CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
As someone leading my firm's digital transformation efforts over the past five years, together with the firm’s Senior Partners, I've been involved in the adoption of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. It has been a challenging yet stimulating journey, and I want to share my insights into what drove this transformation.
The proposed Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Games of Chance brings several important changes, certain new legal solutions as a result of the needs of practice and market development, harmonization of the text of the law with technological development in this area, but also introduces new obligations to organizers and significantly increase in fees for obtaining approval and for organizing of games of chance.
The Misdemeanor Court in Podgorica recently imposed a fine of EUR 806,953.09 on the telecommunications company M:tel doo Podgorica (“M:tel”) for the acquisition, by its related Serbian company, of 50% shares in the Slovenian company Arena Sport doo Ljubljana (“Arena Sport”).
JPM Partners has announced its expansion into North Macedonia via the integration of Tosic & Jevtic into its regional network.
In Montenegro the Law on Amendments to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights came into force and it aims to harmonize Montenegrin legislation with EU legislative, particularly in the part that facilitates broad access to copyrighted works by enabling the sharing of online content through various platforms.
On October 16, the Ministry of Finance published draft amendments of, as many as, 7 laws in the field of taxation, with an invitation to interested parties to submit comments, suggestions and objections to the published drafts by October 23. In addition to tax laws, drafts and amendments to the Law on Public Property and the Law on Republic Administrative Fees were published.
On 10th October 2024, the Commission for the Protection of Competition (“Commission”) initiated an ex officio investigation proceedings for potential antitrust violation involving DELHAIZE SERBIA DRUŠTVO SA OGRANIČENOM ODGOVORNOŠĆU BEOGRAD (NOVI BEOGRAD), Mercator-S DOO BEOGRAD, UNIVEREXPORT EXPORT-IMPORT DOO, and DIS DOO KRNJEVO (“Companies”).
The new Waste Management Law of Montenegro (“the Law”), which came into force on April 12, 2024, represents a step further towards harmonizing Montenegrin legislation with the acquis communautaire, namely key European Union (“EU”) directives in the area of waste management.
The Law on Management of Companies Owned by the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter: the Law) came into force on 16 September 2024 in full. This Law was adopted in accordance with the recommendations that the Republic of Serbia received from the International Monetary Fund in order to corporatization, improve management and change the legal form of enterprises in the Republic of Serbia.
The Government of the Republic of Serbia has proposed amendments to the Law on Public Notaries ("Official Gazette of RS", no. 31/2011, 85/2012, 19/2013, 55/2014 - other law, 93/2014 - other law, 121/ 2014, 6/2015 and 106/2015) with the purpose of introducing the obligation to solemnize monetary loan agreements between natural persons in the amount of EUR 10,000 and higher.
Montenegro is not a member state of the European Union but rather a candidate country for membership, which status was granted on December 17, 2010. As such, European Union regulations are not directly applicable in Montenegro, however, many regulations have been harmonized with EU directives as a result of the harmonization process (acquis Communautaire).
CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Oil & Gas in CEE.
Contributed by JPM & Partners.
The Parliament of Montenegro passed the Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources, which was published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro on August 23rd, 2024. The Law will enter into force on the eighth day from the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of Montenegro.
JPM & Partners has advised the founders of the Sidro philanthropic foundation on its launch in Serbia.
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
As a result of major market changes, business entities more often suspend their operations and become insolvent, during which arises the question of the collectability of the claims of their creditors and associates, as well as persons who are in other relationships with such insolvent business entities.
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As partner departures are inherent to the workings of any law firm, and likely demand clear strategies for navigating, this time around we asked: What are the three most important items on your checklist when a Partner leaves your firm?
We are a full service commercial law firm in Serbia, with over 30 years of successful practice in SEE region and true and lasting partnerships with our clients.
Our diverse teams of lawyers are focused on practice in specific legal areas, handling some of the most high-profile multijurisdictional matters in energy, project development, mining, foreign investments, corporate and commercial. We are highly sought-after for legal advice in creative industries, environmental law and white-collar crime, as well as intellectual property, international arbitration, labor and data protection
As an exclusive member of Lex Mundi – the world’s premiere network of leading independent law firms, we interconnect and reach globally. Regionally, we advise clients in Montenegro directly, through well established partnership with ‘JPM Montenegro Partner Vukmirovic Misic law firm’ and close working relationships with selected first-rate firms in the region. Working together with our domestic and international clients on their most significant transactions and around entry to Serbian market, allows us to operate as the perfect hub for SEE and other cross-border transactions.
Our clients operate in increasingly competitive landscape and we are identifying new methods of using legal technology, to help them increase efficiency, save time and streamline work processes - document management, billing and accounting. By adopting LUMINANCE AI platform for legal professionals, we use machine-learning for contract analyses across our practice groups, as well as eDiscovery revolutionary software to simplify operations in all forms of litigation.
With exclusive access to EQUISPHERE – Lex Mundi Innovative service model, our clients can design their own legal team by choosing the best lawyers in the relevant jurisdictions, sharing documentation and communicating with all teams at any time, from a single point of contact.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier law firm, both by clients and leading independent legal directories Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR1000, we remain committed to delivering highest quality service to our clients and help them succeed in overcoming cross-border challenges. We remain committed to continuously share our knowledge by regularly publishing articles, giving lectures and organizing international conferences.
Firm's website: http://jpm.rs/