The State Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia announced the new Act on health and safety at work, which is to be adopted by the end of the year. The new Act is intended to enhance the level of protection at work and to impose a general standard of safety which would lead to a better and healthier work environment.

On its way to becoming an EU Member State, Serbia has been harmonizing its law with the EU acquis. Within the Negotiating Position of the Republic of Serbia for Chapter Nine – “Financial Services”, the RS undertook, inter alia, to transpose Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament on management of alternative investment funds in the national legal framework of the RS by adopting a separate law governing alternative investment funds.

Former Wolf Theiss Poland Co-Managing Partner Ron Given has joined Deloitte Legal as its CE Senior Legal Counsel, responsible for all of the firm’s offices in 19 Central and Eastern European countries.

Ministry of Finance adopted the new Rulebook on 31 October 2019 related to the determination of Telecommunication and Electronic Services. The new rulebook will be applicable from 1 January 2020.

Double taxation treaty between the Republic of Serbia and Israel has entered into force.

At the moment, there is no generally applicable obligation to report a personal data security breach in Serbia. This type of obligation is currently envisaged only by certain sector specific laws such as the Law on Electronic Communications.

In “The Corner Office” we ask Managing Partners across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. The question this time around: What was the most difficult or unpleasant experience you had terminating someone’s employment?”

JPM has advised MTU Aero Engines AG on its agreement with the Republic of Serbia regarding skilled labor training.

Doklestic Repic & Gajin has announced the establishment of Lex Adria, an alliance of independent law firms in the Adriatic region, to provide what the firm calls “seamless and premium legal support across the area.”

BDK Advokati has advised MediGroup on the acquisition of Zdravo Med, a healthcare clinic based in Subotica, Serbia, and helped its human laboratory division MediLab open its laboratories in the Serbian city of Nis.

Karanovic & Partners acted as Serbian legal counsel for Vale Canada Limited on its acquisition of the option to earn-in in four of Mundoro Capital Inc’s exploration licenses in the Timok mining complex.

On 26th September 2019 the Law on Amendments to the Serbian Law on Patents came into force.

At the Fifteenth extraordinary session in the Eleventh convocation, on July 26th, 2019, the National Parliament of the Republic of Serbia rendered the Act on amendments of and supplements to the Act on execution and ensuring settlement (“RS Official Journal”, No. 54/2019, hereinafter referred to as: „the Act“). The Act shall become effective as of the 8th (eighth) day following its publication in the Official Journal, and shall be applicable as of January 1st, 2020.

BDK Advokati and Clifford Chance advised the EBRD, IFC, and the Development Bank of Austria on financing for a waste management public-private partnership project in the Vinca district of Belgrade. The City of Belgrade was advised by Hogan Lovells and Karanovic & Partners, with Karanovic & Partners also advising the IFC on the matter.

Motieka & Audzevicius has advised Petstart UAB on its exit from a joint venture with a Romanian PET packaging waste company. The buyer was advised by Karanovic & Partners.

Former Zivkovic Samardzic Partner and Deputy Head of Dispute Resolution Marko Trisic has left the firm to establish his own.

Bojanovic & Partners has advised Barry-Wehmiller on the acquisition of 60% of the shares in Serbia's STAX Technologies. DLA Piper advised Barry-Wehmiller on the transaction as well.

Former JTG Law Partner Nikola Gvoic has joined Bojanovic & Partners as Partner and Head of Labor and Employment.