🌟 We're proud to celebrate the recognition of our talented Intellectual Property professionals in the IP STARS 2025 rankings – highlighting their exceptional contributions to the field of IP across the region. 🏆🇺🇦 Natalia Kirichenko, Partner, Co-Head of the Firm-wide Intellectual Property & Technology service line and Head of the local Intellectual Property & Technology service line in Ukraine, has been awarded the prestigious Transactions Star 2025 for her outstanding work in #IP. 🔜 We are looking forward to the release of the firm rankings in #Ukraine throughout June and July, for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion. 🏆🇧🇬 Our Sofia office has been ranked in the Trade Mark 2025 category – a recognition of the team’s consistent delivery of high-quality legal advice in trademark law. 🏆🇧🇬 Special congratulations also to Georgi Kanev, Managing Associate, Co-Head of the Firm-wide Intellectual Property & Technology service line and Head of the local Intellectual Property & Technology and Data Privacy practice in Bulgaria, who has been ranked as a Notable Practitioner – reflecting his dedication and leadership in the IP space. 💼 IP STARS (Managing IP's rankings publication) rankings are among the most respected in the industry, drawing on independent research across 151 jurisdictions and evaluating more than 7,100 practitioners. 🎉 Huge appreciation to our clients for their continued trust, and kudos to our IP teams for pushing boundaries and setting new standards across the region! #ExceptionalTogether #IPStars2025 #KinstellarExcellence #TransactionsStar #TradeMarkLaw #Recognition #StellarJourney #IntellectualProperty

🚨🇪🇺 Landmark EU Commission decision: A double first for antitrust enforcement The European Commission has fined Delivery Hero and Glovo a combined EUR 329 million for their participation in a cartel within the online food delivery sector. This ground-breaking decision marks two significant "firsts" in EU competition law: 📌 Anti-competitive minority shareholding: This is the first time the Commission has sanctioned the anti-competitive use of a minority stake in a competing business. It underscores that even non-controlling investments can facilitate illegal coordination. 📌 Labour market cartel (no-poach agreements): This is the first EU Commission decision finding a cartel in the labour market, specifically relating to companies agreeing not to poach each other's employees. This sends a clear message that such agreements, which stifle employee opportunities, are a serious antitrust violation. Key takeaways: 💡 Non-controlling stakes do not exempt companies from antitrust scrutiny when they lead to anti-competitive coordination between competitors. 💡 No-poach agreements are indeed sanctionable as cartels, emphasizing the importance of competition for talent. 📩 If you need advice in competition law, reach out to our experts, Tomas Cihula (Partner in Prague and Co-Head of the Firm-wide Competition & State Aid service line) and Matěj Korduliak (Associate, Prague). #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Antitrust #CompetitionLaw #EUCommission #Cartel #LabourMarket #NoPoach #MergersAndAcquisitions #Compliance #FoodDelivery

AUT 📢  Protecting lease rights in #Austria: Consequences of insolvency and (compulsory) sale of premises 📑 In light of the current economic climate, lessees are increasingly concerned about the financial stability of their lessors—and with good reason, as Sandra Seldte, Counsel in our Vienna office, explores in her latest article. When a lessor faces insolvency or a (compulsory) property sale, the security of the lessee’s rights may be at risk. The article analyses two key scenarios that can directly or indirectly impact lease agreements under Austrian law: (i) the initiation of insolvency proceedings against the lessor’s assets, and (ii) the (compulsory) sale of the leased property. 🔍 Key takeaways for tenants, investors, and legal advisors: ✔️ Insolvency proceedings against the lessor’s assets alone do not affect the validity or content of a lease, nor do they create a special termination right ✔️ A (compulsory) sale, however, can impact the lease—depending on: – whether the lease falls under the (full or partial) scope of application of the Austrian Tenancy Act (#MRG) or only the Civil Code (#ABGB) – whether and how the lease is registered in the land register ✔️ Small differences in legal structure can make a major difference in lease protection ⚖️ The article provides detailed legal analysis, helping stakeholders understand how to safeguard lease rights even in uncertain times. 📖 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/deTEzCZn #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Insolvency #LeaseAgreements #RealEstateLaw #LeaseProtection #Vienna

📢 Proud to have advised Mitiska REIM (via MEREP 3) on the entry of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (#EBRD) into a joint venture with property developer OPC Group to develop and operate five retail parks across #Slovakia. 🌍 All projects are targeting #BREEAM "Very Good" or higher certification, supporting sustainable commercial real estate in the region. Congratulations to our team in Bratislava, Managing Associate Dáša Labašová and Associate Martin Dančo, for advising on the full legal aspects of the transaction. 📌 https://lnkd.in/dtcnFHbP #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #InvestmentFund #RealEstateLaw #MergersandAcquisitions #RetailPark #Sustainability

Meet us at Money20/20 Europe 2025 🌍 Illya Muchnyk, Partner & Head of Banking and Finance in Ukraine and Firm-wide Head of FinTech, will be attending the Money 20/20 Europe 2025 conference on 3-5 June in #Amsterdam. As the world’s premier fintech event, Money20/20 brings together over 7,500 attendees and 200 industry-leading speakers from banking, payments, crypto, and beyond to discuss the latest trends and the future of the industry. 📈 🎯 This year’s agenda explores four key themes: Embedded Intelligence – What happens when money thinks for itself? Digital DNA – Will identity become the ultimate currency? Governance 2.0 – How do we regulate a future not yet written? Beyond Fintech – What is the future of money? Illya will be on-site throughout the event and is eager to engage with fellow professionals and explore the next wave of digital finance innovation and regulatory developments in the sector. This event is where transformative ideas in #fintech come to life, and we're delighted to be part of the conversation with those at the forefront of fintech. 💬 Interested in a conversation? Connect with Illya at the event or reach out to him at illya.muchnyk@kinstellar. #ExceptionalTogether #Money20202025 #Meetus #Innovation #Banking #Finance #Ukraine #DigitalFinance #FutureOfFinance

✨ Delighted to have co-hosted the “Navigating Change: Employment & Tax Updates” Business Breakfast together with our partners from Romania Canada Business Association (CBEX), with the event taking place in our new headquarters at Globalworth Tower, #Bucharest. It was a pleasure to welcome professionals from the Canadian-Romanian business community for a focused and dynamic session covering key employment law updates, tax developments and business impact, and strategies for leading companies through change. 👏 Congratulations to our speakers, Theodor Artenie, Head of Tax, and Andrada Popescu, Managing Associate, Employment, for delivering sharp, practical insights. 🌟 A heartfelt thank you to our guest of honour, Mihai ZANT, Executive Coach & Partner at Career Shift / HUMANISTIC, for the inspiration and thought leadership he brought to the table. 🤝 We’re truly grateful to the CBEX team, especially Simona Constantinescu for co-organising, and to everyone who joined us—it was a pleasure to connect, exchange ideas, and explore the road ahead together! 🎥 Check out our video for a short glimpse into what the morning was all about. #ExceptionalTogether #CBEX #BusinessBreakfast #EmploymentLaw #TaxUpdates #OrganizationalChange #Leadership #HR #LegalUpdate #RomaniaBusiness #Networking #BucharestBusiness

✨ We are honoured and proud to share that our colleague Klara Stepankova, Partner and Co-Head of the Firm-wide Real Estate practice, has been named one of the 50 most influential people in the Czech and Slovak real estate markets by Property Forum Events & News. 🏆 Klára's work doesn’t just shape deals, it sets standards. From landmark transactions to forward-looking strategies, she embodies the depth, clarity and impact that define true expertise. At Kinstellar, we’re proud to have not only top-tier professionals, but leading women experts who are shaping the future of real estate law in the region. 📊 This prestigious list celebrates individuals shaping the future of the real estate sector in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, based on factors such as market share, deal activity, industry rankings, and overall impact — congratulations to all the professionals included! 👉 Read the publication here: https://lnkd.in/dbKprHZj #ExceptionalTogether #Top50 #WomenInLaw #RealEstateLaw #LegalLeadership #CEE #ThoughtLeadership #PropertyForum #LegalExcellence #Inspiration #CzechRepublic #Slovakia

📢 Meet us at the 6th Annual European Forum on Global FDI Reviews at The Westin Grand Berlin, on 3–4 June Cătălin Graure, Counsel in our Bucharest office specialising in FDI and competition, is representing our team at the event which brings together the European Commission, national screening authorities, legal experts, and corporate counsel to explore the future of national security, FDI policy and cross-border investment regulation. Topics on the agenda include: 👉 Harmonisation of the EU FDI screening regime 👉 Cross-border investment strategies and regulatory risk 👉 FDI trends across Europe 👉 Sector-specific reviews in areas like AI, renewables, EVs, and critical infrastructure If you would like to set up a meeting with Cătălin during the forum, feel free to contact him at . 🔗 Read more about the event: https://lnkd.in/djiG2Gfg #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #FDI #CompetitionLaw #ForeignInvestment #FDIScreening #MergerControl #GlobalFDIForum #MeetUs #Berlin2025