Senior Lawyers
Practice Areas
Sector Focus
Professional Experience
Zoltán Forgó has been practising international business law for more than 25 years. His primary specialisation is corporate/M&A work, having acted as lead counsel on 100+ closed M&A transactions and represented numerous international investors, private equity firms and Hungarian blue-chip companies. In such transactions he places great emphasis on adopting a commercial approach, focusing on solution-oriented negotiation, and ensuring precise documentation.
Zoltán Forgó’s advisory work on a number of high-profile transactions affords him a deep understanding of the issues, client needs and regulatory background of the pharmaceutical, food supplements, health services, insurance, energy and IT industries.
He has successfully assisted clients in a number of arbitration and cross-border litigation matters, acting before forums in Budapest, Vienna and London. He has also been a longtime arbitrator of the Money and Capital Arbitration Court and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Court and has acted as arbitrator in numerous arbitration cases.
Based on his substantial corporate track record, he has niche expertise on such delicate matters as Corporate Disputes, Employee Stock Option Plans and W&I Insurance.
His track record includes representing corporate borrowers, banks and international financial institutions in financing transactions. Furthermore, Zoltán Forgó is experienced in advising institutional investors on complex real estate transactions.
Prior to the establishment of Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners (and its predecessor), Zoltán Forgó was Partner and Head of the M&A practice at the Budapest office of an international law firm. His experience includes working in Vienna and in London at leading international law firms.
Languages
- Hungarian
- English
Memberships, social responsibility
- Budapest Bar Association since 1995 (ügyvéd)
- Arbitrator of the Money and Capital Markets Arbitration Court in Budapest 2008-2018
- Arbitrator of the Arbitration Court of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce since 2018
- Hungarian Venture Capital Association: Member of the Ethics Committee 2010-2016, 2025-2026
- Coach/mentor of the Bibó István College of Law since 2013
Education
- ELTE University, Budapest, 1992 Law Degree (summa cum laude)
- Postgraduate International Trade Law Course, Turin, 1992
- Postgraduate Degree in International Trade Law, 1998
Publications & Conference Presentations
- Several articles and interviews in the CEE Legal Matters magazine on Hungarian M&A transactions and the M&A transactional market
- Legal blogs:
- “Asset management trusts” (2021)
- “Decision of the Curia on Olympic annuity” (2021)
- “Legal pitfalls of purchasing newly built flats” (2020)
- “Preparation for company sale” (2018)
- “The new Arbitration Act” (2018)
- “The new procedural rules of the Arbitration Court of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce” (2018)
- “Novelties of the new Act on Attorneys” (2017)
- co-author of the Hungary chapter of the 2013/14 and 2014/15 multijurisdictional private acquisitions M&A guide of Practical Law (2013 and 2014)
- speaking on nuclear developments in Hungary at the nuclear energy workshop of the Second Energy Event, France, 2011
- author of the article “Price War” on Hungarian pharmaceutical laws (Life Sciences Law and Business, 2004)
Awards & Recommendations
- World Finance Magazine Legal Awards (2011), Hungary: “Best individual lawyer”
- Legal 500 (2026): Leading Partner in Corporate, Commercial M&A
- Chambers Europe (2026): Leading Partner in Corporate M&A
- International Financial Law Review: leading lawyer in Banking & Financing and Capital Markets for many years
- Chambers Europe: leading lawyer in Life Sciences for many years in a row
- Chambers Europe: leading lawyer in Employment for many years
- LMG Life Science (2014-2016): “Life Science Star” in Regulatory and Transactional Matters
- Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards (2011): “Life Sciences Lawyer of the Year in Hungary”
Quotes from Legal 500
“Zoltán Forgó is an outstanding senior M&A lawyer. He is always very well prepared for client meetings and negotiation sessions, driving his performance very high. He is also very strong in representing client interests.” (2026, Mergers & Acquisitions)
“Zoltán Forgó is a great negotiator with a very deep knowledge and experience. Like the team, he is very accessible, reliable and incredibly thorough.” (Mergers & Acquisitions, 2026)
“Zoltán Forgó: huge experience in M&A affairs, positive and self-assured, excellent English skills, outstanding negotiator.” (2025, Mergers & Acquisitions)
“Zoltán Forgó is a highly experienced M&A lawyer with deep knowledge and experience in cross-border deals.” (2025, Mergers & Acquisitions)
“Zoltán Forgó is a highly committed lawyer and a strong negotiator who is able to exert significant pressure on the other party.” (2025, Dispute Resolution)
“He is an outstanding and very experienced transactional lawyer, possessing all the qualities we need, approachable, accurate drafting and strong negotiation skills. He is able to put together the most challenging and complex transactions and to bring them to completion.” (2024, Corporate M&A)
“We consider Zoltán Forgó as a star performer for both M&A transactional and corporate governance matters. He excels in providing legal analyses within short deadlines, always able to provide solutions even for the most complex matters. He communicates clearly focusing on issues which really matter for us. It was great having him on our side.” (2024, Corporate M&A)
“The dedication and professional support of Zoltán Forgó was of key importance in successfully completing many challenging legal tasks and projects.” (2024, Corporate, Commercial M&A)
“Zoltán Forgó was instrumental in analysing the potential risks and upsides for us in the litigious situation and in building up and executing a communication strategy with our counterparty. He forcefully led the negotiation with the counterparty and guided the dispute to a good exit transaction. I would note that he is a tough negotiator but at the same time he is able to throw many alternatives on the table which yielded good results.” (2024, Dispute Resolution)
“Zoltán Forgó and Zsófia Füzi are very well prepared experts of their profession, their experience and negotiation skills in M&A law are unique, they are confident but reasonable and calm at the same time.” (2024, Corporate M&A)
Quotes from Chambers Europe
“Zoltán has a deep understanding of the legal and commercial intricacies of matters, enabling him to provide clear, practical solutions tailored to the needs of the transaction.” (Corporate M&A, 2026)
“Zoltán is a calm yet highly effective negotiator who consistently delivers excellent outcomes for clients.” (Corporate M&A, 2026)
“Beyond his legal expertise, Zoltán Forgó offers valuable guidance and insights across broader business, deal-making and negotiation matters.” (Corporate M&A, 2026)
“Clients recommend Zoltán Forgó as being especially good in understanding the specific rules and regulations affecting the pharmaceutical sector. He has extensive experience of advising on transactional and regulatory mandates involving well-known life sciences clients.” (Life Sciences, 2015)
“Zoltán Forgó is a very diligent and substantially experienced lawyer. He is a very knowledgeable practitioner who is widely praised by market commentators for his impressive performance on deals.” (Corporate M&A, 2014)
“Zoltán Forgó is thorough and meticulous practitioner. One impressed market commentator describes him as the go-to lawyer for life sciences.” (Life Sciences, 2014)
“Zoltán Forgó is a key figure in the life sciences market, and is also well known for his expertise in corporate and employment matters.” (Life Sciences, 2013)
“Clients appreciate his in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector which is vital for any transaction.” (Life Sciences, 2013)
