Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda > Budapest, Hungary > Firm Profile

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda
KÁROLYI U 12
1053 BUDAPEST
Hungary

Hungary > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda has a traditional focus on corporate and M&A mandates connected with the energy, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, media and IT sectors. It also acts for domestic private equity and venture capital investors targeting investments in the tech sector. The department is led by József Bulcsú Fenyvesi, who advises on high-value M&A, carve-outs and restructurings of Hungarian subsidiaries of multinational corporates. Mihály BarczaAttila Terényi and counsel Gábor Kordoványi are other key practitioners in the group, which acts for clients such as Allianz, OTP Bank and Lufthansa.

Practice head(s):

József Bulcsú Fenyvesi

Other key lawyers:

Mihály Barcza; Attila Terényi; Gábor Kordovány

Testimonials

‘The practice has a unique combination of the service level of a large international firm and the low price of local providers.’

‘Key qualities of the team are responsiveness, client focus, quality of advice and good understanding of business issues. Price-quality ratio is also good, considering the level of the service.’

Key clients

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Allianz

Uniqa

Generali

OTP Bank

Portfolion Venture Capital

Budapest Electricity Works

Continental

Vitesco Technologies

Lufthansa Technik

Strabag

MOL Plc

Work highlights

  • In cooperation with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, the firm advised global construction materials manufacturer Etex on the disposal of its roofing business to Terreal.
  • Advising MOL and Pannon University on the establishment of a joint venture in respect of the establishment and operation of a Science Park in the Hungarian city of Nagykanizsa.
  • Advising Portfolion Venture Capital on its co-investment with Creandum in SEON, a fraud prevention company.

Hungary > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda fields a ‘strong cross-border litigation team’ made up up of ‘enormously smart litigators with academic knowledge of all procedural avenues and a very practical, client-friendly approach.’ Core areas of activity include construction, financial services, insurance, transportation, real estate, bankruptcy and and enforcement of claims. Practice head Tamás Éless remains one of the best litigators in the market‘ and is supported by senior associate Zsolt Farkas, who is recommended for civil law liability, real estate and bankruptcy and liquidation matters.

Practice head(s):

Tamás Éless

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Strong cross-border litigation team’

‘They stand out with the quality of their legal work, in my opinion they are the best dispute resolution desk on the market.’

‘They are able to offer competitive fees, they are easily approachable, have a good understanding of the industry that we are involved in (construction).’

‘Enormously smart litigators with academic knowledge of all procedural avenues and very practical, client-friendly approach.’

‘Tamás Éless leads the practice and remains one of the best litigators in the market. By now, Zsolt Farkas handles complex matters on his own and will have a bright future.’

‘Zsolt Farkas is a highly motivated and experienced litigation lawyer. He listens to the requests of the client but he sticks to his own opinion if he is convinced that he is right and is able to explain and defend his position in a very understandable manner.’

Key clients

Strabag

UPS

Teva Pharmaceuticals

Agro Chemie

TÜV

OHL zs

Metrowagonmash

Facebook

HELL energy (Drinks)

Work highlights

  • Defence counsel for UPS on various claims arising out of warehouse fire,  including damages claims, authority investigations, and environmental, insurance.
  • Acting for Teva Pharmaceuticals in a professional liability matter against KPMG in connection with erroneous VAT reclaim.
  • Representing plaintiff, BKV, the Budapest public transport in bringing a series of claims against MWM for allegedly late performance and erroneous repair works of the metro-trains.

Hungary > Intellectual property Tier 1

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda‘s ‘perfect team‘ is made up of ‘highly skilled professionals’, who are experienced in acting for domestic and international brands (particularly in the healthcare and food and beverage sectors) on all areas of IP.  Key strengths include trade mark litigation, trade mark applications and brand acquisitions. The group also has expertise in the niche and technical areas of software asset management, development and exploitation matters. Ivan Bartal has ‘great business acumen and always provides practical assistance’ in data protection, copyright, IT and advice on M&A-related matters. Aron Laszlo is in charge of portfolio management and IP litigation, while Barnabas Mezo focuses on prosecutions before EU Courts and Hungarian IPO, as well as on trademark litigation and domain name disputes.

Practice head(s):

Ivan Bartal; Aron Laszlo

Other key lawyers:

Barnabas Mezo

Testimonials

‘Perfect team. They are always available when we need them in case of any kind of matter. Everyone in their team is doing a perfect service (communication, response, speed, attitude and is a highly skilled professional.’

‘Prudent and friendly legal office with strong M&A and technological (software) related IPR know-how.’

‘Ivan Bartal is a great person, has great business acumen and always provides practical assistance and advice. We appreciate his open-minded approach and rare capacity (of an attorney) to understand and overview complex technological matters and process flows.’

‘They are always quick and efficient and know our business (we are a creative agency with its specific set of problems) which other firms we worked did not know as well. This reduces turnarounds as their lawyers have ample experience with problems facing agencies like us.’

‘Most of the work we did was with Ivan Bartal. We have known him for a long time and he has always provided high-quality service. Knowing the jargon for the usual contracts and copyright matters is really helpful when dealing with foreign clients.’

Key clients

Wizz Air

Hell Energy

Chinoin / Sanofi

Vodafone Shared Services

Masterplast

TV2 Media

Scania

Organica Technologies

Ferrero

Unix Auto

Tesco Global

Bonafarm-Babolna

Work highlights

  • Successfully acted for Hell Energy Magyarorszag in overturning EUIPO’s negative decisions before the General Court of the European Union resulting in trademark protection for the sign HELL for coffee-related products.
  • Represented Wizz Air Hungary in a name dispute in which the court found likelihood of confusion between WIZZ and BUZZ, and ordered interim injunction against Ryanair subsidiary Ryanair Sun, who were planning to change name to BUZZ Air.
  • Acted for Organica Technologies in successfully blocking an ex-employee and his new firm to use Organica’s achievements as their own for professional reference purposes.

Hungary > Competition Tier 2

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda is known for its experience representing clients in judicial reviews and follow-on damages claims. Other core areas of activity include abuses of dominance, merger control and state aid matters. Clients hail from the retail, telecoms, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors.

Key clients

OTP Bank

szallas.hu

Telenor

Borsodi Sörgyár

Wizz Air

be2

Siemens

Hell Energy

4iG

Pannonwork

Work highlights

  • Representing Telenor, Hungary’s second largest mobile telecommunications company in a very high profile consumer protection case before the Hungarian Competition Authority and courts, as a result of which, the court annulled the fine imposed.
  • Advising Pannonwork, the major Hungarian HR services company in one of the largest antitrust investigations in recent years into the HR services market by the Hungarian Competition Authority.
  • Advising OTP Bank’s investment banking arm in the merger control aspects of an acquisition of a major agricultural conglomerate: the Hungarian Competition Authority cleared the transaction with information exchange related commitments.

Hungary > Employment Tier 2

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda is active in transactional employment work and in the handling of collective labour issues, particularly for banking, construction, retail and telecoms sector clients. Managing partner Zsolt Cselédi provides ‘timely and high-value legal advice’; his clients include CIB Bank, UniCredit Bank, Continental Automotive and Vodafone.

Practice head(s):

Zsolt Cseledi

Testimonials

‘Oppenheim’s employment practice is well recognized on the market, they provide exceptionally high value for money legal advice. They always take our company’s specialities into consideration and provide tailor-made legal advice.’

‘Zsolt Cselédi, partner of the employment practice, has always been available and supported us with timely and high-value legal advice no matter what kind of employment-related issue we had.’

‘They have a great practice and solution-oriented skills. They are very flexible, always available and the communication skills always solve even impossible problems in all circumstances.’

Key clients

Vodafone Hungary Telecommunications

Continental Automotive Group

UniCredit Bank Hungary

CIB Bank Hungary

British American Tobacco

HELL Energy Beverages Group

Lufthansa Technik

Work highlights

  • Advised Vodafone on the acquisition of one of the most important cable television company in Europe assisting the acquiring telco company to merge and align their staff and working organisations.
  • Assisting Continental Group in a major collective labour matter in Hungary, namely the conclusion of the new collective bargaining agreement at the ContiTech leg of the group. The negotiations are still in progress and involve four trade unions.
  • Since 2021 the firm has been engaged, inter alia, in the redesign of Vodafone’s operations from an employment point of view with respect to the post-pandemic needs and opportunities. The company employs more than 3.000 employees in Hungary, all of them have been transferred to a hybrid engagement model.

Hungary > Real estate and construction Tier 2

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda generates mandates from clients such as property developers, lenders, private equity funds, REITs, operators and private owners. It particularly excels in acquisitions, financing and commercial leasing. In addition, other drivers of work include matters concerning planning and zoning, property development and construction. Márk Pintér is only the second Hungarian lawyer to be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Associate János Fodor has expertise in office and retail leases.

Practice head(s):

Márk Pintér

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Oppenheim has a young, small but very dynamic and flexible real estate team of professionals, who provide accurate, hands-on and business practical oriented advice.’

‘Mark Pinter is a seasoned senior lawyer with two decades of experience in real estate. He is a strong negotiator and always has the business interest of his client in mind.’

‘Oppenheim’s real estate team has earned its well-deserved name in the Hungarian real estate market. They are business-minded, which makes them easy to work with. They have significant experience in leasing and transactions. Their availability is outstanding, even under huge pressure.’

‘Márk Pintér – significant real estate experience, business-minded and flexible business partner.’

‘I worked with Márk Pintér and János Fodor. They are both responsive, creative and flexible. Whatever difficulty comes up, each of them is ready to offer a pragmatic solution.’

Key clients

Skanska

IMMOFINANZ

Beghelli Group

Lone Star Funds / Hudson Advisors

AEW Europe

TRIUVA / Patrizia

WING

CODIC

ZFP Investments

IAD Investments

Polat Group

Corporacion Masaveu S.A.

FORESPO

Work highlights

  • Advising KHH Property Investors on the Hold 16 Hotel Development Project.
  • Advising Corporacion Masaveu S.A. on the sale of Iberostar Grand Hotel Budapest.
  • Advising the Polat Group on residential development project of approx. 200 apartments called “Duna Pearl”.

Hungary > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

Hungary > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda has a strong background in data compliance, privacy regulations and litigation. Experienced IT lawyer Ivan Bartal in instructed by a broad cross-section of international clients, such as Ferrero, Skanska and Neckermann (Thomas Cook) on GDPR compliance and matters concerning Hungarian data protection laws.

Practice head(s):

Ivan Bartal

Testimonials

‘Perfect and professional support, they solve all complex cross-country matters regarding EU and non-EU issues. We are very pleased with the support and the quality of the service. The business understanding and solutions are always customer solution-oriented. Legal challenges are always managed in a proper way.’

‘I am working with the team almost daily, led by Ivan Bartal, who is not only professional lawyer but also a great team player.’

Key clients

Scania

Ferrero

Skanska

LKH Leoni

Blaguss

HELL Energy

Vodafone Shared Services

Bank Gutmann

Volvo

INDITEX SA

4ig

Mediszintech Audiológia Kft.

Tarsago Magyarország (formerly Reader’s Digest)

Hungary > Projects and energy Tier 3

Gergely Légrádi leads the projects practice at Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda, which continues to be a leading adviser to German-speaking developers and greenfield investors. It also generates work from foreign entities operating in the Hungarian energy and natural resources, automotive, and transportation and logistics industries. Légrádi is known for his courtroom skills as a litigator, and is also increasingly active on regulatory mandates and PPP projects. Senior counsel Petra Tasi focuses on electricity and gas and has ‘a good understanding of how the market works’. Senior associate Dávid Hanis assists with environmental matters, mining law and renewable energy mandates.

Practice head(s):

Gergely Légrádi

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The team works efficiently and understands very well what the business needs, also very reliable and easy to work with.’

‘In the past, we have been mainly advised by Ms. Petra Tasi, who is very knowledgeable, approachable and has a good understanding of how the market works.’

‘Great availability, flexible colleagues, short delivery times.’

‘Our contact person is Gergely Légrádi. The understanding of the task and the identification with the client’s point of view is excellent. The relationship is good.’

Key clients

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Adria Port Zrt.

Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority

AUDI AG

ISH Food Group

E.ON

OMV Gas Marketing and Trading GmbH

RWE Supply and Trading GmbH

Porsche Hungária

TIGÁZ Zrt.

AXPO AG

H Derma

Bio-Tech Distributions Kft.

Work highlights

  • Advising Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Adria Port Zrt. regarding all of its operations within in Hungary and in Trieste (Italy) with respect to the acquisition of the territory and concession of the port in Trieste (Italy).
  • Continuing to advise AUDI AG and its Hungarian subsidiary on legal matters relating to self-driving vehicles and new initiatives regarding innovative telecommunication methods in cars and other regulatory matters.
  • Contining to support RWE Supply and Trading GmbH on its energy trading activities in Hungary, including but limited to projects in the field of gas sublet, virtual gas storage, cross-border trade as well as tendering and bidding processes.

The firm: With its numerous international connections, Oppenheim has long played a leading role in the area’s legal market. Since Hungary’s political transition Oppenheim has focused on domestic and international commercial law. The firm first became affiliated with Vienna-based Austrian law firm Heller Löber Bahn in 1989. In testament to the reliability and high quality of its legal services together with the expertise of its legal team, leading German law firm Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber partnered with Oppenheim in 1989. This partnership facilitated the increased provision of multi-jurisdictional legal support to clients at a time of rapid globalisation in the legal services market. Many Oppenheim lawyers with the firm today have been with it since this time, or were then at the outset of their careers and have attained their professional knowledge within the firm. The subsequent merger between the law firms Freshfields, Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund, and Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber in 2000, under the name Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, was an important milestone for Oppenheim, both professionally and culturally.

Being a member of an extensive multi-jurisdictional network required Oppenheim to meet exacting international standards. It was then, and is now, a basic tenet for Oppenheim that all lawyers working at the firm should acquire a broad depth of international experience and qualifications while also expanding the firm’s presence in foreign markets. The theoretical and practical knowledge gained by its lawyers in the international arena over the years has radically enhanced the skills and experience of the firm’s outstanding team of professionals.

A sharp focus on professionalism coupled with a depth of social responsibility bonds the firm’s team of lawyers together and strengthens internal cohesion. The team consists of many outstanding individuals from diverse backgrounds who work harmoniously and effectively together, and share the same values and principles.

By the end of 2005, the shortcomings of the business models employed by large international law firms were becoming apparent and a need for increased flexibility and a new form of business organisation through which to provide sustainable high-quality legal services in the domestic market was emerging. After a year’s preparation, a newly independent commercial law firm was launched on 1 November 2007, under the original Oppenheim name and retaining all lawyers.

Since 2007, the firm has grown in leaps and bounds and as well as setting up shop in Vienna Oppenheim is currently the second biggest firm on the Hungarian market both in terms of the number of fee-earners as well as revenues. Oppenheim has also racked up an impressive amount of awards and other accolades in the process, recently chosen ‘National Law Firm of the Year’ in Hungary by Chambers and Partners, regularly ranked among the best in all important areas of commercial law by The Legal 500, and with most of the firm’s partners being recognised as leading in their areas on the Hungarian legal market. The firm has also strengthened its international ties and is currently the exclusive Hungarian member of leading international networks First Law International and Lexwork.

Areas of practice: Oppenheim currently consists of 40 plus lawyers and legal experts who provide advice on all areas of Hungarian and Austrian business law including general corporate affairs, mergers and acquisitions, finance, competition law, antitrust law, real estate law, public procurement law, environmental, planning and regulatory law, and IP/IT, and has a renowned contentious practice with experience in matters before state courts and national and international arbitration courts.

The attorneys of Oppenheim provide their legal expertise through a combination of specialised practice groups and sector experience including corporate (labour law, real estate projects and IP/IT), dispute resolution (also arbitration and contentious IP), finance, antitrust, competition and trade (including competition and consumer protection related litigation), public procurement, regulatory and energy, and real estate practice groups, and sectors such as capital markets, banking, construction, energy, utilities, automotive, healthcare, media, IP/IT and the services industry.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Banking and finance Peter Horvai
Capital markets Mihaly Barcza
Construction Zoltan Mucsanyi
Corporate/M&A Jozsef Fenyvesi
Dispute resolution Tamás Éless
Energy and natural resources Gergely Légrádi
Environment Ulrike Rein
IP/IT, data protection Ivan Bartal
Trade marks and designs Aron Laszlo
Labour and employee benefits Zsolt Cseledi
Life sciences Ulrike Rein
Projects and project finance Zoltan Mucsanyi
Real estate Mark Pinter
Restructuring and insolvency Tibor Kiss
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Mihály Barcza photoDr Mihály BarczaPartner; Attorney-at-law
Ivan Bartal photoDr Ivan BartalPartner; Attorney-at-law
Zsolt Cselédi photoDr Zsolt CselédiPartner; Attorney-at-law
Tamás Éless photoDr Tamás ÉlessPartner; Attorney-at-law
Gábor Fejes photoDr Gábor FejesPartner; Attorney-at-law
József Bulcsú Fenyvesi photoDr József Bulcsú FenyvesiPartner; Attorney-at-law
Péter Horvai-Hillenbrand photoDr Péter Horvai-HillenbrandPartner; Attorney-at-law
Tibor Kiss M. photoDr Tibor Kiss M.Partner; Attorney-at-law
Aron Laszlo photoDr Aron LaszloPartner; Attorney-at-law
Gergely Légrádi photoDr Gergely LégrádiPartner; Attorney-at-law
Zoltán Mucsányi photoDr Zoltán MucsányiPartner; Attorney-at-law
Klára Oppenheim photoDr Klára OppenheimPartner; Attorney-at-law
Márk Pintér photoDr Márk PintérPartner; Attorney-at-law
Ulrike Rein photoDr Ulrike ReinPartner; Attorney-at-law
Attila Terényi photoDr Attila TerényiPartner; Attorney-at-law
Number of lawyers : 53
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Other office : Vienna