In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2024 behind us, we asked: Looking at transactional volumes for this year, would you say that 2024 was better or worse than what you originally expected it to be, and why?

The investment volume curve concerning Serbia’s capital markets and trading on the Belgrade Stock Exchange is on a downward trajectory as of the end of the second round of mass privatizations and the start of the 2008-2009 economic crisis.

The distinction between a domestic and a foreign arbitral award is important because it affects the recognition, enforcement, and legal remedies available under Serbian law. The domicile of the award is determined by the seat of arbitration and the law applied to the arbitral proceedings.

NKO Partners has advised Mark Medical on the acquisition of Hermes-Pharma. Joksovic, Stojanovic & Partners advised the sellers.

Vulic Law has advised Mediolanum Invest JSC on the acquisition of Koncern Farmakom–Lece Mine in Serbia for approximately EUR 35 million.

Harrisons has advised the EBRD on an RSD 1.17 billion (approximately EUR 10 million equivalent) loan under the GEFF Regional framework program to Erste Bank.

ZSP Advokati, working with Dentons and Harneys, has advised NLB Komercijalna Banka Beograd and Banca Intesa Beograd on the financing of the Airport City East Gate Business Tower 1 project, developed by AFI Europe.

Karanovic & Partners has advised the European Fund for Southeast Europe’s Regional Sub-Fund and the Green for Growth Fund on providing two MREL-compliant loans to Serbian AIK Banka.

BDK Advokati has advised A1 Srbija on its acquisition of Conexio Metro from Madison Debt Holdings. Kinstellar advised the sellers.

The Assembly of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (“SCoC”) recently adopted the Code of Practice for Advertising by Wholesale and Retail Traders of Food Products (“Code”), which entered into force on January 1, 2025.

Karanovic & Partners has promoted Milica Filipovic, Marko Culafic, and Sava Draca to Partner.

The Ministry of Finance has adopted the Rulebook on interest rates considered to be in line with the "arm’s length" principle for 2025. The Rulebook was published in the Official Gazette on February 28 and will enter into force on March 8.

The recent 30-day lawyer strike has sent ripples across Serbia’s legal and business environment, disrupting key judicial and administrative functions and raising concerns about prolonged instability. Schoenherr Partner Igor Zivkovski discusses the strike’s impact, investor sentiment, as well as a promising corporate bond program, and the evolving regulatory framework as Serbia navigates a period of uncertainty.

The right to equal pay for the same work or work of equal value is one of the fundamental rights of employees, protected by both domestic legislation and international standards. In Montenegro, this right is regulated by the Labor Law, while judicial practice contributes to its interpretation and application. Furthermore, the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union plays a significant role in shaping the legal framework, providing guidelines for the protection against discrimination in terms of wage equality.

Freshfields has advised Midea Group subsidiary Midea Electrics Netherlands on its EUR 750 million acquisition of the climate division from Arbonia AG. BDK Advokati advised Midea on the local aspects of the acquisition of Serbian company Termovent, as part of the broader transaction. Baker McKenzie advised Arbonia.

At the end of 2024, the Ministry of Mining and Energy announced the second auction for wind and solar power plants. The deadline for applying for participation in the auctions is 05.02.2025. year. After consideration of all applications and bids, the entire capacity offered at the auctions for wind farms (300 MW) and for solar power plants (124.8 MW) was successfully allocated.

The European Commission has introduced a new legislative package aimed at simplifying sustainability and investment regulations. In the latest Competitiveness Compass we recently covered, the Commission outlined its strategy to enhance the EU’s economic prosperity and competitiveness. Known as Omnibus I and Omnibus II, these reforms are designed to cut administrative burdens, enhance business competitiveness, and maintain the EU’s commitment to sustainability goals. The key areas affected include the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the InvestEU Regulation. By streamlining compliance, the EU hopes to make regulatory obligations more manageable while still upholding environmental and social governance (ESG) objectives.

Serbian Energy Regulatory Agency (AERS) has adopted the Tariff methodology for access to the natural gas transmission systems, which is now harmonized with the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/460 of 16 March 2017 establishing a network code on harmonised transmission tariff structures for gas (NC TAR).