Kinstellar, which describes itself as Emerging Europe and Central Asia’s leading independent law firm, was formed a decade ago when London-based Magic Circle law firm Linklaters spun off its CEE offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, and Prague.
Both Csilla Andrékó, partner of the Budapest office, and Jason Mogg, formerly managing partner of the firm, now senior partner, mentioned that Kinstellar was formed just weeks after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which ushered in the financial crisis.
“You might think it was not a good time to launch a firm,” Andrékó said. “There is never a bad time to make a good decision. Ten years have passed, we are still here and stronger than ever.”
More Flexible
The aim had been to create “an international, stable, Magic Circle standard law firm that was more flexible to market tendencies. We had to be very disciplined, but we managed to make this unique combination,” Andrékó added.
Mogg noted that Kinstellar had “developed, strengthened and grown the business”, had expanded from four offices to ten, and since the spring has linked up with a “sister firm operating in nine jurisdictions in Southeast Asia”.
The party featured around 200 guests, drawn from Kinstellar Hungary’s client list, with all the firm’s partners also flying in from various offices. Entertainment included a light show called Glowria, live music by Hungarian-U.S. pop star Viktor Király and a DJ set. There were no parting gifts for guests, the money instead being donated to a foundation dedicated to helping chronically sick children.
