The Legal 500

CMS’ ‘quick, reliable and creative’ team is ‘a key player’ in Hungary’s real estate market. The team, which has recently focused on the restructuring of real estate finance deals, is led by Gábor Czike, who is ‘one of the most recognised experts in the field’. He recently represented CA Immo in a dispute concerning an office acquisition, and continues to advise Futureal on a range of real estate issues. Clients say ‘the strictest deadlines are always met’.

Judit Kővári heads Dentons’s ‘good group’, which has quickly established itself as a leading real estate practice. Marcell Clark leads on cross-border transactions, and has been particularly active in Romania and Russia. He recently advised Heitman European Property Partners on the purchases of the Science Park and Alkotás Point office buildings in Budapest. The team has numerous Austrian clients, including UniCredit Bank Austria and Raiffeisen Bank. Of counsels Marcell Szőnyi and Ádám Kaplonyi are also recommended.

‘One of the best practices in the market’, Réczicza White & Case LLP’s five-strong group receives high praise for its real estate knowledge. The team provides ‘genuine added value’, and handles matters ranging from sale and purchase agreements to design and build contracts. It advised Louis Delhaize Group on the sale of seven hypermarkets to Groupe Auchan, and handled a lease agreement for Globe Trade Centre. Practice head Szabolcs Posta ‘finds solutions while balancing client risk’.

Horváth & Partners DLA Piper’s practice is led by experienced of counsel Róbert Kotsis, whose arrival in 2011 strengthened the team’s construction expertise. He recently advised Stena Realty on a contentious matter relating to a fit-out and service charge, and is advising a US client on a prospective greenfield investment in Hungary. Senior associates András Kauten and Attila Remes worked with tax team colleagues to advise on the restructuring of the financing of a prominent Budapest office building.

Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie receives a steady flow of leasing instructions from multinationals, and recently acted for a large retailer on a significant lease project as well as for an Asian financial institution on its acquisition of office and staff accommodation space. Géza Kajtár leads the team.

Lakatos, Köves and Partners focuses on real estate finance and asset management transactions, and advises clients including CBRE on leasing and property management. The team advised Al Habtoor Group on its acquisition of Le Meridien Hotel, and GLL on refinancing a portion of its real estate portfolio. Attila Ungár leads the group.

‘Excellent in every respect’, Siegler Law Office/Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ team advised GTC on refinancing across the CEE, and also acted for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide on a large hotel project. It has acted on new and distressed property developments in emerging markets. The ‘highly experienced’ David Dederick is ‘a creative dealmaker’, and László Nagy is also recommended.

Andrékó Kinstellar encountered a downturn in new real estate transactions, and as such refocused on assisting clients with the renewal of lease agreements and disputes with landlords. Practice head Katalin Dévald advised a conglomerate on a new combined-cycle gas turbine power plant, and managing associate Edina Schweizer acted for Deutsche Genossenschafts-Hypothekenbank on financing of the construction of Árkád 2 shopping centre.

Ákos Mester leads the group at Erös Üqyvédi Iroda / Squire Sanders (US) LLP, which advises blue-chip corporates on greenfield investments in Hungary, and acts for tenants on lease renewals. Highlights included advising Audi Hungaria on the development of a factory in northwestern Hungary. Senior associate Csaba Vári counts CA-Immo among his clients.

Oppenheim acts on property mandates regionally. It advised Mundial Investment on the development of commercial buildings in Milan and Kingfisher plc on a multi-jurisdictional asset purchase. It continues to advise longstanding client Bilfinger Berger Group on PPP projects and Hungarian construction law. Zoltán Mucsányi and practice head Mark Pinter are recommended.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law’s team handles property transactions including real estate transfers and leases, as well as the establishment or sale of commercial centres. Patrick Tausz and Attila Jásdi are the names to note.

Rainer Tom’s team at bnt Attorneys-at-law advises Hungarian developers on infrastructure investments, leasing transactions and property litigation. It also advises HSH Real Estate and IVG on portfolio management.

Senior associate Gábor Erdős leads Faludi Wolf Theiss’ team, which recently advised a large insurer on a sale-and-leaseback transaction.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm’s four-lawyer team advised new client Scitec Nutrition on due diligence matters concerning its real estate portfolio, and continued to advise Centrope Holding Limited in connection with the Eurovegas casino development.

Peter Berethalmi’s team at Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda advises manufacturers on investments and construction contracts relating to greenfield developments. It also recently advised Scania on the real estate aspects of a demerger.

Noerr’s team acts for international investors on investments into the Hungarian manufacturing sector such as the expansion of existing production facilities. Clients include Ormand. Zoltán Nádasdy heads the team.

Partos & Noblet advises hotel companies, asset managers and manufacturers on property management including leasing matters. Christopher Noblet and senior associate Sandor Bekesi are recommended.

Schoenherr advises investors on distressed asset purchases, as well as the management of office assets. Practice head Sándor Habóczky recently advised Vabeld Real Estate Holdings on the purchase of retail property.

Szabo Kelemen & Partners Attorneys advises ING on commercial asset management and assists other clients with greenfield investments in the energy, automotive and cosmetics sectors.

VJT & Partners advises Hewlett-Packard Hungary and ING Insurance on a variety of real estate issues, and recently assisted a US manufacturer with the property aspects of a cross-border transaction.