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Thu, May
24 New Articles

Legal markets, much like other markets, are susceptible to global tendencies and changes shaping the industry. CEELM sat down with Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka Partner Ema Mendjusic Skugor to discuss the Croatian legal market and its growing pains in keeping up with global trends.

On January 1, 2023, Croatia will finally gain a much-coveted place in the eurozone club. Making the switch is a massive undertaking that will impact every person living and working in the Adriatic country. Eight Croatian legal experts share their insights on how the market will adapt, how the legislative framework will change, and who will stand to gain the most.

Did you know that Dentons worked on more reported client matters in Central and Eastern Europe in 2022 – 86 – than any other firm (with Sorainen only one behind), and that Andrzej Stosio of Clifford Chance in Poland worked on more client matters than any other lawyer in the region – 13 (with Mantas Petkevicius of Sorainen in Lithuania and Roxana Ionescu of Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu in Romania both only one behind, with 12)?

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Allianz on the sale of its 11.72% stake in Zagrebacka Banka to the UniCredit Group and on Allianz Holding Eins’ purchase of Zagrebacka Banka’s 16.84% stake in insurance company Allianz Croatia. Schoenherr reportedly advised UniCredit on the transactions.

Boyanov & Co has advised BioIVT on its acquisition of Fidelis Research. Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, BDK Advokati, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, and Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli have advised BioIVT on Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, and Turkish law-related matters, respectively. Hristov & Partners advised Integrity Capital Investments on the sale. Penkov Markov & Partners advised the other sellers.

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Entain on its acquisition of the SuperSport Group from Emma Capital. Lovric Novokmet Partneri advised Emma Capital on the sale. Clifford Chance reportedly also advised Entain, with Dentons reportedly advising Emma Capital as well.

Despite economic forecast-related fears, there is plenty to be optimistic about in Croatia, with the country joining the eurozone and Schengen area next year, according to Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka Senior Partner Damir Topic.

Although in most respects the law firm business in Central Europe is on par with other sophisticated practices in the rest of the world, coaching is one thing that has not been as widely adopted as elsewhere. This article addresses the questions of what coaching is, what it offers lawyers and law firms, and whether it should be more widely embraced by the legal profession in Central Europe.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELMDirect online legal directory. Today’s interview: Damir Topic, Partner and Head of M&A and Co-Head of Banking, Finance, and Capital Markets at Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka in Croatia.

Clifford Chance, Selih & Partnerji, and Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka have advised Ceska Sporitelna and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on the refinancing of Kofola. Onisko & Holesova, Planinic Soljic & Partners, and solo practitioner Klemen Ticar advised Kofola.

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DTB at a Glance

DTB is internationally recognized and award-winning top-tier Croatian legal service provider. For almost thirty years, DTB has been successfully advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, investors, and governments both in everyday business and in sophisticated strategic transactions. Its dedicated team of unrivalled efficiency and competence has an interdisciplinary approach tailored to all clients’ legal needs.

Since its establishment in 1994, DTB has been constantly growing in the number of legal areas in which it provides legal services, hence today it represents a one-stop shop for any legal or corporate inquiries made by potential or existing clients. DTB’s main expertise is corporate and commercial, M&A, real estate and project finance, banking, finance and capital markets, regulatory and compliance, IP & TMT, competition and antitrust, energy, labor law and dispute resolution.

DTB’s highly ranked market position in many practice areas is reflected by constant awards and rankings of leading independent researchers. The law firm is also a member of several leading law firm networks, not only on regional, but also on the global level.

For more details, please visit dtb.hr.