This year has seen a relative decrease in investment intensity in Croatia, particularly in the residential sector, amid relatively robust activity in M&A, real estate, and energy and notable court disruptions in the past few months, according to Savoric & Partners Partner Branko Bulat.

Allen & Overy has advised a syndicate of ten banks on Bina-Istra’s EUR 1.1 billion refinancing of the Istrian Epsilon project and the debt financing of the construction, management, and maintenance of the new phases of the Adriatic highway in Croatia.

Croatia's economic outlook has improved with the eurozone entry, energy market reforms, and new and exciting equity programs and legislative changes, while judiciary labor strikes have challenged the country's courts, according to Marohnic, Tomek & Gjoic Partner Tena Tomek.

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Hungary-based fruit and tree nut farming company Apple Heaven on the purchase of shares in Rabo.

Following global trends, Croatia has seen rapid growth in influencer marketing in the past few years. On one hand, the main benefit is evident: partnering with the right influencer helps a brand grow exponentially. On the other hand, same as with social media posts, the accompanying legal and reputational risks can go viral in no time, so brand companies, marketing agencies, and influencers should tread carefully.

Miskovic & Miskovic has advised Infinum on a EUR 10.8 million loan from the EBRD. Mamic, Peric, Reberski, Rimac reportedly advised the EBRD.

Complaints (under Croatian competition law also referred to as “initiatives”), through which different market players may inform the Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) of suspected infringements of competition laws, have been introduced in the Croatian Competition Act back in 2010 and are not a novelty. Complaints have proved to be a useful tool that brought certain competition law violations to the attention of the CCA and helped detect and correct discrepancies in the market.

During the Three Seas Initiative annual general meeting in Bucharest in September 2023, Austria's Dorda, Bulgaria's Boyanov & Co., Croatia's Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, the Czech Republic's Kocian Solc Balastik, Estonia's Ellex Raidla, Hungary's Lakatos Koves & Partners, Latvia's Ellex Klavins, Lithuania's Ellex Valiunas, Poland's Wardynski and Partners, Romania's Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, Slovakia's Barger Prekop, and Slovenia's Selih & Partnerji announced they formed the Three Seas Legal Alliance, in recognition of the progress made by the Three Seas Initiative.

Ostermann & Partners has advised Croatia's Osijek-Koteks on the acquisition of river and sand mining company Romic-Promet.

On August 14, 2023, Binder Groesswang announced that Macquarie Asset Management's acquisition of a significant minority stake in Best in Parking AG (reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 10, 2023) had closed.

BDV has advised private equity fund Provectus Capital Partners – the majority stakeholder of the Adria Dental Group – on the acquisition of Dragas Dental Design.

Kinstellar, working with Watson Farley & Williams, has advised South Korea's Yanolja Cloud on its acquisition of Go Global Travel from the AMI Opportunities Fund.

The EU Directives on Work-life balance and on Transparent and predictable working conditions were introduced into the Croatian national legislation in January 2023 and brought about significant changes and obligations for employers. What do they mean for businesses?

Schoenherr, working alongside Jones Day, has advised GfK SE on the EUR 315 million sale of its European Consumer Panel business to YouGov. DLA Piper advised YouGov.

Miskovic & Miskovic has advised joint agents Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank, Privredna Banka Zagreb, and Zagrebacka Banka on the Zagrebacki Holding’s EUR 305 million sustainability-linked bond issuance. Mamic, Peric, Reberski, Rimac advised Zagrebacki Holding.

British American Tobacco has appointed Zora Ilic as its Head of Legal and External Affairs for Adria Cluster.

Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners has advised the Media Development Investment Fund and Pluralis on their acquisition of a minority stake in Croatia's Telegram Media Grupa. Batarelo Dvojkovic Vuchetich advised Telegram Media Grupa.

In today’s global economy, credit institutions play a critical role in providing financial services to individuals, businesses, and governments. However, the failure of a credit institution may result in far-reaching consequences, as we have recently seen with banking crises in Switzerland, the US, and, potentially, Europe.