CEE / CIS
Freshfields in CEE and CIS
We have worked on some of the most important and complex legal matters in central and eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
We have been active in CEE and CIS for nearly 40 years and continue help our clients on their legal matters in the regions.
Our cross-border team of lawyers are specialists in the markets and regularly work with multinationals in relation to their investments in CEE and the CIS, as well as local companies and investment firms facing challenges, looking to invest internationally or seeking access to international finance.
Our experience in CEE and the CIS covers corporate/M&A, capital markets, banking and finance (including restructuring and insolvency), EU competition and regulatory, disputes and risk mitigation (including investor-state and commercial arbitrations).
Our people know the regions' legal, business and cultural environments. What’s more, we know the risks – and help clients avoid them.
We operate in the region through our StrongerTogether network of local law firms. We select the one best suited for a transaction based on not only its technical legal ability but also its efficiency, responsiveness, commercial pragmatism and, where relevant, standing with local regulators.
We also work with clients' other advisers as a single team so that the matter is managed as efficiently as possible.
This enables us to work seamlessly across all jurisdictions, add real value and deliver to our clients a top-class integrated service.
Client successes
Advising Advent International on its proposed acquisition of Zentiva, Sanofi’s European generics business for €1.9bn.
Freshfields is advising Advent International (‘Advent’) in connection with its exclusive negotiations to acquire Zentiva, Sanofi’s European generics business for €1.9bn. Advent is a global investor, with over 25 years’ experience of investing in the healthcare sector. It has extensive experience of executing corporate carve-outs.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2018, subject to finalization of definitive agreements, completion of the appropriate social processes and approval of relevant regulatory authorities.
The international Freshfields team is being led by Alan Mason and Stephanie Hundertmark, with Jochen Dieselhorst, Frank Röhling, Alex Potter, Marcel Kaufmann and Guy Benda leading respectively on the pharma, antitrust, regulatory and management aspects of the transaction.
Camille Chiari and Aileen Legré led the rest of the team with Lennart Schramm, Xiaoguang Cai, Eva-Maria Lohse, Philipp Dohnke, Sascha Arnold, Margaux Bognon-Kuss, Bertrand Guerin, Arend Liese, Uwe Salaschek, Ermelinda Spinelli, Luca Sponziello, Maria Ledeneva and Sergio Mori.
A team from CMS-CMNO, led by David Butts, is advising Advent on CEE law matters.
Advising AB InBev on the sale of former SABMiller businesses in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania to Asahi for an enterprise value of €7.3bn.
Advising Obchvat Nula ('Zero Bypass'), a consortium comprising Cintra, Macquarie and Porr, on the €1bn ($1.12bn) Slovak D4/R7 highways public–private partnership.
Advising KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil company, on the sale of Romanian oil company, KMG International, formerly Rompetrol, to Chinese oil major CEFC for $680m.
Assisting UniCredit Bank Austria and its parent company, Italy’s UniCredit, in the spin-off of Bank Austria’s central and eastern Europe (CEE) business.
Following the spin-off, the CEE business, which was comprised of several subsidiary banks in the region and a loan portfolio, was merged into UniCredit.
The complexity of the business and the number of stakeholders involved, including the European Central Bank, Italy’s central bank and Austria’s financial markets regulator, combined to make the deal particularly challenging.
We also advised on the employment, tax and regulatory aspects of the structuring of a carve-out of significant business parts.
Our team
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer won four awards at the 2019 CEE Legal Matters Deal of the Year Awards Banquet in Budapest on March 28, 2019, including overall CEE Deal of the Year for its work on Advent’s October 2018 Acquisition of Zentiva from Sanofi.
2019 CEE Legal Matters Deal of the Year Awards
Solid finance practice operating primarily out of the firm's offices in London, Vienna and Frankfurt, often working in tandem with partner firms in CEE jurisdictions. … Particular strength in sovereign bond issuances in the CEE region.
Chambers Europe 2016 (banking & finance – central & eastern Europe)
Strong record on major corporate matters in the CEE region
Chambers Europe 2016 (corporate/M&A – central & eastern Europe)
Provides expertise on mandates across CEE from its Vienna and London hubs, using a strong network of local counsel on cross-border matters. … Noted for proficiency in international arbitrations and high-value finance matters relating to the energy sector.
Chambers Europe 2016 (projects – central & eastern Europe)
London-based team active in high-value financing, investment and energy projects in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Strong Russian office is an additional advantage. Has a particular strength in hydro-energy projects.
Chambers Europe 2016 (corporate/commercial – CIS)