Employment law related matters are a fundamental part of every legal due diligence analysis of Serbian companies and their respective businesses. Following the enactment of the Law on Gender Equality ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", no. 52/2021, "Law"), the scope of legal due diligence exercises should be extended to also include targets’ compliance with obligations set forth in the Law.

Pursuant to the Regulation on the Youth Employment Incentives Program “My First Salary” (Off. Gazette of the RS no. 107/2020 and 79/2021), on 22 August 2022 the National Employment Service has announced a public call for the implementation of the respective program (“the Program”), which specifies terms and criteria for application and participating therein.

Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners has advised Pactera EDGE on starting its operations in Serbia. 

Dentons has advised a syndicate of banks led by Ceska Sporitelna, and including Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka and Komercni Banka, on the financing of KKCG Group and Aricoma Group’s acquisition of Musala Soft. Polenak, Boyanov & Co, and, reportedly, Andric and TM & Partners advised the banks as well. Clifford Chance advised Aricoma Group on the deal.

In response to the announcements and decisions of individual banks to increase their fees for certain services related to payment accounts, on 11 August 2022 the National Bank of Serbia (“the NBS”) published the Information for the public regarding the package of measures of the NBS on the bank fees on its official website.

Serbia does not have a foreign investment screening regime comparable to European regimes shaped by the EU FDI Screening Regulation. Rather, Serbia operates a single-sector authorisation system covering the defence sector.

Deloitte Legal has promoted Serbia-based Stefan Antonic and Poland-based Patrycja Bolimowska and Jacek Korzeniewski to Local Partners.

NKO has advised CTP on the acquisition of Levante Logistics from the Kenzai Group. Stanivuk & Manasijevski advised the seller.

Writing an editorial proved to be equally as challenging as operating in the CEE legal market. For the record, I will confine my experiences mostly to the region of the Western Balkans. In hindsight, the past year(s) were something of a specialty, even by our own criteria and relative to our extensive experience. But let’s start from the beginning…

While the world continues its endless battle against the COVID-19 consequences that are affecting all aspects of our social, economic, and political life, Serbian legislation is experiencing a revolution in the energy field. In April 2021, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted two new laws – the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy, as well as amendments to the Energy Law and the Law on Mining and Geological Research.

During the first half of 2022 the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia ("Commission") has been very proactive with respect to prevention of competition infringements. As a result of these efforts, in May the Commission also adopted a new Instruction for detecting bid rigging in public procurement procedures ("Instruction") thereby updating the older version of the Instruction from 2011.

The Regional (Labour) Court in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) has recently passed a judgement ordering the personal data controller to pay EUR 2,000 in compensation of non-material damage for the violation of personal data, as a result of publishing a promotional video featuring the employee without its informed and written consent.

BDK Advokati, working with Kirkland & Ellis, has advised Francisco Partners on its acquisition of SAP Litmos from SAP.

Karanovic & Partners has advised the Green for Growth Fund on extending a EUR 10 million loan facility to UniCredit Bank Serbia.

High levels of migration from Russia and Ukraine have been causing a boom in the real estate sector in Serbia, in a period of overall legislative slowdown, according to Zivkovic Samardzic Partner Branislav Zivkovic.

Schoenherr, working with Pinsent Masons and Wenger Vieli, has advised Kontron on selling parts of Kontron Group’s IT services business to Vinci Energies during a competitive auction process, for approximately EUR 400 million. Reportedly, Baker McKenzie’s German office advised Vinci Energies. Loloci & Associates advised Kontron on Albanian matters.

The new repatriation program – Carta Serbica – has been recently introduced allowing people with Serbian roots to obtain temporary residence and possible citizenship in the land of their ancestors.

Cvjeticanin & Partners has advised Lenovo on the implementation of GDPR rules for its OhrabreNA educational program in Serbia.