Recently, a team from Schoenherr's regulatory practice embarked on an exciting project for the European Commission (EC), applying their extensive experience in regulatory matters to a relatively untapped area of energy production. The primary objective of this initiative was to identify and analyse the regulatory barriers hindering the development and deployment of ocean energy across selected EU Member States.

The Commission for Protection of the Competition of North Macedonia (CPC) has significantly intensified its enforcement activities in the food retail sector, signalling a stricter regulatory approach toward potential anti-competitive behaviour. Following concerns over rising food prices, the CPC has undertaken dawn raids and launched formal proceedings against major retail chains suspected of violating the Protection of the Competition Act ("Competition Act") and Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act ("UTP").

Welcome to our to the point newsletter. Every month, we are looking back at the most relevant developments in the area of financial regulation in the CEE region.

The FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach 2025 have just concluded, and the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim are just around the corner. This is the perfect moment to take a closer look at the connection between sports and brands in the sports business. Clubs and federations use their brands to generate vital revenue, athletes register personal brands that set them apart from the competition, and companies leverage sporting events, teams and athletes to activate and spread their brand messages. With continuous innovation and growth in the sports business, the legal safeguarding of such collaborations is becoming increasingly complex. How does a brand become a protected trademark?