The Legal 500

The firm

The Law Office Maric was established in 1959 when its founder, Dr Vladimir Maric, left the position of president of the Commercial Court in Sarajevo and started a private practice as an attorney-at-law. Dr Maric’s speciality at that time determined the present profile of the office. The firm developed strongly after Bosnia and Herzegovina opened to foreign investments and foreign capital. The firm’s specialisation, high professional level of service and communication with clients in the major world languages, and its ability to deal with all situations arising on the Bosnia and Herzegovina market, definitely place it among the leading law offices in the country.

The Law Office Maric undertakes a wide range of contentious and non-contentious legal activities for diverse clients, which include companies, partnerships, individuals, governments and governmental departments. Most of the firm’s work is on an international level and many of its clients are based abroad. The office’s aim is to always provide a high-quality service in a friendly manner, applying the highest professional standards.

Areas of practice

Banking: almost all banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a share of foreign capital have been clients of the office, either for due diligence reports for acquisitions, consulting on investments and solutions for organisational restructuring; or problems with their ongoing business activities. The firm has prepared studies for the World Bank, as well as the Bank Privatisation Unit of the Ministry of Finance of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the basis of the office’s suggestions, the concept of privatisation has been suggested to a great number of banks currently operating in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Corporate: Law Office Maric has extensive experience in the incorporation and registration of companies, as well as in organisation, acquisition, sales, mergers, restructurings and corporate governance. The commercial department, comprising a team of skilled lawyers, specialises in commercial transactions, the sale and distribution of merchandise, commercial agreements, secured transactions and commercial litigation.

Privatisation: since the beginning of the privatisation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the firm’s first privatisation agreement, representing the Coca-Cola Company, it has taken part in the most important privatisation procedures performed, both in the capacity of sole legal advisers, and in co-operation with large international law firms.

Real estate: the office deals with real estate investments as a whole, and advises clients at all stages of their projects, from planning to completion and leasing, including letters of intent to acquire and continuous counselling.

Energy: since the transformation of the energy and utility sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina began, the office, in partnership with an international consulting firm and financed by the European Union and USAID, has been chosen to provide legal advice during the entire reorganisation process of the distribution of electrical energy and management of water.

Telecoms: the firm has considerable experience of the acquisition of licences in the mobile telephone sector, as well as of the activities of internet service providers, since it participated in providing solutions to problems relating to the distribution of domains in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Indemnity claims: the office has been engaged in indemnity claims in insurance matters, and is experienced in the execution of indemnification requests and court proceedings related to these requests. The law office participated, as a local consultant, in the creation of all national insurance laws, including both applicable laws and laws in the process of adoption.

Intellectual property: the office is one of only a few registered as trade mark agents in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Besides official trade mark protection, it provides counselling on all issues regarding intellectual property, including authors’ rights, trade marks and brands.

Number of lawyers 14

Languages
Albanian
Bosnian
Croatian
English
French
German
Italian
Serbian

International groupings
The South East Europe Legal Group (SEE Legal)