LKT wins "Deal of the Year" award

We are delighted to share that one of LKT’s 2021 deals, Nomad Foods Acquisition of Fortenova's Frozen Food Business was selected and awarded as (1) the CEE Legal Deal of the Year and (2) the Deal of the year in Bosnia and (3) the Deal of the year in Croatia at the CEE Legal Matters (CEELM) Dealer’s Choice and the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet held on 5 April, 2022 in London, attended by lawyers from across the CEE region and from London.

Lakatos, Köves & Partners (LKT) received the trophy for its work and involvement in the Hungarian aspects of the deal.

LKT won the “Deal of the Year” award for Hungary previously for 2018 for its work alongside Slaughter & May on the Hungarian aspects of Vodafone’s acquisition of Liberty Global’s operations and for 2017 for its work on Waberer’s IPO and was shortlisted with various deals in each year throughout the 5 years history of CEELM Awards.

According to CEELM: “This was the most competitive year to date, with the jury voting on a record number of submissions, making the ultimate winners all the more worthy of praise.”
CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea added: “CEE Legal Matters received more submissions for the Deals of the Year in this, its fifth year of existence, than ever before – 319 submissions, from 108 law firms – reflecting a remarkable year of growth, cooperation, and expansion, all performed against a truly challenging backdrop.”

LKT team leader Iván Sólyom commented: “It is a real honour to receive this wonderful award in this very competitive field for the third time, especially that this deal alone won three different awards, including the top of the tops, the CEE Legal Deal of the Year Award. The deal enabled Nomad to enter a number of new Central, Eastern and Southeastern European markets, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. We are very pleased that the voters recognized the deal’s significance and we are proud to have advised such a significant market player in this transaction of strategic importance.”

The LKT team on this deal was led by Iván Sólyom Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A and included György Tóth and Soma Schóber Corporate and M&A lawyers.

Our congratulations also go to our colleagues from BDK Advokati (Serbia), Divjak, Topić, Bahtijarević & Krka Law Firm (Croatia), Polenak Law Firm (North Macedonia), ŠELIH & PARTNERJI Law Firm (Slovenia) and KALO & ASSOCIATES (Kosovo), whose strong cooperation led to the success of this cross-border transaction and Norton Rose Fulbright acting as the lead international counsel.