The participation of women in business is not only a matter of gender equality and social justice but is also a crucial prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and social progress, particularly in the face of the multiple challenges that humanity is currently confronting. The inclusion of women in business reduces unemployment and ensures greater economic growth, which is of particular importance for countries in transition, such as the Republic of Serbia.

The Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of Serbia has announced that the applications regarding the incorporation of companies (among others, limited liability companies and joint stock companies) can be submitted only in electronic form as of 18 May 2023 via a designated user application of the Serbian Business Registers Agency (“SBRA”).

The SOG Law Firm has advised PowerChina Resources on its acquisition of a 51% stake in the Vetrozelena wind farm project from CWP Europe. Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr reportedly advised the seller.

Dogs are becoming an increasingly significant part of our lives. Regardless of the owner’s age – we can acknowledge that almost everybody enjoys their time patting a dog. Moreover, many people are addressing their dogs as babies, recognizing them as a part of the family.

The SOG Law Firm, working with DLA Piper’s office in France, has advised the Renault Group on the divestment program for its import and distribution subsidiaries in six jurisdictions. Wolf Theiss reportedly advised the Emil Frey Group on acquiring the operations. Sabev & Partners reportedly advised the Renault Group as well.

Mediation as a way of resolving disputes between parties has existed for a long time now. However, not many have been willing to take part in the mediation process and use this way of resolving disputes, whose main purpose is to achieve a solution acceptable to both parties. It seems that long-lasting court proceedings and often expensive arbitration processes have shed light on a more amicable, faster, and more economical way of resolving disputes – mediation.

With Chat GPT the world is witnessing the first visible mass use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in complex intellectual works. Although AI is not any novelty in the world, it seems that in 2023 Chat GPT made a real breakthrough in the everyday use of AI assistance to humanity.

Until 2014, less than 10 percent of the largest companies in the European Union regularly disclosed non-financial information about their operations as part of reports that supplement annual financial consolidated reports. Although they were obliged to do so by the then-current Directive of the European Union, the requirements of the existing legislation proved to need to be more transparent and more effective.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 219,153 Russian citizens have immigrated to Serbia. In contrast, over the past year, more than four thousand Russian entrepreneurs and companies have been established in Serbia.

In “The Corner Office” we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With a rough year drawing to a close, and market uncertainties running high, the question this time: If you had a million dollars, what would you invest it in today?

Cerha Hempel Hungary and the SOG Law Firm have been appointed as members of an international legal consortium to screen potential companies and advise on investments by the Emirate of Dubai’s “Operation 300 Billion” program. The consortium also reportedly includes the Boros Arpad Andras law firm in Budapest.

Our current publication is in detail Serbian Legal Framework for alcoholic beverages. It thoroughly analyses governmental approvals required to market alcoholic beverages, advertising restrictions, licensing and distribution requirements and restrictions, permissible product ingredients, and practical compliance issues.

One of the long-debated domestic themes is non-existence of retail NPL market in Serbia. Following the 2008 World Economic Crisis in Serbia, the country managed to regulate corporate NPL market, and to decrease NPL level from 20% to 3,19 %.

Ministry of Mining and Energy published on 21st January, long awaited draft of the Amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (RESA) with purpose to push forward further investments in RES sector by creating better legal framework for development of new projects.

At the end of 2020, there were 26 banks operating independently from other banks in Serbia. At the end of 2021, there were 23 such banks.  A few merger processes are still ongoing and will lead to that number shrinking to just 19 before the end of 2022. 

Global economic movements have led the real estate and construction sectors across CEE to face several issues: supply chain problems, rising construction material prices, and labor shortages, to name but a few, have made it difficult for real estate and construction projects to be completed with the same efficiency as before. Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners Partner Marija Bojovic, SOG Law Firm Partner Milos Gledovic, and Andrejic & Partners Partner Aleksandar Andrejic look at the extent to which these issues are reflected in the Serbian real estate market. 

NKO Partners has advised CTP on its acquisition of almost 33 hectares of land in Simanovci, near Belgrade, from EBP Development. The SOG Law Firm advised EBP Development.

Strong levels of corporate and M&A work were in the stars this year for the SOG Law Firm, with more to look forward to, according to Partner Milan Samardzic.