Andrékó Kinstellar fields a highly esteemed group of Budapest-based debt finance experts, which is experienced in advising banks and borrowers on all forms of debt, sovereign and secured borrowings, as well as securitisation. It is also active in energy-related project finance transactions and plays a key role in property development mandates that often have an international element. Csilla Andrékó, who is the main partner, specialises in project finance and syndicated lending.

Dentons' credentials as a market-leader are reflected by its work for lenders, underwriters, arrangers and borrowers. The group undertakes a wide range of lending transactions, refinancings, restructurings and insolvency-related matters. In addition, regulatory work is another mainstay of the practice. Also notable is that the team is prominent in the growing solar power development sector. Department head Gergely Horváth has extensive experience of real estate acquisition finance, trade and energy project finance. Counsel Gábor Király and senior associate Gabriella Pataki are also key figures.

DLA Piper's Budapest-based group has a first-rate reputation, which is reflected in its capabilities across a myriad of matters, including bank financing, bond issues, IPOs and regulatory matters. The sizeable team is jointly led by Péter Györfi-Tóth, Gábor Borbély, András Nemescsói and Gábor Molnár; they have extensive expertise in advising domestic and international banks, state-owned entities and regulators. The scope of their work covers cross-border finance, ECM and DCM transactions, insolvency and banking-related litigation. Also notable is that the firm introduced a web-based knowledge tool, Investment Rules of the World, which provides a summary of key legal questions and answers that may arise in the course of financing or investing in over 35 jurisdictions. Counsel Attila Sári and senior associate Barbara Császár are also recommended.

Lakatos, Köves and Partners is a top choice for a broad cross-section of mandates, including banking and finance transactions, regulatory issues, licensing matters and restructurings. The firm is notably active in aviation leasing work and it also advises on the acquisition of non-performing loans. In one recent highlight, Szabolcs Mestyán advised Hungarian Real Estate Financing Zrt. (Indotek Group) on the first-ever acquisition of a non-performing loan portfolio from the National Deposit Insurance Fund. John Fenemore, who is dual-qualified in English and Hungarian law, is knowledgeable about trade finance, asset finance, real estate finance and sovereign and quasi-sovereign lending transactions. Founding partner Péter Köves and associate Balázs Rokob are also highly recommended.

Siegler Bird & Bird Ügyvédi Iroda's group is led by Konrád Siegler, who has over thirty years of experience acting for Hungarian and international banks, as well as corporate borrowers. He is noted for his involvement in numerous project finance and syndicated lending transactions, predominantly in the energy and real estate sectors. In the capital markets space, Siegler has also been involved in public offerings and private share placements, as well as stock exchange listings of shares and bonds. Special counsel Tamás Simon specialises in acquisition and project finance, refinancing and debt restructuring. Senior associate Gábor Zoltán Szabó is also recommended.

CERHA HEMPEL Dezső & Partners is praised for its team of 'exquisite experts and its broad network in the CEE'. It has recently strengthened its offering in restructuring and refinancing to complement its core practice of advising German and Austrian borrowers and lenders on real estate project financing transactions. Edina Nagy is supported by Andrea Presser, an expert in banking regulatory matters, and counsel Ákos Dérer, on international banking and capital markets transactions.

HBK Partners Attorneys at Law is a Hungarian boutique law firm that focuses on banking and finance, M&A and capital markets. Márton Kovács is highlighted for his specialism in real estate finance (with a niche in hotel and leisure facilities) and capital markets transactions. Other partners include Dusán Lasztity, who focuses on project finance, corporate finance and syndicated lending transactions. Dóra Halápi is active in IPOs and bond issuances.

Jalsovszky has increased its market presence in corporate finance, regulatory matters and capital market transactions. It attracts a steady stream of new instructions from Hungarian venture capital firms, private equity fund managers and foreign financial investors, and it also has a notable portfolio of borrower-led work. Gábor Pázsitka is highly recommended for advice on the acquisition of non-performing loan portfolios, acquisition finance and project finance.

Noerr fields a team of multilingual lawyers, whose experience includes real estate finance, acquisition finance and project finance. It also advises clients on capital markets transactions, derivatives and banking regulatory regimes. On the lender side, the firm acts for regional and local banks, including UniCredit Bank and the Hungarian Development Bank. Borrower-side work is also on the increase. Edina Schweizer and Ákos Bajorfi are the key figures.

Schoenherr Hetényi Ügyvédi Iroda has a strong focus on syndicated loans in the areas of corporate, acquisition and project financings. It also assists with refinancing, debt restructurings and non-performing loan transactions. Lead partner Gergely Szalóki regularly advises borrowers and lenders on regulatory matters in the banking and insurance sectors. In the capital markets space, he also handles bond issue transactions, representing both managers, issuers and investment funds.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law advises banks, financial institutions and corporate borrowers on structuring and executing secured and unsecured financings, single lender and syndicated loans. On the regulatory side, the team has extensive knowledge of Hungarian financial and investment regulations, and is also able to represent clients in related litigation. Katalin Szecskay maintains a busy transactional practice, which covers project finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance and corporate finance. Senior associate Judit Szórádi is another name to note for capital markets and banking and finance transactions.

Wolf Theiss Faludi Erős Ügyvédi Iroda's Budapest office is known for its strengths in restructuring, real estate finance and energy project finance, particularly in the development of photovoltaic power plants. Recently promoted counsel Melinda Pelikán is the primary figure for domestic and cross-border projects, acquisition finance and restructuring. Associate András Mozsolits, who joined from the  European Court of Human Rights, specialises in portfolio transfers and real estate finance.

Deloitte Legal Göndöcz and Partners Law Firm serves as a one-stop-shop to borrowers and lenders for a myriad of financial, commercial and tax advisory services. The firm regularly advises on syndicated lending mandates, with notable depth in project finance, capital markets and restructuring. Attila Kövesdy and Péter Göndöcz are the key names.

At boutique firm Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm, Gábor Damjanovic is the main transactional partner. He works closely with of counsel Ferenc Lénárt. The practice acts for numerous banks and corporate clients on banking and capital markets transactions, and also advises investment funds on licensing and regulatory matters.

HP Legal | Hajdu & Partners impresses with its 'highly qualified team and unbeatable negotiation skills'. Laszlo Hajdu chairs the practice, which is regularly instructed by the largest Hungarian commercial banks, the state of Hungary, and international and Hungarian private and public companies. The group advises both lenders and borrowers on acquisition finance and project finance, among other facilities. Réka Versics is noted for her 'wide experience in drafting finance documents'.

Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda is a prominent boutique practice offering expertise in a range of financial transactions, notably in relation to global and regional syndicated lending facilities. It has a strong profile among international clients, for whom it handles the Hungarian law aspects of cross-border lending facilities and restructurings. Also notable is that the team advises on the finance aspects of corporate transactions and real estate matters. György Kiszely is the key figure for financings and regulatory work. Zoltán Varga is recommended for leasing and work-out transactions, as well as regulatory issues and anti-money laundering matters.

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda is recognised for its banking capabilities in the local and regional market, where it acts for banks and borrowers on the full spectrum of financial and capital markets transactions. The team is noted for its strength in the banking regulatory space and in solar financing and real estate finance Practice head. Péter Horvai-Hillenbrand has over 16 years of experience acting for clients on a range of lending arrangements.

The 'exceptional' Sándor Békési leads Partos & Noblet in co-operation with Hogan Lovells International LLP's banking team, which acts on the full breadth of Hungarian and international financings. He recently advised Laurentian Bank of Canada on the setting up of the client’s new internal structure, including a Uruguayan branch of the Hungarian subsidiary. Associate Gábor Kószó regularly works with Békési to advise borrowers and lenders on complex financing transactions.