As Lexpo – The Legal Innovation Event returns in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, showcasing the latest trends in legal innovation in Continental Europe, CEELM spoke with Dentons Europe Director of Innovation and Member of Lexpo's Advisory Board Andrea Miskolczi to gain an insight into the current state of technology and innovation in CEE, and what the event's attendees have to look forward to.

We are witnessing that there is a constant "hunger" for information in modern society and that the media are competing to be the first to publish exclusive news. The average reader is overwhelmed by a massive amount of information, and the media almost always publish articles and appealing photos to attract the reader's attention.

At the extraordinary session of the Parliament of Montenegro held on February 28, 2023 a set of tax acts was adopted. The Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Finance and Budget of Montenegro has given its support for introducing aforementioned acts, which will result in higher budget revenues for the state through higher taxation and the introduction and change of excise duties on certain products.

Senior Dispute Resolution Expert at CMS Belgrade and CMS Podgorica Nenad Kovacevic has been promoted to Partner. 

The new General Collective Agreement („GCA“) has been published at the Official Gazette of Montenegro no. 150/22 on 30, December 2022 and will be valid for period of three years from 31, December 2022 when it came into legal force.

Former Karanovic & Partners Partner Milena Roncevic Pejovic has established Pejovic Legal in Montenegro.

Komnenic & Associates Lawyer Nemanja Radovic has been promoted to a Partner position within the firm on January 1, 2023.

Partners Luka Popovic and Bogdan Ivanisevic have been elevated to Senior Partners with BDK Advokati.

Komnenic & Associates has advised both sides in the transaction that saw Appolo subsidiary Seta Montenegro sell the HoldCo East NPL company to APS Holding.

Since January 1, 2022, the Europe Now program has been in place in Montenegro, setting strategic goals for the country’s economic policy. Ten months into its tenure BDK Advokati Partner Luka Popovic and Harrisons Head of Montenegro Milan Keker look at what has been accomplished so far.

Serbian law firms seem to have carved out a considerable share of the Montenegrin legal market. CEE Legal Matters looks at the interplay of these two formerly linked legal markets and explores in what respects they are complementary, where they clash, and how this reflects on the work of lawyers.

Despite the constitutional crisis in Montenegro, there is still a steady inflow of diverse foreign direct investments, and the country's GDP is expected to increase, yet Harrisons Head of Montenegro Milan Keker remains cautious.

After the Parliament of Montenegro adopted Law on amendments to the Law of Foreigners and introduced legal framework for digital nomads earlier in August 2022, further activities were undertaken in order to establish the practical applicability of the adopted legal framework.

A governmental crisis with a country-wide impact is preventing Montenegro from moving forward at a pace, both in terms of legislation and investments, according to Prelevic Law Firm Senior Lawyer Marko Ivkovic.

CMS has advised UGT Renewables on the cooperation agreement with the Electric Power Utility of Montenegro for the joint development of a large-scale solar energy project in the country.

Komnenic & Associates has advised KrolBay DOO Podgorica in the development of Phase II of the five-star hotel located in Boka Bay to be operated by Hyatt. Schoenherr reportedly advised Hyatt on the deal.

Komnenic & Associates has advised BIG Shopping Centers special purpose vehicle City Mall DOO on its acquisition of the Podgorica City Mall shopping center.

Komnenic & Associates has advised Sunny Estates on the acquisition of the former Hotel Galeb location in Ulcinj from the Roksped Group.