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EUIPO offers SMEs trade mark and design grants of up to EUR 1,350
The European Commission and European Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) have launched a small and medium sized business fund (SME Fund) to provide reimbursement for trademark and design application fees and pre diagnostic services. The grant scheme, designed to encourage SMEs to expand their IP portfolios, has a budget of EUR 25 million, available on a first come, first serve basis. The submission period for applications runs from 23 January to 8 December 2023. Read more in the brochure below: Download in English: In case of any questions with respect to the above, our specialists
Decentralized clinical trials: Current developments in CEE and Turkey
The rapid development of technologies and solutions in the healthcare sector is contributing to the proliferation of decentralised clinical trials (“DCTs”). The aim of DCTs is for clinical trials to be conducted more effectively and conveniently – for patients, sponsors and investigators – through the use of digital technologies. In addition, with hospital visits temporarily limited and staff capacities overwhelmed, the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic have significantly underscored the necessity of performing certain elements of clinical trials remotely. Download in English:
Unpacking the European Parliament’s Recent Resolution on Online Video Games
Last week, the European Parliament (“EP”) adopted a resolution on online video games (the “Resolution”) . In essence, the Resolution calls for strong enforcement of consumer protection rules in the video game industry, requires stricter regulation of loot boxes and emphasizes the enormous potential of the gaming sector. Download in English: In case of any questions with respect to the above, our specialists are standing by to offer guidance and counsel.
Amended FDI rules in Hungary
On 23 December 2022 the Hungarian Government adopted a New FDI Government Decree. The main changes as well as other several technical clarifications and modifications are set out in our overview below written by Péter Vörös (Partner) and László Palócz (Senior Associate). Click on the image below to read the whole newsletter.
NIS 2 Directive – What you need to know
On 27 December 2022, the Directive on “measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union”, repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (the “NIS 2 Directive”), was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The NIS 2 Directive builds on a previous NIS Directive adopted in 2016 expanding its scope to other entities. Due to a rising number of cybersecurity incidents as well as ongoing increased digitalization, the aim of the NIS 2 Directive is to cover more economic sectors and to introduce additional security and reporting requirements across all EU Member States. Member States will have until 17 October 2024 to transpose the NIS 2 Directive into their national laws. Our specialists
Hungarian Competition Act amended effective the start of January
The Hungarian Competition Act (Act LVII of 1996 on the Prohibition of Unfair Market Conduct and Restriction of Competition) was amended effective 1 January. Below we provide a brief summary of the most significant changes. Increased merger control thresholds The Competition Act sets a dual turnover threshold to determine which transactions must be notified. These have all been increased, and from 1 January, only those concentrations must be notified where, in the last financial year for which a financial statement has been approved, the combined net turnover of all the groups of undertakings concerned (and their joint ventures, proportionately) exceeds HUF 20 billion (EUR 50 million) instead of HUF
Kinstellar appoints new Service Line Heads
Kinstellar is delighted to announce the appointments of new service line heads. Jan Juroška, a Partner in the Prague office, is the firm-wide Co-Head of M&A, Corporate & Private Equity. Jan has over 15 years of experience advising both local and international clients on a wide range of commercial matters and corporate transactions. Jan specialises in all aspects of corporate law, in particular M&A (including M&A real estate), private equity, joint ventures and employment. Jan is ranked by Chambers Europe and Legal 500 2022 editions, based on excellent client feedback, one stating that ''he knows the business needs of the clients and is very solution and target-oriented''. Edmund Emre Özer, a Partner
Kinstellar advises S IMMO AG on the expansion of its office portfolio in Budapest
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has once again successfully advised S Immo AG, a leading Vienna-listed real estate investor and developer, on the acquisition of six office properties in Budapest, from Immofinanz AG. The acquisition includes the following six buildings comprising around 124,000 m² of main usable space: Thirteen Globe, Thirteen Xenter, Greenpoint 7, Atrium Park, Haller Gardens and Szepvölgyi Business Park. Most of the properties are located in the strong office submarkets "Vaci Corridor" and "Central Pest". The purchase price is based on the valuation of the property portfolio carried out by an external expert with a value of EUR 244.1 million as of 22 December 2022. The acquisition
End of UBO publicity?
As of 2020, European Union (“EU”) Member States are obliged to make details of ultimate beneficial owners (“UBOs”) of corporate and other legal entities available to the general public. However, in light of the recent decision of the Court of Justice of European Union (“the ECJ”), it is now questionable whether this obligation will remain. The requirement to make details of UBOs publicly available was introduced by Article 30 (5) of Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (“the AML Directive”). The Member States are entitled to restrict public availability of details on UBOs under the AML Directive in the
Kinstellar named Law Firm of the Year in Central Europe at The Lawyer European Awards ceremony
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has been named “2022 Law Firm of the Year: Central Europe” by the leading UK and European legal publication The Lawyer at its annual European Awards ceremony. Each year the awards celebrate excellence across the European legal market and recognise firms that have demonstrated outstanding achievements through their mandates, performance, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service. Winners are chosen from among over 120 independent law firms headquartered in Europe and global firms across the continent. Kinstellar is also proud to have been shortlisted for the “Law Firm of the Year: South Eastern Europe” and ‘’Law Firm of the Year: Ukraine’’
Kinstellar advises S IMMO AG on the acquisition of office properties in Budapest
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has successfully advised S Immo AG, a leading Vienna-listed real estate investor and developer, on the acquisition of eight properties and one land plot in Budapest (Gateway Office Park, Arena Corner, Andrássy Palace and the five-part BC99 Office Park) from CPI Property Group. After several successful transactions in the CEE region, S Immo AG once again turned to Kinstellar and worked together with our Budapest office for the first time. The transaction is valued at EUR 238.3 million. The excellently managed buildings comprise a total lettable area of around 109,000 m² and are in outstanding condition. The Kinstellar team was led by Barnabás Sági (Managing
Kinstellar strengthens its Corporate M&A team in Hungary with the appointment of Annamária Csenterics as Partner
10 October 2022 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Annamária Csenterics has joined the firm’s Budapest office as a Partner and Co-Head of the local Corporate M&A service line. Annamária Csenterics is an experienced Corporate M&A practitioner with a career spanning 20 years at international law firms and as an in-house lawyer. She has served as lead counsel on scores of domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic transactions, including spin-offs, split-offs and exits. Her clients have included corporations as well as private clients domiciled in the US, Europe and Hungary. Annamária will co-head the local Corporate M&A service line, including Real Estate