Lakatos, Köves and Partners

Hungary

Banking, finance and capital markets

Lakatos, Köves and Partners handles high-value banking, finance, and capital market matters, supported by their regulatory team. With a focus on cross-border transactions, the practice work alongside international law firms on large transactions including restructuring, recapitalisation, private credit, and aviation and asset financing. The team is led by Szabolcs Mestyan, who handles cross-border syndicated financing and complex restructuring, and John Fenemore, who manages sovereign and quasi-sovereign euro bond and lending transactions. Veronika Bakonyi assists the team on cross-border lending structures and Gergely Kántor handles banking regulations and financial service compliance. Other key members are Ágnes Ábrahám and Nóra Kertai.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The team stands out for its deep understanding of the Hungarian legal landscape, combined with a pragmatic, client-focused approach that ensures commercially sound advice. I value the firm’s agility and creativity—particularly in navigating regulatory challenges, cross-border transactions, and bespoke structuring needs.'
'Szabolcs Mestyan and John Fenemore are excellent, very available and helpful. Agnes Abhraham is a key senior associate with top capability.'
'Nóra Kertai is excellent.'
'Highly attentive, proactive, and commercial.'
'John Fennemore understands exactly what we are looking for in terms of local law support, and Veronika Bakonyi has regulatory and banking knowledge.'
'LKT is our go-to firm for assistance with aircraft financing matters. They are well versed in all aspects of local law financing, leasing and ownership transfer requirements and are very helpful in explaining what is required to all parties in the transaction.'

Key clients

Carlyle Aviation Partners BNP Paribas Indotek Befektetési Zrt. Baupost Group, L.L.C. KKR Oaktree HPS Revolut JP Morgan Eximbank Zrt. Citibank MFB Magyar Fejlesztési Bank Zrt. Deutsche Bank

Work highlights

Advising Svedbank and the steering committee of RCF Lenders on Hungarian aspects of the EUR 4.48bn recapitalisation of Intrum ab, a European debt management business.

Advising Carlyle Aviation Partners on the securitisation of a portfolio of leased aircraft, including aircraft registered in Hungary.

Advising KKR and the ad-hoc committee of senior lenders on Hungarian aspects of the recapitalisation of the Accell Group, a European manufacturer of bicycles.

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