The Serbian Parliament has recently adopted amendments to the Criminal Code. The amendments include a significant overhaul of the legal framework for white collar crimes, touching upon the rules relevant for antitrust enforcement as well.

The new Serbian Housing Act is a long-awaited codification of all the statutes pertaining to housing. The Building Maintenance Act and Housing Act were passed in its original texts more than two decades ago, and were rendered obsolete by the changes in society and economics climate. But the big question is – will there be enough funds for carrying out all the ideas laid out by the legislators?

Karanovic & Nikolic has announced that Senior Partner Rastko Petakovic has been elected as firm Managing Partner, taking over from Dejan Nikolic.

BDK Advokati has advised Iron Mountain, the NYSE-listed storage and information management company, on its acquisition of Data Outsourcing Centre d.o.o., a prominent Serbian archive management, imaging services, and data storage company, from sellers Sinisa Tutus and Milan Mojic. JPM Jankovic Popovic Mitic advised the sellers on the deal.

BDK Advokati has advised Blue Sea Cap, the owner of the private healthcare platform Medigroup, on the acquisition of 75% of capital in the Ioanna mesotherapy clinic in Belgrade.

After years of continued negative trend, Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) recorded a positive turnover of 75% in 2016. As this is the second straight year in which BELEX recorded a growth, it is valid to claim that a new era for BELEX is around the corner.

There are different ways to acquire a majority stake in a joint stock company, and each of them has its particularities, pros and cons. However, notwithstanding the specific acquisition method, each process requires the undergoing of stringent procedures by the acquirer, which can often be lengthy and complicated, involving dealing with various minority shareholder issues and rigid supervision by regulators.

On September 24 the Belgrade Bar adopted a new bylaw, controversial both in its effect and in the manner by which it was adopted, limiting the voting and participation rights of lawyers at major commercial law firms in favor of criminal lawyers and solo practitioners. Leading commercial lawyers in Belgrade are, unsurprisingly, not happy.

Changes to existing Serbian public procurement framework are expected in 2017, as it was announced by the Serbian Public procurement office. The main motive for amendments is the harmonization of the existing public procurement framework in Serbia with EU Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement, which features the principle of “most economically advantageous tender” (the “MEAT” criteria) as the main selection criteria. The MEAT criteria shall now gain a prominent place in the Serbian public procurement procedure, too.

To the untrained eye, technology and the judiciary sector may seem rather far apart. IT is ever changing and dynamic, while courts are by design deliberate and slow. However, even the most resistant institutions are not immune to change; Serbian courts now appear to be further steps towards incorporating new technology for the ultimate goal of greater efficiency.

Karanovic & Nikolic has supported Affidea, a large European medical service provider, on its opening of the first foreign hospital located in Belgrade. The firm's services consisted of "extensive regulatory and corporate advice related to formation and start of operations of Affidea`s first hospital in Serbia."

Harrison Solicitors and Bird & Bird have advised the EBRD on its EUR 7.25 million loan to Serbia’s Farmina Pet Foods to support the company’s expansion.

Harrison Solicitors has advised the Yazaki Corporation on the investment agreement it signed with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, to produce cable kits for Daimler trucks in the Serbian town of Sabac. The first stage of the investment will amount to EUR 25.1 million and employ 1,700 workers.

Wolf Theiss is reporting that it advised the EBRD on its December 5, 2016 issuance of RSD 2.5 trillion Floating Rate Bonds due December 2019. Raiffeisen Banka AD, Beograd, which acted as underwriter for the issuance, was advised by AP Legal, while Citigroup Global Markets Limited, which acted as marketing agent, was advised by Harrison Solicitors.

Schoenherr has advised Kansai Paint Co Ltd., from Osaka, on the acquisition of the Helios Coatings Group from Ring International Holding AG ("RIH"), GSO Capital Opportunities Fund II (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., and Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets Fund IV, LDC. The sellers were advised by Brandl & Talos.

Wolf Theiss is advising Harvia Group Oy in its acquisition of Sentiotec, the sauna and wellness division of the Abatec Group. The Hitzenberger law firm advised the sellers. The signing took place on November 4, 2016.

The hottest topic in Serbia these days relates to the ongoing Bar issues, according to Tijana Kojovic, Managing Partner at BDK Advokati. 

Large-scale industry employers in Serbia often face the problem of high absenteeism due to abuse of sick leave by employees.