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Navigating workplace challenges and litigation trends: dismissals and workplace harassment
As we move into 2025, we want to highlight some of the key developments in the Romanian employment dispute landscape over the past year. You can read our summaries of these key trends below, along with our thoughts on where we expect to see more employment litigation activity in the year ahead. I. Romanian market insights Two key drivers in Romania this year concerning the increased risk of employment litigation are economic uncertainty, which could lead company restructurings and related dismissals, as well as the many changes in Romanian legislation relating to whistleblowing and the prevention of discrimination and harassment at the workplace. Specifically, there are two types of employee lawsuits we expect
Kinstellar advises Solida Capital on its expansion into the Central and Eastern European market with the acquisition of Victoria Center in Bucharest
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has advised Solida Capital, a leading investment and asset management firm, on its first office acquisition in Romania—the purchase of Victoria Center from Manova Partners (formerly Macquarie), an internationally active independent real estate investment company. This transaction marks a significant milestone in Solida Capital's expansion into the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market. Located on Calea Victoriei, one of Bucharest's most prestigious business addresses, Victoria Center is a prime office building with a Gross Leasable Area (GLA) of 8,600 square meters across 10 floors, including ground-floor retail space and 92 parking spaces. The property has been consistently
Supporting Energy Transition in CEE – Kinstellar successfully completes landmark CCGT Power Plant Development Project for Hungarian MVM Group at the Mátra Power Plant in Hungary
Kinstellar Budapest is proud to have advised the Hungarian MVM Group on the project to build a major new 500 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in North-East Hungary—a key milestone in Hungary's transition towards a more sustainable energy system. The new state-of-the-art CCGT power plant will replace low-efficiency and high-emission aged lignite-fired power plant assets, and support thereby the further deployment of renewable energy sources in Hungary. Kinstellar Budapest advised the MVM Group from the initial stages of structuring the project, through the drafting and negotiation with several potential bidders of the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contract, as well as the Long-Term Service
Important notice to our Clients and Contacts: Beware of impersonation emails
6 January 2025 – It has come to our attention that some companies in our countries (most recently from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia) have received unauthorised fraudulent emails falsely claiming to originate from Kinstellar. This appears to be part of an illegal scam (fraudulent impersonation) campaign. We assure you that these fraudulent emails did not come from our official Kinstellar domain and have nothing to do with our Firm. Our IT and Risk & Compliance teams are giving this matter their highest priority and are actively investigating the issue. We are bringing this matter to the relevant authorities. Importantly, this illegal scam campaign appears to have been
CJEU confirms validity of asymmetric jurisdiction clauses in contracts
On 27 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a key ruling in the Lastre case (C-537/23) (the Judgment), confirming that asymmetric jurisdiction clauses in contracts are valid and in compliance with the Brussels I recast regulation and the Lugano II Convention. The Judgment provides greater legal certainty for parties, especially in cross-border contracts, as the validity and enforceability of such clauses had been previously questioned by some national courts. Asymmetric jurisdiction clauses allow one party of a contract to choose a competent court from jurisdiction of its choice in the event of a dispute, while restricting the other party to courts of only a specified jurisdiction. These
The rise and fall of DEI: What employers need to know
DEI has become a societal megatrend that demands attention. While many companies made DEI initiatives a part of their business strategies, others are scaling back their efforts citing shifting priorities, economic pressures or even political and social pushback. The enthusiasm that once fueled widespread DEI adoption is now met with increased scrutiny. Some question the return on investment and the effectiveness of these programs, whole high-profile layoffs in DEI teams and budget reductions signal that the once unstoppable momentum of DEI may be encountering resistance. Yet, stepping back from DEI is not without risks. In Romania, companies deprioritizing DEI may face not only reputational damage, but also legal and employee
New regulations in Romania on the dual use of permanent grasslands for renewable energy projects
On 10 January 2025, Order No. 4/2025 came into force, detailing the procedure for the partial removal of land occupied by permanent grasslands from agricultural use when utilised in a dual system. The use of permanent grasslands in a dual system is of particular interest to investors in the renewable energy sector. Legislative background In principle, the possibility of using permanent grasslands in a dual system—both for agricultural production and for generating electricity from renewable sources—was already regulated since 2022. This was introduced by Law 254/2022 as an amendment to Law No. 18/1991 regarding land fund. However, in practice, numerous difficulties arose regarding the implementation of
Kinstellar and Linklaters advised the EBRD and Raiffeisen Bank International on their lending for the 238 MW Tenevo PV power plant in Bulgaria
Kinstellar Sofia acting as Bulgarian counsel, alongside Linklaters Milan acting as lead counsel, advised the EBRD and Raiffeisen Bank International on their lending to Tenevo Solar Technologies for the construction and operation of one of the largest PV power plants in Bulgaria. The total finance package of EUR 114 million will enable Tenevo Solar Technologies EAD, which is owned by Renalfa IPP and Eurowind Energy, to add 238 MW of solar generation capacity to the Bulgarian national energy system. This will be the first renewable energy plant over 100 MW that will sell all its output in the market without a support scheme or a corporate power purchase agreement in Bulgaria. Tenevo is also the first EBRD project in Bulgaria
Harald Strahberger, a leading regulatory lawyer, joins Kinstellar as Partner in Vienna
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Harald Strahberger has joined our newly launched Vienna office as a Partner. His addition strengthens our public law and regulatory capabilities, further enhancing the firm's expertise in Austria and across the wider Central and Eastern European region. With extensive experience advising national and international clients across all aspects of public law, Harald specialises in environmental law (including facility, waste, and water regulations), energy law, trade law, data protection, and state aid law. He also has a strong background representing clients in administrative proceedings and before Administrative Courts, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Austrian Constitutional
Navigating workplace challenges and litigation trends: dismissals and workplace harassment
As we move into 2025, we want to highlight some of the key developments in the Romanian employment dispute landscape over the past year. You can read our summaries of these key trends below, along with our thoughts on where we expect to see more employment litigation activity in the year ahead. I. Romanian market insights Two key drivers in Romania this year concerning the increased risk of employment litigation are economic uncertainty, which could lead company restructurings and related dismissals, as well as the many changes in Romanian legislation relating to whistleblowing and the prevention of discrimination and harassment at the workplace. Specifically, there are two types of employee lawsuits we expect
Kinstellar advises Solida Capital on its expansion into the Central and Eastern European market with the acquisition of Victoria Center in Bucharest
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has advised Solida Capital, a leading investment and asset management firm, on its first office acquisition in Romania—the purchase of Victoria Center from Manova Partners (formerly Macquarie), an internationally active independent real estate investment company. This transaction marks a significant milestone in Solida Capital's expansion into the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market. Located on Calea Victoriei, one of Bucharest's most prestigious business addresses, Victoria Center is a prime office building with a Gross Leasable Area (GLA) of 8,600 square meters across 10 floors, including ground-floor retail space and 92 parking spaces. The property has been consistently
Supporting Energy Transition in CEE – Kinstellar successfully completes landmark CCGT Power Plant Development Project for Hungarian MVM Group at the Mátra Power Plant in Hungary
Kinstellar Budapest is proud to have advised the Hungarian MVM Group on the project to build a major new 500 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in North-East Hungary—a key milestone in Hungary's transition towards a more sustainable energy system. The new state-of-the-art CCGT power plant will replace low-efficiency and high-emission aged lignite-fired power plant assets, and support thereby the further deployment of renewable energy sources in Hungary. Kinstellar Budapest advised the MVM Group from the initial stages of structuring the project, through the drafting and negotiation with several potential bidders of the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contract, as well as the Long-Term Service
Important notice to our Clients and Contacts: Beware of impersonation emails
6 January 2025 – It has come to our attention that some companies in our countries (most recently from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia) have received unauthorised fraudulent emails falsely claiming to originate from Kinstellar. This appears to be part of an illegal scam (fraudulent impersonation) campaign. We assure you that these fraudulent emails did not come from our official Kinstellar domain and have nothing to do with our Firm. Our IT and Risk & Compliance teams are giving this matter their highest priority and are actively investigating the issue. We are bringing this matter to the relevant authorities. Importantly, this illegal scam campaign appears to have been
CJEU confirms validity of asymmetric jurisdiction clauses in contracts
On 27 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a key ruling in the Lastre case (C-537/23) (the Judgment), confirming that asymmetric jurisdiction clauses in contracts are valid and in compliance with the Brussels I recast regulation and the Lugano II Convention. The Judgment provides greater legal certainty for parties, especially in cross-border contracts, as the validity and enforceability of such clauses had been previously questioned by some national courts. Asymmetric jurisdiction clauses allow one party of a contract to choose a competent court from jurisdiction of its choice in the event of a dispute, while restricting the other party to courts of only a specified jurisdiction. These
The rise and fall of DEI: What employers need to know
DEI has become a societal megatrend that demands attention. While many companies made DEI initiatives a part of their business strategies, others are scaling back their efforts citing shifting priorities, economic pressures or even political and social pushback. The enthusiasm that once fueled widespread DEI adoption is now met with increased scrutiny. Some question the return on investment and the effectiveness of these programs, whole high-profile layoffs in DEI teams and budget reductions signal that the once unstoppable momentum of DEI may be encountering resistance. Yet, stepping back from DEI is not without risks. In Romania, companies deprioritizing DEI may face not only reputational damage, but also legal and employee
About us
Kinstellar acts as trusted legal counsel to leading investors across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Southeast Europe (SEE) and Central Asia. Our reputation for quality, excellence and integrity speaks for itself.
With offices in 12 jurisdictions and over 300 local and international lawyers, we deliver consistent, joined-up legal advice and assistance across diverse regional markets – together with the know-how and experience to champion your interests while minimising exposure to risk.
Our clients include leading international and regional corporations, banks and other financial institutions, state bodies, multi-lateral institutions, and international law firms with clients that require top-quality legal counsel in our jurisdictions. We handle the most important and complex assignments for clients across diverse industries and business sectors.
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With expert local knowledge and a track record at the international level, our lawyers provide top-tier advice and client service in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Southeast Europe (SEE) and Central Asia.
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🌟 We’re proud to share the recent precedent-setting success of our Almaty office: our Dispute Resolution team has successfully represented Freschette Limited before the AIFC Court. The decision of the AIFC Court established that the AIFC Court can have jurisdiction over disputes concerning the foreclosure of pledged immovable property. What makes this decision such a significant one? ☝️ 🏘️ This is the first time that the AIFC Court has addressed the question of its jurisdiction in a real estate dispute, affirming that they can have jurisdiction over such cases. This milestone decision provides that Articles 31 and 467 of the Kazakh Civil Procedure Code do not limit the AIFC Court’s jurisdiction in cases when the parties agree to turn to the Court. 📝An important procedural precedent was set when the AIFC Court granted, for the first time ever, an injunction against the defendants pursuing proceedings on the matter in the Almaty courts. 💡 Our Dispute Resolution team was led by Ardak Idayatova (Partner), and included Farukh Iminov (Associate), Usen Tastanbekov (Junior Associate), and Dinara Nurgazy (Associate). 💻 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dmNsb6F4 #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #DisputeResolution #AIFC #Precedent #RealEstate #LawUpdate
👋 Meet us at Renpower Central Asia 2025 on 📅 19-20 February in 📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Tashkent. We're proud to be the 🤝 Lead Partner of this conference hosted by Euroconvention Global, where renowned experts from the region will get a chance to discuss the fast-paced transformation of the 🔋 energy landscape across Central Asia. 💡 Make sure to attend 🔦 Session 6: "Financing of Renewable Energy Projects in Central Asia", brought to you by Sher Yunusov, Partner in our #Tashkent office, on Day 2. 🛎️ We've got you covered on Day 1, too, as we're hosting the morning coffee break. Come and join us for some 🗨️ insightful conversations coupled with a ☕ cup of coffee. ✍ Register to the event here: https://lnkd.in/dZ9an8Hk #ExceptionalTogether #LeadPartner #InTheKnow #Renpower #Energy #RenewableEnergy #LawConference #CentralAsia #Uzbekistan #Tashkent
♻️ New #EU #Packaging Regulation: What You Need to Know ♻️ The EU has introduced new rules on packaging and packaging waste to drive sustainability and circular economy goals. The PPWR, that enters into force on 11 February 2025, imposes stricter requirements on businesses. Key changes impacting businesses: ✅ Mandatory recyclability ✅ Compostable packaging for certain types of products ✅ New labelling requirements ✅ Deposit & return systems across the EU by 2029 ➡️ Swipe through to learn more! 🔗 Read the full article, written by our experts Péter Vörös and Fanni Oroszi, LL.M: https://lnkd.in/dajewM4n #ExceptionalTogether #EU #EURegulations #Packaging #PPWR
A full house, great energy, and inspiring conversations—we had an amazing time meeting so many ambitious law students at ELSA Bucharest’s JOBFEST 2025! Students were eager to learn about career opportunities, and we were excited to see their enthusiasm. Some even told us they’d love to join our internship program as freshmen. Now that’s what we call motivation!
🛫 We are excited to launch the first issue of our Corporate / M&A newsletter in Bulgaria! Stay informed with the latest developments in corporate, commercial, and contract law, as well as M&A updates. ⚖️ 💡 From legislative changes to key industry developments, we’ve got you covered with our expert analysis to help you navigate the evolving legal landscape. 📩 Subscribe now at marketing@kinstellar.com and receive the latest insights and trends straight to your inbox! #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Insight #Corporate #MergersandAcquisitions #LegalUpdates #NewsletterLaunch #Bulgaria
We’re proud to share that our Central Asia Managing Partner, Joel B. Benjamin, served as a judge at the 2025 Central Asian Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition! Joel judged multiple rounds and had the honour to be one of the judges at the Kazakhstan National Finals as well—where the winning team earned the opportunity to represent the country at the International Rounds in Washington, DC later this year.
We are pleased to announce that our Belgrade team, together with international legal advisor Sullivan & Cromwell LLP., has successfully advised e& PPF Telecom Group BV, a global leader in telecommunications majority-owned by Emirati-based e&, with Czech Group PPF as the other shareholder, on their acquisition of SBB d.o.o. Beograd. 📈🌍 The deal, structured on a debt-free and cash-free basis, paves the way for e& PPF Telecom Group BV to merge SBB with Yettel, its mobile operator. This merger will unlock new opportunities, enhancing services for clients in Serbia. SBB will continue its media broadcasting operations seamlessly. 📡📱 In parallel, United Group B.V. has divested 100% of its NetTV Plus, DTH assets in Serbia and North Macedonia, as well as Sport Klub rights licenses in the Western Balkans to Telekom Srbija Group, also on a debt-free and cash-free basis. 💼📺 We are proud of our team's role in advising across the full spectrum of this complex transaction. Meet the experts behind the success: • Milan Samardžić, Partner, Corporate/M&A ⚖️ • Mina Sreckovic, Managing Associate, Head of Corporate and M&A 🧑💼 • Mario Kijanović, Managing Associate 🧑💼 • Katarina Živković, Managing Associate 🧑💼 • Srna Popovicć, Senior Asssociate 💼 • Djordje Ilijasevic, Associate 💼 • Jelisaveta Folić, Associate 💼 A special thank you to our colleagues Olga Šipka, Special Counsel, and Dusan Djuric, Junior Associate, for their invaluable expertise on all competition-related matters. 👥💡 🔗 https://lnkd.in/duihKn2G #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #MergersAndAcquisitions #Telecommunications #CorporateLaw #MNA #LegalAdvisory #ePPF #SBB #Yettel #Telekom
📢🎮 We're pleased to share that our Sofia team successfully advised Paradox Interactive, one of the premier developers and publishers of strategy and management games, on the acquisition of Haemimont Games, one of the first video game development studios in Bulgaria. 👾 The renowned video games publisher enters the Bulgarian market in the first video game transaction in Bulgaria for 2025, part of Paradox’s strategy to grow the management games genre, and an important development for the entire video games industry in the country. 🕹️ Meet our team who provided legal advice on all aspects of the transaction – from the initial due diligence, through structuring and assistance with the transaction agreement: Georgi Kanev - Managing Associate, Head of Interactive Entertainment & Gaming; Diana Dimova - Partner, Corporate/M&A; Denitsa Kuzeva - Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A; Atanas Mihaylov - Counsel, Tax and Corporate/M&A; with further assistance from Vanya Evtimova, Debora Dineva, Vilislava Kolarova and Simona Damyanova. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d3kWhWns #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #gaming #mergersandacquisitions #Bulgaria
📩 Our Bucharest office is delighted to invite you to an insightful discussion at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, as part of TaxEU Forum 2025, featuring Theodor Artenie (Tax Advisor, Counsel) as a key speaker in the panel 📌 Tax Inspections in 2025: Challenges we know but cannot control. 📅 When: Thursday, 13 February, 2:00 PM 📍 Where: JW Marriott Hotel, Bucharest ✍ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dXNMASEY 🔎 Key discussion points: ✔️ Tax planning and optimization strategies: Sustainable solutions to minimize tax burdens ✔️ The latest challenges in tax inspections and their implications ✔️ Insights into tax planning and risk mitigation strategies Additionally, Theodor will take part in a debate session later in the event—stay tuned for more details! #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Romania #TaxConference #TaxUpdates #StrategicInsights
🌟 We’re proud to share the recent precedent-setting success of our Almaty office: our Dispute Resolution team has successfully represented Freschette Limited before the AIFC Court. The decision of the AIFC Court established that the AIFC Court can have jurisdiction over disputes concerning the foreclosure of pledged immovable property. What makes this decision such a significant one? ☝️ 🏘️ This is the first time that the AIFC Court has addressed the question of its jurisdiction in a real estate dispute, affirming that they can have jurisdiction over such cases. This milestone decision provides that Articles 31 and 467 of the Kazakh Civil Procedure Code do not limit the AIFC Court’s jurisdiction in cases when the parties agree to turn to the Court. 📝An important procedural precedent was set when the AIFC Court granted, for the first time ever, an injunction against the defendants pursuing proceedings on the matter in the Almaty courts. 💡 Our Dispute Resolution team was led by Ardak Idayatova (Partner), and included Farukh Iminov (Associate), Usen Tastanbekov (Junior Associate), and Dinara Nurgazy (Associate). 💻 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dmNsb6F4 #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #DisputeResolution #AIFC #Precedent #RealEstate #LawUpdate
👋 Meet us at Renpower Central Asia 2025 on 📅 19-20 February in 📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Tashkent. We're proud to be the 🤝 Lead Partner of this conference hosted by Euroconvention Global, where renowned experts from the region will get a chance to discuss the fast-paced transformation of the 🔋 energy landscape across Central Asia. 💡 Make sure to attend 🔦 Session 6: "Financing of Renewable Energy Projects in Central Asia", brought to you by Sher Yunusov, Partner in our #Tashkent office, on Day 2. 🛎️ We've got you covered on Day 1, too, as we're hosting the morning coffee break. Come and join us for some 🗨️ insightful conversations coupled with a ☕ cup of coffee. ✍ Register to the event here: https://lnkd.in/dZ9an8Hk #ExceptionalTogether #LeadPartner #InTheKnow #Renpower #Energy #RenewableEnergy #LawConference #CentralAsia #Uzbekistan #Tashkent
♻️ New #EU #Packaging Regulation: What You Need to Know ♻️ The EU has introduced new rules on packaging and packaging waste to drive sustainability and circular economy goals. The PPWR, that enters into force on 11 February 2025, imposes stricter requirements on businesses. Key changes impacting businesses: ✅ Mandatory recyclability ✅ Compostable packaging for certain types of products ✅ New labelling requirements ✅ Deposit & return systems across the EU by 2029 ➡️ Swipe through to learn more! 🔗 Read the full article, written by our experts Péter Vörös and Fanni Oroszi, LL.M: https://lnkd.in/dajewM4n #ExceptionalTogether #EU #EURegulations #Packaging #PPWR
A full house, great energy, and inspiring conversations—we had an amazing time meeting so many ambitious law students at ELSA Bucharest’s JOBFEST 2025! Students were eager to learn about career opportunities, and we were excited to see their enthusiasm. Some even told us they’d love to join our internship program as freshmen. Now that’s what we call motivation!
🛫 We are excited to launch the first issue of our Corporate / M&A newsletter in Bulgaria! Stay informed with the latest developments in corporate, commercial, and contract law, as well as M&A updates. ⚖️ 💡 From legislative changes to key industry developments, we’ve got you covered with our expert analysis to help you navigate the evolving legal landscape. 📩 Subscribe now at marketing@kinstellar.com and receive the latest insights and trends straight to your inbox! #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Insight #Corporate #MergersandAcquisitions #LegalUpdates #NewsletterLaunch #Bulgaria
We’re proud to share that our Central Asia Managing Partner, Joel B. Benjamin, served as a judge at the 2025 Central Asian Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition! Joel judged multiple rounds and had the honour to be one of the judges at the Kazakhstan National Finals as well—where the winning team earned the opportunity to represent the country at the International Rounds in Washington, DC later this year.
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