CMS is regularly engaged in complex disputes across the financial services, pharmaceutical, construction, telecoms, aviation, retail, media and technology sectors. The team is representing Raiffeisen Bank Hungary and Sopron Bank Burgenland Hungary in two separate high-value disputes against Hungary before the European Court of Human Rights. Global head of dispute resolution Zsolt Okányi leads the team, which includes senior associates Péter Bibók and Péter Szilas, and associates Gergely László, József Kohl and Szandra Wolf. The team saw the arrival of senior associate Petra Pataki who joined from Hegymegi-Barakonyi and Partner Baker & McKenzie Attorneys-at-Law in September 2019.

Lakatos, Köves and Partners is regularly instructed on international arbitration and commercial litigation cases and Péter Köves, who heads the team with managing partner Péter Lakatos, is representing a group of investors in a dispute regarding the termination of a leisure investment project. Köves also represented Bayerische Landesbank in an €11m case brought by the Elephant Group. Associate Balázs Fazakas is also a key member of the team.

Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda is regularly instructed on litigation and arbitration cases and the team represents the Hungarian Government in several high-profile matters. It also acts for OTP Bank in a number of cases, and acts for clients such as FGSZ Natural Gas Transmission, Gateway Office Park and the Hungarian State. Péter Nagy heads the team. György Kiszely and Orsolya Kovács, who handles tax litigation, are also noted.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law is praised for its ‘client-oriented approach’. The team regularly handles commercial litigation and arbitration cases, and has  experience across IP, competition and public procurement disputes. Managing partner András Szecskay heads the team, which includes senior associates Miklós Boronkay, who ‘thinks outside the box and always comes up with creative arguments’, and György Wellmann. András Dániel László left the firm to establish LFB – László Fekete Bagaméry  in 2018.

Dentons’ ‘professional’ team handles commercial litigation and international arbitration matters. The team represented Engie (formerly GDF Suez) in an ICSID arbitration and is acting for GDF Suez Energia Holding Hungary in several cases brought by Hungarian gas trading companies. Counsel Márk Baja heads the team and is ably supported by managing partner István Réczicza. Milán Kohlrusz joined Bittera Kohlrusz & Tóth in 2018.

DLA Piper Hungary is regularly engaged in cross-border litigation and is representing a number of international online betting service providers in numerous cases against the Hungarian Gambling Authority. Commercial and investment treaty arbitration cases are also a key area of expertise for the team. Litigation and regulatory head András Nemescsói, counsel Viktor Radics, who heads the disputes team, counsel David Kőhegyi, who is head of compliance and investigations, and counsel Zoltán Fabók are the key contacts.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm regularly handles complex cross-border litigation and arbitration cases. It successfully represented Eurovegas Group in a €4.2m arbitration brought under ICC rules by the Hungarian state. Gábor Damjanovic, who heads the team, and Zoltán Forgó are the key contacts.

Hegymegi-Barakonyi and Partner Baker & McKenzie Attorneys-at-Law is acting for a US fast food restaurant franchise network in the enforcement of an arbitral award as well as handling trade mark infringement matters. The group also represented a Hungarian trading company in a public procurement dispute. József Antal and Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi head the team.

Headline work for Siegler Bird & Bird Ügyvédi Iroda includes representing the Hungarian government in an ICSID arbitration based on the Portugal-Hungary bilateral investment treaty. Counsel László Nanyista heads the team, which includes the ‘brilliant’ Konrád Siegler, recently promoted partner Bálint Halász, who specialises in IP disputes, and associate Viktor Kodela.

VJT & Partners regularly represents clients in proceedings before the Data Protection Authority, the Hungarian Competition Office and the Consumer Protection Authority. Employment and insurance disputes are key areas of expertise. Zoltán Csernus heads the team.

Wolf Theiss Faludi Erős Ügyvédi Iroda regularly handles disputes across the energy, financial services, manufacturing, real estate, telecoms, insurance and construction sectors. Managing partner Zoltán Faludi heads the team, which includes associate Enikő Lukács.  Artúr Tamási recently joined from Wilkinson European Community Jurist Office/Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP. Gábor Bárdosi left the firm.

Cerha Hempel is praised for its ‘straight and efficient communication’. The team frequently handles construction and project procurement disputes and is representing Swietelsky Magyarország, the Hungarian holding subsidiary of Swietelsky, in a number of disputes. Bankruptcy cases are also a key area of expertise. Ilona Rónay-Csordás and Attila Marjai head the team.

Partos & Noblet in co-operation with Hogan Lovells International LLP’s 'well organised' team is active in litigation as well as arbitration cases and is representing Edenred in the Hungarian aspects of its investment arbitration proceedings initiated against Hungary before ICSID. Sándor Békési ‘thinks strategically and has excellent analytical skills’ and managing partner László Partos heads the team.

Réti, Várszegi and Partners PwC Legal has been engaged in high-profile disputes across the transport, financial services, education, agriculture, tax and manufacturing sectors. László Réti heads the department.

Szabo Kelemen & Partners Attorneys is active across litigation and arbitration proceedings for Hungarian and international clients. It is representing a number of slot machine operators in a damages case against the Hungarian state. László Kelemen heads the team.

Andrékó Kinstellar regularly handles Hungarian and CEE litigation and is also active in arbitration cases. Competition expert Péter Vörös heads the team, which includes Kristóf Ferenczi, who is experienced in energy arbitration, and Ákos Nagy, who handles a range of employment litigation, as well as industrial, fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceutical sector disputes.

Kapolyi Law Firm's team has ‘an open-minded and innovative’ approach and is praised for its ‘smooth and effective communication’. It is representing Random Capital in several disputes. Managing partner József Kapolyi and Bálint Bajkó, who has ‘deep knowledge’, lead the team.

KCG Partners Law Firm is particularly noted for its experience in employment litigation, and it is also active across contract, banking, real estate, trade mark and insolvency disputes. It is defending SNCF in proceedings initiated by the Hungarian State Railway Company concerning a railway accident. Rita Párkányi and Levente Csengery head the team.

Schoenherr Hetényi Ügyvédi Iroda handles a range of energy, competition, employment and consumer protection disputes, often with a cross-border element. It is also adept at handling judicial review proceedings. Managing partner Kinga Hetenyi heads the team.