Real estate and construction in Bosnia & Herzegovina

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz D.O.O. in cooperation with local lawyers

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz D.O.O. in cooperation with local lawyers is a go-to firm for international investors seeking to enter the Bosnian real estate and construction markets; it can often be seen advising on large-scale energy and infrastructure development projects and cross-border project financing. The latter is a key strength of the firm, bolstered by its banking and finance department. Nedžida Salihović-Whalen focuses on transactional and contentious matters and Indir Osmić has significant experience advising on cross-border energy-sector projects.

Practice head(s):

Indir Osmić; Ana Terzić

Other key lawyers:

Nedžida Salihović-Whalen

Key clients

European Bank for Restructuring and Development

Soda Sisecam Lukavac

Grohe

Akzo Nobel N.V.

Austrian Social Fund

Press Ganey

Wagner AG Waldstatt

Hitachi Energy

Alpiq AG

Goodyear

Otis

Wizz Air Hungary Zrt.

ALPLA

Mann Hummel

Work highlights

  • Advising EBRD on restructuring a security package to allow for accession of new lenders into an arrangement.
  • Advising ALPIQ, a provider in the field of energy generation, trading and sales, in relation to business activities regarding energy regulation and business law aspects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Advising EBRD on all aspects of the financing of the EBRD-Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), which supports energy efficiency in the Western Balkan countries with the public sector.

Dimitrijevic & Partners

With an emphasis on construction and real estate-related litigation, the real estate team at Dimitrijevic & Partners stands out for its regulatory expertise and dispute resolution experience. Its clients include private individuals, major construction companies and religious entities from various denominations. Head of practice Djordje Dimitrijevic represents clients before domestic and multilateral courts and administrative bodies, advising on complex ownership-related issues and property law. Nina Vještica is noted for her commercial advice.

Practice head(s):

Djordje Dimitrijevic

Other key lawyers:

Nina Vještica

Testimonials

‘The team at Dimitrijevic & Partners is very well organised internally, their legal service and advice are always comprehensive, timely, and communicated with ease both to professionals (lawyers) as well as laymen. Their overall service just instills confidence and as a client, you feel at ease and in good hands with your (complex) legal situation.’

‘Djordje Dimitrijevic is an excellent attorney – highly efficient with respect to the delivery of the final product (both legal analysis, opinion, advice as well as formal writs) as well as nice and easygoing in live communication, explaining with ease even the most complicated legal nuances. Highly recommendable attorney and legal partner!’

‘The firm has great experience and in-depth knowledge of real estate regulation which makes them easy to work with. In addition to their legal expertise, they have amazing awareness of how courts and administrative bodies work and think, which gives us an additional layer of safety to entrust them with the most complex cases.’

‘Nina Vještica has a great understanding of the commercial angle of deals, along with superior legal knowledge. She provides timely and relevant advice and is dedicated to making sure the deal succeeds. Djordje Dimitrijevic is a great real estate lawyer with the capacity to find adequate and practical solutions for complex legal issues. I really admire his responsiveness and eagerness to “fight” for our interests.’

Key clients

OHL Z.S. Brno, Czech Republic

Atzwanger AG

Integral Inzenjering

Alumil Aluminium Industry SA

Jaćimović d.o.o.

Eurosalon

Tvornica cementa Kakanj d.d. Kakanj

Mixed Holding Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske

The Eparchy of Zahumlje, Herzegovina and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Tvrdos

Banjaluka Brewery

Work highlights

  • Representing Jacimovic in a property dispute related to the ownership of business premises acquired in the privatisation of a state-owned company.
  • Representing Eurosalon in administrative proceedings for the establishment of new land records for part of its properties.
  • Representing Tvornica cementa Kakanj Kakanj in administrative proceedings related to the reshaping of construction parcels and resolving issues that prevent inscription of construction facilities to public land records.

Maric & Co Law Firm

The ‘highly educated and experienced‘ real estate and energy team at Maric & Co Law Firm offers a full-service practice, advising clients on transactions, contentious matters and project finance. Slaven Dizdar heads the practice. Dizdar specialises in project finance and renewable energy and has extensive experience advising on multi-jurisdictional public infrastructure, construction and energy projects. The department's client roster features both domestic and international entities from the public and private sectors.

Practice head(s):

Slaven Dizdar

Testimonials

‘Highly educated and experienced team.’

‘Slaven Dizdar is very supportive, business-oriented and experienced, which enables him to provide the client with the best possible legal support in order to achieve the most preferable results with as minimum risks as possible.’

Key clients

Public Company Elektroprivreda BiH JSC

Benetton Group

EBRD

Adriatic Metals PLC

Shandong International

Work highlights

  • Advising Shandong International and its Bosnian subsidiary SDHS-CSI BH Banja Luka on the continuation of the Banja Luka-Prijedor-Novi Grad highway construction project.
  • Advising public company Elektroprivreda BiH JSC on the construction of Block 7 of the Tuzla Thermoelectric Power Plant, valued at over €750m.
  • Advising EBRD in relation to six loans to local banks in Bosnia & Herzegovina, as well as a loan granted to a subsidiary of AS Holding, financing projects related to construction and/or reconstruction of supply facilities.

Law Office Miljkovic & Partners

The real estate team at Law Office Miljkovic & Partners is noted for its broad expertise across all aspects of real estate and construction, and the team regularly advises clients on contentious and non-contentious issues, with an emphasis on project finance, leasing and lending. ‘Extremely solution-oriented’ practice head Sead Miljković advises on complex construction and real estate-related acquisitions, while Amar Bajramović stands out for his work in energy-related real estate projects. Maja Šimunac is another name to note.

Practice head(s):

Sead Miljković

Other key lawyers:

Amar Bajramović; Maja Šimunac

Testimonials

‘Local firm with international standards. The team is knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of real estate and construction matters.’

‘Sead Miljkovic and Amar Bajramovic are both excellent in providing innovative legal advice, very solution-oriented, and dedicated. Highly recommended.’

‘Their approach is in my experience business and solution-oriented. They understand our business and industry and are able to provide legal services based on such understanding of business and our needs combined with the legal knowledge of real estate matters. Moreover, their lawyers are very experienced in negotiations. As a firm, they are easy to work with and we have overall very pleasant and efficient cooperation.’

‘Amar Bajramovic is efficient and provides practical and upfront advice, without overcomplicating. I also work a lot with managing partner Sead Mijkovic who is extremely solution oriented. In my opinion, they both stand out, not only within the firm but also on the market. They spend time on the matter and are always available to the client.’

Key clients

dm drogerie markt

ASA Finance

Montecristo Retail Group

WPD

Work highlights

  • Advising ASA Group as investor in relation to a FIDIC-based contract with the Strabag for a project involving the first private general hospital in Sarajevo.
  • Engaged by EBRD to advise public company Motorways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the financing of a motorway section, which is part of Corridor Vc.
  • Advising a client with regards to BiH legal matters in relation to ongoing ICC arbitration concerning a railway rehabilitation project in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Law firm SAJIC

Law firm SAJIC‘s real estate team advises clients on a range of real estate and construction issues, with an emphasis on transactional, financial and administrative matters. The group is noted for its litigation experience, regularly representing clients in construction-related proceedings and assisting in obtaining permits from the relevant administrative authorities. Founding partner Aleksandar Sajic and Zeljko Vlacic jointly head the team, focusing on the corporate aspects of real estate and construction-related dispute resolution, respectively. Associate Mirela Mazulovic focuses on permit and registration procedures.

Practice head(s):

Aleksandar Sajic; Zeljko Vlacic

Other key lawyers:

Mirela Mazulovic

Key clients

Lidl BH d.o.o. Sarajevo

Kutjevo

EOS Matrix

Work highlights

  • Advises LIDL in relation to the purchase of real estate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including conducting the due diligence of real estate, as well as consultancy during the negotiations.
  • Advised KUTJEVO Banja Luka on acquiring real estate from PAVGORD Foca.
  • Representing a client in litigation with Vlasenica Municipality regarding the construction of infrastructure facilities.

Wolf Theiss - in cooperation with local lawyers

The real estate and construction practice at Wolf Theiss - in cooperation with local lawyers acts for a broad range of clients, including private individuals, multinational corporations and public financial institutions. Best known for its work for energy-sector clients, the firm advises on a variety of real estate and construction matters, including regulatory, transactional and contentious issues. Naida Čustović heads the team and assists clients in acquisitions and project finance. She is supported by associates Ilma Kasumagić and Alija Genjac, as well as the Zagreb-based Dalibor Valincic.

Practice head(s):

Naida Čustović; Dalibor Valinčić

Other key lawyers:

Ilma Kasumagić; Alija Genjac

Key clients

Emil Frey AG

Suzlon Wind Energy BH d.o.o. Sarajevo

Work highlights

  • Advising the client Emil Frey AG in relation to the acquisition of ownership over real estate in Sarajevo.
  • Advising the local subsidiary of SUZLON Energy A/S Denmark in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the first energy project in the city of Sarajevo based on the usage of wind as the renewable energy source.

Karanovic & Partners in cooperation with local lawyers

The real estate team at Karanovic & Partners in cooperation with local lawyers acts for international and local infrastructure and construction companies in large-scale real estate transactions. In particular, the firm has a strong PPP, infrastructure and energy offering. Construction disputes and real estate arbitration are other areas of expertise. Nihad Sijerčić leads the team, advising domestic and foreign clients on construction-related M&A, while Amina Đugum advises real estate investors on public procurement matters.

Practice head(s):

Nihad Sijerčić

Other key lawyers:

Amina Đugum

Key clients

Telemach

Brilliant 3221 GmbH

Hering

Dar Al Arkan Property Development

Virgin Pulse

Iskra Mehanizmi

EBRD

Roof Garden (Symphony Group)

Vestas AG

PowerChina Resources Limited

Work highlights

  • Assisting EBRD with the amendments to energy efficiency legislation.
  • Assisting a client in the development of a new tourist and residential area near Sarajevo.
  • Providing continuous assistance to Hering, a major construction company in BiH, in various issues related to its construction projects.