Vezuv Director of Legal Affairs Filip Knezevic talks about his career and the challenges of navigating the regulator’s relationship with the gambling sector.

Nestle South Eastern Europe Head of Legal & Compliance Natalia Lysa discusses her career, the rewards of working closely with business operations, and the challenges of navigating legal complexities during Ukraine’s war.

In October-November 2024, we interviewed Ukrainian general counsels to understand current trends in engaging local counsels and use of legaltech in their day-to-day activity. Interviews were held to demonstrate to in-house lawyers, international law firms, and investors the most effective tools for selecting local counsel.

Belupo General Counsel Eva Kovacic reflects on her journey from law firm beginnings to steering legal and compliance in the fast-paced pharmaceutical world.

mBank Deputy General Counsel Pawel Szczepaniak talks about his path to banking and reflects on how his varied background continues to shape his approach to complex legal challenges.

In the Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. As summer is a time to unwind, we asked: With summer here, what is your one favorite yearly activity to disconnect and switch off?

Overseeing diverse sectors across multiple countries, Petrol Group Director of Legal Affairs Mojca Logar discusses the challenges and strategies in managing the group’s legal affairs and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, while emphasizing internal legal expertise and collaborating with external firms for specialized projects and new legislation.

As Pfizer’s Legal Director overseeing Greece, Cyprus, Malta, and Israel, Stathis Mihos explores EU health policy advancements and the complexities arising from the pandemic and examines how artificial intelligence is dynamically influencing lawyers’ work.

Bogdan Plesuvescu has worked in both Moldova and Romania’s banking sectors, progressing from a legal role at Banca Transilvania to CEO of Viktoriabank to Deputy CEO back at the “mother organization.”

Microsoft Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs Head for Central Europe Gabriela Popescu talks about her career and her passion for navigating complex legal landscapes.

In the Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. With organizations continuously challenged to adapt to new and complex legal frameworks, this time we asked: For the implementation of whistleblowing requirements, do you intend to use internal resources or outsource, and why?

In The Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. In the dynamic landscape of modern businesses, where adaptability and innovation are paramount, this time around we asked GCs: What is the one critical skill that you’re investing time and energy in to develop within your team, and why?

EOS Matrix Bosnia and Herzegovina Executive Director for Legal Affairs Mirza Kahvedzic discusses his career path leading up to his current role, how his legal team operates, and current challenges faced due to slow court proceedings.

Siemens General Counsel for the Czech Republic and Slovakia Richard Bacek talks about his transition from law firms to in-house and ongoing challenges including navigating new legislation, such as cybersecurity regulations.

After eight years with the MET Group, Legal Director Sandor Zorad reflects on the company’s path to international expansion.

With a background in international law firms, Marcela Augustinic transitioned to become the first general counsel at DM Drogerie Markt in Slovakia, where she has been serving for the last eight years. Augustinic shares her strategies for balancing internal and external legal resources to tackle emerging regulatory challenges and drive sustainable growth in the ever-evolving market.

From her beginnings as an M&A attorney in Bulgaria to her current role as Regional Compliance Manager for Eastern Europe at Yazaki, Veselka Petrova’s career has been a testament to the power of blending legal expertise with strategic business insight.

In The Inside Track, General Counsels across CEE share the nuances of their roles, challenges, and strategies for success. Since now is the time when plans for next year are made (and budgeted for) this time we asked GCs: Is your in-house legal function’s budget increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same in 2024?