IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

	Boga & Associates Kalo & Associates Tonucci & Partners Wolf Theiss
	Hoxha Memi & Hoxha Loloci & Associates
	Drakopoulos Law Firm Optima Legal & Financial
	CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni

Led by the "younger and good" local partner Sokol Nako, Wolf Theiss is one of the few international firms present in the Albanian legal market. In tier one it occupies its rightful position as its network of offices makes it well placed to advise on cross-border transactions.... [more]

Led by the "younger and good" local partner Sokol Nako, Wolf Theiss is one of the few international firms present in the Albanian legal market. In tier one it occupies its rightful position as its network of offices makes it well placed to advise on cross-border transactions. "Its network is an advantage for global clients who have a relationship with the firm in other countries. The network brings work," one competitor says. However, on top of this, the firm is integrated enough to act for local clients too. "We're very happy with the collaboration," one client says, adding that, "communication is best. They're always there for us when we call and never miss any deadlines."

Deals
The tier one firm continues to be present on leading mandates on the market and was involved in one of the largest real estate acquisition finance transactions conducted by an Albanian bank in the country last year. The firm advised Raiffeisen Bank Albania in its €20 million loan in connection to the acquisition of one of the largest hotels in the country. The firm also advised Enso Hydro in structuring its investments in Albania and advised a syndicate of European banks in connection to restructuring procedures of an important company in the natural resources industry. Moreover, Wolf Theiss provided the first Albanian legal opinion on the ISDA (International Swaps & Derivatives Association) master agreement when it advised major European banks in this regard.

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	Binder Grösswang Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Wolf Theiss
	Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati Dorda Brugger Jordis Schoenherr
	Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Doralt Seist Csoklich Eisenberger & Herzog Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner
	Barnert Egermann Illigasch
	Benn Ibler Brandl & Talos Graf & Pitkowitz Hauser Partners Rautner Huber Saxinger Chalupsky & Partner Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Taylor Wessing enwc

One of the largest teams on the market, Wolf Thiess, "deserves to be in the tier one" according to peers who highlight Markus Heidinger as the firm's finance expert. The firm's expansive CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) network is a draw for clients, who say this can often be the deciding factor when mandating the firm over its rivals where the quality of service is equally high.... [more]

One of the largest teams on the market, Wolf Thiess, "deserves to be in the tier one" according to peers who highlight Markus Heidinger as the firm's finance expert. The firm's expansive CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) network is a draw for clients, who say this can often be the deciding factor when mandating the firm over its rivals where the quality of service is equally high.

Deals
Among the Austrian firms with a CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) network, Wolf Theiss has been involved in a number of transactions with a wider regional focus.

The firm has supported several clients with restructurings in the region. One example of this saw Markus Heidinger working alongside the Bucharest and Budapest offices advising a banking consortium led by Erste Bank on restructuring the financial debt of SW Umwelttechnik Stoiser & Wolschner and its related group of companies. The €80 million deal involved taking security in Austria, Hungary and Romania.

Wolf Theiss has had roles in number of new money transactions. Erste Bank has proven an active client, and mandated the firm to advise on financing the acquisition of the Medicover Hospital in Warsaw by the Luxembourg-based Celox Group.

Elsewhere, Brazilian engineering and construction conglomerate Odebrecht has thrown up three separate financings – two in 2011, one in 2012. Andreas Schmid led the firm on all three deals representing different consortiums of financial institutions – among them: BNP Paribas, CIB Structured Finance, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Société Générale and ABN AMRO – on the three transactions to finance drilling vessels which cumulatively totalled approximately $1.8 billion. The deal was a rare example of an offshore drillship financing through an Austrian borrowing vehicle.

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	Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati Dorda Brugger Jordis Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Wolf Theiss
	Binder Grösswang Schoenherr Weber & Co
	Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Brandl & Talos
	CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Graf & Pitkowitz Rautner Huber Saxinger Chalupsky & Partner Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Wolf Thesis joins tier one after a strong 12 months and a succession of recommendations from peers and clients. "Quality wise they are a good as any in tier one," notes one peer.... [more]

Wolf Thesis joins tier one after a strong 12 months and a succession of recommendations from peers and clients. "Quality wise they are a good as any in tier one," notes one peer. Another says: "Wolf Theiss is very strong on debt." Clients were equally impressed by the firm's abilities. "They are very pragmatic, I find and innovative, I would recommend them to any investment bank," says one.

Deals
Competitors remark on name partner Richard Wolf's "excellent relationship" with some of the local banks and several of the country's largest institutions have mandated the firm to assist with improving capital ratios recently. For the nationalised Hypo Alpo-Ardia, which is in severe financial difficulty, Markus Heidinger and Christine Siegl advised on a decrease of its share capital by €814 million in May 2011, which was followed by a capital increase in June 2011. The latter transaction, which was unprecedented in the country, was accomplished by converting participation capital issued by the state into €450 million of share capital. The deal was also the first time participation capital issued by an Austrian bank was reduced. Erste Group also needed the firm's assistance with its bid to improve its capital ratio. ClausSchneider led the team advising the bank on its purchase of €830 million of tier 1 and lower tier 2 securities, in what was the first public offer for hybrid capital in Austria.

Two further headline deals by Schneider further illustrated his debt expertise. On OMV's €750 million hybrid bond issue, Schneider and Alexander Haas acted as Austrian counsel to Barclays Capital and JPMorgan, the structuring advisors. The same pair teamed up to represent Telekom Austria in establishing its €2.5 billion EMTN programme and on the issue of a €750 million bond, which was sold within two days of the programme's approval.

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	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Schoenherr Wolf Theiss
	Binder Grösswang Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati Dorda Brugger Jordis
	Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Fiebinger Polak Leon & Partners
	DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Eisenberger & Herzog Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Graf & Pitkowitz Saxinger Chalupsky & Partner Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Taylor Wessing enwc
	Benn Ibler bpv Hügel Brandl & Talos Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner

Wolf Theiss has a solid M&A practice with a good reputation, although the general market consensus is it is less prominent on the headline deals than its tier rivals, which is supported by its recent deal list. However, peers note that "the firm has been more active in CEE (Central & Eastern Europe)" and agree that it has the corporate expertise to compete with the other firms in tier one.... [more]

Wolf Theiss has a solid M&A practice with a good reputation, although the general market consensus is it is less prominent on the headline deals than its tier rivals, which is supported by its recent deal list. However, peers note that "the firm has been more active in CEE (Central & Eastern Europe)" and agree that it has the corporate expertise to compete with the other firms in tier one.

Deals
Wolf Theiss has particularly been active on the buy side recently. Working alongside Italian firm Gianni Origoni Grippo Cappelli & Partners, Wolf Theiss advised Italian state holding company Cassa Depositi e Prestiti on its €710 million acquisition of an 89% stake in Austria natural gas company Trans Austria Gas.

M&A practice head Dieter Spranz was active on a private equity deal, leading a team representing Sun Capital Partners on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Unterland Flexible Packaging.

An example of the firm's cross-border work saw name partner Richard Wolf lead on multi-jurisdictional deal for ERGO Austria International. The firm's client purchased a minority stake of approximately 25% from Volksbanken in Vicoria-Volksbanken, an insurance company with subsidiaries in Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia and Czech Republic.

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	Lawyers Office Tkalcic-Dulic Prebanic Rizvic & Jusufbasic-Goloman Maric Law Office Wolf Theiss in cooperation with local lawyers
	CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Stevan Dimitrijevic Law Office in cooperation with Karanovic & Nikolic
	Sajic
	IKRP Rokas & Partners – S Bilic Law Office

Wolf Theiss in cooperation with local lawyers is a first tier firm in Bosnia. The firm has built itself a very strong presence in the Bosnian legal market and aids its clients in negotiating their way through the country's convoluted regulatory environment.... [more]

Wolf Theiss in cooperation with local lawyers is a first tier firm in Bosnia. The firm has built itself a very strong presence in the Bosnian legal market and aids its clients in negotiating their way through the country's convoluted regulatory environment. Often, the firm leads the way in getting projects through the regulatory process and has even managed to establish practices with the regulatory bodies.

With its offices in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, the firm is represented in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and benefits from its cross border connections. Austrian trained Miroslav Stojanovic fronts the firm's office in Banja Luka and Sead Miljkovic does much of the firm's work in Sarajevo. While the Sarajevo branch is still not fully recognised and approved by the Bosnian Bar Association, all members are fully integrated into the Wolf Theiss network.

Deals
In the last 12 months, Wolf Theiss has attracted some interesting mandates. By way of acquiring shares, the firm advised Umarex on the takeover of a local sports weapons producer Pobjeda Sport Gorazde. When it comes to foreign shareholder interest exceeding 49% in a local weapons producing company, this was the first time that a law firm succeeded in obtaining the approval of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, in the first project of its kind, the firm advised Ferrostaal on a public procurement matter concerning the development, construction and prospective operation of a gas power and heating (cogeneration) plant in Bosnia. The firm also acts as external counsel and legal advisor to MOL, a leading CEE oil and gas company. It provides full assistance with regard to all legal matters related to its business operations in Bosnia.

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	Boyanov & Co CMS Cameron McKenna Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov Spasov & Bratanov
	Dinova Rusev & Partners Kambourov & Partners Penkov Markov & Partners Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners Wolf Theiss
	Antov & Partners Dimitrov Petrov & Co Georgiev Todorov & Co Gugushev & Partners Schoenherr
	Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati Dobrev Kinkin & Lyutskanov Novel Consult Pavlov and Partners Law Firm in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Peterka & Partners
	Penev Tocheva and Mandazhieva Law Office Tokushev & Partners Varadinov

Like compatriot Schoenherr, Austrian firm Wolf Theiss calls upon its both its local team and international network when tackling Bulgarian work. Partner Richard Clegg leads the team, which has a client base of corporates, banks and private equity investors.... [more]

Like compatriot Schoenherr, Austrian firm Wolf Theiss calls upon its both its local team and international network when tackling Bulgarian work. Partner Richard Clegg leads the team, which has a client base of corporates, banks and private equity investors.

Deals
On an impressive project financing mandate, lawyers including Richard Clegg and Anna Rizova advised North America's largest solar energy services provider (SunEdison) on the €155 million acquisition, development and financing of one of the largest photovoltaic parks in Bulgaria (50MW) as well as on five other projects totalling over 300MW.

In pure M&A, a team advised the leading global supplier of sensor and controls Sensata Technologies on a share purchase of the Sensor-Nite Group companies from Elex Group for €225 million.

The firm have been busy working on transactions for some of the leading global private equity funds including Bain Capital Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund

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	Bogdanovic Dolicki & Partners Porobija & Porobija Zuric i Partneri
	CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Divjak Topic & Bahtijarevic Hanzekovic & Partners Markovic & Pliso Savoric & Partners Vukic Jelusic Sulina Stankovic Jurcan & Jabuka Wolf Theiss
	Babic & Partners Cipcic-Bragadin Glinska & Miskovic – DLA Piper Macesic & Partners Schoenherr in co-operation with Croatian lawyers Travas & Partners Vukmir & Associates
	Versic Marusic Law Office

Wolf Theiss is the only international firm in the second tier this edition and it has strengthend its grip on that category. The firm now has broad coverage of the Croatian market with offices in Rijeka and Split to go along with the Zagreb branch.... [more]

Wolf Theiss is the only international firm in the second tier this edition and it has strengthend its grip on that category. The firm now has broad coverage of the Croatian market with offices in Rijeka and Split to go along with the Zagreb branch. It is well placed for the forthcoming EU accession as Ronald Given heads the Zagreb branch, Dora Gazi Kovacevic the Split office and Ira Peric Ostojic the Rijeka offering.

Competitors have witnessed the firm's growth and clients are highly satisfied with the service provided. For example, in Rijeka, Ostojic is drawn out for praise by one client: "When she started she didn't know our business but was able to involve herself. If there was a problem she'd come up with a solution and not waste time. She was able to understand the business and deal with the government authorities."

The firm continues to expand as it welcomes in some new associates. The Zagreb branch lawyers are fully integrated into the Wolf Theiss network and recently Luka Tadic-Colic was elevated to partner status.

Deals
Wolf Theiss advised UK private equity fund Bancroft in its €40 million acquisition of City Ex, a company that was the largest privately owned Croatian courier company. The deal closed in May 2011 and was among the most important venture capital transactions in Croatia that year. The firm also advised the concessionaire of the Rijeka Port container terminal privatisation, Adriatic Gate (a component of International Container Terminal Services), on its €15 million project. In anticipation of Croatia's accession to the EU, this privatisation is important to the transportation corridor that runs from the Adriatic Sea, through Croatia and into Greater Europe and promises to trigger added investor interest.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance White & Case
	PRK Partners
	Baker & McKenzie BBH CMS Cameron McKenna Glatzova & Co Kocián Solc Balastík Weil Gotshal & Manges Weinhold Legal
	Dentons Havel Holásek & Partners Hogan Lovells Squire Sanders Wolf Theiss
	Balcar Polansky Eversheds bpv Braun Partners DLA Piper Prague Kinstellar Norton Rose Peterka & Partners Randa Havel Legal Rutland Jezek Schoenherr Vejmelka & Wunsch

Wolf Theiss is a tier four banking and project finance practice in the Czech Republic. The firm has attracted a number of notable mandates and continues to grow.... [more]

Wolf Theiss is a tier four banking and project finance practice in the Czech Republic. The firm has attracted a number of notable mandates and continues to grow. In 2011, the firm benefitted from the hire of partner Tomas Rychly from Clifford Chance. With a strong network and support from Vienna, the firm will be looking to develop a strong stand alone banking and finance practice and attract new clientele.

Deals
Wolf Theiss advised the lender, Ceskoslovenská obchodní banka on the financing of a local energy grid distribution operator and its acquisition of a shareholding interest in a Czech energy company and in certain energy infrastructure related assets. Furthermore, in a rare transaction in the current economic climate, the firm advised the security agent, Landes-Hypothekenbank Steiermark, on the financing of two shopping mall projects in the Czech Republic.
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	White & Case
	Allen & Overy Baker & McKenzie Clifford Chance PRK Partners
	BBH CMS Cameron McKenna Glatzova & Co Havel Holásek & Partners Kinstellar Kocián Solc Balastík Weil Gotshal & Manges Weinhold Legal
	Balcar Polansky Eversheds Dentons Hogan Lovells Squire Sanders
	Rutland Jezek Vejmelka & Wunsch Wolf Theiss

Wolf Theiss has taken steps to expand its capital markets offering in the last year with the hire of partner Tomás Rychlý and senior associate Jan Kotous from Clifford Chance. Most of the firm’s work in the last year has come on the equity side.... [more]

Wolf Theiss has taken steps to expand its capital markets offering in the last year with the hire of partner Tomás Rychlý and senior associate Jan Kotous from Clifford Chance. Most of the firm’s work in the last year has come on the equity side.

Deals
One transactional highlight saw Jan Kotous advise News Licensing Group in regard to a private placement in the Czech Republic.

Elsewhere the team advised German insurer Talanx in regard to a public offering of funds.
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	Clifford Chance White & Case
	Allen & Overy Baker & McKenzie BBH Glatzova & Co Weil Gotshal & Manges
	CMS Cameron McKenna Dentons Havel Holásek & Partners Kocián Solc Balastík PRK Partners Weinhold Legal
	Hogan Lovells Kinstellar Norton Rose Peterka & Partners Schoenherr Squire Sanders
	bpv Braun Partners DLA Piper Prague Randa Havel Legal Rutland Jezek Vejmelka & Wunsch Wolf Theiss

Prague managing partner Paul Sestak leads the Czech corporate team at Austrian firm Wolf Theiss. The team was enhanced last year with the addition of Tomas Rychly from Clifford Chance as a partner.... [more]

Prague managing partner Paul Sestak leads the Czech corporate team at Austrian firm Wolf Theiss. The team was enhanced last year with the addition of Tomas Rychly from Clifford Chance as a partner. Michal Pravda is one of the firm’s most active partners on transactional matters.

Deals
Michal Pravda led a team last year advising Vienna Insurance Group on an intra-group restructuring which involved the merger of a portfolio of real estate SPVs into a qualified investor fund (QIF). The team also advised on aspects of WPP’s acquisition of Czech advertiser Nydrie Digital and acting for Bosch Thermotechnik on an intra-group merger of Kotile Loos into Bosch Termotechnika.
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	Allen & Overy Andrékó Kinstellar CMS Cameron McKenna
	Horváth & Partners – DLA Piper Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi – Baker & McKenzie Lakatos Köves & Partners Réczicza – White & Case Siegler Law Office – Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Burai-Kovács & Partners Erös Ügyvédi Iroda – Squire Sanders Faludi Wolf Theiss Gárdos Füredi Mosonyi Tomori Nagy & Trócsányi Oppenheim Partos & Noblet - Hogan Lovells Szecskay Attorneys at Law
	bnt attorneys-at-law CHSH Dezsöő Felsen Katona Law Firm Forgó Damjanovic & Partners Hajdu & Pázsitka Law Office Katona & Partners Martonyi Law Firm Szabó Kelemen & Partners Attorneys

Led by Gábor Erdos, Faludi Wolf Theiss’s banking and finance group consolidates its position in tier three. “Faludi Wolf Theiss are on the upper side of tier three,” one peer says, while another adds that, “Faludi [Wolf Theiss] is pretty good in finance.... [more]

Led by Gábor Erdos, Faludi Wolf Theiss’s banking and finance group consolidates its position in tier three. “Faludi Wolf Theiss are on the upper side of tier three,” one peer says, while another adds that, “Faludi [Wolf Theiss] is pretty good in finance.” The ex-Clifford Chance leading lawyer, Zoltán Faludi, helped establish the firm in November 2007 and the practice continues to grow, attracting high profile clientele such as OTP Bank, UniCredit Bank and Erste Bank. “It is one of the stronger Austrian outfits,” one partner says. “They do well with Austrian referrals.”

Deals
Faludi Wolf Theiss continues to advise lenders, UniCredit Bank, Volksbank, Citibank, ING Bank and K&H Bank on outstanding issues with respect to the €46 million financing of Waberer’s Holding, a leading logistics service provider in Hungary and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Furthermore, in one of the few M&A deals in the banking and financial services sector, the firm advised Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen with respect to the €500 million acquisition of direct and indirect control over Magyar Factor.
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	CMS Cameron McKenna Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi – Baker & McKenzie Réczicza – White & Case Siegler Law Office – Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Allen & Overy Horváth & Partners – DLA Piper Lakatos Köves & Partners Nagy & Trócsányi Szecskay Attorneys at Law
	Andrékó Kinstellar Burai-Kovács & Partners Erös Ügyvédi Iroda – Squire Sanders Faludi Wolf Theiss Gide Loyrette Nouel Oppenheim Réti Antall and Partners
	Forgó Damjanovic & Partners Gárdos Füredi Mosonyi Tomori Noerr Partos & Noblet - Hogan Lovells
	bnt attorneys-at-law bpv | Jádi Nemeth Attorneys at Law Jalsovszky Law Firm Martonyi Law Firm Szabó Kelemen & Partners Attorneys

Faludi Wolf Theiss’s corporate and M&A practice is led by János Tóth in Hungary. In a depleted market, the firm worked on some interesting mandates over the last year and so, consolidated its position in tier three.... [more]

Faludi Wolf Theiss’s corporate and M&A practice is led by János Tóth in Hungary. In a depleted market, the firm worked on some interesting mandates over the last year and so, consolidated its position in tier three.

Deals
Completed in November 2011, János Tóth and Péter Göndöcz advised JVC Kenwood Holdings on its acquisition of global assets from Shinwa, the automotive electronic parts supplier, involving a manufacturing site in Hungary. Moreover, the firm advised ERGO Group, part of Munich RE Group, on the acquisition of minority shareholdings held by Österreichische Volksbanken-Aktiengesellschaft in Victoria Életbiztosító and Victoria Biztosító, the Hungarian life insurance and non-life insurance subsidiaries of Victoria-Volksbanken Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft. [hide]

	Andrékó Kinstellar CMS Cameron McKenna Réczicza – White & Case
	Allen & Overy Faludi Wolf Theiss KajtárTakács Hegymegi-Barakonyi – Baker & McKenzie Siegler Law Office – Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Burai-Kovács & Partners Erös Ügyvédi Iroda – Squire Sanders Horváth & Partners - DLA Piper Lakatos Köves & Partners Nagy & Trócsányi Oppenheim Szecskay Attorneys at Law
	bnt attorneys-at-law Felsen Katona Law Firm Gide Loyrette Nouel Hajdu & Pázsitka Law Office Martonyi Law Firm Partos & Noblet – Hogan Lovells

Faludi Wolf Theiss continues to develop on the project finance front. The firm involves itself in some of the largest project financing deals and works closely with the corporate M&A team, as the project finance mandates usually include due diligence of project companies.... [more]

Faludi Wolf Theiss continues to develop on the project finance front. The firm involves itself in some of the largest project financing deals and works closely with the corporate M&A team, as the project finance mandates usually include due diligence of project companies. The firm is definitely the stronger among the tier two players and will be looking upwards. "It has been visible for quite some time," one partner says. "It has a good solid energy practice and on the back of that, does M&A work." Nevertheless, while the energy and projects practice is solid, some consider the firm a little thin on the pure finance side. "Their energy practice keeps them in tier two," one peer says. "It's because of the projects front and not the finance front."

Deals
Faludi Wolf Theiss acted for Erste Group Bank last year on the €18 million financing of the residential project implemented by Futureal Group, a leading real estate developer and investor in CEE. It was the first financing undertaken by Erste Group's newly founded real estate financing vehicle, Erste Group Immorent. It was also the first financing where the newly adopted 'construction escrow agent' was applied. The deal, which closed in November 2011, was among the biggest residential financings in Hungary last year. Furthermore, the firm advised UniCredit Bank Austria in relation to the €85 million financing of the shopping centre, Árkád Ors Vezér Tere II. The deal, which closed in December 2011, was one of the first financing deals in which the newly implemented 'construction escrow agent' was included in the project structure.

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	Boga & Associates Kalo & Associates Pallaska & Associates
	Ibrahimaga Osmani Tigani Interlex Associates
	Wolf Theiss

The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) focused international firm Wolf Theiss has been involved in Kosovo for several years, having begun by advising the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) of the UN on various mandates including the conversion of Pristina's international airport into a joint stock company.The firm does not have an office in the country and often works in tandem with local firms; nevertheless it remains a significant part of the legal scene.... [more]

The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) focused international firm Wolf Theiss has been involved in Kosovo for several years, having begun by advising the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) of the UN on various mandates including the conversion of Pristina's international airport into a joint stock company.

The firm does not have an office in the country and often works in tandem with local firms; nevertheless it remains a significant part of the legal scene.

Leading the practice is Christian Mikosch who is based in Vienna. Other partners from the firm also deal in Kosovan matters but very much on a case-by-case basis. The team focuses on servicing its international client base as and when they have dealings in the country and has worked in the past with the Government in Pristina.

"I have a great relationship with Christian Mikosch and every time I have the opportunity I work with him," says one long-term client.

Another client adds that Mikosch is very good in what is a vital attribute for Kosovan lawyers, simply explaining the multi-fated legal system: "We were real satisfied with them. Kosovo is not always a straightforward legal environment and in this case we appreciated that Mikosch is really active in a pragmatic way meaning that he knows what the client wants and he tells you if this is possible or not."

Deals
One of the firm's largest mandates saw Christian Mikosch act for Kosovo's Ministry of Economic Development on the attempted privatisation of the post and telecoms provider Posta dhe Telekomunikacioni i Kosovës (PTK). The transaction is one of the largest privatisation processes to be undertaken since independence.

In the project finance space, Mikosch acted alongside Sven Hollmann for Kärntner Elektrizitäts (KELAG) in work related to the operation of the Lumbardhi hydropower plant. The main work, related to the assignment of a lease and power purchase agreement, was completed in 2009, but the firm has acted on subsequent restructurings.

The firm has also been involved in work related to Kosovo's local banking industry, advising Finance in Motion as the head of a lending consortium over the management of loans made to micro-finance institution the KEP Trust.

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	Badea Clifford Chance CMS Cameron McKenna Musat & Asociatii Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen
	Schoenherr si Asociati Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii
	Bulboaca & Asociatii Dentons Popovici Nitu & Asociatii Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu (RTPR) in association with Allen & Overy
	bpv Grigorescu Stefanica D&B David si Baias Gide Loyrette Nouel Kinstellar Reff & Associates Stoica & Asociatii Voicu & Filipescu White & Case Pachiu Zamfirescu Racoti Predoiu
	Buzescu Ca CHSH SCA Gilescu Valeanu & Partenerii Drakopoulos Law Firm Eversheds Lina & Guia Hammond Bogaru & Associates Pachiu & Associates Peterka & Partners Sulica Protopopescu Vonica Vernon David Vilau & Mitel Wolf Theiss

Andreea Poenaru heads Wolf Theiss’s Romanian team. The Austrian firm benefits from its wide network whose fingers extend into almost every country in the CEE (Central & Eastern European) region.... [more]

Andreea Poenaru heads Wolf Theiss’s Romanian team. The Austrian firm benefits from its wide network whose fingers extend into almost every country in the CEE (Central & Eastern European) region. The firm generally acts on the lender side of transactions.

Last year the team acted for a bank consortium including UniCredit Bank Hungary as arrangers agents and lenders and separately Volksbank, Citi, ING and K&H Bank as lenders on a €46 million financing extended to Waberer’s Holding a logistic company.

Elsewhere the firm advised the IFC on a loan to a Romanian financial institution.
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	Musat & Asociatii Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii
	Badea Clifford Chance CMS Cameron McKenna Dentons Popovici Nitu & Asociatii Schoenherr si Asociatii
	Bulboaca & Asociatii Gide Loyrette Nouel Marian Dinu Law Office in cooperation with DLA Piper PeliFilip Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu (RTPR) in association with Allen & Overy
	bpv Grigorescu Stefanica D&B David si Baias Kinstellar Stoica & Asociatii Voicu & Filipescu White & Case Pachiu Zamfirescu Racoti Predoiu
	Andra Musatescu Law & Industrial Property Offices Buzescu Ca CHSH SCA Gilescu Valeanu & Partenerii Drakopoulos Law Firm Eversheds Lina & Guia Hammond Bogaru & Associates Pachiu & Associates Peterka & Partners Reff & Associates Sulica Protopopescu Vonica Vernon David Vilau & Mitel Wolf Theiss

Ancuta Delia Leach leads the local Romanian team of Austrian firm Wolf Theiss and is also one of the most active partners in terms of transactional work.

Last year the team acted for Agrium Inc on the purchase of 100% of Cereal Toscana, an Italian fertilizer distribution company and its Romanian subsidiary.... [more]

Ancuta Delia Leach leads the local Romanian team of Austrian firm Wolf Theiss and is also one of the most active partners in terms of transactional work.

Last year the team acted for Agrium Inc on the purchase of 100% of Cereal Toscana, an Italian fertilizer distribution company and its Romanian subsidiary.

Elsewhere the team acted for DSM Nutritional Products on the takeover of the animal feed premixes business of Fatrom Aditivi Furajeri.
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	Badea Clifford Chance CMS Cameron McKenna Musat & Asociatii Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii
	Bulboaca & Asociatii Popovici Nitu & Asociatii
	Bostina & Associates Dentons PeliFilip Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu (RTPR) in association with Allen & Overy Schoenherr si Asociatii
	Buzescu Ca CHSH SCA Gilescu Valeanu & Partenerii D&B David si Baias Gide Loyrette Nouel Peterka & Partners Vilau & Mitel Wolf Theiss

Led by Bryan Wilson Jardine, the Romanian wing of Austrian firm Wolf Theiss’ projects team has been advising on projects in the energy and recycling sectors in recent times.

Andreea Poenaru, a former Credit Suisse banker has also been active across the financing spectrum.... [more]

Led by Bryan Wilson Jardine, the Romanian wing of Austrian firm Wolf Theiss’ projects team has been advising on projects in the energy and recycling sectors in recent times.

Andreea Poenaru, a former Credit Suisse banker has also been active across the financing spectrum.
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	CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hasche Sigle Jankovic Popovic & Mitic Karanovic & Nikolic
	Harrisons Solicitors Moravcevic Vojnovic Zdravkovic in cooperation with Schoenherr Wolf Theiss
	BDK Advokati / Attorneys at Law Joksovic Stojanovic & Partners Prica & Partners Spasic & Partners Zivkovic & Samardzic
	Drazic Beatovic & Partners IKRP Rokas & Partneri Law Office Milosevic Law Office Tomislav Sunjka Ninkovic Law Office Studio Legale Sutti Tomic Stevic-Dulic (TSD)
	Law Firm KOSIC

Wolf Theiss is a very capable regional firm that consolidates its position in tier two. In Serbia, the firm's corporate department is led by Miroslav Stojanovic and its finance department is led by Bojana Bregovic.... [more]

Wolf Theiss is a very capable regional firm that consolidates its position in tier two. In Serbia, the firm's corporate department is led by Miroslav Stojanovic and its finance department is led by Bojana Bregovic. "Here they have one excellent guy, [Miroslav] Stojanovic," one partner says. Despite tough market conditions that have affected the firm's finance practice; it has seen an upturn in restructurings, workouts and acquisitions of distressed assets. At the start of 2012, the firm started the "Wolf Theiss School of Excellence". This is a firm-wide programme that aims to provide its lawyers with comprehensive training. In Belgrade itself, there has been suggestion that in recent times, the firm has been less visible than usual. "When they started lawyering, Wolf Theiss were top of the market, so I'm not sure why they're stagnating," one partner says.

Deals
The firm picked up a series of acquisition mandates in the last year including Bojana Bregovic and Marijana Zejakovic's advice to US Steel on the sale of its Serbian business; Copper Rubber & Tire Company on the acquisition of the production assets of Trayal, Krusevac; and advice to Dr Oetker on the acquisition of Serbian Centroproizvod`s sweet and powder food business.

The team also advised Hypo Alpe-Adria in regard to the restructuring of an over €150 million loan portfolio.

Finally, Miroslav Stojanovic and Natasa Lalovic acted for OMYA on the acquisition of Serbian mining companies Nemetali and Vencac.

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	Allen & Overy White & Case
	Cechová & Partners Cernejová & Hrbek Ruzicka Csekes – CMS
	Dentons Hamala Kluch Víglasky Kinstellar Squire Sanders Weinhold Legal Wolf Theiss
	BBH Beatow Partners bnt attorneys-at-law bpv Braun Partners Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati - Siska & Partners Dedák & Partners DT Legal Hillbridges Peterka & Partners Schoenherr

Wolf Theiss's banking and finance practice in Slovakia is led by Erik Steger and Lubos Frolkovic. Previously, the firm dealt with transactions in Slovakia by engaging local counsel, however, it established its presence in Bratislava in 2002 and has now grown to over 12 lawyers.... [more]

Wolf Theiss's banking and finance practice in Slovakia is led by Erik Steger and Lubos Frolkovic. Previously, the firm dealt with transactions in Slovakia by engaging local counsel, however, it established its presence in Bratislava in 2002 and has now grown to over 12 lawyers.

Deals
Alongside Linklaters in Frankfurt, Wolf Theiss acted as the Slovak counsel to Carcoustic in the multijurisdictional financial restructuring of senior and mezzanine facilities. Moreover, the legal work related to financial restructuring of the security located in the Slovak Republic. Additionally, the firm advised Gestamp Automocion and the syndicate of banks in several refinancing transactions involving Edscha Velky Meder, the Slovak subsidiary and its guarantees including legal opinions.

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	Allen & Overy White & Case
	Cechová & Partners Cernejová & Hrbek Hillbridges Kinstellar Ruzicka Csekes – CMS
	Dedák & Partners DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Hamala Kluch Víglasky Havel Holásek & Partners Peterka & Partners PRK Partners Schoenherr Squire Sanders Weinhold Legal Wolf Theiss
	B&S Legal BBH Beatow Partners bnt attorneys-at-law bpv Braun Partners Carnogurský ULC Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati - Siska & Partners Dentons DT Legal

Wolf Theiss is a Vienna based firm with an extensive presence in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The firm's Slovak arm is driven by Erik Steger and Lubos Frolkovic.... [more]

Wolf Theiss is a Vienna based firm with an extensive presence in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The firm's Slovak arm is driven by Erik Steger and Lubos Frolkovic. It is a strong choice for Austrian and international clients who have business interests in the country.

Deals
Wolf Theiss advised Vienna Insurance Group, a leading international European insurance group, in a sale and lease back transaction concerning a portfolio of 12 locations in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. This was achieved by means of share deals and the subsequent internal restructuring, including mergers, within the client's group. Additionally, closing in February 2012, the firm acted as local counsel to US based private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners, in regard to all the Slovak aspects of the multijurisdictional acquisition of Thomson Reuters Trade and Risk Management business.

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	Jadek & Pensa Miro Senica & Attorneys Odvetniki Selih & Partnerji Rojs Peljhan Prelesnik & Partnerji
	Schoenherr Consulting Wolf Theiss
	CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Law Office Tos and Partners

Austria is traditionally known as one of the key providers of foreign investment to Slovenia. Therefore, when taking the reletively short distance into account, it comes as no surprise that the strong regional firm, Wolf Theiss has a healthy presence in the market.... [more]

Austria is traditionally known as one of the key providers of foreign investment to Slovenia. Therefore, when taking the reletively short distance into account, it comes as no surprise that the strong regional firm, Wolf Theiss has a healthy presence in the market. "They're quite present but mainly with German speaking companies," one partner says. "They bring a lot of clients and work with international companies." Led by Markus Bruckmüller, M&A and banking and finance are key areas for the office in Ljubljana. The firm continues to grow after a number of associate hires in May and June last year and in January and February 2012.

Deals
Most of Wolf Theiss' work in the last year came in the M&A space. In one deal example Markus Bruckmüller acted for Pivovarna Union on the $48 million sale of its stake in Fructal. Similarly Bruckmüller acted for HIG Europe Capital Partners and Green Building Group in the acquisition of the Slovenian market leader in the prefab housing market for €12 million.

Also the team acted for Johnson Controls on the increase of its stake in joint venture company TPV Johnson Controls to 74.9%.

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	Baker & McKenzie Sayenko Kharenko
	Asters Clifford Chance Dentons
	Avellum Partners Chadbourne & Parke CMS Cameron McKenna DLA Piper Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners Vasil Kisil & Partners
	Andriy Kravets & Partners BC Toms & Co Beiten Burkhardt Gide Loyrette Nouel Grischenko & Partners Integrites Lavrynovych & Partners Schoenherr
	Arzinger Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm Jurimex LCF Law Group Okhrimchuk Grushyn Khandurin PARITET Peterka & Partners Squire Sanders Wolf Theiss

Wolf Theiss’s banking practice in Kiev is led by new recruit Oksana Volynets. The firm can call upon its wide Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) network when acting on deals allowing it to act on transactions spread across the region.... [more]

Wolf Theiss’s banking practice in Kiev is led by new recruit Oksana Volynets. The firm can call upon its wide Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) network when acting on deals allowing it to act on transactions spread across the region.

Deals
One key transaction saw the team act on the Ukrainian aspects of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s finance facility extended to Amerigon Incorporated for the acquisition of WET Automotive Systems. Elsewhere the team also acted for UniCredit Bank Austria in regard to the provision of a trade finance facility to HTU
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	Baker & McKenzie Sayenko Kharenko
	Asters Avellum Partners CMS Cameron McKenna
	Chadbourne & Parke Clifford Chance Dentons DLA Piper Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners Vasil Kisil & Partners
	BC Toms & Co Beiten Burkhardt Gide Loyrette Nouel Grischenko & Partners Ilyashev & Partners Integrites Konnov & Sozanovsky Salkom Sergiy Koziakov & Partners
	Arzinger Engarde Gestors Lavrynovych & Partners Law Firm Jurimex LCF Law Group Legum Servi Okhrimchuk Grushyn Khandurin PARITET Peterka & Partners Schoenherr Squire Sanders Ulysses Wolf Theiss

Taras Dumych leads the Wolf Theiss M&A team which generally advises regional clients with Ukraine operations, which allows the firm to fully utilise its CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) network.

Deals
Last year Taras Dumych acted for Monstera Invest in regard to the acquisition of lime stone mining company Galychyna Vapno Group.... [more]

Taras Dumych leads the Wolf Theiss M&A team which generally advises regional clients with Ukraine operations, which allows the firm to fully utilise its CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) network.

Deals
Last year Taras Dumych acted for Monstera Invest in regard to the acquisition of lime stone mining company Galychyna Vapno Group.
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