Law Office Lazarov Attorney At Law Anja Stefanovska talks about dispute resolution in North Macedonia in 2025.
CEELM: What types of disputes do you foresee will be most present in North Macedonia in 2025 and what do you expect will drive that activity?
Stefanovska: In 2025, commercial and contractual disputes, employment and labor issues, and digital/technology-related conflicts will likely dominate the legal landscape in North Macedonia. These disputes will be driven by economic growth, digital transformation, regulatory shifts, and evolving societal norms. Businesses and individuals will need to navigate a more complex regulatory environment, with the added challenge of integrating new technologies while ensuring compliance with both national and international standards.
CEELM: Are there any upcoming changes likely to impact disputes in the country in the year?
Stefanovska: In 2025, regulatory reforms, digital transformation, and the alignment with EU standards will drive much of the disputes in North Macedonia. Commercial disputes, employment conflicts, data protection issues, and tax-related disagreements will be prominent as businesses and individuals adapt to new legal and technological environments.
CEELM: What would you identify as the biggest challenges faced by lawyers in handling disputes in North Macedonia at the moment?
Stefanovska: One of the biggest challenges for lawyers is navigating the complexity and constant evolution of the legal landscape. With North Macedonia aligning its laws with EU standards, lawyers must stay updated on new regulations, reforms, and directives, especially in areas like taxation, data protection, anti-money laundering, and intellectual property. Among the most pressing challenges are judicial inefficiencies, slow court processes, and the complexity of evolving legal frameworks. The growing demand for speedy dispute resolution and the internationalization of legal matters add further pressure on the legal profession. However, these challenges also present opportunities for lawyers to improve their practices, adapt to technological advancements, and find creative solutions for clients in an increasingly globalized legal environment.
CEELM: And how do these challenges impact your clients?
Stefanovska: The challenges faced by lawyers in North Macedonia also significantly impact their clients. As these challenges evolve, clients may experience various difficulties in managing legal disputes, with consequences for their time, finances, and overall legal strategy. Clients often deal with higher costs, delays, uncertainty, and lack of clarity in their legal proceedings. These challenges can strain their financial resources, business operations, and even reputational standing. As the legal system continues to evolve, clients will need to adjust their expectations and strategies for dispute resolution, often turning to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms or seeking innovative solutions to navigate the complexities of the legal landscape.
CEELM: How likely is it in your view that these challenges will be addressed in 2025?
Stefanovska: Promoting alternative dispute resolution in North Macedonia, particularly as an alternative to traditional court proceedings, could indeed be a key part of the country’s future, especially in the context of financial disputes and broader legal matters. As North Macedonia strives to modernize its legal and financial systems, ADR offers several advantages that could align well with the country’s goals for improving its judicial efficiency and enhancing economic growth.
With its ability to reduce costs, improve efficiency, preserve relationships, and align with international standards, ADR could help streamline dispute resolution processes and support the overall development of a more dynamic, transparent, and attractive legal environment for businesses and investors. As the country continues to modernize, shifting toward ADR where possible could be a key factor in fostering a more flexible, effective, and client-friendly legal system.
This article was originally published in Issue 12.1 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
