Albania

IFLR1000 Reviews

Financial and corporate
Boga & Associates

Established in 1994 in Tirana, Boga & Associates is one of Albania's largest full-service firms. It also has an office in Kosovo.

Focusses / specialisms

The firm advises on deals across a wide range of practice areas, from banking to corporate transactions and is known for advising foreign clients as local counsel on cross-border deals.

In the project area the firm is experienced in advising on renewable and conventional energy infrastructure development.

 

Key clients

Among its clients are Statkraft UK, Black Sea Trade Development Bank, Banka Kombetare Tregtare, Avon Cosmetics Albania, Sanofi Aventis, PPC Albania, HydroEnergy, Trans Adriatic Pipeline, Devoll Hydropower and HydroEnergy.

 

Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)    

During the research period the firm was active in all areas of financial and corporate law, and project development. 

In the realm of financial and corporate law, the firm provided strategic counsel to acquirers engaged in banking acquisitions and offered expert guidance to lenders involved in direct financing. The firm also boasts an impressive track record in advising a diverse range of corporate clients on matters including entity establishment and various corporate affairs.

Within the domain of project development, the firm specialized in providing guidance to developers, primarily focusing on projects within the renewable energy sector.

 

Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

Devoll Hydropower 600 million Concession Agreement

Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) 1.5 billion in connection with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline at the Greek-Turkish border

Kalo & Associates

Kalo & Associates is an established Albanian firm based in Tirana and with an office in Kosovo. It was created in 1994 by PërparimKalo, an M&A specialist.

The firm is a founding member of the SEE Legal network, connecting it to firms in 12 jurisdictions across Southeast Europe.  

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has experience in advising on cross border and local financing, M&A and project development deals across industries including banking, telecoms, aviation, and conventional energy.

 

Key clients

The firm has worked with Voltalia,Société Internationale de TélécommunicationsAéronautiques, Alpha International Holdings Single Member, Pluribus Technologies, Agence Française de Développement, SET Select Energy, Odyssey International, Air Albania, Tirana Bank and MFG.

 

Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)       

During the research period the firm was active in financial and corporate, and project development.
In the field of banking and finance, the firm predominantly offered counsel to lenders, while also extending its expertise to advise a borrower on matters encompassing project financing, direct financing, and acquisition refinancing. Additionally, the firm provided guidance to a debtor in the context of debt restructuring.

The firm's corporate and mergers and acquisitions practice exhibited remarkable activity. With a focus on acquirers, the firm provided substantial guidance, while also extending its expertise to sellers and a joint-venture partner in navigating acquisitions across diverse sectors. Particularly prominent were transactions within the banking, industrials and manufacturing, energy, technology, and telecommunications industries.

Within the realm of project development, the firm offered its expertise to project developers and project companies, providing guidance on a range of initiatives and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This encompassed sectors such as social infrastructure, technology, and telecommunications, with a notable emphasis on energy-related projects.

 

Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

Eurizon Capital/Gruppo ServiziAssociati €250 million merger 

International Development Agency $60 million Credit Facility Agreement

La Griffe €4.5 million acquisition of Fital  

 

Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

Banking and finance

“They are efficient, competent and well priced.”

Private equity

“They are among the three top firms in the country, very knowledgeable and business-orientated. Their managing partner Aigest Milo is one of the best corporate lawyers in the country, and he is ably supported by a strong team.”

Project finance

Competence and proactivity. Team spirit.”

Ahmet Hassolli          

“Helpful.”

Perparim Kalo

“Brilliant adviser and networker.”

Aigest Milo

“Excellent corporate lawyer, very business- and solution-orientated, more responsive and accessible than most lawyers, and a good manager of a very capable team.”

AK PARTNERS Legal & Consulting (member of AA+ Group)

AA+ Partners is a corporate law firm with an office in Tirana.   

 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm advises clients in financial and corporate.   

   

Key clients 

Among the clients of the firm areKI SHA. 

Gjika & Associates

Gjika & Associates is a corporate law firm based in Tirana since 2013.  

 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is active in corporate and M&A, and also in project development.  

Haxhia & Hajdari

Haxhia & Hajdari is an Albanian law firm established in 1992.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm advises Albanian corporate and commercial clients on regulatory and licensing issues related to business operations.

Hoxha Memi & Hoxha

Established in 2003, Hoxha Memi and Hoxha is a full-service firm. It is based in Tirana, where it employs 10 lawyers, including three partners.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is most active in M&A and project development, where it advises in the infrastructure and energy industry.

 

Key clients

The firm has worked with Aleat Shpk, Kisi-Bio-Energji, Free Co, Hec Vlushe, Civil Engineering Institute Macedonia, Aleat, Energji Ashta, Devoll Hydropower, Sky Master Project Holding, Albstar and Omnix Albania.

 

Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)     

During the research period the firm was active in financial and corporate, and in project development.

Its financial and corporate practice consists mostly of providing corporate advice on various corporate matters such as establishment of entities, licencing and shareholders agreements. It also assisted acquirers on acquisitions in industrials and manufacturing, and in renewable energy, and an issuer on a senior secured bond issue.

In project development it assisted mostly concessionaires and project developers on projects and project acquisitions in various industries, especially in energy, construction and materials, and automotive.

 

Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

Eleving Group bond issue

Guintini acquisition of Ambra

Hydropower plant of Kacni

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

Capital markets : Debt                                                                      

"Timely, precise, flexible, practical. "

"Precision and timeliness."

 

Financial services regulatory                                                                                   

"HMH as a firm is able to offer flexible, cost effective and personalized service. Their whole team is synchronized and on the same page. They always go an extra mile and are very reliable. "

 

Project development : Telecommunications networks

"Hoxha Memi & Hoxha are a highly reputable law firm in Albania, with a team filled with experienced legal experts capable of assisting with projects of various sizes and complexity. We have been collaborating with them for several years now and they were always the ones you can rely on."

"They are a modern law firm, with educated attorneys and entrepreneurial spirit. Their team always gives their best to solve the case they are working on in the shortest possible time and provides commercially-driven and client-focused advice. "

"High preparation and very close to the customer."

 

Shpati Hoxha

"Shpati is a professional, competent and reliable attorney. He is a forward-thinking attorney with loads of knowledge by his side."

"He is professional, competent and a reliable attorney. He is a forward-thinking attorney with loads of knowledge by his side."

"Shpati is a well-known attorney in Albania, with vast experience and dedication to providing an outstanding level of legal services. He is always the first to take the initiative when working with us and full of ideas on how to resolve the issue we are working on faster and better."

"Knowledge of law and timeliness."

"Forthcoming. "

Optima Legal & Financial

Established in 2008, Optima Legal & Financial is an independent firm based in Tirana, which employs 10 lawyers, including three partners. 

 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a focus on project development and the energy industry, acting for Albanian gas companies and the state on several energy projects and working on highway development projects. It has notable capacities in corporate and financial work. 

   

Key clients 

Among the clients of the firm are Ziraat Bank Turkey, Petcor International, Aktor and Copri- Aktor.  

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Financial services regulatory 

"Approachable. 

Clear explanations and clear guidance." 

 

 

Wolf Theiss

Wolf Theiss is an Austrian firm with a European network that includes 13 jurisdictions. Its office in Albania is based in Tirana, where it employs seven lawyers including one partner. 

 

Focusses / specialisms 

The Albanian office of the firm has notable financial and corporate capacities; active in M&A and banking, it advises on cross-border transactions with international companies. It is well known for its work in the power sector, where it advises government bodies. 

   

Key clients 

Among the clients of the firm are4iG, OTP and DSK, Unionbank, JP Morgan, Intesa Sanpaolo, CIMM Group, Eagle Hills Properties and Mabco Constructions. 

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Project development 

"Responsive, knowledgeable, a pleasure to deal with."