Koczkas & Partner legal

Automotive Industries

The automotive industry is one of the most complex and dynamically evolving sectors, encompassing the entire value chain from the design and manufacturing of motor vehicles and their components to their sale. The industry is constantly adapting to new technologies, changing consumer demands, and strict safety, environmental and energy efficiency requirements, compliance with which calls for particular legal attention. Our firm provides comprehensive legal support to participants in the automotive industry to ensure regulatory compliance, including in relation to environmental, employment and international trade matters.

We place particular emphasis on greenfield and brownfield investments, including the handling of permitting, environmental, state aid and tax issues. Our firm works with numerous Asian, American and German automotive component manufacturers, supporting them in the legal structuring of their investments in Hungary and across the region, their supplier chains and their operational activities, while also providing ongoing legal advice to management on day-to-day decision-making and legal issues affecting operations.

We maintain close relationships with domestic participants in the automotive industry, which enables us to keep abreast of the regulatory environment. Our aim is to support our clients with practical, business-minded legal solutions in the industry’s constantly changing and highly competitive environment, thereby contributing to their long-term and sustainable success.

GDPR, Data Protection

Our firm supports both Hungarian and international clients in complying with data protection legislation and in the effective management of data processing-related risks in an increasingly digitalised business environment. Our team provides a broad range of legal services related to data protection compliance, based on the applicable Hungarian and European Union regulatory framework.

We assist our clients in the preparation of data protection policies and advise on the lawful organisation of data processing in the employment context. We have significant experience in the legal structuring of transfers of personal data outside the European Economic Area, including the use of standard contractual clauses and binding corporate rules (BCR).

We provide ongoing support to our clients in ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and sector-specific data protection requirements, in particular in the preparation of records of processing activities and the drafting of related agreements.

We place particular emphasis on the legal aspects of cybersecurity, including the legal assessment of technology solutions affecting data protection, such as end-to-end encryption. We support our clients in the development of internal data protection and IT usage policies, particularly in relation to electronic devices used by employees. Our firm also represents clients in connection with the notification of data protection incidents to the competent authorities and in the related proceedings.

Energy and Environmental Law

Our firm’s energy and environmental law practice is built on the increasingly complex and strictly regulated legal requirements arising from our clients’ operations. The activities of many of our clients regularly raise environmental and energy law matters, the lawful resolution of which is essential in order to avoid legal violations and the related administrative, civil or even criminal consequences.

Our advisory services cover the permitting of various industrial and energy-related activities, representation in environmental and energy regulatory proceedings, and ensuring compliance with environmental and energy law requirements. We provide legal support to our clients in the prevention and management of environmental burdens, the resolution of the legal consequences of environmental damage, and the identification and reduction of related environmental liability risks.

We have significant experience in conducting environmental and energy law due diligence in connection with energy sector and other transactions, including the identification of permits, obligations and liability risks. In our work, we place particular emphasis on ensuring that our clients’ operations are lawful, sustainable and commercially sound, taking into account the continuously evolving environmental and energy law regulatory framework.

Tax and Customs Law

Our team’s professional experience covers value added tax, duties and transaction tax matters arising in the course of day-to-day operations, as well as local taxes, in particular building tax, land tax and local business tax. In our work, we place particular emphasis on developing tax-efficient and lawful structures across the full spectrum of corporate operations. Our experience extends to the coordinated assessment of the domestic and international tax environment, particularly in relation to cross-border transactions. We support our clients not only in ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements, but also in achieving their long-term financial and business objectives. Our aim is to reduce risks and increase operational predictability through practical, business-oriented tax law solutions.

Real Estate Law

We provide our clients with comprehensive legal services in connection with real estate transactions, from the negotiation of contractual terms to the registration of title in the land registry. We also prepare and review various real estate use agreements and other contracts relating to residential or commercial properties, and provide the necessary representation in administrative, land registry and municipal proceedings. In transactions involving bank financing, we assist in the legal interpretation of financing terms and their contractual implementation. In addition, we prepare other agreements related to the transfer of real estate, in particular gift agreements, exchange agreements and agreements establishing usufructuary rights.

Our firm also has significant experience in the legal support of real estate development projects, including legal issues relating to new investments and the redevelopment of existing sites. We undertake matters relating to plot formation, subdivision, and the settlement of common ownership, and we also act in proceedings concerning the withdrawal of closed garden properties from cultivation.

We place particular emphasis on ensuring that our clients have a clear understanding of the financial aspects of real estate transactions, including transfer tax and tax obligations. We are also available to advise on specific legal issues, for example in relation to the termination of lease agreements and the assessment of real estate law risks.

In the case of real estate acquisitions in Hungary by third-country nationals, we undertake to obtain the governmental approval decision required for such acquisition and provide full legal representation throughout the related administrative procedure.

Where a conflict arises in relation to the use or possession of real estate, our firm provides legal representation in possession protection proceedings. We assist clients in proceedings before the notary, and where necessary, in the judicial review of the relevant decisions as well. Our approach is based on a balance between prevention and effective enforcement, thereby ensuring the long-term protection and exercise of rights connected to real estate.

Employment Law

The world of work is characterised by constant and increasingly rapid change, to which employers must adapt amid a dynamically evolving legal environment, the differing expectations of new generations, and the growing impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Our firm supports clients in addressing these challenges through comprehensive employment law advice, ranging from day-to-day operations to strategic decision-making.

Our client base includes both domestic and international businesses across a wide range of industries and organisational sizes. As a result, we have broad experience in adapting global expectations and “best practice” solutions to the Hungarian legal environment, while seeking to make full use of the flexibility afforded by local regulation in the interests of our clients.

Our services cover full-spectrum employment law compliance support, as well as employment-related matters connected with transactions, in particular reorganisations, business transfers and post-transaction workforce integration. We also have significant experience in the design and review of employee incentive and remuneration schemes, as well as other long-term incentive arrangements.

We regularly assist our clients with the legal structuring of various fringe benefits and compensation packages, as well as with the assessment of the related tax issues. In addition, we support HR departments in the drafting and review of internal policies, ensuring their compliance with Hungarian employment law requirements. We also assist with the fulfilment of corporate governance and reporting obligations, the management of labour relations and the conduct of internal investigations, with a view to ensuring effective and business-oriented management of legal risks.

Corporate Law, M&A

Our firm has substantial experience across the full spectrum of corporate law, M&A and investment transactions, acting for both Hungarian and international clients, and also provides comprehensive legal advice on investment law matters. We support our clients in transactions of varying structures and sizes, including private M&A transactions, the establishment of joint venture structures, and corporate reorganisations. We provide support during the planning and decision-making phase of investments, as well as throughout the entire implementation process, from market entry and the structuring of the transaction through to operational activities.

A key area of our professional focus is legal advice relating to foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Hungary. Our experience extends to investments in the automotive, energy and logistics sectors carried out in complex regulatory environments. We have particular experience in the legal structuring and execution of greenfield and brownfield investments, including corporate, real estate, permitting and regulatory matters.

We provide full legal advice in connection with state aid, investment promotion schemes, tax incentives and other forms of support, and represent our clients in administrative procedures and permitting processes relating to their investments. Our advice also covers land and real estate law issues affecting investments, as well as ensuring compliance with environmental and energy law requirements. In close cooperation with the corporate, tax, employment and immigration law practice areas, we offer comprehensive, integrated solutions and have significant experience in the legal coordination of large-scale, complex investment projects. Our aim is to ensure that our clients’ investments are implemented lawfully, efficiently and in a sustainable manner over the long term through the effective management of legal risks, the establishment of a stable legal framework and support for business opportunities, while striving to build lasting and successful relationships with our clients.

Claim management

Our firm provides comprehensive legal support in the field of debt recovery for both domestic and international clients. As part of this service, we examine and assess our client’s outstanding claim, evaluate the risks associated with enforcement, and develop an enforcement strategy tailored to the specific matter, with a primary focus on reaching an out-of-court settlement.

If an out-of-court settlement is not possible, we provide our clients with legal representation in the necessary litigation and non-litigation proceedings. Our advice also covers the expected consequences, risks, and costs of the enforcement steps, thereby supporting well-informed decision-making.

We have significant experience in the enforcement of contractual and statutory claims, as well as in related enforcement and insolvency proceedings. We also assist our clients in the enforcement of securities, suretyship and guarantee obligations, as well as in legal transactions related to the assignment and transfer of claims.

Financial law

Our firm provides legal advice in the field of financial law to domestic and international clients in a continuously evolving and highly regulated financial environment. We assist our clients in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of bank and non-bank financing transactions, including loan, credit, and security arrangements, as well as corporate finance and project finance transactions.

Our advisory services extend to prudential and compliance requirements applicable to financial institutions and financial service providers, related regulatory proceedings, and the fulfilment of licensing and notification obligations.

We provide financial law advice in close coordination with our corporate, tax, real estate, and M&A practice areas, with particular focus on managing legal and regulatory risks, in order to ensure that our clients’ financial transactions are carried out lawfully and efficiently.

Investment Law, Foreign Direct Investment

Our firm provides comprehensive legal advice in the field of investment law and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to both domestic and international clients throughout the full cycle of their investments in Hungary and across the region. We support our clients during the preparatory, planning and decision-making phases of investments, as well as throughout implementation and operational activities. We have significant experience in the legal structuring and execution of greenfield and brownfield investments, with particular focus on projects carried out in complex, strictly regulated sectors.

Our advice covers permitting and administrative procedures affecting FDI investments, investment promotion and state aid schemes, as well as the related compliance and tax issues. In connection with the implementation of investments, our firm undertakes the full administration and legal representation required for securing residence permits necessary to ensure the personal presence of third-country nationals and to enable the commencement of business operations. We also support our clients in addressing and and real estate, environmental and energy, and employment law issues related to their investments.

We coordinate our investment law advice closely with our corporate, M&A, finance and immigration law practice areas in order to provide our clients with comprehensive, integrated legal solutions. In our work, we place particular emphasis on the prior identification of legal and regulatory risks, the establishment of transparent legal structures, and effective cooperation with the relevant authorities. Our aim is to ensure that our clients’ investments are implemented lawfully, on a sound commercial basis, and in a sustainable manner over the long term, thereby supporting their successful market presence in Hungary and across the region.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law

Artificial intelligence law has by now become an indispensable part of economic and legal thinking. Alongside the rapid spread of AI-based solutions, the complicated, continuously evolving and often difficult-to-navigate nature of the applicable regulatory framework may create significant uncertainty for market participants. Our key objective is to provide guidance to our clients in this dynamic environment and to support the lawful and effective integration of artificial intelligence into business activities and services.

The use of artificial intelligence takes place in a complex legal environment, which may require the simultaneous interpretation of multiple areas of law, in particular – though not exclusively – personality rights and copyright law. Our firm supports clients in the careful management of these intersections so that they may use artificial intelligence in a controlled manner and in a way that is commercially secure. We are committed to providing comprehensive legal support in identifying and managing the risks associated with the use of AI, whether in relation to compliance obligations, liability issues or the maintenance of legal certainty.

Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution

Our firm provides comprehensive legal advice in the field of international trade to both Hungarian and foreign clients throughout the full cycle of cross-border business activities. We support our clients in the structuring, negotiation and drafting of international sale and service agreements, as well as in addressing related issues of governing law, jurisdiction, delivery, payment and risk allocation. We place particular emphasis on ensuring that contractual structures are aligned with the practices and standards applied in international trade, while effectively protecting our clients’ business interests.

The handling of disputes inherent in international commercial transactions, as well as other disputes, forms an integral part of our practice. At the core of our dispute resolution work is the strategic handling of complex disputes, often involving multiple legal systems. Our advice is in every case based on the prior identification and conscious management of legal risks, through a strategic and tactical approach adapted to the specific features of the matter and to the considerations arising from the client’s operations.

In handling disputes, our primary objective is to ensure that proceedings affect our clients’ business operations as little as possible, while the legal solutions applied remain closely aligned with their business strategy. Our broad experience enables us to provide balanced, forward-looking and strategically grounded advice on both the claimant and respondent side, taking into account the expected steps of the opposing party and the specific dynamics of the proceedings.

We have particular expertise in arbitration and mediation proceedings, providing full support from the selection of the appropriate dispute resolution forum through to the conclusion of the proceedings, always seeking commercially rational and sustainable long-term solutions.