During the Covid-19 pandemic, in every industry where it was possible employers transferred their employees to work from home.

Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners, working with Advant Beiten, has advised the shareholders of Hedwell Group Germany on the sale of the Hedwell Group to SAP Fioneer. Reportedly, Germany's Poellath advised SAP Fioneer on the deal.

Zivkovic Samardzic has advised both companies on the Titan Cementara Kosjeric merger with its affiliate Stari Silo Company.

One of the questions that is often risen in practice is whether there is an obligation to conclude a contract with an individual who is registered as a legal representative, i.e., director of a company, and who does not establish an employment relationship in that company. In relation thereto, there are also inquiries whether it is mandatory to provide for a compensation for the work of a director who is not employed with the company, as well as what are the tax obligations of the company regarding the compensation that a director receives for performing the respective capacity.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia rendered the new Ordinance on Conditions, Manner and Procedure for Awarding the State-owned Agricultural Land for Use for Non-agricultural Purpose, that came into force on 10 September 2022.

According to the latest Position published by the Serbian Commission for the Protection of Competition, it is prescribed whether and in which cases the scope of one concentration can be several undertakings that are not considered interrelated.

Research of major global agencies show that the realization of profit is proportional to the degree of trust that customers have in retailers, regarding the processing of their personal data. Retailers that consider themselves socially responsible should know that investing in the protection of customers' personal data is an added value for the company - this type of investment strengthens the trust of customers, contributes to strengthening the competitive position on the market and increases profit. Most importantly, retailers have to understand that the personal data they collect from citizens is not their property, and that the right to privacy is one of elementary rights of citizens, which they are obliged to process in accordance with legal regulations.

Contributed by Gecic Law.

Schoenherr, in cooperation with Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners, has advised Greiner Packaging International on its acquisition of Serbian PET flake producer Alwag from Aling-Conel and Reiwag Facility Services. The Stanivukovic law office advised majority shareholder Aling-Conel on the sale.

Despite being one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the mankind, 20th century represents one of the brightest spots in the evolution of technology. Except for the general enthusiasm in all branches over the industry, the second half of the century has been fertile when it comes to executing some revolutionary ideas.

As mentioned in one of our earlier articles, on 12 November 2021 the Regulation on Unique Technical and Technology Requirements and Procedures for Storage and Protection of Archival and Documentary Materials in Electronic Form (Official Gazette of RS no. 107/2021) (“the Regulation”) was published, governing the so-called electronic archiving, i.e., unique technical-technological requirements and procedures that should be fulfilled by creators and holders of archival and documentary materials during their storage and protection.

Employment law related matters are a fundamental part of every legal due diligence analysis of Serbian companies and their respective businesses. Following the enactment of the Law on Gender Equality ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", no. 52/2021, "Law"), the scope of legal due diligence exercises should be extended to also include targets’ compliance with obligations set forth in the Law.

Pursuant to the Regulation on the Youth Employment Incentives Program “My First Salary” (Off. Gazette of the RS no. 107/2020 and 79/2021), on 22 August 2022 the National Employment Service has announced a public call for the implementation of the respective program (“the Program”), which specifies terms and criteria for application and participating therein.

Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners has advised Pactera EDGE on starting its operations in Serbia. 

Dentons has advised a syndicate of banks led by Ceska Sporitelna, and including Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka and Komercni Banka, on the financing of KKCG Group and Aricoma Group’s acquisition of Musala Soft. Polenak, Boyanov & Co, and, reportedly, Andric and TM & Partners advised the banks as well. Clifford Chance advised Aricoma Group on the deal.

In response to the announcements and decisions of individual banks to increase their fees for certain services related to payment accounts, on 11 August 2022 the National Bank of Serbia (“the NBS”) published the Information for the public regarding the package of measures of the NBS on the bank fees on its official website.

Serbia does not have a foreign investment screening regime comparable to European regimes shaped by the EU FDI Screening Regulation. Rather, Serbia operates a single-sector authorisation system covering the defence sector.

Deloitte Legal has promoted Serbia-based Stefan Antonic and Poland-based Patrycja Bolimowska and Jacek Korzeniewski to Local Partners.