Quite unexpectedly, 2023 has proven to be a pivotal year for our trilogy on commercial offenses, considering the anticipated surge in the number of commercial cases before the national Commercial Courts attributed to the announced expeditiousness of public prosecutors. In light of such circumstances, we once again urge our readers, if they have not already done so, to check out our Chapter 1 - "A Commercial Offense – A Brief Review of an Unjustifiably Neglected Step Between a Misdemeanor and a Criminal Offense."

On February 8, 2024, the European Commission (“EC”) unveiled an updated Market Definition Notice (“the Notice”). The revision plays a crucial role in the EC’s approach to assessing mergers and antitrust cases by delineating the competitive boundaries and assessing the market power of companies.

Under the Serbian Law on Foreign Exchange Operations and its accompanying bylaws, Serbian residents have various reporting obligations towards the National Bank of Serbia (“NBS”), which is competent for controlling foreign exchange (“FX”) operations of residents and non-residents. It is not rare in practice that companies operating in Serbia are not aware of (all) such obligations, especially in the cases of first-time entrance to the market, which exposes them to potential liability for FX misdemeanours. The controls in this area are common while identified irregularities are followed by misdemeanour proceedings.

Harrisons, Maric & Co, Lambadarios, and Wolf Theiss, working with Linklaters, have advised a banking consortium led by UniCredit Bank London on the United Group's EUR 1.7 billion issuance of four tranches of senior secured and PIK notes as well as on the increase and extension of its EUR 410 million revolving credit facility. Selih & Partnerji, working with Paul Weiss, advised the United Group. Schoenherr, Koutalidis, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, and Elvinger Hoss Prussen reportedly advised the United Group as well.

BDK Advokati has successfully represented Satko Mujagic, Fikret Alic, and the Association of Camp Inmates Kozarac in a dispute against the Serbian REM electronic media regulator before the Administrative Court in Belgrade.

Amendments to laws and other regulations must stipulate transitional and final provisions. They regulate, among other things, the date of entry into force of the act, which is, as a rule, eight days starting from the day of its publication in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", while in certain cases later implementation of the act or its certain provisions is foreseen.

Effective enforcement of competition rules in the AI world is on the horizon. Competition regulators around the world are closely monitoring the advancement of AI and the competitive landscape across various facets of AI.

NKO Partners has advised the Dr. Max pharmacy chain on its acquisition of the Pet-Sar Farm pharmacy chain in Serbia from Natasa Stanojkovic.

Gecic Law, working with Shibolet & Co, has advised the Paskal Group on "the successful submission of the first CBAM reports from Israel in accordance with the EU’s new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation."

MMD Advokati has advised Mayekawa Europe on its acquisition of Em Dip Pro Team. Vukovic & Partners advised Tatjana, Svetozar, and Vukasin Petrovic on the sale.

Gecic Law, working with the Brussels office of Clifford Chance, has successfully represented the interests of the Arena Channels group regarding a broadcasting dispute in Kosovo. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised Arena Channels as well.

Milos Vuckovic has been appointed as the new Managing Partner of Karanovic & Partners, taking over from Darko Jovanovic who has been leading the firm for the past two years. Milos Jakovljevic has been promoted to Senior Partner. Additionally, the firm announced that Senior Partner Marjan Poljak will assist Vuckovic in his new role.

Processing personal data through video surveillance and GPS tracking is a widespread practice that is used for a variety of purposes. Nonetheless, this is a matter that is not clearly defined by law, and there is no consensus practice that would provide guidelines for data processors on how to achieve legal compliance.

In German case law the stance was taken recently that questions on a test undertaken by a specific individual do not constitute personal data within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). The court’s position is that these questions, therefore, should not be included in the copy of data issued or provided in accordance with Article 15(3) of the GDPR (right to access to personal data undergoing processing).

Gecic Law and Maric & Co have successfully represented the interests of the Arena Channels Group before the Competition Authority and courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina in an antitrust case.

Harrisons has advised the EBRD on its inaugural EUR 50 million loan to Serbia's AIK Banka for on-lending to local small and medium-sized enterprises.

On 29 December 2023, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Regulation on financial support for dual education ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 120/2023), which entered into force on 6 January 2024 (hereinafter: the Regulation).

Despite their undeniable awareness of importance of intellectual property (IP) for business success, many multinational companies overlook the fact that IP laws vary between countries. This has motivated us to write this article as a memento of IP that can be generated by employees. It explains the general regime related to use of such intellectual property and suggests which legal mechanisms are available to employers in safeguarding their legitimate interests in relation to IP.