An in-depth look at Kristijan Polenak of the Polenak Law Firm covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

ODI Law Partner Gjorgji Georgievski, EY Law North Macedonia Manager Jana Nikodinovska, CMS Partner Marija Filipovska, Popovski & Partners Partner Ognen Martinov, and Lalicic & Boskoski Partner Vedran Lalicic talk about what practices have been keeping their firms busy and their outlook.

In a 2020 CEE Legal Matters article, Karanovic & Partners Partner Veton Qoku wrote that “in 2016 the Republic of North Macedonia made changes to its Law on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, defining the terms ‘hemp,’ ‘hemp seed oil,’ and ‘cannabis/hemp oil’ for the first time as well as regulating the procedure for cultivation and production of hemp.” CEELM spoke with Qoku to check in on the development of this young sector in the country.

ODI Law has advised REDI Development on a EUR 1 million term loan to microcredit foundation Horizonti Skopje. Dentons Luxembourg reportedly advised REDI as well.

ODI Law has advised NeoGames on the acquisition of Aspire Global through a recommended public offer. Reportedly, Latham & Watkins, Herzog Fox & Neeman, Hannes Snellman, Allen & Overy, and Camilleri Preziosi advised NeoGames as well. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised Aspire Global.

Contributed by Law Office Emil Miftari.

Some signs of political instability on the path to European Union accession for North Macedonia, rising inflation, and several interesting upcoming legislative changes are on the ticket for the Balkan country, according to Lalicic & Boskoski Partner Martin Boskoski.

 Nikola Lazarov Law Office’s Nikola Lazarov Talks About the Deal of the Year in North Macedonia – Interenergo’s and Trigal’s Acquisition of Wind Farm from Euroing.

Former SkopSter Senior Legal Counsel Iva Djugumanova has joined ODI Law’s Skopje office as Senior Associate and Head of the Corporate practice.

ODI Law has successfully represented LSG Building Solutions d.o.o. construction company in a EUR 215,000 claim against the City of Skopje arising out of a public procurement contract for performing construction works for the reconstruction of the Pelagonija building on the Skopje central square. 

ODI Law has successfully represented Tirana-based A&A Group in a EUR 1 million claim based on unpaid loans against marijuana producer F&M 2017 d.o.o. 

The new changes of the Company law published on the 21st of April, 2022, introduce the “real” convertible loan institute for the limited liability companies in North Macedonia.

CEE Legal Matters readers will likely be familiar with Patricia Gannon as one of the founders of Karanovic & Partners. Since her withdrawal from the firm (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 21, 2020), Gannon ran her own "holistic strategic advisory business" (as reported on October 12, 2020) and, recently, she announced she is working on a new social media app for lawyers – Platforum 9. We caught up with her to learn more about her new project.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Vladimir Rangeloff of Kambourov & Partners to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Silvije Cipcic-Bragadin of Cipcic-Bragadin Mesic and Associates to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Gabor Bebok of Pontes Budapest to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Oana Ijdelea of Ijdelea & Associates to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On November 17, 2021, the Infectious Diseases Commission of North Macedonia proposed anti-COVID-19 measures requiring unvaccinated healthcare professionals and public sector employees to be vaccinated and recommending the vaccination of private-sector employees. The form of the measures could differ somewhat from this proposal; the definite measures, however, are expected to be adopted soon.