🤖 AI washing in the workplace: when “AI made us do it” is not enough AI is increasingly cited as the reason behind organisational change, productivity gains and workforce reductions. Sometimes that reflects real transformation. Sometimes, however, AI risks becoming a convenient narrative rather than an accurate explanation of what is happening within a business. From an employment law perspective, that distinction matters. Under Romanian law, dismissals for reasons unrelated to the employee must be based on a real, objective and verifiable business rationale. Courts will look beyond labels and assess whether the role truly ceased to exist and whether the explanation reflects operational reality. 💡 The key question for employers is not whether AI is mentioned, but whether its role can be substantiated through actual implementation, organisational change and consistent documentation. 📄 Read the full article by Andrada Popescu, Managing Associate (Bucharest), here: https://lnkd.in/dyYnGjBr #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #AI #EmploymentLaw #AIGovernance #Compliance #TechLaw #Romania

Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸 ✨ On this occasion, we celebrate the strength, resilience, grace and achievements of women everywhere. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”, beautifully reflects the power of generosity and collaboration. Its message is simple, yet deeply powerful: when we lift each other up and support one another, we create opportunities that grow and multiply. When women thrive, our entire community grows stronger. 🤝 In this spirit, we created #HerTake, our initiative dedicated to strengthening and connecting our community of women in business. Throughout the past year, it has already helped us engage more actively in women-focused business forums, launch successful events, and build valuable collaborations. It is a meaningful example of what can be achieved when energy, commitment, and shared purpose come together. 💐 On the 8th of March, we also honour the exceptional women at Kinstellar. The impact each of you makes, and the support you so generously give to one another and your teams, reaches far beyond individual roles. It shapes the culture of our Firm, strengthens our community, and contributes in valuable ways to the success of Kinstellar as a whole. Thank you for everything you contribute to Kinstellar each and every day. Your commitment, strength, and presence make a lasting difference. When we #GiveToGain, whether through mentorship, encouragement, ideas, or simple acts of support, we help build a stronger, more connected, and more inspiring community. 🙌 #ExceptionalTogether #IWD2026 #WomensDay #WomenInBusiness

🇪🇺 CRD VI is changing the rules for bank M&A across the EU, and Austria is no exception. The new EU rulebook, #CRV VI, introduces harmonised approval and notification requirements for material holdings, asset transfers, mergers and divisions. With #Austria’s transposition still pending, financial institutions face both regulatory uncertainty and new compliance expectations for 2026 transactions. 👉 Read our alert to understand what CRD VI means for Austria and what institutions should do now: https://lnkd.in/dY8g_ttB Our team is ready to support Austrian banks and holding companies in navigating CRD VI, assessing trigger thresholds, and preparing for the new EU supervisory framework. For further guidance, feel free to reach out to our colleagues in Vienna, Miriam Broucek (Partner, Banking & Finance) and Horst Ebhardt (Partner, Corporate / M&A). #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #CRDVI #EU #CRD6 #BankingRegulation #BankingSupervision #BankingAndFinance #MergersAndAcquisitions

✨ Meet us next week at Tomorrow@Work 2026, organised by our partners at BusinessMark. 📅 9 March 2026 📍 JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel 🎤 Andrada Popescu, Managing Associate in our #Bucharest office, will be joining the discussions to explore the evolving intersection between AI and employment law. 🚀 Over the past three years, Andrada has specialised in artificial intelligence and its impact on employment relationships, advising on the legal implications of implementing AI in HR processes and managing the risks associated with these technologies. 🌍 We look forward to insightful discussions on how organisations can navigate the future of work. #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #TomorrowAtWork #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #EmploymentLaw #HRTech #BusinessMark

📢 At Digital Compliance 2026 in Budapest, our Senior Associate Fanni Oroszi, LL.M took the stage to address an increasingly relevant question: Can sharing AI best practices create competition law risks? ⚖ As companies look to industry examples and use cases to understand AI’s real risks and opportunities, knowledge sharing has become essential. But the line between helpful insights and competitively sensitive information can sometimes be thinner than expected. Her key takeaways: ◾ Excessive transparency and information sharing can cause serious risks. ◾ Sharing knowledge about AI is crucial for responsible innovation. ◾ Companies must carefully balance openness with the protection of sensitive business information. ◾ This balance will contribute to the stability of the entire market, the dynamic development, and the responsible use of AI in the long term. Thank you to the organiser, Portfolio Conferences, for the opportunity! #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #AI #Compliance #CompetitionLaw #DigitalCompliance2026 #Budapest #LawEvents

📢 We are pleased to announce the launch of our regional Tax Service Line. This marks a significant step in the continued development of the Firm’s integrated, full-service platform and strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end tax and legal support across our jurisdictions. The regional Tax Service Line will be led by our reputable tax lawyers and tax advisors, and Co-Heads Maja Mayrhuber (Partner, Vienna) and Theodor Artenie (Counsel, Bucharest), who will drive the strategic direction of the practice area and oversee the rollout of the Service Line across the Firm. They will be supported by a core regional team of experienced tax experts, including Atanas Mihaylov (Counsel, Sofia), Carmen Mazilu (Senior Associate, Bucharest), Roxana Gheorghe (Senior Associate, Bucharest), Nicoleta Florea (Draganescu) (Managing Associate, Bucharest), and Lyudmyla Dzhurylyuk (Managing Associate, Kyiv). ⚖️ This new Service Line enables us to provide coordinated, high-quality tax and legal support regionally. Our broad set of tax law services are structured around five core pillars: • Corporate & Transactional Tax • Transfer Pricing • Tax Litigation & Controversy • Employee Compensation & Benefits • Financing & Restructuring Tax 💬 Kristóf Ferenczi, Firm Managing Partner comments: “The launch of our regional Tax Service Line represents an important milestone in the continued development of Kinstellar’s full-service platform. By strengthening our tax capabilities across our jurisdictions, we are enhancing our ability to provide truly comprehensive support to our clients to address increasingly complex business challenges.” 📍 Discover more here: https://lnkd.in/dnBPsvWu #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Tax #TaxLaw #CrossBorder #Regional #CEE #SEE #CentralAsia #LegalServices

Surfing guide series: Uzbekistan’s rare earth elements sector ⛏️ Our short guide for lawyers, investors and lenders is now out! #Uzbekistan is increasingly viewed as a prospective jurisdiction for rare earth elements and associated critical minerals (“#REEs”). The sector is primarily policy-driven, with state authorities actively promoting exploration and foreign investment. Under subsoil legislation, REEs fall within categories subject to heightened regulatory oversight, reflecting their economic and strategic significance. As a result, licensing, export, and commercialization conditions may differ from those applicable to ordinary construction or industrial minerals. 💡 Our experts, Partner Otabek Suleimanov and Junior Associate Rustam Salomov, have prepared a comprehensive guide outlining the most recent developments in the sector. ➡️ Read it below or download from our website: https://lnkd.in/dcAeR6Gp #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #SurfingGuideSeries #RareEarth #RareEarthElements #CriticalMinerals

We are pleased to support the shareholders of ROFA Industrial Automation in the sale of German ROFA Group to listed French SPIE. ROFA is a leading provider of automation technology, intralogistics solutions, and special-purpose machinery and operations across Europe, Asia, and the US with global revenues of around EUR 430 million and more than 1,200 employees. SPIE is a leading European multi‑technical services provider that expects to further strengthen its position in the industrial services market. ⚖️ Our cross‑border team advised on the Austrian, Hungarian, and Romanian aspects of the transaction together with German law firm SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz. Our Kinstellar team was led by Partner Philipp Kapl and Senior Associate Johannes Varga from Vienna, and includes Katalin Nógrádi, J.D., LL.M. (Senior Associate, Budapest), Gábor Gelencsér (Partner, Budapest), Rusandra Sandu (Partner, Bucharest), Luiza Bedros (Partner, Bucharest), Cristina Stamboli (Counsel, Bucharest), and Fanni Oroszi, LL.M (Senior Associate, Budapest). 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dMxwzxXT #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #ROFA #Austria #Hungary #Romania #Transactions #Automation #Logistics