Lakatos, Köves and Partners

Firm overview: Lakatos, Köves and Partners is Hungary's leading independent law firm of 12 partners and more than 50 fee-earners dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to local and global clients. We are recognized as a top firm in guiding international investors through the complexities of Hungary's and the European Union's economic landscapes. With over 30 years in the market, we combine a rich tradition of legal excellence with innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Our firm was formerly the Clifford Chance office in Hungary until 2009. Our attorneys deliver high-level legal insight and practical, commercially oriented solutions, supported by strong international networks such as Lex Mundi, International Bar Association, Budapest Bar, Multilaw, Interlaw, Loan Market Association, INSOL and HVCA. We offer a diverse range of practice areas (described below) that work seamlessly together to provide comprehensive and integrated legal support across all aspects of our clients’ business needs.

Practice areas:

Corporate/M&A: We have a long history of involvement in the most significant and interesting M&A transactions in Hungary from the time of privatisations, by way of auction sale or IPO, through the development of the broader M&A market, the entry of large private equity players into the Hungarian market and, more recently, many restructurings, exits from the market by some of the earlier investors, and continuing new arrivals. We have particular strengths in the financial services, telecoms/media and energy/utility sectors and we work closely with our colleagues in our Finance and Real Estate practices.
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ádám Máttyus
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Pál Rahóty
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Viktória Szilágyi
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Péter Berethalmi
Email: [email protected]

Real estate and Construction: Our Real Estate practice, one of the largest in the Hungarian legal market, with 9 lawyers, is led by partner Attila Ungár. Our office is one of the few firms in Hungary to have a specialised real estate practice group. The team works in close cooperation with other practice groups, especially corporate, finance, energy and tax, and offers full-service legal advice to major real estate clients investing in Hungary. Our Real Estate Practice offers a powerful combination of in-depth real estate market knowledge, international coverage and highly experienced experts. We know the real estate business and provide “business-minded” advice.
Contact: Attila Ungár
Email: [email protected]

Banking and Finance: Our Banking and Finance team offers strong Hungarian law finance capability, providing a complete service that covers the full spectrum of clients’ financing needs, from large and complex transactions to simple loan arrangements. Our finance lawyers draw on the expertise of our real estate and corporate teams, supported by a fully integrated tax capability to ensure seamless, multidisciplinary advice. Combining in-depth financial market knowledge, international coverage and highly experienced experts, we deliver sophisticated solutions tailored to diverse market environments. Thanks to our international network and extensive cross-border product expertise, we can address financing situations effectively on a global scale.
Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán
Email: [email protected]
Contact: John Fenemore
Email: [email protected]

Capital Markets: Our Capital Markets team handles Hungary’s most sophisticated and innovative products, including securitisations, share and bond issuances (including sovereign bonds), complex equity and debt securities offerings, dual-listings, IPOs, derivatives, structured products, structured finance, asset management matters and key regulatory issues. Drawing on the expertise of our banking & finance, corporate, real estate and tax teams, supported by a fully integrated tax capability, we provide seamless, multidisciplinary advice. With deep financial and capital markets knowledge, international coverage and highly experienced lawyers, we deliver comprehensive, market-leading support, effectively addressing matters on a global scale through our international network.
Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán
Email: [email protected]
Contact: John Fenemore
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Pál Rahóty
Email: [email protected]

Dispute Resolution: Our Dispute Resolution team handles the full spectrum of contentious matters, including arbitration, court and administrative litigation, employment and IP disputes, commercial and aviation cases, consumer protection matters, bankruptcy-related proceedings, mediation and regulatory investigations. We also manage international arbitration before the ECHR, ECJ and ICSID, as well as complex supply chain disputes in the automotive sector. As Hungary’s go-to firm for investment protection, we offer a world-class, cross-practice approach to navigating the legal challenges foreign investors face.
Contact: Balázs Fazakas
Email: [email protected]

Employment: Our Employment Law team advises on the full spectrum of employment matters, including contracts, policies, data protection, restructurings, employee relations, collective issues and employment litigation. We support clients in complex transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and outsourcing, offering practical, business-focused solutions. The team is highly innovative, embraces AI and digital transformation, and adapts quickly to emerging workplace and HR challenges.
Contact: Éva Bognár
Email: [email protected]

Tax: Our Tax team is fully integrated with our key practice areas, supporting M&A, Real Estate, Banking & Finance and Employment law matters across a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions. We advise on complex corporate restructurings, multi-jurisdictional finance deals, real estate investments, intra-group arrangements and management remuneration structures. Our expertise covers international holding and finance structures, treaty application, VAT planning, tax risk assessment and obtaining binding rulings, as well as managing inspections, negotiations with tax authorities and tax litigation. We provide practical, strategic tax support that enables clients to structure transactions efficiently and operate confidently in a complex regulatory environment.
Contact: Péter Lakatos
Email: [email protected]

Competition: Our Competition practice team advises Hungarian and international clients on all aspects of competition law, both in standalone matters and in complex multi-jurisdictional transactions. We have an outstanding reputation in handling cartel investigations, antitrust compliance, abuse of dominance cases, private enforcement, merger control, unfair commercial practices and state aid matters.
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Eszter Ritter
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ádám Máttyus
Email: [email protected]

Consumer law and unfair commercial practices: Our Consumer Protection team advises clients on a wide range of regulatory and compliance matters, including price and discount communication, packaging and labelling requirements, and the retail of regulated products. We support clients in developing compliant consumer rights processes—from guarantee and warranty documentation to complaint handling, and represent them before authorities and courts, such as the Competition Authority, Food Safety Authority and consumer protection authorities. Our team also manages consumer disputes and sector-specific compliance issues across industries including pharma, food, financial services, insurance, aviation and more.
Contact: Eszter Ritter
Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property: Advising in brand protection, trade mark filings, renewals and due diligence, IP litigation and disputes, Tech related matters, GDPR and data protection, including full GDPR audits.
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]

Data protection: Our Data Protection practice advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of GDPR and data protection compliance. We regularly assist with audits, data security matters, privacy documentation, marketing-related data processing and complex cross-border projects involving service providers, regulators and industry associations. Our team also represents clients in data protection disputes and proceedings before the Hungarian supervisory authority, offering comprehensive and practical support in all privacy-related matters.
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]

ESG: Our ESG team provides legal and strategic advice on compliance with Hungarian and EU sustainability regulations, including the ESG Act, CSRD, ESRS and EPR regimes. We support clients in implementing ESG governance systems, conducting sustainability risk assessments, managing EPR obligations and carrying out ESG and EPR due diligence in supply chain, M&A and investment contexts. Our work also includes preparing and reviewing sustainability reports and corporate policies, as well as representing clients in administrative and regulatory procedures related to ESG disclosures, EPR enforcement and sustainability claims.
Contact: Eszter Ritter
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Péter Berethalmi
Email: [email protected]

Sector highlights:

Aviation: LKT has an aviation group, which is unique in Hungary and market leader in the CEE region. LKT acts on aircraft finance, JOLCO transactions, securitisation of aircraft lease receivables, aviation regulatory, financial and operating leases, sale and leaseback transactions, pooling of engines, security interests, insurance and reinsurance liability, litigation and dispute resolution with strong trial capability, repossession of aircraft and tax issues.
Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán
Email: [email protected]
Contact: John Fenemore
Email: [email protected]

Automotive: LKT is a leading independent adviser in Hungary’s automotive sector, supporting manufacturers, suppliers and investors across all key legal areas. We assist with foreign direct investment, corporate structuring, real estate and construction matters, regulatory compliance, IP protection and labour law. Our team has significant experience in major greenfield and brownfield projects, including incentives, tax benefits and environmental requirements in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle and battery industries. We also advise on commercial, distribution and supply chain arrangements, as well as dispute resolution, helping automotive clients manage risks and achieve successful market growth.
Contact: Viktória Szilágyi
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Péter Berethalmi
Email: [email protected]

Energy and infrastructure: LKT’s Energy practice provides comprehensive legal support across the full spectrum of the sector. Our team advises on renewable project development, exploration and production licensing, natural gas and electricity regulatory requirements, and the establishment of energy facilities. We offer in-depth guidance on the regulatory framework governing domestic and cross border energy activities, and support clients with renewable related transactional matters, including project development, financing and M&A.
Contact: Ádám Máttyus
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Viktória Szilágyi
Email: [email protected]

Private clients and wealth planning: Our Private Clients and Wealth Planning team supports entrepreneurs and families in preserving wealth, managing generational transitions and establishing long-term succession and asset-holding structures. We provide integrated advice across matrimonial property, inheritance, private foundations and trusts, creating tailored, sustainable frameworks that reflect each client’s personal and business objectives. With strong international experience, we also assist in multi-jurisdictional arrangements and advise foreign clients on the impact of Hungarian family connections on existing wealth planning structures.
Contact: Szabolcs Mestyán
Email: [email protected]

Life sciences: Our Life Sciences team combines decades of industry experience with deep regulatory and commercial insight, advising pharmaceutical, medical device, chemicals, healthcare, food and cosmetics companies on complex legal and compliance matters. We provide integrated regulatory and risk management support, from preventive compliance reviews and training to representing clients before authorities in high-stakes regulatory procedures.
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Viktória Szilágyi
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Eszter Ritter
Email: [email protected]

Transportation and logistics: Our Transportation and Logistics team has unparalleled experience in major infrastructure projects, including Hungary’s largest motorway developments and innovative PPP and project finance structures. LKT is a market leader in aviation in Hungary and the CEE region, advising airlines, lessors, financing banks and authorities on all aspects of aviation finance and regulatory matters, and supporting clients in establishing new, innovative structures on the Hungarian market. Across the entire infrastructure value chain, we offer clients a dedicated team with strong sector-specific and local expertise spanning transport, logistics, energy, automotive, healthcare, IT/telecoms and other key industries.
Contact: Péter Köves
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Attila Ungár
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]

Telecommunications/media/technology: LKT works on ground-breaking transactions in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors in Hungary with a broad base of expertise in regulatory aspects of market liberalization and consolidation, including M&A transactions and frequency tenders. LKT advises on all aspects of telecommunication law, internet and e-commerce (i.e. data protection, M&A, corporate, competition and regulatory).
Contact: Péter Lakatos
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Iván Sólyom
Email: [email protected]

Managing partner: Dr. Péter Lakatos LL.M.
Number of partners: 12
Number of fee-earners: 50
Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish

CONTACT:

Madách Trade Center, H-1075 Budapest, Madách Imre út 14., Hungary

+3614291300 / www.lakatoskoves.hu / [email protected]

Languages: Hungarian, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Serbian

Memberships: Lex Mundi, International Bar Association (IBA), Budapest Bar, Multilaw, Interlaw, Loan Market Association, INSOL, Hungarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (HVCA)

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