The Legal 500

Nagy és Trócsányi represents banks, such as OTP, and the Hungarian subsidiaries of multinationals in litigation and international arbitration. A ‘one-stop-shop for clients’, this ‘outstanding’ dispute resolution team has a great understanding of the ‘relationship between the practical law and the client’s business’. György Kiszely recently acted for the Municipality of Hódmezovásárhely in a HUF1bn damages claim against the Ministry of National Resources, and Csaba Pigler continues to represent Honda in tax and employment litigation. The ‘broadly experienced’ Péter Nagy oversees the team.

Oppenheim’s ‘insightful’ team acts for a number of large European construction companies including KÉSZ Group and Hochtief. Tamás Éless is ‘determined’ and a ‘highly effective’ litigator. He recently defended Porr Technobau und Umwelt in a €16m damages claim and continues to represent CIB Bank in multibillion-forint disputes.

Siegler Law Office/Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ responsive team has a good record for large Hungarian corporates, having recently won five cases for MOL and three for Magyar Telekom before the Metropolitan and Appellate Courts. László Nagy’s team has also been advising the Hungarian state on contentious matters.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law’s ‘really strong’ group represents financial services, natural resources and manufacturer clients in high-value commercial, competition and IP disputes. Practice head András Szecskay is regularly involved in domestic and international arbitration, and he recently advised Richter Gedeon Nyrt in a $40m dispute with a Polish pharmaceuticals company. The team is advising Slager Radio in a $100m matter before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has forged a noteworthy financial services disputes practice to complement its leading banking practice. However, it also represents clients in the pharmaceuticals, energy and transport sectors, including Johnson & Johnson and Ryanair. Gabriella Ormai and Zsolt Okányi represented Siemens in a €47m international arbitration with Budapest Transport Company, relating to the construction of Budapest Metro Line 4.

Erös Üqyvédi Iroda / Squire Sanders LLP’s ‘thorough’, ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘very capable’ team provides ‘a truly international dispute resolution service’. The four-strong team continues to act for Budapest Bank (and two of its investment funds) in a pending contractual dispute and a $12m damages action. Judit Kelemen’s judicial experience ‘ensures you get a good opinion’. Senior associate Artúr Tamási is a ‘tactically good’ litigator.

Faludi Wolf Theiss’ handles domestic and international disputes for clients in the automotive and natural resources industries. The team recently represented a key energy player before ICSID. Senior associate Gábor Bárdosi continues to act for a prominent multinational oil company in a number of arbitration cases.

Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie has been particularly active in consumer protection and contractual disputes. It is advising the Hungarian subsidiary of a car manufacturer in arbitration pursuant to a product recall.

Péter Lakatos and his team at Lakatos, Köves and Partners have recently boosted their client base locally, picking up new clients Suez Environnement and K&H Bank. The group is particularly proficient in TMT, banking and financial services disputes, and has recently acted for HSBC and TDF. The team also benefits from several good referral relationships with international law firms.

‘Good in energy and telecoms’, Réczicza White & Case LLP recently defended MAVIR in a €6m lawsuit. The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ Milán Kohlrusz and his team acted for MÁV in a $1.24bn US Federal Court litigation, and also defended Budapest Airport in a pollution claim.

Ádám Máttyus chiefly defends corporate clients of Andrékó Kinstellar. However, the practice recently represented Ursa as plaintiff in an unfair conduct matter and represented Colas Group in private enforcement proceedings.

Norbert Varga and Levente Szabó jointly lead the practice at bnt Szabó Tom Burmeister Ügyvédi Iroda, and represent the Republic of Hungary in investment disputes and arbitration. In addition, the group has also dealt with energy litigation in the Hungarian Supreme Court.

Austrian firm CHSH Dezsö’s Hungarian dispute resolution team ‘provides the benchmark standard to which other lawyers aspire’. It handles general commercial, construction and insurance litigation and arbitration.

Eördögh Bird & Bird’s ‘quick and clear’ team handles IP and employment litigation and ADR.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm has added a leading UK gaming software systems developer to its client roster and continues to advise Agility Logistics in a dispute with its former managing director. Gábor Damjanovic heads this ‘devoted’ group, which provides ‘brilliant advice’.

Noerr represents German corporates and their Hungarian subsidiaries in contractual disputes, working as necessary alongside the firm’s pan-European network. István Jókay heads the team, which recently defended two European automotive companies in litigation.

Szabo Kelemen & Partners Attorneys recently represented Glencore in Hungarian litigation and UK arbitration. Commercial litigator László Kelemen leads the group.

VJT & Partners’ five-partner team has witnessed an increase in litigation pertaining to restructuring. It represents Hungarian subsidiaries of large international companies, and is acting for ING and a leading IT company. János Tamás Varga heads the team.

Bogsch & Partners has ‘a very diligent way of providing legal services’, and has a track record in labour and IP disputes. Tamás Gödölle is the name to note.

János Burai-Kovács handles litigation and mediation at Burai – Kovács & Partners.

Gide Loyrette Nouel won new instructions from Sága and Lego, and Dániel Gera continued to advise a number of the firm’s French clients in ongoing Hungarian disputes. Levente Csengery was appointed as a senior associate after a number of employee losses in 2010.

Morley Allen & Overy Iroda’s Balázs Sahin-Tóth recently represented Betclic before the National Consumer Protection Office, and Zoltan Lengyel acted for ING in litigation before the Metropolitan Court.

Partos & Noblet has benefited from an increase in referrals from international law firms. Alstrom and Aviva are key clients.

Reti, Antall & Partners’ relationship with PricewaterhouseCoopers has fed it a number of instructions relating to tax disputes.

Sándor Szegedi Szent-Ivány Komáromi Eversheds’ key focus is labour and employment disputes. The group successfully represented Fornetti in a case against CSB before the Court of Arbitration at the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.