Interview with: Marjan Poljak, Managing Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Karanović & Partners from your competitors?

For more than 30 years, Karanović & Partners has grown its team and presence step by step across Southeast Europe, developing our practice independently over time. We have built it through our own development, focusing on long-term relationships, consistent standards, and a clear sense of responsibility toward our clients and colleagues.

Integrity is a core part of how we work. We invest heavily in our people across all jurisdictions, which allows us to maintain the same level of expertise, professionalism, and service for our clients throughout the region.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Over the next 12 months, we expect continued growth in several areas. We are investing additional effort in our tax and white-collar practices, as clients increasingly turn to law firms for advice that goes beyond traditional transactional work, particularly in regulatory investigations and complex tax matters.

At the same time, we are developing new focus areas such as Maritime and Food Law, with a few more in the pipeline. These reflect both regional developments and the growing needs of clients operating in industries that require high-level and sector-specific legal specialisation.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

One of the main changes has been a stronger focus on how we use technology and internal knowledge-sharing to deliver clearer and more practical advice to clients. We are actively analysing and introducing various AI tools and other relevant technologies that help our lawyers work more efficiently.

Meanwhile, we are investing in internal training to ensure that our teams provide standardised, concise and practical guidance across every market we operate in. Alongside this, we are placing even greater emphasis on a personal approach and close communication with clients.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, technology is definitely changing how law firms work with clients and deliver certain services, and we are part of that broader shift. Like many firms globally, we are implementing different systems to improve efficiency and internal collaboration.

Technology increasingly supports our work by assisting with research, helping us analyse complex information, and enabling us to consider different approaches more efficiently. This allows us to handle demanding matters more effectively while continuing to focus on direct communication with clients.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

A practical example is the way we support clients through continuous compliance monitoring. In many industries, regulatory requirements change frequently, and businesses need to anticipate those changes.

What helps us add value is our in-depth understanding of specific industries. Many of our lawyers have spent years, sometimes decades, specialising in particular sectors, which allows us to identify regulatory or market developments early and discuss them with clients in advance. This helps clients address issues before they become problems.

Our regional structure also plays an important role. Lawyers across our teams regularly exchange knowledge and experience, which allows us to recognise trends across markets and support clients as they develop new business lines or expand in the region.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Clients increasingly look for stability and clear direction from their legal advisors. Building on the industry knowledge I mentioned earlier, many of our lawyers are deeply engaged in the sectors they advise on and combine legal expertise with a strong understanding of how those industries operate.

Another important aspect of our work is regional collaboration, and we regularly share experience and knowledge with our colleagues from the region. Over the next three years, we see our practice continuing to strengthen this regional cooperation while further developing our sector-focused expertise.