As an EU candidate whose accession is contingent upon harmonizing its legislation with EU standards, Bosnia and Herzegovina (“BH”) was required to align its existing personal data protection with the  EU Regulation 2016/679, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). BH adopted the Personal Data Protection Law (“DPL”), published in the Official Gazette on 28 February 2025 and entering into force on 4 October 2025.

On 20 October 2025, in line with the EU's strategy to completely ban imports of Russian gas and oil, the Council of the EU adopted a proposal for a Regulation on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 (the "Regulation").

Bosnia & Herzegovina may be light on new projects as politics continues to eclipse the economy, but one reform is quietly reshaping the legal market, according to Law Office Dizdar Founder Slaven Dizdar, who spotlights the Federation’s new Law on the Legal Profession, its first comprehensive overhaul in two decades.

Following the successful 2025 Hungarian General Counsel Summit in Budapest, on October 21, 2025, CEE Legal Matters brought the Balkan General Counsel Summit to Belgrade, gathering leading in-house counsel and legal professionals from across the region.

According to Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners, the Fortenova Grupa refinancing (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 1, 2025) has now closed.

In March 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted its long-awaited Law on Personal Data Protection, a piece of legislation that fundamentally reshapes the country’s privacy landscape. The law was adopted to bring domestic rules into alignment with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and to ensure a coherent data protection framework across both entities and Brcko District. After a 210-day vacatio legis, the law is set to take full effect in October 2025, giving businesses and public authorities a limited time to adapt.

Investing in real estate in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) can be a lucrative opportunity – especially considering its proximity to the European Union (EU), relatively low property prices (compared to more developed EU countries), favorable tax regimes, lower labor costs, and more. However, BH’s complex legal and regulatory landscape hides challenges that can quickly turn promising investments into costly liabilities.

Dimitrijevic & Partners, working with Cassels, has advised Dundee Precious Metals on its acquisition of Adriatic Metals valued at approximately EUR 1.18 billion. Wolf Theiss and Law Office Naida Custovic advised Adriatic Metals.

Stankovic & Partners has advised Altima UK Value Investment Limited on the sale of Banjalucka pivara to Olvi. Maric & Co and Zivkovic Samardzic advised Olvi.

Bosnia & Herzegovina’s business climate has been overshadowed by political turbulence and lingering uncertainty, according to AMB Legal Group Attorney at Law Dino Aganovic, who mentions this year’s significant minimal wage increase and the establishment of a special prosecutor’s office as notable developments and stresses that investor confidence remains tied to whether the judiciary can restore credibility and efficiency.

With the accelerating push for decarbonization and the growing focus on energy security and sustainability, RRH Legal Managing Partner Indir Osmic and CMS Romania Partner Varinia Radu discuss national and regional developments, investor sentiment, and the key trends shaping the CEE energy sector.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr has advised the shareholders of Baupartner on the sale of an 80% equity stake to a joint acquisition vehicle formed by Molins and Titan. CMS and RRH Legal Sarajevo advised Molins and Titan.

CMS, working with Clifford Chance, has advised UniCredit Group and Zagrebacka Banka on the EUR 550 million debt refinancing granted to Fortenova Grupa. King & Spalding reportedly advised Fortenova Grupa.

Gecic Law has successfully represented Arena Channels Group, alongside BH Telecom and Mtel Banja Luka, in an antitrust dispute before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around, we asked: For 2025, what is the one sector or industry in the country that shows the most promise for growth, and why?

Paksoy has advised Bahceci Health Group on the sale to FutureLife. 

Big law firms can coast on boring slogans. They’ve got the clout, the infrastructure, and the impressive list of past clients to do the talking. But if you’re a smaller firm and your website sounds like everyone else’s, you are disappearing into the beige background of legal marketing noise.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is experiencing a notable shift in its investment climate, marked by a rise in foreign direct investment and a more dynamic economic landscape, according to Maric & Co Managing Partner Nebojsa Maric. While the country’s complex political system and heavy regulatory environment have historically made investors cautious, the interest in the areas of manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure is growing.