On 10 October 2024, the Ministry of National Economy published a draft Government Decree on the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority and another one on the amendments to the Government Decrees related to the establishment of the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority.

On 25 October 2024, new rules for the registration of inventions and utility models in Ukraine ("Rules") came into force. Pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine No. 23301 dated 9 September 2024, the Rules set out the requirements for the drafting, filing and examining of an invention and utility model applications.

The UK government recently unveiled guidance on a major update to its corporate fraud laws: the “failure to prevent fraud” offence, introduced through the 2023 Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT). Taking effect on September 1, 2025, this law could have serious implications for companies operating within the EU.

Unlike many neighboring countries, the Trademark Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina explicitly addresses bad faith trademark applications as both relative grounds for refusal and as a basis for contesting a trademark through court proceedings. In other words, trademark applications filed contrary to the principles of good faith and fair dealing can be challenged either through an opposition before the Institute for Intellectual Property or by filing a lawsuit before the competent court. While this dual system theoretically provides two distinct avenues of recourse, practical experience shows that both mechanisms tend to merge into a single, judicially driven process. Below, we analyze the key lessons drawn from recent case law concerning bad faith trademark filings.

The IT sector, a cornerstone of modern economies, is not immune to market fluctuations and corporate restructuring. While its growth trajectory often defies broader economic downturns, redundancies in IT have become a reality in Serbia and across Europe due to shifts in demand, technological evolution, and economic uncertainties. This article delves into the redundancy procedure in Serbia’s IT sector, contrasts it with practices in Europe, and explores the causes and potential outcomes of such measures, with real-world examples.

The acquisition by a joint-stock company of its own shares, also known as share buy-back, is permitted under Romanian law, as provided by Articles 103 – 109 of the Companies Law no. 31/1990 (“Companies Law”). The operation is, however, limited by certain conditions, based on reasons such as the goal to avoid speculation by the company on the price of its own shares or the difficulty to accept that the company can be, at the same time, a shareholder (being thus both debtor and creditor)[1].

In today's digital age, social media has become a ubiquitous presence in our personal and professional lives. For employers, these platforms offer a valuable yet complex tool in the hiring process. While the potential to gather additional insights about job candidates is enticing, it also raises significant legal questions regarding privacy and data protection.

Back in the year 2021 the platform „eConsultations“ was set up under the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the establishment of platform „eConsultations“ with the goal of enabling easier participation of interested parties/public in the process of preparation and adoption of not only laws, but also of other regulations and acts, by possibility for the public to be informed through this platform of whether certain law or regulation is in the process of preparation or of when shall the public hearing regarding a draft law take place, as well as by possibility for the interested parties/public to take part in the process of preparation and adoption of these acts by providing comments electronically (online).

The Hungarian Parliament voted to extend the state of emergency with an additional 180 days. The Hungarian Government declared a state of emergency by a government decree that entered into force on 25 May 2022.

If you manage an alternative fund under Section 15 of the Czech Act on Investment Companies and Investment Funds (ZISIF), you will need to comply with new legislation by 31 December 2024. Every manager will be required to amend the name of their company to include the term "venture capital entity", while the word "fund" must be removed.

The Ministry of Energy, taking into account regulatory experience as well as public feedback, has adjusted the emission limits for several particularly toxic air pollutants in factories, raising them to stricter levels in line with German standards, which are more stringent than the EU regulations.

In this article, we address the issue of the redistribution of working hours, specifically the conditions and limitations for its introduction and application within a single calendar year.

Few topics have sparked as much controversy in 2024 as the seizure and examination of mobile data carriers and the data found therein. Despite an urgent need to have the legal framework amended by the end of 2024, a new draft bill was published only on 20 November 2024. We take a look.

The long-anticipated initiative to establish a new legal framework for personal data protection in Albania is finally moving forward, as the Council of Ministers has approved a draft law that aligns closely with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This proposed legislation promises to bring significance in this important but frequently underappreciated legal domain. With its comprehensive approach and alignment with EU standards, the new law aims to greatly improve privacy protection in the national context.

On 18 November 2024, the new Product Liability Directive (the Directive) was published in the Official Journal of the EU (link). It replaces almost 40 years of legislation that was no longer relevant in the digital age, given the dynamic development of new technologies. What does it bring and what has changed? We have prepared a short summary for you.

Startups are keen to use motivational tools like the Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). These programs do not burden the company with the economic cost of paying additional cash compensation. This way, startups can preserve their cash flow, which is especially sensitive during the initial stages of business development. Simultaneously, such programs effectively motivate employees, who have an interest in increasing the value of the company, as they become its co-owners. For this reason, the cap table of almost every startup today includes an entry for an option pool. However, not every founder wants or can commit to permanently transferring part of the company to employees. In such cases, the Phantom Stock Option Plan (PSOP) presents an interesting alternative.

In a bid to enhance legal competitiveness, a new legislative proposal aims to streamline regulations in environmental protection, waste management, consumer rights and workplace safety, boosting the competitiveness of domestic businesses. The proposal is currently under public consultation, but it already highlights several key changes that may be of interest to various sectors.

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.