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.

Nora Kertai deserves particular commendation. She is experienced, knowledgeable, and extremely responsive. She listens to the issues raised and proactively assists in resolving them.
I would regard LKT as the "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.
Lakatos, Köves and Partners consistently delivers outstanding support and expertise on complex transactions. The team is highly professional, responsive, and demonstrates a deep understanding of both local regulations and international standards. Their ability to provide clear, practical advice and manage challenging matters efficiently makes them a trusted partner. The firm’s commitment to innovation and collaboration is evident in their approach to client service, and they are always willing to adapt to meet evolving client needs. Compared to other firms in Hungary, Lakatos, Köves and Partners distinguishes itself through its reliability, depth of expertise, and client-focused mindset.
Very knowledgeable and responsive.
Our go-to contacts are John Fennemore, who, having worked in London, understands exactly what we are looking for in terms of local law support, and Veronika Bakonyi, for her conscientious approach and the regulatory overlay to her banking knowledge.
This is a top-tier law firm, recognized by us for its responsiveness and ability to deliver innovative solutions in complex and high-pressure scenarios. 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. Highly recommended and widely regarded as the go-to firm in Hungary in our company, the practice combines excellence, efficiency, and forward-thinking legal solutions.

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.

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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