If one were to glance over the website of the Montenegrin Agency for Protection of Competition (Agency), one may reach what will turn out to be a premature conclusion that the Agency is not an overly active enforcer, especially when it comes to merger control-related infringements. One will also not be able to learn much about the Agency’s fining practices. To gain a more realistic picture of its track record with gun-jumping cases, a deeper dive into publicly available data is required. Reasons for this lie mostly with how the Montenegrin legal system for the levying of competition fines is set up.

In recent years, significant global events and unforeseen circumstances have had a profound impact on, among others, infrastructure projects. These events, whether global conflicts, health crises, or other significant occurrences, have triggered price changes in such projects. As a result, provisions of the Serbian Law on Obligations regarding claims for changes in price have gained prominence.

Despite global financial downturns, Serbia’s banking and finance market has exhibited remarkable stability and consistent growth. It has experienced significant advancements driven by economic expansion, technological progress, and regulatory reforms aiming to enhance stability, transparency, consumer protection, and efficiency.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia recently took a significant step in redefining the rules regulating construction activities in Serbia by proposing amendments to the Law on Planning and Construction. If adopted, this will introduce significant changes and breakthroughs for both individuals and the industry as a whole.

In recent years, the rise of mass lawsuits has placed a significant strain on Serbian courts. The most notable mass lawsuits, which first emerged in the mid-2000s, encompass a wide range of issues, from shift and night work disputes to overcharged fees for children’s daycare and discrimination against war veterans. Recent prominent cases have involved the nullity of loan agreement provisions on application-processing costs and auxiliary school staff’s entitlement to compensation for warm meals and holiday allowances. The rise of mass lawsuits carries profound legal and economic implications, sparking renewed initiatives for class action in Serbia.

An in-depth look at Mika Lalaouni of Drakopoulos covering her career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about her as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

Over the past decade, the Greek renewable energy market went through an accelerated expansion. AKL Law Firm Partner Kostas Fatsis, Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners Partner Nassos Felonis, Moussas & Partners Managing Partner Nicholas Moussas, and Metaxas & Associates Associate Alexandra Kornilaki delve into the primary catalysts and the sector’s outlook.

An in-depth look at Mark Harrison of Harrisons covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about his as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

In a move that might appear unconventional for CEE legal markets, Belgrade-based law firm Gecic Law elevated its Head of Operations Hristina Kosec to Partnership. While a lawyer by education, Kosec’s career up to this point has not exactly been a typical lawyer’s one.

The Serbian private healthcare sector – including private healthcare providers and pharmacies – has been on a steady incline over the past several years. BDK Advokati Senior Partner Vladimir Dasic, Prica & Partners Partner Tijana Lalic, and Karanovic & Partners Senior Partner Marjan Poljak take a deep dive into what makes the sector tick and grow.

Eversheds Sutherland’s Bratislava office has expanded its offering with an additional line of service – customized in-house trainings. Counsel Jana Sapakova talks about these new trainings.

While international private equity players still dominate blockbuster deals in CEE, locals and regional players are gaining more and more ground – especially in terms of volume. PRK Partners Co-Head of Corporate and M&A Practice Group Milan Sivy, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Partner Gabriel Zbarcea, and Avellum Managing Partner Mykola Stetsenko provide an in-depth analysis of the PE landscape in the Czech Republic, Romania, and Ukraine.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As key steps, requirements, and timeline for becoming a Partner may vary from firm to firm, this time we asked: Does your firm have a formal Partnership Track and if yes, what does it involve?

Are compliance teams a necessary evil or effective facilitators of business success? At the CEE Legal Matters GC Summit held in Istanbul, legal experts from across Europe discussed how to best foster a culture of compliance and ethics in order to benefit businesses, as well as why multidisciplinary knowledge and an agile approach are crucial for compliance teams.

Not even half a year has passed since ChatGPT’s AI-supported chatbot started its public career in the online space and we have already heard of the first (?) lawyer who got in trouble in court for using AI to do background research. For those who missed the story, the chatbot “created” some fake case law examples, and upon several follow-up questions, the AI even confirmed that the cases were real. The references to these cases were then submitted to a US court where it quickly became clear that the cases never existed. Apart from the procedural problems this caused for the lawyer involved, this was an eye-opener for many in the legal industry.

In recent years, Initial Public Offerings on foreign exchange markets became a hot topic of discussion in Moldova. The Purcari Wineries Group, one of the biggest wineries in Moldova, got listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange Market. Others are also tackling the prospects. An IPO on a reputable market means better corporate governance, transparency, prestige, and access to new sources of funding.

For many years, we have witnessed how the laws of England and Wales were introduced in the Montenegrin financial legal system by the application of Loan and Market Association (LMA) templates in financing transactions. It was usually the lenders insisting on having the LMA standards in the loan agreement and for the laws of England and Wales to govern the loan agreement.

The banking and financial sector in Kosovo has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the introduction of new legislation for the industry. Kosovo has managed to build a sound and stable financial system, which has contributed to supporting the overall growth of the economy. In addition, financial institutions have been very active in making significant progress in the implementation of advanced technologies and innovation following the latest CEE developments.