In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around, we asked: With autumn being a peak conference period, what are your annual “cannot miss” conferences during the fall season and why?

The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia (“Ministry”) has adopted a new Rulebook outlining in detail the procedure for obtaining authorisation to construct energy facilities (“Rulebook”).

Karanovic & Partners has appointed Senior Partner Marjan Poljak as the firm's new Managing Partner. 

The Amendments to the Law on Factoring entered into force on 12 December 2025 (“Amendments”). The Amendments introduce developments in the legal and regulatory framework for factoring in Serbia, aiming to align it with international standards and best market practices, ensure compliance with AML and CTF principles, and enhance transparency and the efficient functioning of the factoring market.

On 20 November 2025, the Albanian Data Protection Commissioner (“Commissioner”) adopted Instruction No. 07/2025 “On the Protection of Personal Data in the Written, Electronic and/or Audiovisual Media and the Exemptions for Special Processing Purposes” (“Instruction No. 7”), a regulatory act that aims to reshape the legal relationship between freedom of expression and personal data protection in Albania.

In December 2025, Karanovic & Partners announced that the sale of Regina Maria Group to Mehilainen (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 11, 2025) has now closed.

Karanovic & Partners has promoted Miljana Tomic and Ana Kashirska Ilievska to Partners.

Countries in the region continue with the application of the Pillar 2 of OECD’s Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (“GloBE”) as well as the EU’s Global Minimum Tax Directive 2022/2523. After the introduction of GLoBE rules in Slovenia, Croatia and North Macedonia, the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, on 26 November, initiated the public consultations regarding the new Law on Global Minimum Corporate Income Tax (“Law on GMCIT”).

Karanovic & Partners has promoted Milena Jaksic Papac, Veton Qoku, and Igor Angelovski to Senior Partners.

The General Directorate of Taxation (“GDT”) has introduced indicative salary levels for various professions in the construction sector. According to the GDT, salaries reported in the payrolls of construction companies will be analysed and compared against these newly published benchmarks. This assessment aims to identify taxpayers who may be underreporting employee wages and, as a result, failing to pay the correct social security contributions.

Dentons and Ketler & Partners, member of Karanovic, have advised a club of banks led by Tatra Banka on a syndicated loan facility supporting the M&A activities of Seyfor. Barger Prekop and Kocian Solc Balastik advised Seyfor. Alexandros Economou reportedly advised the banks as well.

CMS has advised the management team of Frauscher Sensor Technology Group on the sale of the company to Wabtec Corporation. Baker McKenzie, Buterin & Partners, and Karanovic & Partners advised Frauscher shareholder Delachaux. Reportedly, Jones Day's Frankfurt office advised Wabtec while Trench, Rossi, Watanabe and Khaitan & Co advised Delachaux as well.

Following the foundation of the Ministry of Sport, North Macedonia has made strong progress in developing its sports sector.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Czechoslovak Group on its acquisition of a majority stake in Belgrade-based aerospace technology company Must Solutions. Zecevic & Lukic reportedly advised the seller.

In 2025, the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of North Macedonia (the “Commission”) has considerably stepped up its enforcement efforts under antitrust rules in the country. Following several cartel investigations and misdemeanour proceedings, the Commission has now started to issue concrete sanctions against infringing undertakings.

Recent amendments to the VAT Law in North Macedonia introduce significant changes to the VAT treatment of low-value consignments imported into the country. The goal of the amendments is to abolish the existing VAT exemption for low-value commercial parcels and to introduce a much narrower exemption limited to non-commercial, person-to-person shipments. The law will enter into force eight days after its publication. Key points are below.

With the adoption of the new Law on Special Conditions for the Registration and Entry of Rights on Real Estate (Official Gazette RS No. 91/2025), Serbia has opened what may be the final window for legalising buildings constructed without complete or valid permits. Effective from 24 October 2025, this legislative initiative offers a streamlined and time-limited mechanism to register ownership over previously unregistered structures, including many used for commercial or industrial purposes.

As Bosnia and Herzegovina advances EU-alignment and energy transition priorities, mandates have broadened across compliance, projects, and cross-border deals. Maric & Co Partner Bojana Bosnjak-London and Sijercic & Partners Senior Partner Nihad Sijercic discuss where the work is coming from, who’s investing, what’s slowing things down, and how the outlook is shaping up.