📱 Does your marketing team know if "influencers" are promoting your brand — and whether that's even legal? A few months ago, an influencer in #Romania shared a sponsored post about a food supplement, for which the influencer received a sanction from the Romanian National Audiovisual Council (CNA). The account had 3,473 followers. ➡️ There's no minimum follower count that determines when the rules apply. It comes down to whether the person's profile could reasonably encourage consumption. 💊 The CNA sanctioning decision concerned the promotion of a food supplement, and is therefore particularly relevant for brands active in medicines, medical devices, homeopathic products and food supplements.    Nevertheless, its implications and CNA's reasoning extend to all retailers and brands using influencers to promote consumer products, regardless of the type of products concerned. The underlying principles are relevant from a broader consumer protection and advertising compliance perspective. 👇 Who's really on the hook when a campaign crosses the line? Read our full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/dv7X__rU, written by Luiza Bedros, Partner, and Christiana Bouleanu-Glăvan, Associate. #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #InfluencerMarketing #Compliance #AdvertisingLaw #CNA #ConsumerProtection

Meet us at Bluechip26 in #Vienna! 🔗 As trusted legal advisors to investors, financial institutions, and innovative businesses across Central and Eastern Europe, we closely follow the regulatory developments defining the digital assets industry, including #MiCA and the broader EU regulatory framework. 💻 This is why we partnered with Bluechip for this year's #Bluechip26 crypto safety conference, which will serve as a platform for meaningful discussions on some of the most relevant topics facing the market today, particularly stablecoins and their future role in the financial system. Let's meet there and discuss the latest trends of the sector with experts, industry leaders and innovators. Bluechip is recognised for its focus on stablecoin safety, transparency, risk assessment, and independent research and evaluation framework, helping market participants better understand the opportunities and risks associated with digital assets.  📍 Am Stadtpark 9, Vienna, Austria 📅 10-11 November 2026 ➡️ Information and tickets: https://lnkd.in/drxVjsdf A special thank you to our colleague Miriam Broucek (Partner, Banking & Finance) for driving this initiative and further strengthening our presence in the fintech and digital assets space. We look forward to joining these conversations, sharing perspectives, and connecting with peers in Vienna this November. #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #CryptoSafety #Fintech #Stablecoins #DigitalAssets #Bluechip #Crypto

🏥💡 #Healthcare AI in #Austria: Innovation meets regulation Artificial intelligence is continuing to transform healthcare in Austria, from diagnostics and clinical decision support to remote monitoring, telemedicine and drug development. ➡️ At the same time, the regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. Developers, healthcare providers and life sciences companies are facing new compliance challenges under the AI Act, MDR, GDPR and the emerging European Health Data Space (EHDS). 🔍 In the latest Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide: Healthcare AI 2026, we explore: 🔸 Key applications and market trends in Austrian healthcare AI; 🔸 The impact of the AI Act on medical devices and high-risk AI systems; 🔸 Data governance, interoperability and EHDS developments; 🔸 Liability, transparency and human oversight requirements; 🔸 Practical considerations for healthcare providers, medtech and life sciences companies. ✍️ The Austria chapter was authored by Harald Strahberger (Partner, Regulatory) and Florian Sesztak (Associate, Regulatory), providing a practical overview of the legal and regulatory framework governing healthcare AI in Austria. 📘 Read the full Austria chapter here: https://lnkd.in/dU3ZZKbC #IntheKnow #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #HealthcareAI #LifeSciences #MedTech #AIAct #HealthLaw #DigitalHealth #Kinstellar

📢 🇺🇦 The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) continues to ease currency restrictions in #Ukraine: new opportunities for individuals and businesses. Our #Banking & #Finance team in #Kyiv – Illya Muchnyk (Partner, Head of Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and Firmwide Head of FinTech), Oleksandra Poliakova (Managing Associate), and Zakhar Oprysko (Associate) – have prepared an overview of the latest package of FX liberalisation measures adopted by the National Bank of Ukraine, which came into effect on 11 August 2026. Among other things, the overview covers: 🔷 Expanded FX opportunities for individuals, including higher limits for foreign currency purchases, cash withdrawals and cross-border payments 🔷 Increased transaction limits for Ukrainian businesses 🔷 The new “additional limit” for defence-related charitable contributions 🔹 Extension of the “Investment” and “Additional” limits to related companies within the same group 🔷 Greater flexibility for Ukrainian companies to make payments under export contracts 🔷 Other targeted easings affecting cross-border payments, foreign currency purchases and related business operations 🔷 Other targeted easings affecting cross-border payments, foreign currency purchases and related business operation 📌 Read the full overview here: https://lnkd.in/d-Ck9iqp 📩 Contact Illya Muchnyk for more information on FX restrictions and currency liberalisation in Ukraine. #IntheKnow #Ukraine #BankingAndFinance #NBU #CurrencyRegulation #FXLiberalisation #ForeignExchange #CrossBorderPayments #Export #Investment #RegulatoryCompliance #FinancialServices #DoingBusinessInUkraine #Kinstellar #ExceptionalTogether

🇦🇹 🇨🇿 🇸🇰 🇷🇴 🇷🇸 We are delighted to have advised Paprec, one of Europe's leading #recycling and waste management groups, on its #acquisition of an 80% stake in Brantner Green Solutions in a landmark cross-border transaction spanning #Austria, the #Czech Republic, #Slovakia, #Romania, and #Serbia. 🤝 Working alongside transaction counsel Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP - Germany, Kinstellar has advised on all legal and regulatory aspects of the transaction under #Austrian, #Czech, #Slovak, #Romanian, and #Serbian law. 📋 The transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances. 👏 Congratulations to PAPREC and everyone involved in this transaction. 🌍 Kinstellar's multidisciplinary cross-border team was led by Horst Ebhardt and Hartwig Kienast, highlighting the strength of Kinstellar's integrated regional platform and its ability to support complex cross-border M&A transactions across Central and Southeastern Europe. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d5MwcUjE #ExceptionalTogether #DoneDeals #MandA #PrivateEquity #CorporateLaw #CEE #CrossBorderTransactions #Kinstellar

📢🇺🇦 Legal Industry Reviews (#LIR) Ukraine 11th edition is out, with the Corporate/M&A section authored by Mykola Lykhoglyad, (Managing Associate) and Dariia Diatlova, (Student Associate) from our #Kyiv office. ✍🏻 Their article “Restricting Access to Publicly Available Information on Legal Entities During Martial Law in Ukraine” explores how Ukraine has introduced new mechanisms to protect sensitive corporate information in response to security risks arising from the full-scale invasion. The authors analyse the key differences between the two confidentiality frameworks introduced for defence-related businesses, such as: 🔸 Different approaches to restricting access to public register data for critical enterprises and Defence City residents; 🔸 Enhanced protection for Defence City residents, where access is restricted even for users identified via qualified electronic signature (QES); 🔸 New rules affecting access to information through private resources such as YouControl and Opendatabot. In addition, the article covers the corporate business area news section, with a focus on: 🔸 Additional capital for LLCs; 🔸 New insider information rules; 🔸 Updates to privatization rules; 🔸 Updated ownership structure regulations. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eHc7Qfkw The Legal Industry Reviews (LIR) is a global platform featuring insights from top law firms and in-house counsel around the world: 🌍 51 countries | 👥 3,600,000+ readers | ⚖️ 800+ law firms | 📚 466 editions #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #LegalIndustryReview #CorporateLaw #MergersAndAcquisitions #Defence #CorporateGovernance #BusinessLaw #DueDiligence #OwnershipStructure #UkraineLaw #LegalInsights

📣🇺🇦 Our Kyiv team’s Panoramic: Fintech Ukraine Guide 2027 is now available on Lexology! 💳 Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine’s fintech sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, innovation and growth. In this latest edition, our team provides a comprehensive overview of the legal and regulatory framework shaping one of the region’s most dynamic fintech markets. Via a Q&A format, our #Banking & #Finance team in #Kyiv – Illya Muchnyk (Partner, Head of Banking, Finance and Capital Markets in Kyiv and Firm-wide Head of FinTech), Oleksandra Poliakova (Managing Associate), and Zakhar Oprysko (Associate) – explore key topics including: 🔶 Ukraine’s evolving fintech ecosystem and innovation climate 🔶 Payment services reform and alignment with EU standards 🔶 Open banking developments and future opportunities 🔶 Cryptoassets, token issuance and distributed ledger technology 🔶 Artificial intelligence in financial services 🔶 Data protection, cybersecurity and financial crime compliance 🔶 Cross-border operations and market entry considerations 🔗 Explore the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/euUAnTTN 📩 Contact Illya Muchnyk to discuss fintech opportunities in #Ukraine. #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #Fintech #FintechLaw #OpenBanking #CryptoAssets #FinancialServices #LexologyPanoramic #BankingAndFinance

🇧🇬 We are grateful to have been invited as speakers at the Summer ELSA Law School Sofia 2026 – one of ELSA’s most prestigious international programs, which for nearly 30 years has brought together law students and young legal professionals from around the world. As part of the program, Debora Dineva, competition law expert from our Sofia office, delivered an interactive session on the key aspects of EU competition law. Through a combination of practical case studies, real-world examples, and engaging activities, participants had the opportunity to explore fundamental competition law principles and develop their analytical and problem-solving skills. We would like to thank ELSA Bulgaria for the invitation, their trust, and the excellent organisation of this event. It was a pleasure to share our experience and engage in discussions with such motivated, curious, and inspiring participants. At Kinstellar, we believe that outstanding legal professionals are defined by more than just their knowledge of the law. Critical thinking, strong ethical judgment, initiative, and accountability are equally essential qualities that we strive to cultivate within our teams. ✨ Supporting and contributing to the development of the next generation of legal professionals is an important part of our mission. We were proud to share our perspectives and experience, and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this valuable initiative. #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #ELSA #ELSABulgaria #Sofia #LawStudent #CompetitionLaw

⚖️ Romania strengthens consumer protection rules ➡️ Effective 27 September 2026, businesses operating in #Romania will face new consumer protection requirements under Government Emergency Ordinance No. 18/2026, transposing the EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive into national law. The new framework tightens the rules on environmental claims, durability and repairability, and pre-contractual information, affecting manufacturers, retailers, e-commerce operators and suppliers of digital products alike. 🌱 Businesses will no longer be able to rely on unsubstantiated "green", "eco" or "sustainable" claims, and misleading durability or repairability practices, such as encouraging premature replacement of consumables or overstating software update requirements, will be prohibited. The framework is complemented by an EU Regulation introducing a harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity and the new GARAN label for commercial durability guarantees. 💡 Read more details in our newest article prepared by Cristina Stamboli (Counsel) from our Bucharest team: https://lnkd.in/desukR4Y #ExceptionalTogether #InTheKnow #ConsumerProtection #GreenTransition #Sustainability #EUDirective #RegulatoryUpdate #ConsumerLaw #ESG