White & Case is the lead law firm Sponsor of the 2nd annual Euromoney conference: "Acquisition & Leveraged Finance in CEE"

Investor interest is shifting East. With exciting new entries of global private equity players, 2007 saw record breaking deals in the CEE acquisition and leveraged buyouts market. While Western capital markets are trying to come to terms with new credit environment, the prospects for CEE are brighter than ever.

This high profile, two-day conference takes place at the Marriott Hotel, Prague, April 17-18, 2008 and features speakers and attendees from the leading private equity funds, local and international investment banks, investors, law firms and intermediaries doing business in the region.

White & Case partners from across our market-leading European offices will be leading the key debates at this event including:

• David Plch (Prague) will chair a panel discussion entitled: "Liquidity from lender and borrower perspectives" and will be joined by Vladimir Lasocki (Carlyle Central Eastern Europe Partners), Steven Buckley (Innova Capital), Felipe de Vengoechea (ABN AMRO) Alexander Merwart (Commerzbank) and Anna-Maria Branschaedel (RZB Credit Markets).
• Rob Irving (Budapest) will chair a panel discussion entitled: "A focus on Romania and Bulgaria – emerging potential" and will be joined by Nigel Williams (Royalton Partners),  Erik Hallgren (Oresa Ventures),  Pekka Maki (3TS) and Brian Wardrop (Arx Equity Partners).
• Annica Lindegren (Frankfurt) will be moderating the panel discussion entitled: "Current trends in debt structuring and underwriting" and will be joined by Lucy Gray (Commerzbank), Ivan Meloun (CSOB) and David Ryba (ING Bank).
• Zdzislaw Wieckowski (Warsaw) will be moderating a panel entitled "Latest developments in the legal framework" which will cover: Avoiding pitfalls in the due diligence process; An overview of the latest legislative initiatives in CEE; Legal management of cross border deals; and What to expect in 2008? The panel will be chaired by Zdzislaw and he will be joined by White & Case partners David Plch (Prague), Marek Staron (Bratislava) and Todd Shollenbarger (Bucharest)

Other attendees from White & Case will include the head of our London High Yield practice Rob Mathews and acquisition finance partner Jay Sadanandan from London, Jan Matejcek, the Executive Partner of our Prague office and Lech Gilicinski, head of Financial Restructuring & Insolvency in our Warsaw office.

The Firm will also be hosting an exclusive cocktail reception at the magnificent Lobkowicz Palace which will allow delegates exclusive access to the Lobkowicz family's private art collection.

If you are involved in, or looking to learn more about acquisition and leveraged finance in these markets and wish to attend this event or learn more about White & Case in the region, please contact Jeremy Ford in our London office at .