Former London-based JMW Solicitors Real Estate Partner Petar Orlic has joined NKO Partners in Belgrade as a Partner.

Commercial disputes, especially complex commercial cases, are increasingly present in modern regional and Serbian arbitration practices. There are more and more international and local business contracts in which the contracting parties fully trust international and domestic arbitrations to resolve all disputes arising from such contracts.

With the war in Ukraine raging for more than six months, law firms across the region have reported increased workloads in corporate and M&A, tax, employment, immigration law, and inquiries on the sanctions regimes in relevant jurisdictions, noting that companies from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are variously looking for a new home. Whether to avoid sanctions or escape the war, those companies consider a variety of factors in determining where to go.

Andrejic & Partners has advised Eyemaxx Real Estate and Eyemaxx International Holding & Consulting on the wind-up procedures for their Serbian subsidiaries Log Center, Bega ING, and Logmaxx.

The Spanish personal data protection authority has recently fined a natural person with EUR 10,000.00 for publishing personal data of a third person without the latter’s consent on an online blog.

Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners has advised CWP Global on three new renewable energy projects in Serbia with 680 megawatts in total electricity generation capacity. 

Harrisons has advised the EBRD on a EUR 25 million loan to OTP Bank Serbia for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises.

On 18 June 2022, the Regulation on Criteria for Awarding Incentives to Employers who Employ New Residents in the Republic of Serbia, published in the Off. Gazette of RS no. 67/2022 (“the Regulation”), entered into force.

BDK Advokati has advised Hodler Asset Management on the acquisition of a 45% stake in Superior Foods. The N Law Office reportedly advised Milica Gacic on the sale.

NKO Partners has advised CTP on its acquisition of almost 33 hectares of land in Simanovci, near Belgrade, from EBP Development. The SOG Law Firm advised EBP Development.

Harrisons has advised the EBRD on a EUR 25 million loan to the MK Group.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on the amount of the minimum wage for the period January-December 2023, by which the minimum wage in Serbia was increased from net 201.22 RSD per working hour to net 230 RSD in 2023.

Dentons has advised Vetroelektrane Balkana on a EUR 205 million refinancing of the 158-megawatt Cibuk wind farm located in Mramorak, Serbia. CMS reportedly advised the lenders on the deal.

The Fiscal Council of the Republic of Serbia published on 29 September 2022 the „Proposal of social and tax policy measures for reducing inequality and poverty risks in the Republic of Serbia“. One of the proposed measures of tax policy for reducing inequality is doubling the limit of non-taxable salary amount, from RSD 19,300 to RSD 40,000 and introduction of non-taxable census of RSD 20,000 per month, to be granted for each household member – dependent. In order to maintain the existing level of budgetary funds, should this proposed reform of individual income tax be adopted, i.e. in order to prevent decrease of budgetary funds due to the reform, it is necessary to increase the salary tax rate from 10% to 15% in parallel with increase of non-taxable census and introduction of non-taxable census for household members-dependents. 

The Icelandic data protection authority (Personuvernd) (“DPA”) recently held that there is a conflict of interest if a data protection officer in a company simultaneously acts as a representative, i.e., member of the same company’s management.

Former Schoenherr Of Counsel Olga Sipka has joined Kinstellar as a Special Counsel and new Head of the local Competition and Compliance practice in Belgrade.

NKO Partners has advised the Dr. Max Group on its acquisition of two pharmacy chains in Serbia: Pancevo-based AU Kod Suncanog Sata and Veliko Gradiste-based AU Selic. Reportedly, Subotic-Homen & Partners and solo practitioner Slobodan Miljkovic advised the sellers.

On September 23, 2022, CEE Legal Matters reported that Zivkovic Samardzic had advised both companies on the Titan Cementara Kosjeric merger with its affiliate Stari Silo Company. CEELM reached out to Zivkovic Samardzic Partner Igor Zivkovski to learn more about the deal.