We provide a wide variety of legal services, primarily for corporate clients. Below we list only some of the most noticable practice areas, which are however not an exhaustive list of all services that we provide.
Litigation is sometimes inevitable and requires appropriate legal assistance. The choice of an adequate legal counsel can thus present a crucial element on which the outcome of the proceedings will depend upon. In that regard, we stand at the disposal of our clinets for all types of court proceedings they may find themselves in.
We possess substantial experience in representing companies and inidividuals in complex and high-value litigation proceedings before the courts of the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. We consider that our knowledge and a thorough approach to every case is what makes us stand out.
Besides litigation, we also regularly provide services to our clients in enforcement proceedings, as well as different types of non-litigious proceedings.
Arbitration
Arbitration represents an out-of-court dispute resolution mechanizm which is most frequently used in cases having an international background. Due to very specific rules which drastically differ from those being applied in regular court proceedings, arbitration is an area which requires very specific expertise and experience. Having in mind that this form of dispute resolution is not largely applied in the area of former Yugoslavia, that kind of expertise and experience is a rarity in the region, meaning that the choice of appropriate legal counsel can be quite difficult.
One of our most noticeable fields of expertise is precisely arbitration, in which we have very significant experience that proves it. Through academia, professional development both domestically and abroad, and then through successful representation of states and companies before international arbitral tribunals in cases of extremely high value and complexity, we have placed our sellves into the group of leading experts for this form of dispute resolution in the region. We especially pride ourselves with the fact that we had a crucial role in defending states of this region and their companies from claims that are over a billion euros in value.
Public international law
The knowledge in public international law is one of the things that especially stands our practice out. That expertise was gaiined and developed through our education, profesional development, international competition, academia, and ultimately confirmed through practical experience.
In the area of public international law we have advised states in respect of their international rights and obligations, represented them in international disputes, and advised wthem in concluding international agreements. Other than that, we have also provided legal advice to companies from different industries regarding their rights and obligations arising from public international law. We have provided services from this areas to individuals as well, which includees experience in cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia, as well as the European Court of Human Rights.
Private International Law
We are one of the rare law offices with a high degree of expertices and experience in the area of private international law, which regulates a lot of different kinds of legal relationships having a foreign element, particularly including business in a transboundary context.
In the area of private international law we have also advised states, companies as well as individuals in connections to their rights and obligations in international cases. We have also held lectures to students in this area through our academic work.
Having this in mind, our office stands at your disposal for all kinds of legal services that relate to questions of private international law, which particularly includes international trade, contracts, disputes, rights of foreigners, as well as other areas of civil law (family law, inheritance etc.).
Foreign investments
Through the growth of foreign investments in our region, there is an increased significance of foreign investment law. Although foreign investment law mostly falls under the area of international law (both public and private), there are is also special national regulation in place which further governs the rights and obligations of foreign investors in one country. A thorough knowlede of all these national and international laws as well as careful planning of one’s investments acoordingly presents an inevitable part of every successfull foreign investment.
Our office provides legal services to foreign investors and states in relation to this area of law starting from the earliest phases of a foreign investment all the way through its finalisation, including in relation to potential disputes that may arise in that regard.
Negotiation and mediation
As the interests of our clinets always come first, we always tend to resolve their problems and disputes in the most efficient way possible. Hence, before we advise entering into any kind of formal procedure, we alwas consider the possibility of peaceful resolution of disputes through some of the alternative ways which avoid the creatiion of additional costs and loss of time.
In that regard, through special training for negotiation and mediation, as well as according experience in advising clients, our office has specialized in these very important areas of legal services.
Public procurement
Public procurement are an area which demands a thorough approach and analysis for every specific case, as well as the knowledge of the current regulation and practice. Furthermore, through the process of EU integration, the countries of our region are increasingly harmonizing their laws and practice in this area with those of the European Union, which also requires certain knowledge of that legal system as well.
Our office provides legal counseling and assistance in all phases of public procurement, not only to the bidders but also to contracting authorities. We particularly point out that in our practice we have succesfully protected the rights of the bidders and annulled the decisions in a great number of public procurements.
Corporate law
Corporate law is an area which encompasses the creation, existence, changes and termination of a company. An especially significant part of corporate law are mergers and acquisitions, which require an especially detailed legal approach.
One the core aspects of our legal services is everyday counseling of companies regarding a wide variety of questions of corporate law, as well as their representation before hte competent state authorities in that respect. Our experience includes some of the largest transactions in the region, in which we have participated from the earliest phases of negotiation and analysis (due dilligence), all the way up to the closing of the deals in question.
Real estate
Real estate transactions is an extremely active market, especially in the last years. The smooth functioning of this market neccessitates the engagement of adequate legal assistance in almost every phase of a transaction.
We have very significant experience in this practice area as well, having in mind that we have participated in some of the most significant construction projects in the region. During our work we have provided legal services not only to investment and construction companies, but also to a great number of companies and individuals who acted in the capacity of buyers.
Intelectual property
Intelectualy property is a very diverse area of law which encompasess copyright and related rights, trademark, geographical indication of origin, design, patent, small patent and topography of integrated circuits. Through the develompent of modern society intelectual property rights in the area of information technology are gaining particular significance and are subject to more frequent changes and developments.
Our office has experience and provides services in this area as well, not only with the registration of IP rights and procedures before the competent authorities in that regard, but also with court or out-of-court protection of these rights from potential infrigements.
White collar crime
Initiation of criminal or other penal proceedings may sometimes occur in relation to the management of a business, and one may find itself not only in the capacity of the accussed but also in the capacity of the injured party. Needless to say, in such sensitive cases it is paramount to carefully select appropriate professional assistance.
Given that we wish to provide comprehensive legal services to our clients, we are at your disposal in this area as well. Although we also posses knowledge and experience in the area of general crime, as well as international criminal law, when it comes to the practice of criminal law, our office is primarily focused on white collar crime.
Labour law
Employment relationships are one of the most important aspects of managing a company and require continuous oversight of the applicable regulation. Starting from the general acts of a company which regulate this matter, employment contracts (or other forms of engagement), as well as individual acts which are rendered with respect to an employment, caution and adequate expertise is a must. Due to the sensitivity of these matters as well as inadequate approach, disputes may often arise.
Administrative law
Administrative law is part of our everyday life. Whether one speaks of relations with state authorities or other entities excercising state powers, the rules of administrative law are undoubtedly being continuously applied to companies and individuals. For these reasons it is important to know the system of administrative law, and particularly the rules of administrative procedure and administrative disputes, through which parties protect their rights and interests in this context. Through our work we frequently represent parties in various types of administrative procedures, as well as administrative court disputes which are often initiated in that regard.
Constitutional disputes
Constitution is generally the highest act of a legal system, while the constitutional court is the highest authority to which a person may apply to protect its constitutional rights. Constitutional court proceedings may be divided to constitutional complaints and initiatives for the determination of legality and constitutionality of general acts.
Our team has experience with both types of these proceedings, and it stands at the disposal of clients in all kinds of contitutional matters. We particularly emphasise the fact that we provide services in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights, which often arise as the outcome of an unsuccesful application to the constitutional court.
Competition
Competition law is a very specific and dynamic area of business, in which the state intervenes with the purpose of supressing the forms of business practice which is considered as harmful for the market or simply represent an unfair relationship towards consumers (e.g. restrictive agreements, abuse of dominant market position etc.). These activities are regulated by special regulation, and are enforced by specialized state agencies/commissions for the protection of competition.
In the broader sense, this area also encompases individual protection from unfair competition practices, which is regulated by different kinds of rules.
