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Karanovic & Nikolic is the leading full service commercial law firm covering the jurisdictions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The firm maintains a practical, active and pro-business approach when advising their multi-national, regional and local clients, financial institutions and governments. With over 80 lawyers, many of whom are internationally educated and qualified the firm have a sound understanding of both civil law and common law matters. more—

The banking and finance team has over ten years of experience working in the complex, demanding and under regulated jurisdictions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The team is proud of its solid understanding of the ever-changing legislative framework and a practical and pro-business approach. The banking and finance specialists have a good professional relationship with the relevant financial authorities and regulators and cooperate with them in many instances, particularly when breaking new ground on banking and finance practice in the region. As established LMA members and pioneers in local practice development Karanovic & Nikolic have worked on the first syndicated loan facilities in the region, as well as having handled the first local derivative financial instruments. There is a good understanding from within the firm of the differences in regional local development and we are regularly bridging both the legislative and practical gaps between local and EU practice whenever possible.  more—Contact

Responding to markets demands for an integrated approach in serving clients, we have created a regional practice group composed of leading corporate, IP and regulatory lawyers, commercially minded and fully briefed on the latest developments in various specific industries. Within the integrated approach we cover the general commercial matters, as well as the specific areas of public procurement, promotion and advertising, consumer protection, information technologies and data protection.  more—Contact

Karanovic & Nikolic offer a complete range of competition law related services across the jurisdictions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The firm is proud of their extensive regional practice, independent legal knowledge and practical experience in each jurisdiction, where a professional work relationship is maintained with each of the competition authorities. Although Karanovic & Nikolic are noted for representing many of the major multinationals in the most notable competition matters in the region, many smaller local enterprises whose domestic growth, commercial practices or cross border trade expose them to potential competition infringements are also represented by the firm. The competition department has a close understanding of all of the key regional industries and together with a shrewd understanding of the economic issues behind the competition law issues, clients are offered the most practical advice and solutions. The firm’s competition lawyers take a preventative approach towards compliance. An analysis of business practices, transactions and agreements for potential violations can help assess if there are any risks of competition infringement.  more—Contact

Comprehensively covering all corporate legal services, Karanovic & Nikolic’s corporate department plays a pivotal role in providing legal advice to many of their clients. Covering Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, the team has the capacity to provide an integrated and seamless service on both local and cross border transactions and are proud of the fact that they have been advising clients for over fifteen years. With the largest corporate team in the region, an excellent understanding of both local and international business and a depth of experience in all corporate matters, Karanovic & Nikolic consistently advise on the most significant deals in the market. The firm’s extensive experience in all areas of commercial law means that specialist lawyers are able to provide corporate support in any area when called upon.  more—Contact

With litigation lawyers across our offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, Karanovic & Nikolic are recognised by independent commentators as being one of the leading litigation practices in the region with a strong reputation for their commercial approach to resolving business disputes. In addition to general commercial litigation and dispute resolution, the litigation department’s synergy with Karanovic & Nikolic’s other practice groups ensures that the highest level of expertise is made available to the client in all areas of commercial dispute resolution. Bringing a dispute to court is regarded as the option of last resort and in all instances an amicable solution is preferred. With an extensive client base ranging from local and international industries, financial institutions and global investors, the litigation team uphold the highest ethical standards whilst keeping the integrity of the client in mind at all times. The firm is proud to have extensive experience in dealing with the ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL arbitrations as well as arbitrations before the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration in Belgrade. Furthermore, the firm also regularly deal with bankruptcy and restructuring related litigation, the recognition of foreign judgements, maritime related disputes, environmental issues and privatisation related matters.  more—Contact

Karanovic & Nikolic’s employment team provides a complete service dealing with all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment to retirement, including cross border human resources and immigration issues. The firm offers proactive, pragmatic and commercial employment law advice to key businesses and organisations across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonian, Montenegro and Serbia and beyond. Their specialist lawyers are committed to providing value for money by adapting their service to their clients’ specific needs. With the passage of new laws, the sometimes conflicting decisions of the courts and the official opinions of the competent ministries, a flexible and open-minded approach enables the firm to develop a service in line with the changing and challenging environments in which their clients operate. The firm have a professional relationship with the relevant authorities and are at all times aware of the sensitive nature of employer-employee relationships and issues that clients face. more—Contact

As the energy industry sees an increased demand for the development of new energy infrastructure along with state owned energy facilities increasingly passing into private hands, Karanovic & Nikolic are regularly called upon to provide effective legal advice in this area. Out of sheer necessity the regions underdeveloped infrastructure such as motorways, roads, and railways will also inevitably become the subject of numerous development concessions. Rapid developments from a regulatory point of view coupled with ever changing legislation ensure that the firm’s energy and infrastructure specialists are continually providing pioneering advice on cutting edge projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The energy and infrastructure team have adopted a multi disciplinary approach and regularly work alongside their colleagues in the corporate, real estate, finance and regulatory departments on issues such as due diligence investigations, the obtaining of licences, regulatory compliance, and the clarification and perfection of the title over property.  more—Contact

Karanovic & Nikolic’s IP team brings together leading intellectual property lawyers, commercial and corporate lawyers to provide a full service to clients across the jurisdictions of former Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. The coordination between the IP lawyers in each of the firm’s offices coupled with the synergy of having specialised lawyers covering every aspect of corporate and commercial law ensures the seamless and effective provision of legal services across the region. Karanovic & Nikolic’s practical and effective approach, coupled with its positive and professional relationship with the various regulators ensures that effective IP protection and enforcement is achieved. more—Contact

The firm has been committed to voluntary work and pro bono advisory services to select charitable organisations since its foundation in 1995. It has served a number of international and local foundations and NGOs helping different sectors of the community- the disabled, the aged, children with special needs, refugees and Roma.  more—Contact

Karanovic & Nikolic is a top tier real estate practice with a real knowledge of the practicalities of the regional market. The diversity of the firm’s client base means that in an ever changing legislative environment, their lawyers are constantly keeping pace with legal requirements in the region and implementing them in a practical manner in order to provide a seamless service for clients.  more—Contact

The firm’s expertise in all aspects of corporate and commercial law gives it a unique ability to understand both the key legal and tax related issues when providing taxation advice. A full and seamless service is offered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia in all areas of tax including corporate and individual income tax, VAT, customs and property taxes. The synergy between our legal and tax teams result in the firm’s clients obtaining the most practically applicable advice in the region. The firm offers a full range of taxation services from tax planning to tax compliance all the way through to tax litigation. Both corporates and individuals are represented by the firm.  more—Contact

Recent development in digital technology have rendered the borders between telecommunication, media and technology obsolete. The new industry era is marked by convergence, standardisation and innovation. Karanovic & Nikolic’s telecom, media and technology lawyers advise clients on all aspects of telecommunication, media and technology regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. more—Contact