Global law firm Dentons received three awards at the CEE Legal Matters Deal of the Year Awards, which took place in Bucharest on May 27, 2026. The awards celebrate the law firms and lawyers who contributed to the most important transactions in Central and Eastern Europe in 2025.

Deal of the Year in Georgia: This award recognizes Silk Road Group Holding’s inaugural Rule 144A/Reg S bond issue of US$400 million 7.500% guaranteed high yield notes due 2030, and its concurrent tender offer in respect of its then-existing unsecured notes maturing in 2027. A cross-border team from London and Tbilisi advised Silk Road Group on the deal. London-based partners Nick Hayday, Colin Chang and Cameron Half, and Tbilisi-based partner Avto Svanidze, led the team, which included David Ferris, Ed Varney, Miriam Babarinde, Pichrotanak Bunthan, Maria Polycarpou, and Lemuael Kyeremateng in London, and Neli Tsivtsivadze, Sopho Mebonia, and Natela Otaridze in Tbilisi.

Deal of the Year in Albania: This award recognizes Dentons’ work advising the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the financing of Viva Fresh Kosovo's acquisition of Spar Albania. Warsaw-based partner Mark Segall led the deal with support from Bucharest-based counsel Lawrence Florescu.

Deal of the Year in the Czech Republic: This award recognizes Dentons’ work advising BNF Capital on its investment in Rolls-Royce SMR, including the exercise of a £36.7 million call option, alongside CEZ’s acquisition of a 20% minority stake in Rolls-Royce SMR. Dentons had previously advised BNF on earlier investments in Rolls-Royce SMR, where it acted as a founder investor alongside CEZ, Constellation and the Qatar Investment Authority. The Dentons team was led by Corporate Partner Nicholas Plant, with support from Corporate Associate Ahmad Yasin.

CEE Legal Matters has held the CEE Deal of the Year Awards annually since 2017 to celebrate the transactions, financings, IPOs, and other deals that underpin growth throughout the region, as well as the lawyers and law firms who make them happen. Law firms are nominated based on deals submitted for consideration with a two-tiered panel of prominent lawyers from across the region evaluating the submissions based on deal complexity, size, and market significance.

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