Following the launch of our CEE Real Estate Practice group, Horizons Alliance is excited to share the launch of its CEE Employment Practice Group.

With the launch of our CEE Employment Practice Group, we aim to strengthen our presence in the region and provide seamless support to our regional clients on employment matters under a unified brand. We will also bring you regular updates on matters such as regulations on remote work and how the EU Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers is implemented in our region, in the form of comparative guides. Find the latest report here.

The group is led by Anca Zegrean, Partner and Head of the Employment and Labor department at Biriș Goran (Romania), with Romana Szuťányi, Counsel, Head of Employment Law at ROWAN LEGAL (Czech Republic), serving as Deputy Head.

“We are delighted to bring our collective expertise in employment law to clients with regional presence. From cross-border transfers of undertakings and collective workforce changes, such as layoffs and restructuring, to internal process realignments and the implementation of EU Directives across jurisdictions, our team is well-equipped to provide strategic guidance,” said Anca Zegrean, Practice Group Leader.

A selected list of our individual references includes

  • Successfully advising a major banking group on the transfer of employees under Council Directive 2001/23/EC as part of a merger process.
  • Assisting a company within the IBM group in handling the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE) for employees transitioning from a multinational telecommunications, technology, and consumer electronics company, contributing to a strategic partnership in telecommunications solutions.
  • Providing legal advice to a European multinational energy company in the context of collective bargaining and negotiations before a mediator in a collective dispute.
  • Advising on remote working options abroad, assessing employment, immigration, and social security implications when working from Spain, and assisted in implementing non-compete agreements and terminating employment with a foreign national.
  • Counseling a global leader in automotive seating: advising on employment law, workforce management, and compliance policies. Assisting in navigating complex labor challenges, including restructuring, redundancies, and workforce reorganizations, ensuring legal compliance while mitigating risks.
  • Developing and reviewing employment contracts, employee benefit programs, termination procedures, and compliance policies for a global manufacturer, while also engaging in trade union negotiations and occupational safety and health regulations.
  • Advising the European Labor Authority on a range of employment law matters, ensuring the legal integrity of contracts with interim staff, trainees, and agencies. Conducting in-depth contract reviews, advising on terms, conditions, and termination clauses, and providing strategic insights to enhance compliance with local labor laws for Slovakia.

Our Group Members and Contacts for Employment Law Matters

Biriș Goran (Romania) a premier Romanian law firm specializing in transactional work, including tax, corporate/M&A, real estate, competition, litigation, labor, energy, data protection, IP, IT&C, insolvency, and public acquisitions. Ranked in multiple departments and fields by Chambers & Partners as well as the Legal500 Guides, the firm is also widely recognized as having the top tax practice in Romania.

Contact: Anca Zegreanan expert with over 15 years of experience in labor, employment, litigation, and civil matters.

ERDŐS PARTNERS (Hungary) Erdős Partners is a full-service law firm committed to delivering high-quality legal services, enabling its clients to navigate the evolving requirements of various industry sectors. Recognized by Chambers Europe and Chambers Global, as well as IFLR in the Banking & Finance Department, as well as Legal500 in 2 areas of law, the firm provides expert counsel in corporate matters, regulatory compliance and employment law as well.

Contact: Gábor Erdős – managing partner with more than 20 years of experience, his main focus areas being transactional services, with his team advising in the framework of full legal service arrangements in employment law related matters, backed by a team of specialized lawyers.

HKV LAW FIRM (Slovakia) is a highly regarded Slovakian top-tier law firm ranked in the Legal500 Guide 2024 for Employment law and several other legal fields. Additionally, the firm is recognized as a top-tier law firm by IFLR1000, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global across multiple departments.

Contact: Dalibor Palatický – a Legal 500-recommended lawyer with over 10 years of experience, specializes in employment law, advising businesses on labor regulations, workplace policies, and compliance. He helps companies with thousands of employees navigate workforce challenges, from contract drafting to strategic decision-making and collective negotiations. He also advises on corporate/M&A law, and regulatory compliance, providing comprehensive legal support.

ROWAN LEGAL (Czech Republic) a leading Czech law firm providing full legal support, with notable recognition in the Legal500 Guide 2024 for excellence in Employment law. Ranked in a number of departments by Chambers & Partners as well as a number of its partners individually, the firm is also highly recommended in the Law Firm of the Year awards for the Czech Republic.

Contact: Romana Szuťányi – Head of ROWAN LEGAL’s Employment practice, recognized by The Legal500 for her expertise in employment law.

Horizons Alliance is actively working on expanding its reach to additional important CEE jurisdictions in 2025, further strengthening its position as a leading regional legal force.