Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda > Budapest, Hungary > Firm Profile
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda Offices

KÁLVIN TÉR 12-13
KÁLVIN CENTER, 4th FLOOR
1085 BUDAPEST
Hungary
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda > The Legal 500 Rankings
Hungary > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1
With locations spanning the CEE and SEE regions, the banking and finance team at Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda remains a force in the marketplace, advising insurers and domestic and multinational financial institutions (including Raiffeisen Bank International and BNP Paribas) and corporates across such sectors as energy, transport, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals, on matters ranging from project finance, commercial lending and private equity finance to credit-linked notes, securitisation and takeovers. The practice is led by two experienced partners: Melinda Pelikán, who brings expertise to financing construction and infrastructure projects, and Gergely Szalóki, who, in addition to M&A finance and capital markets matters, provides extensive financial regulatory advice. Another name to note is László Lovas, who regularly assists credit institutions, public and private companies and investment fund managers.Practice head(s):
Melinda Pelikán; Gergely Szalóki
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Gergely Szaloki is an accomplished banking and finance lawyer and our go-to contact for financing transactions with a Hungarian angle. He is easy to work with, pragmatic and knows his stuff.’
Key clients
OTP Bank
Vienna Insurance Group (VIG)
Budapest Airport
Raiffeisen Bank International
BNP Paribas
Work highlights
- Advising the Lenders in connection with a sales transaction in which VINCI Airports and Corvinus (an investment fund fully owned and managed by the Hungarian State) purchased 100% of the shares of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport from a consortium of sellers composed of AviAlliance, Malton and CDPQ.
- Advising BNP Paribas on the sale of their customer loan operations in Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Romania.
- Advising Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) with regard to all legal and regulatory aspects related to the purchase agreement to acquire an additional 35% of Hungarian holding company VIG Magyarország Befektetesi Zrt., from the Hungarian state holding company Corvinus.
Hungary > Projects and energy Tier 1
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda is noted for its niche expertise in energy arbitration and provides integrated advice on complex mandates, often combining renewable energy and project finance expertise. The team supports developers with solar renewable energy investments in Hungary and offers a single point of contact for cross-border transactions across the CEE and SEE regions. Zoltán FaludiPractice head(s):
László Kenyeres
Other key lawyers:
Zoltán Faludi; Norbert Bálint; Ádám Lukonits
Testimonials
‘Very knowledgeable on the energy market and the specific needs we as a foreign company have when operating in Hungary.’
‘Ádám Lukonits was very responsive and understood our intentions very well. He was very good at educating us on the specifics of the Hungarian market. He also anticipated very well the challenges we will face in the upcoming phases.’
Key clients
Budapesti Közművek
EFET (European Federation of Energy Traders)
Uniper
Antenna Hungary
Kyoto Group
Optimum Solar
Greenvolt Power
Mercuria Energy Trading
BorsodChem
Work highlights
- Advising Uniper, a German energy company in connection with the share purchase agreement to sell a gas-fired combined cycle 430 MW power plant located in Gönyű, Hungary to Veolia.
- Advising Kyoto Group on delivering its Heatcube, a thermal energy storage system using molten salt, and concluding a set of agreements to deliver Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS) to KALL Ingredients Kft., while also acting commercially as a balancing asset on the Hungarian grid.
- Advising BorsodChem, a European producer of MDI, TDI and PVC on the development of a new hydrogen, carbon monoxide and steam generating plant, as well as on a new gas power plant development in Hungary.
Hungary > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
With locations spanning the CEE and SEE regions, the commercial, corporate and M&A team at Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda advises insurers, financial institutions and domestic and multinational corporates on day-to-day matters, and in high-value, cross-border transactions. With a client base spanning such sectors as energy, aviation, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, tech, healthcare, media and chemicals, the firm’s full offering covers M&A, restructurings, complex due diligence matters, regulatory compliance and related tax matters. The practice is headed by experienced M&A specialist János Tóth. Other key figures include Péter Ihász and Zoltán Bódog, who bring strength to real estate transactions, and Kinga Kajcsos, who provides key support on joint ventures and private equity transactions.Practice head(s):
János Tóth
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Budapesti Közművek
Vienna Insurance Group (VIG)
Uniper
Vistin Pharma
Budapest Airport
Work highlights
- Advising the lenders’ syndicate on the M&A and corporate aspects of the sale of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport to a consortium of Vinci Airports and Corvinus (an investment fund fully owned and managed by the Hungarian State) from a consortium of sellers composed of AviAlliance, Malton and CDPQ, with a transaction value of EUR 3.1bn.
- Advising Uniper, the German energy company, in connection with the share purchase agreement to sell a gas-fired combined cycle 430 MW power plant located in Gönyű, Hungary to Veolia.
- Advising Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) with regard to all legal and regulatory aspects related to the purchase agreement to acquire an additional 35% of Hungarian holding company VIG Magyarország Befektetesi Zrt., from the Hungarian state holding company Corvinus and increasing its stake from 55% to 90%.
Hungary > Dispute resolution Tier 2
With locations spanning the CEE and SEE regions, the dispute resolution team at Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda brings expertise to representing domestic and multinational corporates involved in litigation, arbitration and mediation. The group's full offering covers matters ranging from commercial disputes and enforcement procedures to tax and labour disputes and challenges to the acts of public administrative bodies. The team's active client roster spans such areas as energy, transport, pharmaceuticals, tech, construction, chemicals and real estate. The team is led by Zoltán FaludiPractice head(s):
Zoltán Faludi
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘High level of understanding the issue, the client’s needs, with the capabilities to propose various solutions.’
‘Expertise, practical approach.’
Key clients
MOL
INA-Industrija nafte
Work highlights
- Representing and advising MOL, a Hungarian energy company and INA, a Croatian energy company, against the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in an ICC arbitration.
Hungary > Employment Tier 2
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda advises on the full spectrum of employment issues, focusing on complex matters like workforce restructuring, redundancies and transfers of undertakings. The team collaborates with tax and corporate experts on benefits packages and greenfield investments, offering expertise in HR documentation, immigration, litigation, GDPR and employment aspects of transactions. Led by Barnabás Buzási, with over a decade of experience, the practice also benefits from Marietta Molnár, skilled in employment law for diverse sectors and labour court representation.Practice head(s):
Barnabás Buzási
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They react promptly and the guidance takes into consideration practical aspects.’
‘The team is well-prepared and knows the business well. Barnabás Buzási provides thorough answers.’
Key clients
IFF
L’Oreal Magyarország Kft.
Work highlights
- Advising IFF, a business in scent, taste and nutrition in respect of setting up its operations in Hungary and operating a financial shared services centre with a global reach.
Hungary > Tax Tier 2
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda offers integrated tax advice by collaborating with experts from corporate, banking and finance, and employment practice groups, ensuring comprehensive solutions for complex mandates. The team provides support across M&A transactions, restructurings and day-to-day tax matters, alongside representing clients in high-value litigation and offering transfer pricing and energy sector-specific advisory services. Led by János Pásztor, a specialist in domestic and international tax planning, the team advises high-net-worth individuals and retail sector players. Bence Kálmán strengthens the practice with expertise in corporate tax, indirect tax and litigation, contributing to tax due diligence in M&A transactions.Practice head(s):
János Pásztor
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘János Pásztor really stands out as a star. He is very intelligent and communicates clearly with clients and peers.’
Key clients
Uniper
BASF
Kyoto Group
Work highlights
- Advising our long-time client BASF, the chemical producer, on day-to-day tax advisory services relating to all kinds of tax matters, including VAT, corporate income tax and personal income tax matters.
- Advising Uniper, on the sale of a gas-fired combined-cycle 430 MW power plant located in Gönyű, Hungary to Veolia.
- Advising Kyoto Group on delivering its Heatcube, a thermal energy storage system using molten salt and concluding a set of agreements to deliver Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS) to KALL Ingredients Kft., while also acting commercially as a balancing asset on the Hungarian grid. The tax leg of the matter included analysing corporate income tax, VAT and local business tax implications of the EPC contract of the project to deliver Kyoto Group’s Heatcube.
Hungary > TMT Tier 2
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda is renowned for its strength in multi-jurisdictional work, particularly cross-border data protection and IT outsourcing projects, advising both multinational corporations and local players. The practice integrates expertise in IP, media law, e-business, data protection, competition, corporate and dispute resolution within the TMT sector. Led by János Tóth, a seasoned transaction lawyer with deep market knowledge, the team advises on development, licensing and IP portfolio matters. Péter Ihász specialises in technology, innovation, IP, data protection and regulatory compliance.Practice head(s):
János Tóth
Other key lawyers:
Norbert Bálint; Barnabás Buzási; Péter Ihász
Key clients
Tricentis
Airbnb
Work highlights
- Advising Tricentis, an Austrian software testing company backed by Insight Partners, on an ongoing basis in connection with their software licensing arrangements.
- Advising Airbnb, in respect of certain regulatory aspects of their operations in Hungary, such as the data privacy aspects of their monitoring of communications on their internal messaging platform.
Hungary > Competition Tier 3
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda advises multinational corporations and local market players across industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, retail and TMT on a wide range of competition matters, including audits, compliance programs, antitrust investigations and private damages claims. The team excels in national and EU competition law, covering state aid, merger control, joint ventures and antitrust issues. Led by János Tóth, a seasoned professional in all areas of competition law, the practice benefits from Lajos Wallacher’s EU-focused expertise and Norbert Bálint’s skill in dawn raid investigations and representation before authorities.Practice head(s):
János Tóth
Other key lawyers:
Lajos Wallacher; Norbert Bálint; Péter Ihász
Key clients
CPI Property Group
Work highlights
Hungary > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda's data protection team, integrated within the employment department, combines expertise in HR-related data protection with strong capabilities in IP/IT and corporate compliance. The international team excels in fully implementing GDPR requirements across multiple jurisdictions. Co-head János Tóth advises on a wide range of data management issues, including outsourcing restrictions, data leaks and cyberattacks, with extensive experience consulting with supervisory authorities. Co-head Barnabás Buzási specialises in data protection compliance, cross-border data transfers and employee monitoring, with significant expertise in handling complex CEE-region projects.Practice head(s):
János Tóth; Barnabás Buzási
Testimonials
‘We have found them to be reliable and efficient, and are happy to use them from time to time.’
Work highlights
- Advising an operator of online marketplace for short- and long-term homestays in respect of certain regulatory aspects of their operations in Hungary, such as the data privacy aspects of their monitoring of communications on their internal messaging platform.
Hungary > Real estate and construction Tier 3
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda offers a comprehensive range of expertise in real estate, covering investment, development, construction, leasing, financing, transactions, taxation, facility management and real estate litigation. The team is known for its strong regulatory knowledge and niche expertise, including solar energy project development. Practice head János Tóth brings extensive transactional and commercial experience across various industries. Zoltán FaludiPractice head(s):
János Tóth
Other key lawyers:
Norbert Bálint; Zoltan Bódog
Key clients
Enlight Renewable Energy
Work highlights
- Advising Enlight, a global renewable energy developer and independent power producer in connection with the acquisition (incl. extensive real estate aspects) of three solar renewable energy investment projects in Hungary, each with an inbuilt capacity of approximately 60 MW.
Wolf Theiss Faludi Ügyvédi Iroda > Firm Profile
The firm: Wolf Theiss opened its first office in Vienna in 1957 and soon established a reputation as one of the region’s leading law firms. The firm has since grown into a multinational team of over 400 lawyers, making it one of the largest integrated law firms in the region. It has offices* in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brussels, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.
This presence on the ground is one of the firm’s key strengths. It works in a fast-moving part of the world that requires deep local knowledge and experience. By combining expertise with a strong international network, the firm is well-placed to handle complex cross-border transactions with a high degree of speed and flexibility.
Apart from its local offices in 13 CEE/SEE countries and a central European hub in Brussels, Wolf Theiss also offers extensive regional experience in other countries in the region, such as Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
*The firm has regulatory frameworks within which it needs to comply. So by ‘presence’, we mean a legal form that is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in that country.
Areas of practice: Wolf Theiss’ full range of services covers financial services, competition and antitrust, corporate/mergers and acquisitions, employment law, energy and infrastructure, intellectual property and information technology, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, real estate and construction, regulatory and procurement, and tax. The firm’s dedicated practice teams provide in-depth specialist knowledge in their respective areas and collaborate closely to provide clients with seamless advice.
Hungary:Launched in 2007, the team at Wolf Theiss Budapest provides client-focused and industry-driven advice to local and international clients in all aspects of commercial law, including corporate/M&A, real estate and environmental law, project development, banking and finance, dispute resolution and litigation, employment and tax – with a particular emphasis on regulated industries such as energy, banking, TMT and life sciences. Wolf Theiss’ Hungarian office – led by Zoltán Faludi – comprises 35+ lawyers (including three partners).
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Financial services | Melinda Pelikán | [email protected] | +36 1 4848822 |
Financial services | Gergely Szalóki | [email protected] | +36 1 4848873 |
Competition/antitrust | János Tóth | [email protected] | +36 1 4848810 |
Corporate/M&A | János Tóth | [email protected] | +36 1 4848810 |
Dispute resolution | Zoltán Faludi | [email protected] | +36 1 4848805 |
Employment | Barnabás Buzási | [email protected] | +36 1 4848832 |
Energy and infrastructure | Zoltán Faludi | [email protected] | +36 1 4848805 |
Energy and infrastructure | László Kenyeres | [email protected] | +36 1 4848807 |
TMT | János Tóth | [email protected] | +36 1 4848810 |
Real estate | János Tóth | [email protected] | +36 1 4848810 |
Regulatory and procurement | László Kenyeres | [email protected] | +36 1 4848807 |
Tax | János Pásztor | [email protected] | +36 1 4848823 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Dr Norbert Bálint | Counsel, Wolf Theiss, specialising in power plant construction projects, domestic and international… | View Profile |
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Dr Zoltán Bódog | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Dr Barnabás Buzási | Counsel, specialising in employment matters, with an in-depth knowledge of the constantly… | View Profile |
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Dr Zoltán Faludi | Partner; specialised in Energy and Natural Resources, Project Finance, Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions,… | View Profile |
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Dr Miriam Fuchs | Senior Associate, with a special focus on Life Sciences & Healthcare. Miriam… | View Profile |
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Dr Péter Ihász | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Dr László Kenyeres | Partner; specialised in Corporate, Energy, Employment Law, Energy, Regulatory & Procurement. László… | View Profile |
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Mr Ádám Lukonits | Senior Associate. | View Profile |
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Dr Marietta Molnár | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Dr János Pásztor | Senior Associate, leading the tax practice at Wolf Theiss Budapest. Janos is… | View Profile |
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Dr Melinda Pelikán | Counsel, co-leading the local Banking & Finance team in Budapest. She assists… | View Profile |
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Dr Gergely Szalóki | Counsel, co-leading the local Banking & Finance team in Budapest. Gergely has… | View Profile |
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Dr János Tóth | Partner; specialised in Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Competition Law, Data Protection, International Trade… | View Profile |
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Dr Lajos Wallacher | Of Counsel | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 400 at this office : 35+Languages
English German HungarianMemberships
American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce International Fiscal Association International Chamber of CommerceOther
Contact : Zoltán Faludi (local managing partner) Other offices : Belgrade Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Bucharest Other offices : Kiev Other offices : Ljubljana Other offices : Prague Other offices : Sarajevo Other offices : Sofia Other offices : Tirana Other offices : Vienna Other offices : Warsaw Other offices : ZagrebDiversity
At Wolf Theiss, we strongly believe that in a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce (both men and women of several generations and from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds) is better able to understand the marketplace it serves, offers better and more unique perspectives and thus, is better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics.
For us, uniting people and overcoming cultural divisiveness is part of our philosophy. By respecting each other, we have created a unique workplace camaraderie that spills over into our daily lives. Wolf Theiss considers itself to be politically liberal, not biased in any direction and imposing no restrictions on its workforce in terms of political view, religion, way of life, race, language and sexual orientation.
Our leadership team is comprised of 35% female partners, one of them within our management board, and 48% of our senior lawyers are women. We strive to stand at the forefront in the region, when it comes to gender diversity. We were one of the first law firms in the region to implement a maternity policy. Innovation initiatives at our firm are driven by female talent. We also encourage our lawyers to spend part of their daily work on firm-wide non-billable initiatives.
Wolf Theiss is proud to have been awarded the Best in Central Europe Award at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2023 and to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012, “Best in Croatia” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 & 2013 and “Best in Romania” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2016, 2015 & 2014.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
At Wolf Theiss we believe that success is a two-way street. Our financial success depends in large part on our doing quality work for our clients, so they come back to us and recommend us to others. But our success also depends on the support of the local communities where we live and work. They provide us with a great deal of input and impulses, including the talented lawyers and assistants who make it possible for us to do what we do. We all think it is essential that we give something back to the community.
One way to show our commitment to the community is by providing legal advice on a pro bono basis to clients who need legal help, but are unable to pay for our services. Our pro bono work is directed at clients whom we consider to be very deserving or who face legal issues that we believe are especially important to our communities or to society as a whole.
Legal Briefings
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