Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys > Budapest, Hungary > Firm Profile

Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys
Mészáros utca 58/A
H-1016 Budapest
Hungary

Hungary > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The team at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys displays strength in providing representation to financial institutions and domestic and multinational corporates in dispute resolution matters before all Hungarian domestic courts (including labour and administrative), in domestic and international arbitration procedures and before the Hungarian Taxation Authority and the Hungarian Competition Authority. The firm's active client roster spans industries ranging from agriculture, pharmaceuticals, real estate and manufacturing. The team is led by seasoned arbitrators László András Kelemen and András Komáromi, who both bring extensive experience in the practice area. Other key names to note include Gergely Gundel-Takács and Eszter Rupnik, who handle complex litigation.

Practice head(s):

László András Kelemen; András Komáromi

Testimonials

‘They are working with a quick turnaround, we always receive professional advice on a quality level; they cover all necessary areas of our business.’

‘We are working with László Kelemen and László Földvári. They are highly business-oriented, their responses and advice assist our day-to-day business and transactional business highly efficiently.’

Key clients

Viterra Hungary Kft.

Axel Niels Hartmann

Kastélypark Klinika Ingatlan Kft.

Sygnus Kereskedelmi Kft.

Sygnus Kikötő Kft.

Brivi-Szer Kft.

Hungary > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

The banking and finance team at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys brings strength to advising commercial and stated-owned banks and non-bank financial institutions and corporates across such sectors as energy, real estate, logistics and construction involved in matters ranging from bilateral and syndicated lending, secured loans and assets-based loans to acquisition and project finance, insolvencies and regulatory compliance. The practice is led by capital markets expert Péter Vincze, who draws on over 20 years of experience in the practice area. Other key figures include Zoltán Módos, who provides expertise in project, syndicated and private equity finance; Levente Kálmán, a specialist in real estate matters; seasoned regulatory advisor Tamás Kárpáthegyi; and Erik Landgraf, who utilises banking in-house experience.

Practice head(s):

Péter Vincze

Testimonials

‘Deep insight into the client’s business. Hands-on approach. Great understanding of local oversight authorities.’

‘Quick turnaround. Fair business judgment.’

‘They are not only highly responsive but also offer creative solutions that have consistently led to successful outcomes. Their attention to detail is second-to-none.’

‘The team consistently demonstrates unparalleled legal expertise paired with exceptional business acumen. Their ability to provide valuable insights into deal structuring and deliver meticulous legal opinions has greatly enhanced the efficiency and success of our financing operations.’

‘Péter Vincze, Zoltán Módos, Levente Kálmán: Particularly noteworthy is their proactive approach and common sense in addressing complex legal and financing issues. They adeptly balance legal rigour with practical business considerations, ensuring that the solutions they propose are not only legally sound but also commercially viable.’

‘The individuals at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys, particularly Zoltán Módos, truly stand out for their deep expertise and client-focused mindset.’

Key clients

Raiffeisen Bank Zrt.

MBH Bank Nyrt.

MBH Jelzálogbank Nyrt. (formerly Takarék Jelzálogbank Nyrt.)

ONEY Magyarország Zrt., ONEY Bank S.A.

Solar Markt group

Vákuum Invest Kft.

Hungary > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

The corporate and M&A team at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys bring expertise to advising a robust client base of insurers, financial institutions and domestic and multinational businesses across such sectors as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, tech, engineering, real estate and healthcare, on high-value, cross-border transactions. The practice’s full offering covers matters ranging from M&A, restructurings and joint ventures to tax law, corporate governance and antitrust matters. The team is led by Laszlo Andras Kelemen, who specialises in M&A and the establishment of Hungarian companies and business centres. Other key figures include Levente Kálmán, who manages large-scale commercial real property acquisitions and developments, and Balázs Dominek, who handles M&A transactions for both vendors and purchasers local and overseas.

Practice head(s):

László András Kelemen

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘We always receive professional advice on a quality level; they cover all necessary areas of our business.’

‘They are highly business-oriented, their responses and advice assist our day-to-day business and transactional business highly efficiently. ’

Key clients

Szekszárd Group

Vákuum Invest

Heat Treatment Group Zrt.

Lightware

CTP Group

PHOENIX HUNGARIA HOLDING Zrt.

TheSpeech Zrt.

Work highlights

  • Provided full-scale corporate and M&A support of setting-up distribution network companies and acquisitions of distributors for Lightware in 40+ countries across the globe.
  • Provided full-scope seller side M&A legal services regarding the sale of TheSpeech, a simultaneous interpretation platform to a global leader company in providing language and artificial intelligence solutions.

Hungary > Competition Tier 3

The competition team at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys is noted for its expertise in merger control and vertical and horizontal restraints, alongside implementing compliance programs for multinational and domestic clients. The practice is particularly active in industries such as commodities, agri-trading, finance, logistics and manufacturing. Team head Laszlo Andras Kelemen excels in merger and antitrust procedures before the Hungarian Competition Authority. Balázs Dominek and Áron Mátyás Somogyi bring strong capabilities in consumer protection, cartel investigations and corporate acquisitions.

Practice head(s):

László András Kelemen

Testimonials

‘They are working with a quick turnaround, we always receive professional advice of high quality and they cover all necessary areas of our business.’

‘They are highly business-oriented, their responses and advice assist our day-to-day business and transactional business highly efficiently.’

‘Strong knowledge of competition law and practical experience with applying it to the company’s activities.’

Key clients

Lightware

Szekszárd Group

Work highlights

  • Advised a domestic financial undertaking in an unfair competition litigation.
  • Advised a domestic financial undertaking in a competition law arbitration case.

Hungary > Projects and energy Tier 3

Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys advises energy traders, multinationals and mid-sized clients on energy-related matters, including acquisitions of holdings in power stations, due diligence, and financing projects. Co-head Péter Vincze specialises in M&A, project financing and renewable energy licensing, particularly solar and biomass projects. Co-head Szilvia Fehérvári offers extensive expertise in energy law, advising electricity and gas traders on day-to-day matters. Co-head Balázs Dominek supports energy plants and traders with licensing, M&A transactions and operational advice.

Practice head(s):

Péter Vincze; Szilvia Fehérvári; Balázs Dominek

Key clients

Viterra Logistics Ltd. (part of VITERRA Group)

Viterra Vegetable Oil Manufacturing Ltd. (part of Viterra-group)

Auster-Solar Kft.

Solarnow Kft.

Solar Markt Kft.

Solar Markt Energy-P Kft.

WINDIREKT Kft.

CORVIN ÁRUHÁZ INGATLANHASZNOSÍTÓ Kft.

Work highlights

Hungary > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys advise on real estate transactions, including asset and share deals, with a focus on the economic objectives of clients, providing structural and tax advice when needed. The firm has experience with special properties, including agricultural lands, logistics facilities and residential units. Co-head Tamás Szabó specialises in large-scale property acquisitions and developments. Domonkos Kiss brings expertise in commercial real estate development and management, while Levente Kálmán focuses on acquisitions, developments and financing of commercial properties.

Practice head(s):

Szabó Tamás; Domonkos Kiss; Levente Kálmán

Other key lawyers:

Áron Mátyás Somogyi; Zsolt Eperjesi

Key clients

CTP Group

Mellow Mood Group

Omega Befektetési Kft. (Balbec Group)

HR Direkt

Viterra Group

PURO Hotels

Hungarian Real Estate Financing Zrt

MNB Ingatlan Zrt

SICK Kft

Work highlights

  • Advised Viterra group (Viterra Vegetable Oil Manufacturing Kft.) regarding the construction and implementation of a vegetable oil refinery.
  • Advising the PURO Hotels group of companies which is developing a 4-star hotel in downtown Budapest.

Hungary > Employment Tier 4

Specialising in sectors like manufacturing, IT and retail, Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys provides tailored advice on employment and global mobility issues, including innovative solutions like job sharing and hybrid work. Led by Szilvia Fehérvári, renowned for GDPR compliance, collective matters and HR aspects of mergers, the practice collaborates closely with multinational HR teams and Hungarian enterprises.

Practice head(s):

Szilvia Fehérvári

Other key lawyers:

Domonkos Kiss; Ilona Boros

Testimonials

‘The team is reliable, highly knowledgeable, fast, supportive, and can look at matters from the client’s perspective.’

‘Szilvia Fehérvári is able to provide complex support and highlights the potential risks and solutions in a wider way. She is fast and proactive and is a great support.’

‘The employment law team are very professional in their responses and are always looking for the best possible solutions.’

‘Szilvia Fehérvári is very professional, came up with very innovative solutions, very supportive in daily employment-related questions and explains everything in a straightforward way.’

Key clients

I don’t think that Dóra Szakács is a part of the team anymore and Eszter Dorrotya Rupnik is only mentioned in two matters so I haven’t included her in the key lawyers but they were both mentioned in last year’s editorial.

Work highlights

Hungary > Data privacy and data protection

Led by Tamás Kárpáthegyi, the data protection team at Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys excels in integrated legal and technical consulting for technology-driven data processing, offering comprehensive services including GDPR compliance, data protection authority representation, privacy drafting, and advice on online sales, electronic contracting, and direct marketing.

The firm: Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys is a full-service law firm in the area of business law which can trace its origins back to partners from the Budapest legal department of a global consulting firm in 1996. Between 1996 and 2006 the firm was the Hungarian member/cooperating partner of various international advisory and law firms. In 2014, another law firm specialized and experienced in the areas of banking and finance, joined the practice. At present, more than 30 lawyers attend to our clients’ needs.

Our firm is collaborating with Andersen Global Network in Hungary as of January 1, 2019 and is a member thereof since January 1, 2020. Andersen Global® is an association of legally separate, independent member firms, comprised of more than 19,000 professionals worldwide, over 2,000 global partners, and a presence in over 500 locations worldwide.

Accordingly, Andersen in Hungary is a tax and law firm based in Budapest, established in 2020 with the combination of Szabo Kelemen & Partners and OrienTax. Andersen in Hungary serves more than 600 clients from various industries, including energy, pharmaceutical, financial and banking, telecom, IT, media and entertainment and is the fifth largest tax and legal practice in Hungary (after the Big Four).

Our impressive client base consists of multinationals, as well as large and medium-sized Hungarian companies. We advise clients in a wide range of industries, and we aim to provide clients with a full range of legal services and up-to-date solutions of the highest professional standard. Our particular strengths include corporate, commercial and MCA work, banking and finance law, litigation, competition law, real estate as well as providing advice in various industry sectors. The number of practice group members exceeds ten.

Area of recent growth: agri-business and real estate-driven M&A activities. Following the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), our firm has established a working group within its corporate practice group to assist Hungarian subsidiaries of well-known international companies during the preparation for the application of the regulation. 

Main areas of practice

  • Antitrust/competition law
  • Banking and finance
  • Capital markets
  • Corporate and commercial
  • Dispute resolution
  • Employment and compensation
  • Intellectual property
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Projects
  • Real estate

Work highlights per practice area
Antitrust/competition:

  • Advising and representing a leading international aluminium casting company before the HCA in the merger clearance of its acquisition of a regional aluminium extrusion plant.
  • Advising and representing an international insurance company before the HCA in a merger clearance for an international insurance portfolio acquisition.
  • Advising and representing a leading book retail company before the HCA in the merger clearance of the acquisition of a large domestic publishing house. 

Banking and finance:

  • Drafting financing documentation for a major Hungarian TV channel group restructuring as to its financing
  • Drafting financing documents for a Hungarian Investment Fund with over EUR1bn of managed assets
  • Drafting several project finance loan documentations for financing renewable energy projects 

Corporate restructuring and insolvency:

  • Advising the Hungarian Reorganisation Asset Management Plc in connection with the restructuring of loan transactions with 20,000 retail and 4,000 corporate customers.
  • Providing advice in connection with the takeover of bank distressed asset portfolios.
  • Representing the client as creditor in a liquidation procedure of a Hungarian heating plant.
  • Representing various entities of a property group re: bankruptcy proceedings. 

Dispute resolution and litigation:

  • Regular representation of clients before GAFTA, FOSFA, ICC ICA and domestic arbitration courts
  • Advising and representing a global commodities trader’s Hungarian affiliate before GAFTA and the HCC Arbitration Court re: a damage claim
  • Plaintiff-and defendant side litigation in commercial and labor law disputes 

Employment:

  • Reviewing all the client’s employment contracts and policies, drafting new contract samples, including special managerial employment contracts
  • Representing the client in a labour law litigation concerning the lawfulness of the work schedule and successfully proving that the client is in compliance with the relevant legal requirements
  • Providing legal support regarding e.g. individual labour law litigations with employees and with the Labour Supervision Authority, handling the trade union’s demands, etc. 

IT and telecommunications:

  • Advising a company that specializes in IT security software. Creating commercial agreements, registering intellectual property, and carrying out daily advisory work.
  • Supporting the client in large-scale IT projects, including system development and implementation. 

Restructuring and insolvency corporate and mergers and acquisitions:

  • Advising a Hungarian financial institution on a merger with other financial institutions, creating thereby the second largest Hungarian financial institution
  • Seller-side and buyer-side representation regarding the sale and purchase of private health institutions
  • Reorganisation of 12 Hungarian corporations belonging to the same group of companies (oil industry) via mergers, dissolutions and share transfer transactions
  • General corporate work for a number of multinationals and their Hungarian subsidiaries

Real estate and commercial property:

  • Advising the client on large-scale greenfield investments involving the construction of a logistics facility, and also re: renting and operation of existing logistics facilities
  • Transactional advice in connection with the sale of a share in a joint venture holding a real estate project (residential building with approximately 900 flats)
  • Providing legal advice, conducting negotiations and contract conclusion in connection with the purchase of a downtown real property having a heritage listing
  • Providing legal support to the client in the course of its office construction project
  • Advising the client during the development of an industrial property, including purchasing, financing and drafting agreements related to development

Areas of recent growth:
Data protection

Agribusiness: Buyer-side representation in the sale and purchase of more than 80% of an agribusiness company, as well as sector-specific due diligence.

Number of lawyers: 32
Languages: English, German, French, Hungarian

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior Partner Dr. Tamás Szabó [email protected] +36 1 288 8200
Managing Partner Dr. László András Kelemen [email protected] +36 1 288 8200
Managing Partner Dr. Domonkos Kiss [email protected] +36 1 288 8200
Managing Partner Dr. Péter Vincze [email protected] +36 1 288 8200
Managing Partner Dr Balázs Dominek [email protected] +36 1 288 8200
Photo Name Position Profile
Éva Balsay photo Dr Éva Balsay Partner
Ilona Boros photo Dr Ilona Boros Partner
Balázs Dominek photo Dr Balázs Dominek Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Zsolt Eperjesi photo Dr Zsolt Eperjesi Partner
László Földvári photo Dr László Földvári Attorney-at-Law
Gergely Gundel-Takács photo Dr Gergely Gundel-Takács Partner
Levente Kálmán photo Dr Levente Kálmán Partner
Laszlo Andras Kelemen photo Dr Laszlo Andras Kelemen Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Laszlo Andras Kelemen photo Dr Laszlo Andras Kelemen Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Domonkos Kiss photo Dr Domonkos Kiss Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Andras Komaromi photo Dr Andras Komaromi Partner
Erik Landgraf photo Dr Erik Landgraf Attorney-at-Law
Eszter Rupnik photo Dr Eszter Rupnik Partner
Áron Mátyás Somogyi photo Dr Áron Mátyás Somogyi Partner
Judit Sütő photo Dr Judit Sütő Partner
Tamás Szabó photo Dr Tamás Szabó Senior Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Dorottya Rebeka Tarba photo Dr Dorottya Rebeka Tarba Attorney-at-Law
Péter Vincze photo Dr Péter Vincze Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law
English
English (fluent)
German
French
Hungarian
Spanish
Budapest Bar Association

CLIENT: Viterra
COMPANY/FIRM: Viterra Hungary Llc., Viterra Logistics Llc., Viterra Vegetable Oil Manufacturing Llc.
TESTIMONIAL: Their main strength lies in having an excellent team of professionals who are always very quick to respond. Because they have very specific and in-depth knowledge of the industry, their advices are always relevant and extremely useful. In addition, they provide very good value for our money. We work closely with László A. Kelemen, who, as the practice’s leader, has been assisting our company with corporate matters and M&A transactions for the past 20 years. His preparedness, as well as his creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial abilities, continue to amaze and impress us to this day. András Komáromi, a lawyer specializing in commercial dispute resolution, is our other contact person at the law firm’s dispute resolution team. He’s also been a huge help to us in the course of large-scale cross-border matters. We’d also like to recognize Eszter Rupnik, the attorney who manages the client desk at our headquarters; her professional management of the daily work-flow has left us very impressed. Finally, we’d like to highlight Gergely Gundel-Takács, who assists us in a variety of fields and whose client-first attitude we greatly appreciate.


CLIENT: Calzedonia
COMPANY/FIRM: Calzedonia Hungary Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: A highly qualified team capable of responding quickly and offering advice in a variety of fields. As to corporate and commercial law matters, we collaborate closely with László Kelemen and Éva Balsay. Their expertise, professionalism, and strategic thinking continue to fascinate us to this day. We work with Szilvia Fehérvári on employment law matters, that she handles with the utmost class and care. Her professionalism and attention to detail are unceasing. We’d also like to call attention to Tamás Kárpáthegyi, who guides us through the complexities of data protection laws; he led a thorough review of our data security practices with remarkable speed and accuracy. Furthermore, the team assists us in developing areas of law, such as social media law. Gergely Gundel-Takács provided us with outstanding legal advice and dispute resolution assistance in this area.


CLIENT: Transocean group
TESTIMONIAL:To support and maintain a complex company structure, Andersen Legal has been providing continuous corporate legal advice to us that is always sophisticated, high quality, sustainable and reliable. Our main contact, Gábor Hugai understands business needs and has expert level knowledge as to corporate matters.


CLIENT: SEGRO
TESTIMONIAL: The firm has provided us good services in the fields of real estate and corporate law for many years. They helped us a great deal to achieve our corporate goals in Hungary.


CLIENT: Interag Holding Zrt.
TESTIMONIAL: We work with them regarding our group’s important corporate and real estate law matters for about 30 years. Their length of service for us shows the level of our satisfaction.


CLIENT: Solar Markt
TESTIMONIAL: The Andersen Legal team has extensive industry knowledge as to changing renewable energy market regulations, which is in high demand due to the rapid growth in sustainable and green energy consumption. In this regard, Andersen Legal considers as a strategic partner to us, i.e., a B2B service provider that assists in the conclusion of long-term framework partnership agreements with prominent Hungarian and multinational clients. Péter Vincze, our attorney, has extensive knowledge and expertise in this area.


CLIENT: Takarékbank Zrt.
TESTIMONIAL: Andersen Legal provides us with high-quality legal advice, with a focus on structured financing and capital markets transactions, particularly bond issuance, for example, green bonds. In addition to more than ten bond issuances last year, the team provided excellent legal advice on the bank holding group’s restructuring. We’d like to call attention to Péter Vincze and Zoltán Módos, who we found to be extremely knowledgeable about the topics at hand.


CLIENT: Indotek Zrt.
TESTIMONIAL: Andersen Legal has given us excellent service. They provide timely and effective advice on a wide range of complex legal issues pertaining to our operations. In particular, they have extensive experience in the real estate market. We’ve worked on a variety of projects with them, including hotel management contract preparation, health center construction and redevelopment, as well as logistics park development. We primarily work with Péter Vincze and László Kelemen, and we are very pleased with the quality of their services as well as their attentiveness and responsiveness.


“Working with Szabo, Kelemen and Partners Andersen Attorneys has been a game-changer for our business. They are not only highly responsive but also offer creative solutions that have consistently led to successful outcomes. Their attention to detail is second to none.”

Péter Dancs, MBH Bank