Lakatos, Köves & Partners

Managing Partners: Dr. Péter Lakatos LL.M.

Number of partners: 13

Number of lawyers: 50 + including tax advisors

Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish

Firm Overview:

Lakatos, Köves and Partners is Hungary's leading independent law firm of 13 partners and more than 50 fee-earners dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to local and global clients. We are recognized as a top firm in guiding international investors through the complexities of Hungary's and the European Union's economic landscapes. With over 30 years in the market, we combine a rich tradition of legal excellence with innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Our firm was formerly the Clifford Chance office in Hungary until 2009. Our attorneys deliver high-level legal insight and practical, commercially oriented solutions, supported by strong international networks such as Lex Mundi, International Bar Association, Budapest Bar, Multilaw, Interlaw, Loan Market Association, INSOL and HVCA. We offer a diverse range of practice areas (described below) that work seamlessly together to provide comprehensive and integrated legal support across all aspects of our clients’ business needs.

Main Areas of Practice:

M&A:

The firm advises on the full range of M&A transactions, representing foreign investors both in relation to Hungary specific transactions and on the Hungarian aspects of regional or global transactions.

Corporate/Regulatory/Compliance:

The firm advises many corporates, in particular the subsidiaries of international companies, on the issues facing them in their operations in Hungary, ranging from general corporate establishment and maintenance through their compliance with all local regulatory requirements (e.g. sectoral regulation, investigations, competition law). Notably active sectors in the firm’s practice are automotive, energy, life sciences and TMT/ IT/technology.

Contact: Richard Lock

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Iván Sólyom

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Ádám Máttyus

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Pál Rahóty

Email: [email protected]

Banking & Finance and Capital Markets:

The firm’s banking and finance practice includes asset financing, structured financing, real estate project, corporate and aviation financing, both on the lender and the borrower side, banking regulation, M&A in the banking sector, banking products, NPL, restructuring, insolvency and banking litigation. Capital market mandates include securitisations, share and bond issuance (including sovereign bonds), complex equity and debt securities offerings, dual-listings, IPOs, derivatives, structured products, structured finance and asset management issues, as well as regulatory matters (Brexit, Prospectus Directive, MiFID, EMIR, etc.)

Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán

Email: [email protected]

Contact: John Fenemore

Email: [email protected]

Competition/Antitrust:

The firm has longstanding expertise on all types of matters in this area, including merger filings, competition/ anti-trust issues, cartel proceedings, abuse of dominant position and representation during investigations by the Hungarian Competition Office and court litigation procedures. LKT’s consumer Law practice is outstanding, including dealing with Unfair Commercial Practices (UCP).

Contact: Iván Sólyom

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Eszter Ritter

Email: [email protected]

Aviation:

LKT has an aviation group, which is unique in Hungary and market leader in the CEE region. LKT acts on aircraft finance, JOLCO transactions, securitisation of aircraft lease receivables, aviation regulatory, financial and operating leases, sale and leaseback transactions, pooling of engines, security interests, insurance and reinsurance liability, litigation and dispute resolution with strong trial capability, repossession of aircraft and tax issues.

Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán

Email: [email protected]

Contact: John Fenemore

Email: [email protected]

Real Estate and Construction:

LKT’s real estate team is one of the largest legal real estate teams and has a dominant position in the real estate market in Hungary for many years, including team members with 15+ years of experience. The firm advises on the entire spectrum of real estate matters, including acquisition and structuring, construction and development, asset and property management with a special expertise in the field of offices, retail, logistic and industrial properties, hotels and other specialised areas such as private hospitals, student housing, greenfield developments.

Contact: Attila Ungár

Email: [email protected]

Dispute Resolution:

LKT successfully represents clients in international arbitration proceedings before the ECHR, ECJ, and ICSID and in litigation proceedings at ordinary courts.

Contact: Balázs Fazakas

Email: [email protected]

Employment:

LKT advises clients in relation to employment and executive contracts, pension schemes, employee benefit programs, employment disputes, employment aspects of M&A transactions, works council and trade union relations. The firm has extensive experience in managing mass redundancy schemes, staff-restructuring and extraordinary dismissals.

Contact: Éva Bognár

Email: [email protected]

Energy:

LKT’s energy practice includes involvement in the full range of energy sources from nuclear through conventional power to renewables, with broad experience in regulatory issues, project development, financing and M&A. In the renewables field, the activities are mainly in solar and thermal projects.

Contact: Ádám Máttyus

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Viktória Szilágyi

Email: [email protected]

IP/GDPR:

Advising in brand protection, trade mark filings, renewals and due diligence, IP litigation and disputes, Tech related matters, GDPR and data protection, including full GDPR audits.

Contact: Iván Sólyom

Email: [email protected]

Tax Advisory:

LKT fully integrates tax advice into its legal work. The tax practice head is a certified tax advisor and a qualified lawyer. LKT’s tax team advises on the full range of tax issues connected to the clients’ businesses, in particular in corporate, real estate and employment matters.

Contact: Balázs Kántor

Email: [email protected]

Telecommunication/Media/Technology:

LKT works on ground-breaking transactions in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors in Hungary with a broad base of expertise in regulatory aspects of market liberalisation and consolidation, including M&A transactions and frequency tenders. LKT advises on all aspects of telecommunication law, internet and e-commerce (i.e. data protection, M&A, corporate, competition and regulatory).

Contact: Péter Lakatos

Email: [email protected]

Contact: Iván Sólyom

Email: [email protected]

CONTACT

Madách Trade Center

H-1075 Budapest

Madách Imre út 14., Hungary

Tel.: +3614291300 / www.lakatoskoves.hu

[email protected]

Tel: +36 1 429 1300