The Legal 500

‘No-one can compete’ with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hasche Sigle for competition matters, say clients. Multinationals such as IBM, Puma, Henkel and Michelin instruct ‘the best firm in Serbia’ on merger control issues, abuse of market position, unfair competition, state aid, cartels and support in dawn raids. ‘Outstanding lawyer’ Natasa Zavisin’s team is ‘good value for money, pragmatic and results-oriented’.

JPM Jankovic, Popovic & Mitic in cooperation with CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati ‘provides services in a professional and high-quality manner’. Recently instructed by Syngenta group and Slovenian bank NKMB on merger control issues, the team has also advised medical and construction sector clients on the implementation of antitrust compliance programmes and restrictive practices. Head Milica Subotic is praised for her ‘quick response time; good business logic in combination with excellent legal knowledge; passion for work; and winner mentality’.

The dedicated group at Karanovic & Nikolic has guided investors through merger procedures in Serbia and the wider region; and offers stand-alone competition law advice noted for its ‘high quality’. Recent cases include advising multinationals on abuse of dominant position and a major Serbian food producer on price-fixing cartel allegations. International colleagues consider the firm to be ‘the market leaders in Serbian competition law. The impressive team delivers spot-on advice to challenging deadlines’. Rastko Petakovic heads the practice.

Prica & Partners hosted Serbia’s first international conference on antitrust laws in 2010, attracting speakers from around the EU. The competition team, headed by Darija Ognjenovic, is instructed by a host of high-profile clients from Merck to Whirlpool on merger issues and abuse of dominance/restrictive practices; and recently assisted L’Oréal to obtain clearance of its acquisition of Essie Cosmetics.

Tijana Kojovic at Bojovic Dasic Kojovic oversaw merger control aspects of Atlantic Group’s acquisition of Droga Kolinska. The firm advised on harmonising concentration filings in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herezegovina, in addition to considering competition aspects of Philips’ and Alitalia’s contractual arrangements.

Gide Loyrette Nouel recently completed two competition audits for major French and Serbian clients. From its Balkans hub in Budapest, the firm is advising a French multinational on the acquisition of sale and service networks in the region.

Harrisons Solicitors’ high volume of M&A activity has given the team, headed by Aleksandar Preradovic, a wealth of experience in merger and dominant position issues. The latest client to benefit was Telekom Srbija on the sale of the government’s stake in what could be Serbia’s largest transaction to date.

At the forefront of Serbia’s developing competition law, Joksovic, Stojanovic & Partners recently addressed novel questions in leniency proceedings: ‘It proved very resourceful in providing advice. It made use of its contacts at the Serbian competition authority in order to give us more certainty.’ Clients assert that Petar Stojanovic ‘certainly is one of the big players in Serbian competition law’. Dragan Psodorov is ‘very responsive and resourceful’.

Moravcevic Vojnovic Zdravkovic OAD in cooperation with Schoenherr’s regional network of 18 offices is attractive to clients such as Philips, VW/Porsche and Procter & Gamble for merger control and antitrust matters. Srdjana Petronijevic heads the five-lawyer group, which has seen a significant increase in compliance work.

The three-lawyer team at Wolf Theiss Vienna in co-operation with Serbian lawyers can consult Vienna-based competition specialists when advising international clients in the consumer products, oil and electronics sectors on innovative points arising on investigations into restrictive practices and dominant position.

Ivan Krsikapa has spearheaded Ninkovic Law Office’s advice to Eversheds LLP on competition aspects of a merger; and ensured that a consumer healthcare manufacturer’s distribution and agency agreements comply with Serbian competition law.

Tomic Stevic Dulic advises on the competition aspects of conducting business in Serbia. The firm’s German and Russian language capabilities have won it high-profile clients from these countries.

Zivkovic & Samardzic Law Office has obtained merger clearances for Nestlé, BayernLB and Pernod Ricard and also advises on restrictive practices.