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2024 Edition of the Collective Redress Guide

Welcome to this guide on Collective Redress across the Wolf Theiss region (CEE and SEE). A range of collective redress mechanisms can be found in each of the jurisdictions covered by our offices. While some countries already have well-developed collective redress mechanisms in place, other countries are only just beginning to implement comprehensive collective redress regimes.

Partly due to pressures from the European Union, important steps have been taken in recent years throughout the region to protect collective consumer interests. For example, the Representative Actions Directive (EU) 2020/1828 established a harmonised framework for collective redress in all EU Member States. This directive aims to strengthen consumer rights by making it easier to bring collective actions before the courts, such as in cases of data protection violations and infringements of consumer protection law by companies. The directive has supported a trend towards a greater adoption and pursuit of collective actions in CEE and SEE.

There are clear signs of increased activity in collective redress in CEE and SEE going forward. Several factors suggest that collective redress will become more important in the coming years and will likely continue to expand, supported by new regulations, developing interest in consumer protection and technological innovations. Collective redress mechanisms will further develop, and more harmonised rules of procedure will emerge. At the same time, countries with less established collective redress systems are catching up.

Whether you are a business owner facing collective legal action, an investor evaluating legal exposure in light of consumer protection activism in particular jurisdictions or an in-house counsel trying to best protect your company’s interests ahead of time, this guide serves as a valuable map to navigate you through the complexities of the various collective redress mechanisms available across the Wolf Theiss region.

Disclaimer

This Wolf Theiss Collective Redress Client Guide is intended to serve as a practical overview of the general principles and features of collective redress mechanisms in the countries included in the publication.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the content is accurate at the time of its completion, it should be used only as a general reference guide and should not be relied upon definitively when planning or making definitive legal decisions. This guide cannot substitute dedicated legal advice on specific matters. In these rapidly changing legal markets, laws and regulations are frequently revised, either by amending legislation or by statutory interpretation. Neither Wolf Theiss nor any of the authors accept any kind of liability for the accuracy and completeness of the content of this guide. Therefore, any kind of liability on the part of Wolf Theiss or the authors is explicitly excluded.

Status of information: Current as of October 2024

You can download the entire guide below. Individual country-specific chapters are also available for download in the respective country sections

Full guide download

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Bosnia & Herzegovina

Download the Bosnian and Herzegovinian chapter

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22 October 2024

Collective redress in CEE & SEE

2024 Edition of the Collective Redress Guide Welcome to this guide on Collective Redress across the Wolf Theiss region (CEE and SEE). A range of collective redress mechanisms can be found in each of the jurisdictions covered by our offices. While some countries already have well-developed collective redress mechanisms in place, other countries are only […]...

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22 October 2024

Collective Redress in Europe

In recent years, Europe has seen an increase in activities concerning collective redress, which will assuredly reshape the current landscape of dispute resolution. Many jurisdictions have undertaken massive reforms within this area, meaning companies will have to be prepared for the challenges to come and identify risks to their businesses in this regard. Historically, collective […]...

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18 October 2024

Wolf Theiss advises GreyLion Partners on a landmark equity investment in Birdseye Security Solutions

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17 October 2024

Legal Internships bei Wolf Theiss: Dein Sprungbrett für eine juristische Karriere

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16 October 2024

Wolf Theiss opens a new office in Brussels

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14 October 2024

Wolf Theiss advises RBI on tender offer and EUR 500m Tier 2 notes issuance

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14 October 2024

Wolf Theiss Advises XPartners on strategic acquisition of Aqvila

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14 October 2024

Wolf Theiss advises BNP Paribas Personal Finance on the sale of Magyar Cetelem Bank

Budapest, 14 October 2024 – Wolf Theiss advised BNP Paribas Personal Finance on Hungarian legal and regulatory aspects in relation to the sale of its Hungarian subsidiary, Magyar Cetelem Bank Zrt., to Cofidis, the consumer finance subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel. Wolf Theiss provided advice on Hungarian legal and regulatory matters, including foreign direct investment and […]...

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11 October 2024

Wolf Theiss advises Stage Capital on the sale of Galardia shopping centre

Warsaw, 11 October 2024 – Wolf Theiss advised Stage Capital, a European financial investor focused on commercial real estate in the CEE region, on the sale of the Galardia shopping centre to Future Estate. Galardia is a shopping and entertainment centre in Starachowice offering approximately 18,000 sqm of GLA (gross leasable area). Opened in October […]...

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10 October 2024

Mental health in the workplace: CEE & SEE snapshot

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9 October 2024

M&A transactions viewed differently

Earn-out – distribution of economic risk or (further) uncertainty factor? Following the second event in our series on topics at the interface of M&A and disputes, we are pleased to draw your attention to the continuation of “M&A transactions viewed differently”. Earn-out provisions serve to spread the risk of the future economic development of a […]...

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9 October 2024

Wolf Theiss advises REWE digital on IT centre transaction in Poland

Warsaw, 9 October 2024 – Wolf Theiss advised REWE digital on a joint venture transaction with Polish IT company – amb software – involving the establishment of an IT centre in Poland. REWE digital, in cooperation with amb software, have established REWE digital Poland and will launch an IT service centre in Zielona Góra. The […]...

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