The Legal 500

IVANA LUCICA 2A (EUROTOWER), 10000 ZAGREB
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What we say about the firm's legal practice in Croatia

Banking, finance and capital markets

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Zuric i Partneri is a first tier firm,

Partner Bojan Fras heads the banking and finance work at six-partner firm Zuric i Partneri. Fras was heavily involved in the drafting of Croatia’s securitisation law and is described as ‘an important figure in the financial legal market’. The practice completed two IPOs, firstly for Optima Telekom, the second largest telecoms operator in Croatia, and secondly for Magma, one of the region’s largest wholesalers. The practice continued to advise long-standing banking sector clients, including Merrill Lynch, the Croatian Central Bank and Morgan Stanley, and also acted for several clients, such as Erste Bank, Raiffeisen and Societe Generale on credit facilities for syndicated loans.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Zuric i Partneri is a first tier firm,

Zuric i Partneri had a strong 2008 in M&A, advising on the largest transaction in the market, the takeover of INA, the previously state-owned Croatian oil and petrochemical company. The practice acted for Hungarian-based regional player MOL, which acquired INA for €1.2bn, and also advised MOL on the acquisition of Tifon, a Croatian retail seller of oil and gas with a chain of petrol stations. Outside the energy sector, the team represented local group Dioki on the acquisition of domestic newspaper company Novi List. Important corporate clients of the practice include IBM, Sisco Systems, Merrill Lynch, Siemens, Strabag and General Motors. Partners Bojan Fras, Dusko and Ratko Zuric are all praised by clients.

Foreign investment, projects and privatisation

Within Foreign investment, projects and privatisation, Zuric i Partneri is a first tier firm,

Zuric i Partneri continued to be involved in one of the most significant ongoing infrastructure projects in Croatia, the series of PPP deals covering the construction and operation of motorways in the country. The practice acted for the operator of the Zagreb-Macelj Motorway in respect of their €381m refinancing deal, and also advised Jupiter Asset Management, an international group of investment and asset funds, in relation to their Croatian operations, which includes a wave of tourist resort development projects.

Legal market

Within Legal market,

The old guard of Croatian law firms has finally been broken up. Although Bogdanovic, Dolicki & Partners, Porobija & Porobija and Zuric i Partneri remain dominant across all practice areas, their work is matched in both quality and quantity by Divjak, Topic & Bahtijarevic and Savoric & Partners. The latter firm has driven its way into the top tiers of the market through the sheer effort, skill and intense hard work of its managing partner Boris Savoric.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Zuric i Partneri is a third tier firm,

Zuric i Partneri’s real estate work is led by newly promoted partner Miroslav Plascar, with the team active in property development and urban planning projects during 2008.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Zuric i Partneri office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Croatia

Offices in Zagreb

Legal Developments in Croatia

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • Amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act

    On 28 March 2008 Croatian Parliament enacted Amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act ("Amendments").
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • New Takeover Act Enacted

    Background
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • 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.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • Constitutional Court Rules on Squeeze Out

    According to recent press release, in February 2007 the Croatian Constitutional Court overruled the claim filed by minority shareholders of Siemens affiliate in Croatia. The minority shareholders requested the Constitutional Court to declare that rules on squeeze-out introduced into Croatian legal system under the 2003 Amendments to Companies Act are in violation of the Croatian Constitution. Under the disputed rules, shareholders' meeting may, at the request of the majority shareholder holding at least 95% of the shares, decide to transfer to such majority shareholder the shares held by minority shareholders, provided that the squeezed-out shareholders are paid appropriate compensation.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm
  • Regulation on Investment Fund Mergers

    Based on the authority granted under the 2005 Investment Funds Act, on 14 December 2006, the Croatian Agency for Supervision of Financial Services ("Agency") adopted the Regulation on Open Investment Fund Merger. The Regulation sets out a number of rules related to procedure, conditions and methods for merger of open investment funds in Croatia. The Regulation will come into effect on 30 December 2006.
    - BABIC & PARTNERS Law Firm