BDK Advokati AOD‘s M&A team is consistently sought out to advise on high-end regional transactions. The team’s full-service assistance covers commercial contracts, and the compliance and regulatory side to clients’ businesses. The practice is co-led by Tijana Kojović, who is ‘eager to deliver legal solutions that are nuanced and appropriate’; and Vladimir Dašić, whose workload encompasses M&A, MBOs, joint venture investments, carve-outs and divestitures. The department further features Jelena Hrle, who advises on structured asset acquisitions, share deals, and corporate restructurings; and corporate law and M&A practitioner Tomislav Popović.

JPM & Partners’s full-service corporate practice consistently advises on high-stakes M&A, corporate and commercial law, takeovers, and regulatory issues. The practice also leverages the expertise of its tax, public procurement, and data protection colleagues. A major proportion of the firm’s workload includes multi-jurisdictional transactions. Leading the corporate department, senior partner Nenad Popović is ‘the top choice for all corporate matters‘, while Jelena Gazivoda has longstanding experience in landmark transactions in Serbia and the SEE region. Other names to note are Jelena Stanković Lukić, Nikola Đorđević, Bojana Javorić and Janez Voncina.

Karanovic & Partners‘ corporate and commercial team is consistently mandated for high-end transactions in Serbia, as well as throughout the SEE. Founding partner Dragan Karanović heads up the corporate and commercial practice, which showcases corporate, commercial, real estate and energy law specialist, Miloš Vučković; and Marjan Poljak, whose track record includes numerous M&A transactions. The department further includes ‘excellent lawyer’ Miloš Jakovljević; Ivan Nonković, who advises on M&A, takeovers, privatisations and restructurings; and corporate and commercial law practitioner Goran Radosevic. Other active advisers are Sava Drača, Marko Ćulafić and Jelena Zelenbaba.

Petrikic & Partneri AOD in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz‘s team is routinely mandated on both M&A deals and Serbia-related FDI. The group’s recent experience also includes high-stakes restructurings. Radivoje Petrikić has longstanding experience in commercial and M&A deals, and development projects throughout CEE; and Maja Stepanović is a specialist in corporate, commercial and M&A work. The practice further features Marija Tešić, an adviser on status changes, takeover bids and mandatory squeeze-outs; and Srđan Janković, who assists with the regulatory, commercial and compliance aspects of conducting business in Serbia.

Recent mandates for Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr‘s corporate and commercial practice include a plethora of private M&A deals, with the group also being active in energy transactions. An M&A adviser to strategic investors and private equity firms, Matija Vojnović heads the corporate and M&A practice alongside retail, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, telecoms and automotive sector specialist, Luka Lopičić. The team also showcases telecoms and energy industry specialist Slaven Moravčević; M&A expert Vojimir Kurtić; ‘exceptional lawyer’ Jovan Barović; and Bojan Rajić, a specialist in contracts and investment incentives.

With an ‘approach that helps clients overcome all challenges’, Gecić Law fields experts in M&A, corporate law, commercial transactions, and regulatory compliance. The firm’s industry specialisms encompass telecoms, financial services, energy, and real estate. It is particularly sought after for complex international transactions. Corporate and M&A leader Ognjen Colić, who ‘always identifies the most commercially important points’, specialises in M&A deals, commercial agreements, and regulatory compliance. The group also includes Nemanja Sladaković, an adviser on corporate law, M&A, and energy, while Milos Petakovic advises on restructuring, investments, and takeover procedures.

Bojovic Draškovic Popovic & Partners‘ team is widely respected for its advice on cross-border M&A deals, as well as local transactions. The group is also increasingly active in aviation-related matters. Vuk Drašković heads up the firm’s corporate, commercial and M&A groups, which include Uroš Popović, whose recent experience includes advising BMM on its acquisition of majority stakes in two target companies; and Marija Bojović, who assists with corporate and commercial law work. In a boost to the practice, Milica Pešterić, Stefan Golubović and Miloš Andrejevića were made partners in May 2023.

BOPA Bojanovic & Partners' corporate and commercial department has ‘particularly strong expertise in corporate and commercial matters’. The team advises at every stage of the deal process, including due diligence reviews, transaction structuring, drafting and negotiating documents, obtaining merger approvals, deal-related employment issues, and regulatory matters. Group head and cross-border transaction specialist Vladimir Bojanović is ‘a great corporate lawyer’, while Aleksandra Stojanović is a June 2023 recruit from Doklestic Repic & Gajin, who focuses on corporate law and M&A transactions, as well as banking and finance, real estate, projects, mining, and energy work.

Doklestic Repic & Gajin focuses on M&A, joint ventures, buy-outs, divestments, and spin-offs. The team’s assistance extends to due diligence, deal structuring, transactional documents, merger approvals, and employment and regulatory issues. Slobodan Doklestic heads up the department, which includes Dragan Gajin, who is experienced in the real estate development, finance, mining, energy, logistics and pharmaceutical sectors. Ljubinka Pljevaljcic is also an active team member, while Dejan Peric and Jovana Spasojevic are 2023 hires from AVS Legal and Karanovic & Partners, respectively. Milos Pandzic, Aleksandra Stojanović and Tanja Glisic all recently departed the firm.

Delivering ‘fit-for-purpose solutions’, Joksovic, Stojanovic & Partners' commercial, corporate and M&A department is particularly active in automotive sector matters. It is also increasingly involved in medical equipment and railway industry-related work. The team further advises foreign and domestic clients on their day-to-day corporate issues, including management changes, setting up branch offices, and obtaining regulatory permits. Milan Joksovic is ‘an outstanding expert’, while Petar Stojanović has longstanding M&A expertise. The practice also features Srdjan Tolpa, who regularly plays key roles in the firm’s largest deals, and Goran Vučić, who provides ‘business-friendly solutions’.

With ‘unparalleled knowledge of Serbian M&A’, Law Office Miroslav Stojanovic, in cooperation with Wolf Theiss‘ corporate and M&A team is increasingly involved in M&A deals in the IP, IT and healthcare industries. The principal figures are Belgrade managing partner Miroslav Stojanović, who is qualified to practice law in both Austria and Serbia; Nataša Lalović-Marić, who maintains a broad commercial practice; and M&A and investment law expert Anđelka Todorović. The practice also includes Aleksandar Ristić, who routinely assists foreign clients with their investments in Serbia, including both greenfield and brownfield projects.

The ‘best in class’ for some clients, Prica & Partners‘ track record includes several groundbreaking transactions. The practice covers corporate and commercial deals, M&A, incorporations, contract drafting, corporate governance, shareholder issues, divestments, and restructuring. Co-leading the department, Danica Gligorijević is a specialist in M&A and corporate law, as well as energy, infrastructure and taxation; and Ana Čalić Turudija‘s experience includes a raft of M&A deals. The practice also features Mihajlo Prica, an adviser on corporate, M&A and commercial matters, and Ana Krstić, who also assists with corporate and commercial transactions.

English law firm Harrisons Solicitors has longstanding experience in advising on acquisition and sale transactions. The practice notably stands out for its Middle East and North Africa market expertise, particularly in relation to investments from Abu Dhabi into Serbia. Areas of recent growth include advice to IT start-up companies and agriculture-related deals. The principal figures are name partner Mark Harrison and Goran Martinovic, who heads up the firm’s M&A work.

MMD Advokati‘s ‘very client-oriented team’ predominantly focuses on transactional work, such as complex M&A, corporate advice (including restructurings), and investment-related subsidies and incentive schemes. Heading up the M&A and corporate law department, Rastko Mališić‘s experience includes assisting companies with both entry onto the Serbian market and their greenfield investments. Mališić is supported by Miodrag Klancnik, whose wide-ranging practice encompasses M&A, and Cedomir Jelesijevic, another active practitioner for transactions.

MVJ marković vukotić jovković‘s ‘well-rounded team‘ is particularly focused on the M&A, corporate restructuring, financing and development aspects of renewable energy projects. The group also assists with real estate-related M&A deals, and has additional agriculture, fintech, IT and retail sector expertise. Senior partner and M&A and restructuring specialist, Marko Jovković, ‘offers constructive solutions to every problem’, while Stefan Jovičić focuses on joint ventures, and M&A and private equity transactions.

NKO Partners fields sector specialists in energy, mining, real estate, telecoms, media, and food and drink, as well as pharmaceuticals, banking, publishing and retail. The firm’s corporate and transactional workload encompasses M&A, corporate restructuring, takeover bids, management buyouts, joint ventures, and privatisations. The department is co-led by real estate industry expert Djordje Nikolic; and Djuro Otasevic, who focuses on M&A, corporate and commercial law, along with mining and telecoms-related work.

In July 2023, Joint law office Marić in cooperation with Kinstellar merged with SOG Law Firm to become SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar, which houses experts in cross-border transactions, and regularly leverages the firm’s private equity and capital markets specialisms. The firm’s clients include energy, mining and telecoms companies. Milan Samardžić is experienced in advising foreign companies on entering the Serbian market, while Aleksa Bošnjović specialises in corporate and commercial law.

Stankovic & Partners (NSTLAW) routinely advises on cross-border corporate M&A matters involving global corporations and banks. The group is particularly active on behalf of international businesses establishing operations in Serbia. The practice additionally assists with ongoing commercial issues, such as project documentation, joint ventures, and supply and distribution agreements. Nenad Stankovic and Andrej Savin both advise on international commercial law issues, while Tijana Milišić also assists with corporate and commercial matters.

'Always delivering beyond expectations’, Vukovic & Partners' corporate, commercial and M&A team regularly advises on cross-border mandates, predominantly within the energy, transport, finance and FMCG industries. The track record of Dejan Vuković includes leading on privatisation, corporate restructuring and M&A matters; and Dejan Plamenac, who manages the firm’s corporate and commercial law department, is a ‘valuable and effective asset to company clients’. Igor Joksović and Nikola Hanžek are other active practitioners.

Zivkovic & Samardzic Law Office's ‘exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced‘ corporate and M&A department acts for major commercial, financial and industrial businesses on complex business transactions. The practice is co-led by Branislav Živković, who is responsible for coordinating cross-border deals within the LGP Legal Solutions Network; and corporate and M&A practitioner Sava Pavlović, who is an expert in IT, media and telecoms-related matters. Former partner Igor Živkovski exited the firm in October 2023.

Housing sector specialists in IT services, energy, construction, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, Atanaskovic - Bozovic Law Firm advises on board and general assembly decisions, business structuring, FDI, M&A, due diligence, negotiations with state authorities, and the incorporation of company acts. Uroš Atanasković and Vuk Božović are both corporate and commercial law experts.

Fielding ‘real experts’, BIT Law Office‘s commercial law practice advises on both high-end transactions and corporate restructurings. Djordje Igric‘s practice covers M&A, corporate issues, deal negotiations, privatisation, and restructuring; and Boris Baklaja advises oil and gas, mining, construction, pharmaceutical and distribution companies on their acquisitions and business operations.

Deloitte Legal Serbia‘s ‘track record is impressive’. The practice advises on corporate, compliance and regulatory matters, along with M&A, joint ventures, privatisations, and corporate restructuring. Stefan Antonić is an international commercial law expert, while Mirjana Mladenović focuses on M&A, corporate issues, and restructuring and insolvency.

Mihaj, Ilic & Milanovic Law Firm‘s corporate, commercial and M&A department regularly aligns with the firm’s real estate, energy and infrastructure project practices. Marko Milanović advises pharmaceutical, financial, construction, real estate, manufacturing, and oil and gas clients; Tanja Unguran is an energy expert; and Nemanja Ilić is ‘a trusted lawyer’.

Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners AOD fields sector experts in automotive, IT, gaming, construction, FMCG, and financial services. Corporate and M&A head Saša Stojanović advises on large-scale M&A deals, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, along with real estate and banking matters. Djordje Vicic is also a key corporate and M&A team member.

Subotic & Jevtic - Attorneys at Law‘s ‘handles a diverse range of commercial law matters‘. The entirely women-led practice features Julijana Jevtić, who has longstanding experience in acting for multinational clients, governments and financial institutions on M&A, privatisations and restructuring; and Milica Subotic, who is ‘appreciated for her outstanding economic insight’.