Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is located in the so-called "Western Balkans" region, borders the EU, and has an area of 51,209 km2. Its highly favorable geographical location for harnessing energy potentials has positioned B&H as the only country in the surrounding area with a significant surplus in exporting electrical energy. The water potential is represented by a large number of rivers suitable for building hydroelectric power plants, and substantial potential exists in the areas of wind energy (due to the position of the Dinaric mountain range) and solar energy (averaging over 2000 sunny hours per year).

Karanovic & Partners has advised Burger King on entering the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the opening of its first restaurant in Sarajevo.

In accordance with the Law on Foreign Direct Investment Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, foreign investors are guaranteed the following:

Bosnia & Herzegovina has experienced a major government change leading to a focus on aligning with the EU, while a significant human rights ruling challenges the country’s ethnic-based voting system – potentially triggering constitutional reform and reshaping its political landscape – according to ODI Law Partner Mia Civic.

Critical legislative occurrences in Bosnia & Herzegovina – primarily focusing on the Constitutional Court, the electricity sector, as well as e-money – are the talk of the town, according to Dimitrijevic & Partners Partner Nina Vjestica.

A brief overview of value added tax and direct tax in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including specifics for direct tax in Federation of B&H, Republic of Srpska, and Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The banking system of Bosnia and Herzegovina incorporates the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, commercial banks, and other financial institutions. The Central Bank defines and controls the implementation of the monetary policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and assists and maintains appropriate payment and accounting systems. It also coordinates the activities of the banking agencies of the B&H entities (hereinafter: regulators), which are responsible for issuing licenses for the operation and supervision of banks.

With ESG gradually coming into focus, companies, industries, and whole countries are looking to the TMT sector for guidance. CMS Ukraine Partner Olga Belyakova and CMS Bosnia and Herzegovina Counsel Sanja Voloder share their insights.

In the complex administrative apparatus and historical diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a complex system of Real Estate Registries was developed. What does a buyer need to know in order to protect themselves from the risks that can arise in the purchase of real estate?

Legislative updates across the board in Bosnia & Herzegovina – with talks of criminalizing defamation, introducing electronic money, and overhauling the renewable energy framework – keep lawyers talking, according to Nikolina Bajic, Attorney at Law in cooperation with BDK Advokati.

Contributed by ODI Law.

Contributed by Ibrahimovic & Co.

Contributed by Maric & Co.

Contributed by Baros, Bicakcic & Partners.

Contributed by Miljkovic & Partners.

On December 15, 2020 CEELM gathered legal experts from across the region for its annual Year-in-Review Round Table conversation. In a wide-ranging discussion, participants shared opinions and perspectives on their markets, on strong (and less-strong) practices across the region, and the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on both, as well as on how technology is changing the legal industry, and what the industry will look like in 2021.

Contributed by Karanovic & Partners.

On the morning of October 2, 2017, representatives from many of the leading law firms in Bosnia – and two senior in-house counsel – gathered in the Sarajevo offices of Wolf Theiss Bosnia & Herzegovina to discuss the state of the legal market in their uniquely structured country.