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The Lawyer names Kinstellar "Emerging Law Firm of the Year"
Kinstellar is very pleased to announce that it has been named 2010 “Emerging Law Firm of the Year” by the UK and European legal magazine The Lawyer at the annual European Awards Ceremony held in Berlin on 23 September. The winner of “Emerging Law Firm of the Year” is chosen from among the top independent law firms across continental Europe. Kinstellar is the first recipient of this prize, which has been introduced to recognise firms that have clearly demonstrated their potential and outperformed their size, through their mandates, performance and strategy. Kinstellar was also short-listed for the 2010 Law Firm of the Year award in the “Central Europe” and “Eastern Europe & The Balkans” categories.
Profile of Kinstellar's Managing Partner in Dealmaker
A profile of Jason Mogg, Kinstellar’s Managing Partner, appeared in the “Dealmaker” section of the Autumn 2010 edition of Legal Week. In the short interview, Jason explains his decision to enter the legal profession, early influences as a young lawyer in Canada, and how his career has evolved over the past 22 years. He recounts one of the most memorable deals he has worked on, the BOT Prague airport privatisation project in the early 1990s, as “crazy, fascinating and one hell of a lot of fun.” His proudest professional accomplishment has been the creation of Kinstellar and all that the firm has achieved to date.
Taxes in Slovakia – Four Questions for the Government
The general elections in June 2010 resulted in a change of government and the ruling coalition in Slovakia. Several new ministers (including the Minister of Finance responsible for tax policy) were members of the government during the period 1998–2006 and were responsible for reforms which earned Slovakia the label “economic tiger of the CEE”. One might expect a similar development in the tax system, in particular, in the context of the ongoing economic crisis, the rising state budget deficit, and the need to consolidate public finance. At the time of this article, no concrete tax legislation had yet been introduced by the government. There are, however, lively discussions among the members of government, parliament
Insolvency and Restructuring in Slovakia - General aspects of insolvency proceedings in Slovakia
The purpose of this edition of the newsletter is to provide a general overview of insolvency proceedings in Slovakia. We will address more specific issues relating to restructuring and insolvency, such as the latest court decisions, in future newsletters. The Insolvency Act and its prospectus amendments The Slovak regulation on restructuring and insolvency (R&I) is incorporated into the Act on Bankruptcy and Restructuring (the “Insolvency CodeCode”) introduced in 2006. Although there have been a number of amendments to the Insolvency Code since then, none of them have substantially changed the principles and concepts introduced in 2006. Nonetheless, prior to the Slovak general elections of June
Slovakia's Unfair Terms in Business Contracts between Resellers and Suppliers of Foodstuffs
Act No. 140/2010 Coll. on Unfair Terms in Business Contracts between Reseller and Supplier of Goods that are Foodstuffs (the “Unfair Terms in Foodstuff Act” or the “UTFA”) came into effect on 1 May 2010. Slovakia has a history of legislation dealing with unfair terms in supplier-reseller contracts. The first such law that was passed was Act No. 358/2003 Coll. on Retail Chains (the “Retail Chains Act”), later replaced by Act No. 172/2008 Coll. on Unfair Terms in Commercial Contracts (the “General Unfair Terms Act” or the “GUTA”). While both laws on unfair terms serve essentially the same goal, which is (as presented in their explanatory memoranda) to give a more fair balance to the supplier
Changes to the Slovak Trade Licensing Act
An amendment to the Slovak Trade Licensing Act (the “Amendment”; the “Act”) has entered into force. This Amendment implements certain changes relating to the organisation of Small Trade Offices and the manner of issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia, with effect as of 1 June 2010. The Amendment extends the authority of the Small Trade Offices in Slovakia (which were historically responsible for issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia). The Amendment strengthens the role of these offices as single contact points (the “Contact Point”) not only for issuing business and trade licences in Slovakia but also with respect to the incorporation process for companies and the establishment
Kinstellar Partner to head the Association for Foreign Investment in the Czech Republic
Kamil Blažek, partner of the international law firm Kinstellar, was elected the new Chairman of the Association for Foreign Investment – AFI. He will replace Jan Bobek, commercial manager of the company Tebodin Czech Republic, who has held this position for the past two years. The steering committee elected Kamil Blažek to the position of AFI Chairman until the next general assembly meeting. AFI promotes the development of the domestic business environment and the Czech Republic’s competitive advantage in the field of foreign investment. Accordingly, Kamil Blažek will be focusing on relations with CzechInvest and the entire public service sector as well as enlarging the partnership base of the association.
Kinstellar tops DealWatch M&A advisory table in Romania
Kinstellar is the leading legal adviser on Romanian M&A by deal value for the first half of 2010 according to the latest league tables compiled by DealWatch. Kinstellar has retained its position as Romania’s leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisor by value, with transactions worth a combined US$576.38 million during the period 1 January to 1 June 2010. DealWatch is the M&A service belonging to ISI Emerging Markets, a Euromoney Institutional Investor Company. For more information on DealWatch please visit www.securities.com/dw/
Amendments to the Romanian Competition Law
On July 06 2010 Emergency Government Ordinance 75/2010 (“EGO 75”), amending the provisions of the Competition Law 21/1996 as republished and amended, has been published in the Official Gazette no. 459. The EGO 75 will enter into force on 05 August 2010. Furthermore, an amended version of a number of secondary legislative measures (regulations and instructions) will also enter into force on the same day. In consideration of the impact that such an amendment might have on your day to day business, we have prepared a brief article outlining the main modifications brought about by EGO 75.
Kinstellar awarded ‘‘Best Banking & Finance Law Firm’’ in Romania
The leading Emerging Europe’s law firm Kinstellar is proud to announce that the firm has won the 2010 “Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year” award at the annual legal profession gala of the leading Romanian business daily Ziarul Financiar. The award is a great honour for us and recognition of Kinstellar’s consistent top quality and leadership on the local market and underscores our long term commitment to providing a seamless service to local and international clients in Romania. For more information, please contact Adela Ene on +40 21 307 1639, or at
Kinstellar launches in Istanbul
Kinstellar, the leading independent law firm for Emerging Europe, announces the launch of an office in Istanbul, Turkey, to serve international clients investing into Turkey and Turkish clients investing abroad. The launch in Istanbul follows the recent opening in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and underscores Kinstellar’s commitment to providing top class legal services to its clients across Emerging Europe. Kinstellar will work closely with a group of Turkish lawyers who have established a new Turkish firm called CCAO to advise on Turkish law. CCAO is founded by two leading Turkish lawyers, Halide Cetinkaya and Gamze Cigdemtekin, who are both well known among, and highly respected by, the Turkish business community, international