Company formation, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate governance for foreign investors and businesses.
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Ranked Band 1 Chambers Europe for Banking & Finance and Real Estate. ~100 lawyers. Full-service international firm present in Hungary since 1989.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Employment. Market leader in M&A, real estate and competition. Full English-language service.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Dispute Resolution. Strong construction litigation, product liability and international arbitration practice.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Corporate/M&A. Senior team from former Linklaters Budapest office. Strong on foreign investor acquisitions.
Absorbed former White & Case Budapest team (Réczicza) in 2015. Highly regarded real estate and corporate practice.
Operates as A&O Shearman Kádár Ügyvédi Iroda. English and Hungarian-law qualified attorneys. Corporate/M&A and finance focus.
Former Clifford Chance Budapest office (until 2009). 13 partners, 50+ fee-earners. Hungary's leading independent law firm.
Band 1 Chambers for Dispute Resolution. Renowned domestic firm with strong presence in real estate, pharma and energy sectors.
Founded 2005. Pál Jalsovszky is one of Hungary's leading tax and M&A lawyers. Merged with KNP LAW in August 2025.
Member of Ally Law global network (71 firms, 46 countries). Market-leading ESOP, employment and tax practices.
Full-service international law firm with English-speaking team serving foreign clients
Global law firm network with Budapest office specializing in expat services
Major international law firm with strong Budapest presence and English-speaking expertise
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Global legal practice with Budapest office for foreign investor services
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Specialized in English-language legal services for foreigners
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English-speaking legal services for expats and international clients
Boutique firm serving expats throughout Hungary
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Yes — a local lawyer or notary is required for company registration in most European countries. English-speaking corporate lawyers can handle the entire process.
Typical documents include due diligence reports, share purchase agreements, regulatory filings, and shareholder resolutions. Your lawyer will guide you through jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Hungary's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsIndicative fee ranges across lawyer tiers for common corporate transactions. Based on Hungarian Bar Association guidance and market data. Figures in HUF including 27% VAT unless noted.
| Matter Type | Solo / small firm | Mid-size Budapest | Top-tier / International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kft. formation (basic) | HUF 80,000–150,000 | HUF 150,000–300,000 | HUF 300,000–600,000 |
| Kft. formation (complex, foreign shareholder) | HUF 200,000–400,000 | HUF 350,000–700,000 | HUF 700,000–1,500,000 |
| Share purchase agreement (SPA) <€500k deal | HUF 500,000–1,200,000 | HUF 1,000,000–2,500,000 | HUF 2,500,000–6,000,000 |
| SPA €500k–€5M deal | HUF 1,200,000–3,000,000 | HUF 2,500,000–6,000,000 | HUF 5,000,000–15,000,000 |
| M&A transaction >€5M | Rarely undertaken | HUF 5,000,000–15,000,000 | HUF 15,000,000–50,000,000+ |
| Joint venture agreement | HUF 400,000–900,000 | HUF 800,000–2,000,000 | HUF 2,000,000–6,000,000 |
| Due diligence report (SME) | HUF 600,000–1,500,000 | HUF 1,200,000–3,000,000 | HUF 2,500,000–8,000,000 |
| Restructuring / liquidation | HUF 400,000–1,000,000 | HUF 800,000–2,500,000 | HUF 2,000,000–7,000,000 |
⚠ A Kft. requires minimum share capital of HUF 3,000,000 under Act V of 2013 (Ptk.) and registration via the Hungarian Company Registry (Cégbíróság). Registration fee: HUF 50,000 (standard) or HUF 15,000 (electronic filing). Stamp duty on the articles of association: HUF 108,000 fixed.
Forming a basic Hungarian Kft. with a foreign shareholder typically costs HUF 350,000–700,000 in lawyer fees plus HUF 50,000 in registration fees and HUF 3,000,000 minimum share capital. Full setup from instruction to registration takes 8–15 working days.
Scenario: Munich-based software company opening a Budapest development office via a wholly-owned Kft.
Share capital: HUF 5,000,000 (above statutory minimum)
Lawyer fee (mid-size firm, foreign-shareholder Kft.): HUF 450,000
Registration fee (e-filing): HUF 15,000
Articles stamp duty: HUF 108,000
Registered office service (virtual, 12 months): HUF 200,000
Translation / notarisation of German GmbH documents: HUF 120,000
Total formation cost (excl. share capital): HUF 893,000
Legal basis: Act V of 2013 (Ptk.) §§ 3:159–3:252 (Kft. rules); Act V of 2006 on Company Registration; Act XCIII of 1990 §§ 40–45 (stamp duty on company formation).
Use our free calculator to estimate lawyer fees, registration costs, and share capital requirements for your Hungarian company.
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