The Legal 500

CMS’ team acts for a broad stable of IT and telecoms clients, who appreciate the firm’s ‘strong international network’. It also advises on high-profile media transactions, and recently acted for RTL Group on its purchase of seven broadcasting channels. Practice head Dóra Petrányi is a ‘highly recognised’ expert with ‘huge experience in telecommunications and media’. Eszter Csapó is ‘excellent’, ‘trustworthy’ and ‘creditable’.

Film finance is a key focus for Horváth & Partners DLA Piper’s practice, with Mónika Horváth advising production studios such as Viacom and Pioneer Pictures. The team recently acted as production counsel to Showtime Network on the filming of Borgias 3. Counsel Zoltán Kozma recently advised a public body on an EU-wide telecoms project, and also handles IT matters.

Réczicza White & Case LLP has ‘excellent industry knowledge’ and is ‘unquestionably’ a market leader for technology and telecoms matters, particularly on the regulatory front. It has a ‘very solid’ TMT practice representing government clients. ‘Well-informed’ counsel Balázs Fazekas is ‘always on the same page with the client’, and has ‘a rare knowledge of the telecoms industry’. He represents major mobile and cable operators on the full spectrum of regulatory matters, and recently advised RRsat Global Communications Network on a satellite uplink project in Hungary. István Réczicza is also recommended.

Richárd Eördögh leads the group at Eördögh Bird & Bird, which advises IT clients on restructurings and related employment issues. Senior associate Titusz Puskár advised Yahoo! and Sony on their respective restructurings. Other key clients include Infosys.

Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie advises domestic and multinational technology clients on corporate agreements, competition law and Hungarian media regulation. It represented Magyar Telekom in a lengthy cartel case before the Hungarian Competition Authority. Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi and Péter Vörös are the names to note.

Lakatos, Köves and Partners advises several telecoms operators, including Nokia and Viettel, on mobile licence tenders, corporate governance, and litigation. It also advised TDF/Antenna Hungária on contractual and regulatory issues. Péter Lakatos and Iván Sólyom are the names to note.

Oppenheim’s media-focused group advises clients on domestic broadcasting regulations. It advised the US National Hockey League on Hungarian TV advertising regulations, and represented a large Hungarian media company in a dispute concerning a ban on programme fees. Ivan Bartal is the name to note.

Siegler Law Office/Weil, Gotshal & Manges provides corporate and commercial advice to a variety of media and telecoms clients. David Dederick and Konrád Siegler advised GTECH Corporation on its proposed joint venture with Szerencsejáték. Other highlights included advising Magyar Telekom on the Hungarian Media and Telecommunications Authority’s mobile frequency auction.

VJT & Partners‘ team is ‘punctual’, ‘business-oriented’ and ‘attentive to details’. It advises technology clients on data protection and online media, and has ‘outstanding experience’ in outsourcing. It continued to advise Hewlett-Packard on matters ranging from data transfer to global employment. Intersport Hungary is a new client. János Tamás Varga is ‘an outstanding lawyer’ with ‘sector-specific expertise’.

At Allen & Overy, practice head Zoltán Lengyel routinely advises on data protection, and Balázs Sahin-Tóth assists TMT clients with joint ventures and acquisitions. Counsel Tibor Szántó is a telecoms expert, who joined from the Hungarian Competition Authority in September 2011. He recently represented Magyar Telekom in a dispute concerning the auction of the 900MHz band frequency.

Andrékó Kinstellar is ‘very good value for money’, and handles data protection, acquisitions and corporate matters for global technology companies. The ‘up-and-coming and energetic’ Dávid Klacsmann recently advised Microsoft Hungary on regulatory issues relating to its marketing strategy, and counsel Dániel Kaszás advised FN Cable Holdings on the sale of its Hungarian business. Ákos Nagy is also recommended.

Bán S Szabó & Partners’ János Rausch advises clients on disputes and transactions in the IT and telecoms sectors.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm’s ‘very responsive’ team has ‘in-depth legal knowledge’, including niche expertise in fibre optic cable systems. Team head Viktor Vasi, who shows ‘good communication’ and ‘client-care skills’, recently advised GTS Hungary on adapting the terms and conditions of subscription agreements. The team also advised Monster on data protection and advertising issues.

Partos & Noblet’s practice focuses on advising international media and telecoms clients such as Viasat, Chellomedia and TATA Communications. Laszlo Partos is the name to note.

Reti, Antall & Partners‘ media-focused practice acts for clients on a broad range of industry issues, including the abuse of media power, freedom of information, and defamation cases.