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"Wolf Theiss opened its first office in Vienna in 1957 and soon established a reputation as one of the region’s leading law firms. The firm has since grown into a multinational team..." read more
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Legal market overview

Croatia’s economy remains sluggish and while recent elections have given hope that the government will now concentrate on moving forward with its plans, thereby instructing law firms on new work, foreign direct investment has slowed and many law firms have resorted to debt recovery work to fill billable hours. Croatia will accede to the European Union as a full member in June 2013, and this has increased the amount of compliance mandates received by law firms with relevant expertise. Firms are also hopeful that a series of proposed privatisations could provide substantial mandates.

The market remains characterised by small Croatian law firms staffed by one or a few partners with junior support, and the occasional split whereby ambitious younger lawyers form new firms.

Bogdanovic, Dolicki & Partners, Divjak, Topic & Bahtijarevic, Hanzekovic & Partners, Porobija & Porobija, Savoric & Partners and Zuric i Partneri are among the largest of the local firms. In addition, the firms of CMS, Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH in co-operation with Croatian Lawyers and Wolf Theiss – Zagreb branch all have offices locally. The Balkan regional law firm of Karanovic & Nikolic opened an office in Zagreb in September 2012, and now has offices in six jurisdictions.

The chapter includes a new Dispute resolution section, and the newly renamed Privatisation, projects and energy practice area recognises the numerous energy projects now underway in Croatia, but note that energy related M&A is covered under the Corporate and M&A heading.

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in Croatia

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Real Estate 2013. Chapter 11: Croatia

    This guide provides the international practitioner and in-house counsel with a comprehensive worldwide legal analysis of the laws and regulations of real estate. This article appeared in the 2013 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Real Estate; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London. www.iclg.co.uk ´.
  • Restitution of Property to non-Croatian Citizens – Possible at Last?

    After 14 years from the adoption of the Croatian Restitution Act, restitution to non- Croatian citizens of their nationalised property has become possible after the issuance of a Croatian Supreme Court ruling. Will the remaining restitution proceedings be finalised at last?
  • Implementing Regulations on Public Procurement

    On 1 January 2008 the new Public Procurement Act came into force. However, following the coming into force of the new Act the Public Procurement Office, a regulatory body authorized to develop and coordinate the public procurement system in Croatia reported that in the practice the new Act is actually suspended until the regulations necessary for its implementation are adopted.
  • Amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act

    On 28 March 2008 Croatian Parliament enacted Amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act ("Amendments").
  • Amendments to Civil Obligations Act

    The currently applicable Croatian Civil Obligations Act was enacted in 2005 ("2005 Act") with a goal of harmonizing Croatian legislation with a number of EU Directives relating to combat against late payment in commercial transactions, self-employed commercial agents, sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees, liability for defective products, as well as package travel.
  • Amendments to Electronic Commerce Act

    On 17 June 2008 the Amendments to Electronic Commerce Act ("Amendments") came into force. These amendments are aimed at fully harmonizing Croatian electronic commerce regulations with the relevant EU laws.
  • One-Tier Corporate Governance System Introduced in Croatian Legal System

    On 3 October 2007 Croatian Parliament enacted the Amendments to the Companies Act which should enter into force on 1 April 2008 ("Amendments", "Act"). These Amendments represent the first substantial change to the Act since 2003.
  • New Takeover Act Enacted

    Background
  • New Public Procurement Act

    On 1 January 2008 the new Public Procurement Act came into force. The Act was modeled on a number of EU regulations concerning public procurement, most notably directive on coordination of procedures for award of public works, public supply and public service contracts, directive on procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors, as well as directive on review procedures to the award of public supply and public works contracts.
  • Resignation of a Member of the Management Board

    In a recently published decision, the Croatian High Commercial Court held that in corporations having two-tier corporate structure, the Supervisory board (as a body resolving on appointment and revocation of members of the Management Board) is not authorised or required to resolve on resignation of the Management Board's member. The court was on the standpoint that the resignation has legal effects as of the moment of its delivery to the Supervisory board. As a result, once the Supervisory board receives a resignation of a member of Management Board, it is not to discuss such resignation, but only undertake necessary steps to appoint new member of the Management Board and register the changes with the competent registry court.

Press Releases worldwide

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
  • Sayenko Kharenko – legal counsel on the acquisition of ING’s securities and custody services bus

    Sayenko Kharenko - legal counsel on the acquisition of ING's securities and custody services business by Citibank. Normal 0 false false false RU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
  • LS Horizon Limited advised PTG Energy Public Company Limited

    LS Horizon Limited has advised PTG Energy Public Company Limited (the " Company "), which operates the business of distribution of petroleum products and equipment for gas stations, including fuel selling through its PT petrol stations, in connection with its initial public offering (" IPO ") and listing of its shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (" SET ").
  • Penningtons establishes pensions team with two senior lateral hires

    Penningtons Solicitors LLP has recruited partner Maria Riccio and associate Rupert Graham-Evans to lead its newly established pensions law team. Working between the firm's Hampshire and London offices, they will also support Penningtons' regional offices across Cambridge and the South East, advising clients in the UK and internationally.
  • Matouk Bassiouny Advises Emirates NBD PJSC on the USD 500 Million Acquisition of BNP Paribas S.A.E.

    Matouk Bassiouny advised Emirates NBD PJSC on the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of BNP Paribas S.A.E. in Egypt.  The value of the transaction amounted to USD 500 million. The Share Purchase Agreement was signed in December 2012 and closing took place in Cairo on Sunday June 9 th 2013. 
  • Partner and Senior Associate join Matouk Bassiouny's Dispute Resolution group

    We are delighted to inform you that Johanne Cox joins Matouk Bassiouny as a Partner in the firm's Dispute Resolution group. Johanne has practiced international arbitration in Egypt for a number of years, prior to which, she practiced arbitration in London and Paris at leading international law firms.  She is recognized in Legal 500 (2013) as "very experienced and knowledgeable", adding a "great dynamic" to her law firm's practice.  Johanne is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Solicitor-Advocate in England and Wales, and an accredited Mediator.
  • Landmark Supreme Court judgement on the Rights of Depositors in Cyprus

    On 07.06.2013 the Supreme Court issued its judgment in the context of the first recourses filed by depositors and challenging the effect on depositors' funds of the recent bank resolution measures. The judgment is a very welcome development and should be viewed as a significant stepping stone in the future developments of the promotion of depositors' claims.
  • Kochański Zięba Rapala & Partners law firm is a laureate of the European Medal 2013

    Kochański Zięba Rapala & Partners law firm is honored to announce that it has been awarded the European Medal 2013 in the Final of the 24th Edition of the Competition organized by the Business Centre Club in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and under the honorary patronage of the European Economic and Social Committee.
  • Georg Fischer to acquire majority stake in Hakan Plastik of Turkey

    Georg Fischer Ltd. (GF) signed a share purchase agreement on 7 May 2013 to acquire majority stake in Hakan Plastik A.S., with an option to acquire the remaining shares in following years. 
    - Paksoy
  • Hengeler Mueller advises CEWE on transformation of legal form

    The Annual General Meeting of CEWE COLOR Holding AG has approved the change the company's legal form into a partnership limited by shares - Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (KGaA). The change of the legal form includes the transfer of the business currently conducted by CEWE COLOR AG & Co. OHG to CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA.
  • Hengeler Mueller advises Grammer AG on refinancing by certificate of indebtedness

    Grammer AG (Amberg), a leading supplier of automotive interior and seating systems, has issued loans evidenced by certificate of indebtedness (Schuldscheindarlehen) in the amount of € 90 million which is divided into tranches of 4 and 6 years as well as fixed and variable interest rate tranches. Grammer AG is refinancing an existing loan evidenced by certificate of indebtedness of 2006 prior to maturity in August with part of the issuing proceeds.