kinstellar advises Angelina Yachtcharter Holding on the acquisition of 85% of Ultra Sailing September 2022

Our team in Croatia has advised Angelina Yachtcharter on the acquisition of 85% of the shares of Ultra Sailing. Angelina Yachtcharter, founded in 1995, is the leading nautical charter management company in Croatia, operating a fleet of more than 230 boats berthed in six marinas across the Adriatic coast. With the purchase of Ultra Sailing, an […]

03 Oct 2022
Kinstellar advises Genesis Capital and Integral Venture Partners on the acquisition of BORCAD

Kinstellar has successfully advised Genesis Private Equity Fund IV (GPEF IV), the newest private equity fund of Genesis Capital, and Evolving Europe Principal Investments I (EEPI I), a private equity and growth capital fund advised by Integral Venture Partners, on its acquisition of BORCAD, an innovative producer of train seats and interior equipment for passenger trains based in Fryčovice, […]

03 Oct 2022
Kinstellar advises Kyivstar on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Helsi, in Ukraine

Kinstellar has successfully advised Kyivstar on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Helsi. Kyivstar is the largest digital operator in Ukraine with about 25 million mobile subscribers and over 1.2 million home internet subscribers as of June 2022. The company provides services based on a wide range of mobile and fixed-line technologies, including 4G. Helsi is […]

30 Aug 2022
Kinstellar significantly expands its dynamic employment and labour law team in Bucharest

Kinstellar is pleased to announce new joiners to its employment and labour law team in Bucharest over the past month. The Firm welcomes senior lawyers Lidia Zarnescu and Catalin Roman, who each boast more than 10 years of employment and labour law experience. Their addition to the firm significantly strengthens our employment and labour law […]

30 Aug 2022
Kinstellar advises Helaba on a financing for the historic “NR7” building in central Prague

Kinstellar advises Helaba on a financing for the historic “NR7” building in central Prague Kinstellar has successfully advised the German lender Helaba on the provision of a refurbishment and long-term financing to the Czech developer Crestyl for the the revitalisation of the historic “NR7” building in Prague’s city centre. Kinstellar advised Helaba in relation to […]

30 Aug 2022
Kinstellar contributes to the Clean Energy Tool launched by Simmons & Simmons

July 2022 – Kinstellar is honoured and delighted to have contributed, as exclusive authors, to the Czech, Hungarian and Kazakhstan sections of the Clean Energy Tool launched by international law firm Simmons & Simmons. The Clean Energy Tool provides reliable, consistent and easy-to-manage information to support investments in clean energy projects around the world. It gives […]

29 Jul 2022
Kinstellar advises Vista Equity Partners on its acquisition of Citrix Systems

Kinstellar has successfully advised Vista Equity Partners, a leading global investment firm focused exclusively on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses, on its acquisition of Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) for approximately USD 16.5 billion. Citrix builds secure, unified digital workspace technologies that help organizations unlock human potential and deliver a consistent workspace experience wherever […]

03 Mar 2022
Kinstellar advises 365.invest on its real estate portfolio expansion in the Czech Republic

March 2022 – Kinstellar has successfully advised the investment fund 365.invest on its acquisition from CPI Property Group of three shopping centre projects in the Czech Republic. The shopping centres involved are IGY České Budějovice, OC Géčko and Shopping Center City Park Jihlava. The deal  is one of the largest transactions of its kind on the Czech-Slovak market. Kinstellar advised on due diligence […]

03 Mar 2022
Kinstellar expands to Croatia by teaming up with and integrating Žurić i Partneri (ZiP)

January 2022 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has entered into a cooperation and association agreement with Žurić i Partneri (ZiP) law firm in Croatia. ZiP is now a fully integrated office of Kinstellar. The expansion to Zagreb is part of our strategy to provide full-service coverage across all of Emerging Europe. By joining forces, we […]

27 Jan 2022
Kinstellar named “Law Firm of the Year” for corporate law in the Czech Republic

November 2021 – Kinstellar has been named the Law Firm of the Year in the Czech Republic in the category of Corporate Law at this year’s prestigious Law Firm of the Year competition, held annually by EPRAVO.cz. Jan Juroška, Partner with Kinstellar’s Corporate Law practice in Prague, commented: “We are deeply honoured to have been named Law Firm of the […]

24 Nov 2021
Kinstellar advises GIC on the acquisition of CETIN Group in CEE

Kinstellar has successfully advised GIC, a global investment company founded in 1981 in Singapore, on the acquisition of a 30% stake in CETIN Group. PPF continues to retain a 70% majority in the CETIN Group—a provider of telecommunications infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe. Kinstellar advised in all countries of the CETIN Group’s activity—the Czech Republic, Hungary, […]

01 Nov 2021
Kinstellar strengthens its Compliance, Risk and Sensitive Investigation service line in Hungary

Kinstellar is delighted to announce that senior compliance expert Mária Dárdai has joined the firm’s Budapest office as Special Counsel. Her addition to the firm strengthens our expertise in the compliance area, particularly relating to whistleblowing projects, sensitive investigations and compliance matters. Mária has significant expertise and an established track record handling a wide array of compliance […]

01 Nov 2021
Kinstellar advises Nuix Limited on the acquisition of Topos Labs

September 2021 Kinstellar’s Kyiv office has successfully advised Australian-based global software developer Nuix Limited (Nuix; ASX:NXL) on the Ukrainian-law implications of its acquisition of 100% of the shares in Topos Labs for up to USD 25 million. Headquartered in Boston, USA, Topos develops AI-driven Natural Language Processing (NLP) software designed to reduce the workload of data reviewers […]

05 Oct 2021
Kinstellar scores five ‘Deal of the Year’ Awards in the CEE

June 2021 – Kinstellar is honoured to have received five Deal of the Year awards—for the Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine—at the 2020 CEE Legal Matters Deal of the Year Awards. Finalists for the peer-selected CEE Deal of the Year Awards were chosen by a panel of legal experts in each country, with winners […]

28 Jul 2021
The PRS market in the CEE region gathers pace and interest from investors but the majority of activity is currently centred around the Czech Republic and Poland

There is a larger number of PRS/BTR projects being announced in the pipeline for delivery over the next few years across the region. PRAGUE, Czech Republic, June 30, 2021  – Residential volumes across the CEE region have been  limited and averaged out annually at just over €200 million in the past 5 years. The balance […]

30 Jun 2021
Kinstellar advises fintech CAPEX.com in a successful, USD 21 million new funding round led by Growth Box and Moore & Moore Investments

June 2021 – Kinstellar has successfully advised CAPEX.com, a fintech start-up founded by Romanian entrepreneur Octavian Pătraşcu, in connection with its raising of USD 21 million in a new funding round led by venture capital firms Growth Box and Moore & Moore Investments. CAPEX.com is a leading trading platform for financial instruments based on contracts for difference (CFDs), […]

28 Jun 2021
Kinstellar advises Global Attractions SPI AB on the acquisition of HPS Group

June 2021 – Kinstellar’s Bratislava office has recently advised Global Attractions SPI AB (GASPI), part of the Accent Equity portfolio, on its acquisition of HPS Group. Kinstellar was part of a multi-jurisdictional team led by kallan (Germany) and advised mainly on legal matters relating to Slovak-based HPS Group companies Playlife, ThemeWorks and Cheer Amusement Europe, which specialise in […]

28 Jun 2021
Kinstellar expands in Ukraine with the acquisition of DLA Piper’s local practice

June 2021 – Kinstellar is very pleased to announce the acquisition of DLA Piper’s market-leading Ukraine practice! Now comprising 60 lawyers, including 10 partners, Kinstellar is among the largest law firms in Ukraine and the leading independent international law firm on the market. The merger strengthens our key practice areas, including corporate/M&A, banking & finance, employment & benefits, litigation […]

28 Jun 2021

Sign In

[login_form] Lost Password