An in-depth look at Damir Topic of Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

In the summer of 2024, the Croatian Intellectual Property Office published a report detailing intellectual property (IP) infringement data for 2023. This statistical overview sheds light on the enforcement of IP rights across three main segments in Croatia: liability for misdemeanors (falling under the jurisdiction of the Croatian Customs Administration), criminal liability (managed by the State Attorney’s Office), and civil liability (which is enforced through private actions, often involving Collective Management Organizations (CMOs)). This article analyzes the trends observed in the 2023 report, aiming to provide insight into the future landscape of IP enforcement in Croatia and explore implications for rightsholders and other stakeholders in the IP space.

Savoric & Partners has advised Ing-Grad on its planned IPO on the Zagreb Stock Exchange, where the company aims to raise approximately EUR 55 million by selling 30% of its treasury shares.

CEE Legal Matters is proud to introduce the latest in our Comparative Guides series. This one focuses on Real Estate in CEE.

Contributed by Ostermann Ivancic.

Bradvica Maric Wahl Cesarec has advised Positive ARB on obtaining its investment firm license issued by the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency.

Krehic Law has advised Eagle Hills Croatia on its acquisition of Suncani Hvar from CPI Property Group. Madirazza advised CPI Property Group. Hanzekovic & Partners reportedly advised Eagle Hills Croatia as well.

Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised on the concentration notification for a joint venture between Koncar and Siemens Energy Group, resulting in the formation of Koncar - Transformatorski Kotlovi.

Cytowski & Partners has advised Hypefy and Interactive Brokers on a USD 1.75 million seed round for Hypefy that also saw Euroventures and Intercapital participate.

CMS' Croatian affiliate Bardek, Lisac, Musec, Skoko, and Partners has advised Privredna Banka Zagreb as the leading mandated arranger, coordinator, and agent on a EUR 283 million club loan, which also included Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank, Zagrebacka Banka, and OTP Banka, for Podravka's acquisition of companies from the Fortenova Group. Podravka also received a EUR 50 million equity investment from the EBRD, following the acquisition. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic advised Podravka. Mamic, Peric, Reberski, Rimac advised Fortenova Group. Wolf Theiss advised the EBRD. DLA Piper reportedly advised Podravka as well.

Vukmir & Associates, working with Taylor Wessing, has advised Dertour on its acquisition of I.D. Riva Tours.

Kovacevic Prpic Simeunovic has advised Mlin i Pekare on its reverse takeover of Cakovecki Mlinovi. Vukina & Partners advised OTP Bank, which financed the transaction. Tus and Grzic advised PBZ Croatia Osiguranje on the sale of its stake. Mamic, Grgic, Vinter advised the management board of Cakovecki Mlinovi. Pesut, Matic, Galekovic, and Zgombic reportedly advised the sellers of the initial stake in Cakovecki Mlinovi. Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic reportedly advised AZ, a pension management company that sold its stake in Cakovecki Mlinovi.

Central and Eastern Europe is increasingly on the radar of digital nomads seeking new destinations. The countries they flock to see their markets impacted – for better or worse – with both opportunities and challenges aplenty. Babic & Partners Partner Marija Gregoric and JPM & Partners Partner Jelena Nikolic analyze these impacts.

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE Regulations) were incorporated in their current form into the laws of the European Union (EU) with Directive 2001/23/EC of March 12, 2001 (TUPE Directive), with Croatia ensuring its transposition in its legal system via the Labor Act (albeit with a few missed opportunities). Although TUPE Regulations are relatively simple to comprehend, with the main goal being the protection of employee rights in the event of a transfer of an undertaking, business, or part of an undertaking or business as a result of a legal transfer or merger, their application in practice raises many questions to which statutory provisions of Croatian law do not provide an answer.

The Croatian Government is preparing to establish a comprehensive system for screening foreign direct investments (FDIs) by adopting the new Act on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investments (the "Act").

Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka, working with Massumi + Consoli, has advised Cuadrilla Capital on its acquisition of Repsly from Resolve Growth Partners. Goodwin Procter reportedly advised Resolve Growth Partners.

With the amendments to the Companies Act (the “Act”), which entered into force on 5 December 2024, Croatia has implemented EU Directive (EU) 2022/2381 on gender balance on corporate boards of listed companies (the “Directive”). The so called “Women on Boards” Directive aims to ensure that at least 40% of non-executive board seats or 33% of all board seats for listed companies are occupied by the “underrepresented sex” by the end of June 2026.

Mamic Peric Reberski Rimac, BDK Advokati, and Gorjup Law Office have advised Bosqar Invest on its acquisition of a 50.1% indirect stake in the Mlinar Group from MidEuropa Partners. Karanovic & Partners and Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners, working with Dechert, advised MidEuropa Partners. Gospic, Plazina, Stojs advised Mr. Skojo, the former owner of Mlinar and a current shareholder of SEE Bakery, the sole shareholder of Mlinar. Janezic & Jarkovic, and Van Campen Liem reportedly advised Bosqar as well. Gospic Plaznina Stojs reportedly also advised the sellers.