Schoenherr advised Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) on the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) equity investment in two Ukrainian non-life insurance companies of VIG, USG and Kniazha. This landmark transaction will mark a significant milestone for Ukraine's insurance sector, as subject to regulatory approval, IFC will acquire an approximately 20 % stake in each company to support the expansion of their product portfolios and the acceleration of the digitalisation strategies, with VIG intending to play an active role in the country's reconstruction after the end of the war.

Schoenherr advised Via Unita Group on the acquisition of all shares in Lang Finanzsoftware GmbH, an established Austrian provider of financial calculation, administration and cash-management software.

Schoenherr advised Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări on the acquisition of the entire shareholding of Campion Broker, one of Romania's largest insurance brokerage companies, from Campion Grup. This transaction represents a premiere in the Romanian insurance market, being the first time an insurance company has acquired a major insurance broker.

Bulgaria's waste collection fee system is undergoing a fundamental change from 1 January 2026, shifting from property-based charges to a "polluter pays" model. However, significant uncertainty remains about the practical implementation of the new regime. Businesses should therefore prepare flexible budgets and monitor municipal announcements closely.

As the EU has been working for years to combat greenwashing at the legislative level, the deadline for national transposition (27 March 2026) and subsequent application (27 September 2026) of the new Directive (EU) 2024/825 on the empowerment of consumers ("EmpCo Directive" or "ECGT Directive") is approaching fast. And while advertisers are well advised to design their environmental advertising with foresight, many uncertainties remain as to when and how advertising campaigns and the use of logos will be affected.

By 27 September 2026, companies will have to comply with the stricter rules on environmental advertising introduced by the Directive (EU) 2024/825 on the empowerment of consumers ("EmpCo Directive" or "ECGT Directive"). With the various casuistic prohibitions that will be incorporated into the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, it may be difficult for advertisers to keep track of what is expected of them under this new regime. In particular, it is often overlooked that not only advertisements, slogans and packaging, but also trademarks may fall within the scope of the EmpCo Directive.

Welcome to our monthly CEE White Collar Crime Law update. With this newsletter, we aim to provide a concise and up-to-date overview of recent case law and other trends and developments in the field of white collar crime law in the CEE region

The possibilities for generating music and sounds using AI applications have become both versatile and impactful in recent years.[1] AI enables the customisation of melodies, lyrics and moods to suit users' needs, making AI-generated music particularly relevant in commercial contexts. In addition to licensing their existing portfolios, many sound platforms now also offer access to AI music databases. Their customers include restaurants and retailers that want to enhance their customers' experience with stimulating background music without relying on "chart hits". In addition, AI-generated music is increasingly used for marketing purposes and advertising.