Banking & Finance | Europe

The firm is a regional leader in the CEE market, with prominent finance and capital markets teams in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. It advises international lender syndicates on high-value transactions, including the refinancing of companies with operations across the CEE region or the award of project finance facilities governed by the laws of several different jurisdictions. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance has a formidable offering in the CEE banking and capital markets sphere, housing leading teams in Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania that act both on high-end finance transactions on matters that touch on multiple CEE jurisdictions. The standout law firm boasts strong relationships with a number of international investment banks, traditional lenders and funds that are active in the CEE region. Additionally the firm advises on acquisitions in the energy, IT and retail sectors, as well as investment into real estate concerns.

CMS is an outstanding finance practice with proven capacity to lead multi-jurisdictional lending transactions from Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary. This leading law firm acts on acquisition financing of real estate assets and target companies that have subsidiaries in multiple CEE jurisdictions. Its clients include international bank syndicates and financial services providers who additionally benefit from the law firm's particular expertise in banking matters relating to the SEE region.

Dentons has a significant presence throughout the CEE region, with offices in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. The team is well reputed for its work in real estate finance, where the firm acts for major regional developers and their subsidiaries on obtaining high-stakes facilities across CEE. The law firm is similarly active on the lenders' side, assisting investment banks with acquisition finance and corporate lending transactions, as well as debt refinancing. Dentons also assists with cross-border energy and infrastructure project financing mandates.

Schoenherr acts for European banks, international investment funds and corporate borrowers on acquisition finance, licensing matters and capital markets matters across the CEE region. The law firm has a strong track record on both sides of NPL portfolio transactions, often leveraging the market-leading reputations of key partners in Vienna and Bucharest to handle deals in various CEE jurisdictions. The solid team advises on the creditor side of major debt restructuring.

Wolf Theiss is a significant firm throughout CEE and SEE, with local expertise in jurisdictions including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Romania. The law firm advises on revolving ESG-linked credit facilities for clients active across multiple CEE countries. The team also advises major regional entities on financing mandates in the automotive sector that are coordinated between teams in local offices. In addition Wolf Theiss handles significant loan agreements between syndicates of CEE-based lenders. Cross-border capital markets mandates also serve as a source of instruction for the firm.

DLA Piper assists with domestic and international finance matters across the CEE region. Real estate finance forms a significant part of the law firm's caseload, where the practice acts for both banks and property developers. The firm is also active in the energy and insurance sectors. The team is well prepared to provide clients with complex regulatory advice.

Freshfields has a renowned banking and finance offering with a strong foothold in Vienna. The law firm leverages its superb reputation among financial sector clients based in the United States and Frankfurt to win roles on complex transactions, such as NPL acquisitions. The team maintains a varied caseload comprising significant refinancings and ESG-linked credit facilities. Freshfields acts for leading financial institutions and larger corporates based in the CEE region.

Joining the rankings this year, Karanovic & Partners boasts particular strength in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The team demonstrates noteworthy capability in debt refinancing and project finance, particularly in the energy and real estate sectors. The law firm further acts on regulatory compliance and fintech mandates.

Kinstellar is a CEE-based firm with practices throughout the region, including prominent teams in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. The team advises international financial institutions on regulatory issues, including those flowing from the roll-out of new financial products across the region. The law firm brings together pan-CEE teams to support global law firms in cross-border financings and refinancings. Kinstellar additionally acts on revolving credit facilities and fintech mandates.

Linklaters is a visible practice on CEE-wide mandates offering advice in the region. The law firm's office in Poland also handles lending transactions or banking M&A deals that touch on multiple CEE jurisdictions. The team is well placed to represent international banks, particularly in respect of bilateral financing packages.

White & Case is an established firm in the region, acting for banks on project finance transactions spanning multiple CEE markets and also representing corporate borrowers in obtaining revolving credit facilities across multiple jurisdictions. Restructurings and refinancings serve as further sources of instruction for the practice.