István Réczicza is the head of the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT), Energy and Regulated Industries practices of the Budapest office. He has been the senior Hungarian lawyer since joining the Firm in 1997 and co-head of the office since January 1999. He also leads the Firm's Regulatory / Disputes practice across Central and Eastern Europe.

His practice focuses on the areas of telecommunications, energy, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, intellectual property and competition regulations, particularly as these relate to transactions involving foreign investment. In the course of this representation, István has become one of Hungary's leading figures in the analysis of industry regulation and the drafting of proposed amendments in connection with such legislation.

For example, István headed the White & Case teams that represented UK's leading airport operator in the largest ever privatization in Hungary, the approximately US$2.2 billion privatization of the state-owned Budapest Airport in 2005, the 2006 acquisition of the airport operator by a Spanish construction group and the newly formed entity in its sale of the airport operator's majority stake in Budapest Airport to a leading German construction company for €1.9 billion.

In the Disputes arena, István has advised the former Hungarian privatization agency and various government instrumentalities such as the state-owned electricity company, power transmission operator and formerly state-run telecommunications company in connection with various disputes relating to their respective privatizations. He regularly advises Hungary's national electricity company and its subsidiaries on litigations, domestic and international arbitration, including defending the client before the ICSID and representing the client in the very first case before the Hungarian Energy Arbitration Court. His deep experience includes advising other government bodies, agencies and ministries; state-owned companies; and multinationals in various disputes.

In the telecommunications and media sector, István advised a state agency and a national government during the revision of the then current media legislation, and assisted the national government in the preparation of official Hungarian versions of the relevant EU directives on electronic communications.

His other experience in the field includes advising:

• A government body in the drafting of the new Electronic Communications Act and its implementing decrees
• A national government in relation to the development of the new national audiovisual and media strategy
• A national regulatory body in several matters, including:
  • The international tender for one of the third-generation (3G) mobile telephone licenses in Hungary, a tender that generated approximately €216 million in fees for Hungary, and after its successful completion resulted in 3G licenses to each of the three incumbents
  • The structuring of operations of a global telecommunications fund, operated by the regulatory body, and in a series of litigations initiated by market players against the regulatory body's resolutions concerning payments into or from the fund
  • The renewal of 2G licenses (GSM 900) licenses of Hungarian mobile operators
  • The continuing assessment of and commenting on the 2007 European Commission proposal and draft directives and regulations produced by the European Parliament and the European Council regarding a comprehensive reform to the 2002 electronic communication regulatory framework, including the proposals concerning the establishment of a new European telecom agency, a reform of the market analysis procedure and the proposals to increase consumer benefits
• A global leader in aerospace and defense in subsequent public procurement procedures for the purchase of TETRA equipment and hand sets, following the Firm's previous representation of one of the world's largest providers of mission critical radio systems for public safety, and its Hungarian branch office, as the legal successor of a leading mobile phone provider's professional mobile radio (PMR) business in the supply of TETRA network equipment and hand sets to a subsidiary of a leading information and communications technology giant. This Hungarian subsidiary was selected by the Hungarian government as the operator of the national emergency radio network (EDR) using TETRA technology, and in various legal issues relating to the operation of the EDR network in Hungary
• Hungary's number one alternative and second largest fixed-line telecommunications provider in connection with the regulation of its retail tariffs, in particular its tariffs for calls to mobile networks
• A publicly listed Dutch telecommunications company, a collocation services provider and a Hungarian internet service provider in drafting their general terms and conditions for public services, including a series of consultations with the National Communications Authority (NHH) regarding the fine-tuning of such general terms and conditions
• A major European national broadcaster in connection with its contemplated bid to acquire a controlling stake in the Hungarian national broadcaster, in a privatization tender conducted by the Hungarian Privatization and State Holding Company
• The European corporate headquarters of a leading international cable operator in various regulatory matters including legal interception and privacy in Hungary, requiring consultations with the NHH and the Data Protection Commissioner's Office

In the Energy sector, István has, or is advising:

• A Swiss energy trading company in certain questions pertaining to electricity trading, EU emission allowances transactions, and related Hungarian regulation for foreign companies to trade with Hungarian entities in general
• The largest Hungarian electricity company, and a state agency, in various matters concerning the energy sector, including issues relating to stranded costs arising in market liberalization
• The Hungarian integrated electricity company in the renegotiation of long-term power purchase agreements with several Hungarian power generation companies
• A consortium of companies, including a Spanish wind power development and management company, on the structuring, negotiation and formation of a joint venture with Hungarian wind energy companies;
• A European company engaged in electric utilities and renewable energy supply in the acquisition of a wind farm in Hungary
• The Hungarian government in working out changes to the regulatory structure
• A government entity as to changes needed to laws and practices to bring them into compliance with European Union rules
• A government body in its negotiations with the largest natural gas trader in Hungary regarding a dispute following an amendment to the gas price decrees and regarding the state aid issues that may arise out of the settlement between the parties

As part of White & Case's Infrastructure and Project Finance Practice Group, István led the Firm's work on the M5 motorway project, which was voted PFI Infrastructure Deal of the Year. In this transaction, White & Case represented the lead arrangers in connection with a €750 million project finance facility for AKA Koncessziós Autópálya Rt, holder of a concession to operate the M5 toll motorway in Hungary to be used to finance the construction of a new section for the motorway and to refinancing the existing sections. He also advised the European Union's lending institution in connection with its initial interest in the M6 motorway project in Hungary.

In the field of Mergers & Acquisitions, István has, or is advising:

• France's leading energy company in a number of acquisitions in the gas distribution sector
• A leading European power company in connection with the acquisition of one of the largest Hungarian power generation and district heating companies
• The world's largest steel company in relation to its bid to acquire Hungary's largest steel manufacturer
• A number of preeminent foreign investors in connection with privatization, mergers and acquisitions and related transactions

István is regularly recognized as a "leading individual" by venerable benchmark publications such as Chambers Europe, Legal 500 EMEA and Chambers Global.

Bars and Courts
Budapest Bar, 1991

Education
JD, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1988

Awards and Recognition
Chambers Europe, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011
Chambers Global, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Who is Who Legal, 2011
Hungarian Law Firm of the Year 2010, IFLR1000
CEE Law Firm of the Year 2010, Chambers Europe Awards
Best Lawyers, 2010
International Financial Law Review 1000, 2009 and 2010
Legal 500: Europe, Middles East & Africa, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
PLC Which Lawyer?, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Languages
Hungarian
English

Citizenship
Hungary