Rising within Kinstellar from junior associate to partner in 2021, Sepsey has become a recognized energy market expert. The law firm says he has been a key driver of the growth and success of its Budapest energy practice over the years. Prior to his promotion he was already a member of the Budapest office’s management team and a mentor in the local mentoring scheme.

“It is a great honor to be appointed as the Office Managing Partner of one of the most respected law firms in Hungary. I am grateful for the support of the team as I step into this new role,” Sepsey says of his appointment.

“It is a privilege to lead such an outstanding team and build on the success achieved during Kristóf’s excellent leadership, as well as previously under that of Csilla Andrékó. My pledge to our team is in our values, and I am committed that we will continue to be recognized for our service quality and unwavering commitment to our clients’ success,” he adds.

Sepsey has more than 18 years’ experience advising domestic, regional and international clients on a broad range of energy sector matters, having worked on some of their most complex M&A deals, renewables investments, power plant and energy infrastructure development projects, as well as EU and local energy regulatory work. Kinstellar says he has also been instrumental in a suite of cross-border energy sector matters, assisting the firmwide energy sector team across jurisdictions.

Kristóf Ferenczi

Down-to-earth

Clients describe him as “thorough and fast,” and praise his “very down-to-earth and pragmatic approach to complex projects,” according to Chambers Europe.

As Budapest office managing partner, Sepsey will lead the firm’s Hungarian operations, overseeing all aspects of client service, business development, and team management.

“Balázs will be an excellent office managing partner and I am confident that he will provide outstanding leadership to the Budapest office, taking the team from strength to strength,” comments Ferenczi, Kinstellar’s new firm managing partner.

“His proven leadership skills, profound personal qualities, strong work ethic and core values make him the perfect choice to lead the local practice. I am delighted to be handing over the reins to such an outstanding and talented individual and look forward to continuing to work with Balázs in his new role,” Ferenczi added.

He, meanwhile, will become the first Hungarian to head the regional firm, which was launched in 2008 when London-based Magic Circle law frim Linklaters pulled out of its smaller Central and Eastern European markets and spun off its Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague offices. It now has 400 staff in 12 offices across 11 countries in Central and South Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Balázs Karsai

Nagy és Trócsányi Announces Replacement Managing Partner

Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda has also announced a change in managing partner for the New Year: Balázs Karsai will take over the role from Jan. 1, 2024.

“While continuing to advise clients in complex matters, Balázs will focus on further enhancing the firm’s presence in strategic sectors such as environment and energy, technology and IP & IT, compliance and financial services, together with dispute resolution, including tax litigation,” the firm says in a statement.

“Nagy és Trócsányi’s core strategy of providing market leading local assistance to law firms not present in Hungary will continue, while its decades-long EU law practice will be further strengthened. In furthering our traditional quality management philosophy all members of our firm will continue to pursue long-term success in terms of client satisfaction in an innovative and dynamic way,” the press statement concludes.

Karsai replaces Péter Berethalmi as managing partner. The firm is not the largest (it is ranked 17th in the 2023-24 Book of lists based on the number of attorneys with a license to practice in Hungary), Nagy és Trócsányi is not without significance. One of the named co-founders, László Trócsányi was Minister for Justice from June 2014-June 2019, and is currently a Member of the European Parliament.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of December 15, 2023.