roadmap24: passion

roadmap is our annual publication combining legal excellence with artistic finesse. Every year our experts across CEE give an overview of the developments in their legal areas and industries of expertise, accompanied by art.

We are passionate about what we do. This guarantees extraordinary ideas, dedication and accomplishments. And beyond that, it is inspiring and fun to work with passionate colleagues. We have therefore chosen passion as the theme for roadmap24.

"Our passion is our superpower", says Gudrun Stangl, partner and COO, in her editorial. Her approach to stay innovative? "Allowing and enabling passionate people to do what they want to do."
"I am proud to spend my working days with the most passionate experts I know in our industry: our Schoenherr people", explains managing partner Alexander Popp in his editorial. "Their ideas, originality and innovativeness impress me no end."

This publication is structured into four chapters:

ESG | innovation | knowledge as an asset | local treasure

This year, Yago Hortal's artwork is accompanying our highly interesting legal articles. We invite you to dive into Yago's passionate art further down!

esg

ESG, an acronym for environmental, social and corporate governance, profoundly influences businesses across diverse industries. Its significance is steadily increasing in decision-making processes.

In this chapter, we start by looking at greenwashing policies across CEE. We delve into corporate sustainability in Austria and in preparing for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

Our experts examine Austria's sustainability-linked bond market and discuss the potential of open banking and ESG in Hungary.

We also unpack the EU Restoration Law, scrutinise zero-emission buildings in the EU and shed light on the Urbanism Code. The chapter concludes with an exploration of parametric insurance.

Read all esg related articles:

innovation

When we think about innovation, digital advancements & technical progress immediately come to mind. Our experts advise on legal aspects of many digital innovations, with the most prominent example currently being AI. But it's by far not the only one.

In this chapter, you will learn more about AI as a Service, AI in court, and facial recognition and data protection.

We examine the new legal basis for virtual shareholder meetings, translation in international litigation, the critical implications of NIS 2 and the Digital Services Act. We also look at the European Digital Identity Wallet and a gamechanger for Austrian founders, the new FlexCo. Our experts share their insights into key considerations for negotiating cloud contracts. In the realm of white collar crimes, we analyse the evolution of data management in legal proceedings.

Additionally, we illuminate our innovative approaches to delivering legal advice, particularly in terms of legal tech and AI. Lastly, we explore the legal framework surrounding the human pursuit of rejuvenation.

artificial intelligence

This roadmap embodies the passion we bring to our work every day, including our commitment to staying at the forefront of utilising cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence. While we guarantee this publication exclusively comprises human intelligence content, it delves into several legal facets of AI and even includes a digital AI experiment.

Articles in the innovation chapter of the publication have a digital AI add-on: We have tried out ChatGPT4's intelligence, testing how capable it is in sense-perceptive reading and interpreting of our articles. In each article of the innovation chapter, you have the opportunity to read through some AI prompts we asked AI about the article's topic. Take a look and see what ChatGPT responded to our prompts, directly in the articles.

Check out the articles to give it a try yourself!

Find all innovation related articles here:

knowledge as an asset

Knowledge is power – a notion unchallenged since Sir Francis Bacon articulated it in the 16th century. Businesses leverage information and knowledge in various forms, trying to make it more efficient, secure and beneficial.

In this chapter we embark on an exploration of litigation monitoring, recognising that representative actions for the protection of collective interests are here to stay. We also discuss expert opinions in litigation cases and examine how lawyers can help in patent litigation.

Further on you can read about AI and supply chain compliance, data protection in due diligence processes and cybersecurity in international arbitration.

Our experts illuminate the Consumer Credit Directive II that creditors should begin preparing for and share the lessons that can be gleaned from recent ECJ case law pertaining to general terms and conditions. We offer an overview of share purchase rights and explore innovative approaches for new construction projects.

Find all articles from the knowledge as an asset chapter here:

local treasure

The business world is not only undergoing globalisation in various facets but also witnessing trends towards localisation. These shifts can be prompted and driven by a wide variety of reasons and objectives.

In this chapter, we focus on local perspectives and developments specific to individual markets or regions, such as employee protection in M&A transactions. We ask whether the new Architecture Act supports the local market or only aims regionally.

We delve into dispute resolution clauses in project finance transactions in the Western Balkans as well as the protection of designs in the EU, and examine geographical indications.

Focusing on Austria, our experts look into trade creditor liability risks in arrangements with distressed companies, private foundations, the impact of new indexation decisions, multiple voting and wealth taxes.

Shifting to the Bulgarian market, we shed light on alternative M&A structuring and a newly launched company form. Our Polish team provides an overview of the integrated investment plan and perpetual usufruct. We also examine the Montenegrin perspective on Building Information Modelling and investigate market entry challenges in Romania.

In Slovenia, we turn our attention to consumer litigation, while in the Czech Republic we illuminate the new preventive restructuring framework that has finally arrived. Our Hungarian experts dissect a ground-breaking ruling in the Xella Hungary case and state subsidies. Finally, in Slovakia, we explore the question of whether foreign creditors could be caught up in FDI regulations.

Read through the articles in the local treasure chapter here:

passionate art

Yago Hortal is an internationally acclaimed painter based in Barcelona. His work is characterised by vibrant colours and dynamic movement, which seem to transcend the confines of the canvas.

Passion conveys enjoyment

What does passion mean to you, Yago?
There are various types of passion, and I believe every type of passion converges in the enjoyment it conveys. I think there must be something almost chemical about it.

Where do you find passion? Can something as ordinary as making my morning coffee be considered passion too?
It's the dedication and attention given to even the most ordinary things that make them extraordinary. Making a good coffee involves a different level of care than making a regular one. That level of care can also be found in all daily tasks if one desires.

In your opinion, what role does technology play in passion?
Technology, as a complement, can aid in the development of passions. Without technology, we wouldn't have reached certain levels of excellence in many fields. Every advancement, whether in technology or not, is driven by the passion to evolve.

What, for you, is the opposite of passion?
A lack of affection can make anything seem mundane, although there can be a certain magic in that carefree approach as well.

How do you expect art to develop in the future?
I believe there will come a time when the most original work will be done analogically, as it always has been. The past and the future will converge to highlight what can be created from a person's originality, and even the ability to create with one's hands will gain value.
While AI may contribute to positive results for many artists, in my opinion, they should retain control over how far technology participates. If the artist loses their essence in favour of AI, they will simultaneously lose a portion of their art.

^{art: Yago Hortal | photos: Pedro Eurrutia; Enric Berenquer}

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