Changes on the Horizon
Serbia: Rebranding the Trademark Law
Serbia recently reworked its Law on Trademarks, coming into force on 1 February 2020. What has changed? In local parlance: “Everything and nothing”. The changes are not extensive, but concern key features of the local trademark rules: Oppositions The new law introduced an opposition system, as an auxiliary system to the existing framework. Per previous […]
Read moreThe Impact of MDR
Is the Market for Medical Devices in Slovenia and Within the EU Becoming More Significant?
This Article was originally published in Issue 6.11 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. The significance of medical devices is most certainly on the rise, considering not only its importance to patients, for whom medical devices represent life-enhancing products, but also developments in innovation, economics, and in the regulatory and legal sphere. Issues such as data […]
Read moreBacker AB Acquires shares in Elektrotermija
Karanovic & Partners Advises Backer AB in Elektrotermija Transaction
Karanovic & Partners advised the Swedish company Backer AB, part of NIBE group, in the acquisition of shares in Elektrotermija transaction. Our scope of work consisted of performing due diligence of Elektrotermija, drafting and negotiating of transactional documentation, structuring the transaction, as well as all-encompassing legal advisory regarding post-closing activities for Backer AB. The core […]
Read moreThe Position of the Supreme Court
Mortgage Extension with Special Reference to the Montenegrin Supreme Court’s Legal Position
This Article was originally published in Issue 6.11 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. Claims from Loan Agreements are generally secured by establishing a mortgage over a certain property on the basis of a Mortgage Agreement or a Pledge Statement. Establishing a mortgage over the land for the purpose of securing a contractual claim for land […]
Read moreTwo Perspectives
Lawyering in an Age of Transformation
This Article was originally published in Issue 6.11 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. Concerns about how the legal profession will be impacted by the ongoing technological revolution are rampant across the industry. Artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technology (blockchain), and robots, among other things, are already altering the way lawyers serve clients in fundamental ways, and […]
Read moreThe Future is Now
Winning with Integrity in the Western Balkans
In 2018, the Western Balkans had a population of approximately 21.5 million, an aggregate GDP of around EUR 230 billion, and an average growth rate of 3.8%. Although the countries of the Western Balkans share the same history, and to a large extent the same language, there is more variety when it comes to political […]
Read moreKaranovic & Partners announces the new Managing Partner
Dragan Karanovic Appointed as the New Managing Partner
Karanovic & Partners is pleased to announce the appointment of Dragan Karanovic as the new managing partner of the firm. Founding partner of the firm takes over the leading position from Rastko Petaković who served as managing partner for the past 3 years. Dragan will be assisted and supported by senior partner Darko Jovanović while […]
Read moreAs of 30 January
Revolution in Data Transfer Rules to non-European Countries
The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection (“Commissioner”) issued the Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCCs”) applicable to the relationship between the Serbian data controllers and non-European data processors which will enter into force on 30 January 2020. The Commissioner’s decision comes five months after the new Law on Data Protection became applicable […]
Read moreLegislation Update - Slovenia
Additional Legal Protection in Public Procurement Procedures
The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an amendment to the Legal Protection in Public Procurement Procedures Act (“Amended Act”) which came into effect on 19 December 2019, apart from Article 39.a, governing the newly introduced administrative dispute, which will be effective as of 1 January 2021. The amendment represents a step towards […]
Read moreOfficial Statement
Forcing Out Competitors and Market Division: Waste Management Cartel in Slovenia
On 21 January 2020, the Slovenian Competition Agency (the “Agency”) published an official statement regarding its recent decision establishing that companies Surovina, Dinos, Salomon and Recikel (hereinafter: the “Parties”) colluded to eliminate a competitor and to divide the waste management market in Slovenia. The markets concerned include the downward market of packaging waste management […]
Read moreLegislation Update
Significant Novelties and Legal Solutions of the new Labor Law in Montenegro
The new Labour Law of Montenegro (the “Law”) was published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro no. 74/2019 on December 30, 2019, and entered into force on January 7, 2020, whereas the Labor Law (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, nos. 49/08, 59/11, 66/12, 31/2014 and 4/18) ceased to apply. Significant novelties prescribed by the new Law […]
Read moreLegislation Update
Law on Strategic Investments adopted in North Macedonia
The purpose of the recently adopted Law for Strategic Investments (“Law”) which is in line with the directives of the European Union, is to encourage, attract and create conditions for conducting strategic investments. This Law should encourage economic growth, employment and use of new technologies and innovations, increasing the competitive economic opportunities of North Macedonia, […]
Read moreWhat do the reforms bring
Amendments to Tax Laws in the Region
Tax laws in Serbia were amended at the end of 2019 and entered into force 2020, with the most significant change affecting the status of entrepreneurs. Significant amendments to tax laws were also made in North Macedonia and Slovenia. Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base […]
Read moreFresh Changes
Amendments to the Serbian Company Law Enacted
The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia enacted amendments to the Company law on 23 December 2019. The amendments enable limited liability companies to use the concept which resembles stock option schemes. Limited liability companies (by far the most frequent company form in Serbia) will be able to incentivize their employees and other individuals […]
Read moreStrongest Commitment for Talent Management
Karanovic & Partners Wins The 2019 Stanton Chase Award
We are honoured to announce that Karanović & Partners has been chosen as the winner of this year’s Stanton Chase award for Strongest Commitment for Talent Management. This is the second year in a row that we are winning this prestigious accolade – Karanović & Partners won its first Stanton Chase Talent Management Award in […]
Read moreNew appointments in the Commission for State Aid Control
New President and Council Members for the Commission for State Aid Control
Not long after adopting the new Law on State Aid, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia appointed the President and four council-members of the Serbian Commission for State Aid Control (“CSAC”). State aid control in Serbia has been identified as an area that requires significant and priority improvement in EU accession, as the […]
Read moreNew Framework
Germany Pioneering in Digital Antitrust Law Regulation
The German Ministry of Economy and Energy published a new and ambitious draft of the Law on Digitalisation of German Competition Law (the “Law”), expected to enter into force in the second half of 2020. Germany aims to remain a forerunner of antitrust regulation of digital markets by introducing this “digital antitrust law” and by […]
Read moreFine Enforcement
Slovenian Competition Protection Agency seizes Agrokor’s shares in Mercator
In late 2019, the Slovenian Competition Protection Agency (the “Agency”) shocked the local business community by announcing that it has temporarily seized the Croatian conglomerate Agrokor’s shares in Slovenia’s largest retailer Mercator d.d., worth an estimated EUR 140 million, for the purpose of securing the enforcement of a previously-imposed fine. The fine of EUR 53.9 […]
Read moreMajor Acquisition
Karanović & Partners advises Playrix in Enharmonic Games acquisition
Karanović & Partners is pleased to announce it has provided all around legal support and advice to Playrix on its acquisition of Serbian company Enharmonic Games. Playrix is one of the world’s leading game design studios and this transaction represents a part of the company’s continuing business strategy to expand into new markets. Our team […]
Read moreNext Step
FSMA Authorized EMMI for Provision and Administration of EONIA under EU BMR
The Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) authorized the European Money Markets Institute on 11 November for the provision and administration of EONIA under Article 34 of the EU Benchmarks Regulation (EU BMR). “EMMI has provided the FSMA with comprehensive information attesting that all the necessary arrangements to meet the requirements in the EU […]
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