we are where you are
With 15 offices and 4 country desks we have a firm footprint in Central and Eastern Europe.
You will be redirected to the website of our parent company, Schönherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH : www.schoenherr.eu
our capabilities
As the go-to legal advisor for complex commercial matters in the region, Schoenherr aims to use its proximity to industry leaders, in developing practical solutions for future challenges. We keep a close eye on trends and developments, which enables us to provide high quality legal advice that is straight to the point.
our team
Meet our highly experienced experts, advising on legal questions in 14 countries - covering various legal areas.
14 March 2024
F.Urlesberger R.Bachner G.Petric D.Wadl M.Zöhrer N.Stepan K.Hetényi A.Menczelesz G.Bădescu C.Manea Ș.Andronachi
Austria: Schoenherr advises swisspor Holding AG on its 100 % acquisition of Creaton Polska sp. z o.o., Creaton South East Europe Kft and Creaton Steildach GmbH
Schoenherr advised swisspor Holding AG on its acquisition of 100 % of the shares in Creaton Polska sp. z o.o., Creaton South East Europe Kft and Creaton Steildach GmbH, together forming the Creaton Eastern Business, from its former indirect shareholder, Terreal Holding S.A.S. In an interrelated transaction, Terreal's operations in France, Italy, Spain and the USA as well as Creaton's business in Germany and the Benelux countries were sold to Wienerberger AG, an international manufacturer of building materials and infrastructure solutions.
EU/Serbia: Schoenherr wins bad faith EU trademark cancellations at EU General Court
Schoenherr successfully represented Tehnoexport, a Serbian manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products, in trademark cancellation proceedings against four trademarks before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). In the proceedings, Tehnoexport claimed that its competitor filed several trademarks in bad faith, since these contained signs which had been used by Tehnoexport. The EUIPO decided that the trademarks must be cancelled due to bad faith and these decisions were confirmed by the Fifth Board of Appeal of the EUIPO.
Serbia: Schoenherr advises Alstom on negotiation and signing of two significant agreements for Belgrade metro project
Moravčević Vojnović and partners in cooperation with Schoenherr advised Alstom Transport S.A. ("Alstom"), a leader in the development of transport systems worldwide, on the negotiation and signing of a major agreement for the construction of the Belgrade metro, i.e. the Agreement on Services for Metro Project Development.
Of trademarks, designs and other IP rights
When developing or refining a product, including its branding, a lot of time and money are invested in creating something unique that customers will need and love. To protect this financial and creative investment, legislators have decided to grant certain monopoly rights or intellectual property (IP) rights. So, how do you determine the appropriate type of protection for your product? In our blog (link) we have mainly discussed trademark protection. But trademark law is broader than you might expect. Besides the "name" of a product, other features such as the shape, the colouring or a sound can be protected as long as they are recognised as an indication of origin and no absolute ground for refusal, like the technical functionality of the feature, applies. Still, trademark law "merely" protects indications of origin. Fortunately, there are also other IP rights that should be considered as part of a protection strategy.
North Macedonia's legislative response to unfair trade practices
To address rising prices within its own economy, exacerbated by worldwide economic trends and inflationary pressures, North Macedonia has taken a significant legislative step. On 13 March 2024, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted the Prohibition of Unfair Trade Practices in the Supply Chain of Agricultural and Food Products Act (the "Unfair Trading Act"). This legislation not only aims to mitigate the impact of these economic challenges but also aligns closely with European Union standards on unfair trading practices.
EU: Puma faces design protection hurdle after Rihanna's Instagram exposure
The publication of designs prior to filing for EU-wide protection can lead to invalidity. A sneaker design by Puma was declared invalid due to its prior publication by Puma creative director Rihanna on Instagram.
Navigating through the new additions to the Slovenian insolvency framework
The long-awaited amendment "H" of the Slovenian Financial Operations, Insolvency Proceedings and Compulsory Dissolution Act (the "Act") entered into force on 1 November 2023. The new provisions complete the transposition of Directive 2019/1023,[1] introducing three crucial sets of changes to the Slovenian insolvency and restructuring legislation.
Austria's sustainability-linked bond market: a snapshot
In 2023 we advised a client in connection with the issuance of the first sustainability-linked bond by an Austrian corporation placed among international institutional investors as well as Austrian retail investors. Its main feature is that the coupon for the last year of the term will increase if one or both predefined step-up events linked to the issuer's sustainability targets occur.
Consumer Credit Directive II: consumer credit legislation for the digital age
A 2020 review of the Consumer Credit Directive (2008/48/EC) ("CCD I") by the European Commission (EC) found that CCD I has been only partially effective in ensuring a high level of consumer protection.
Trade creditor liability risks in arrangements with distressed companies in Austria
In our practice, we have found that the most common reason for distressed companies to initiate reorganisation measures is a severe liquidity squeeze.
With guided precision and legal services tailored to your needs, our teams across 14 countries guide you from start to finish.
Our lawyers keep you up to date on their respective areas of expertise - with ongoing newsletter articles whenever there are relevant changes in the legal world.