Sought out for cross-border work, JPM & Partners’s ‘whole team is second to none’. The group covers M&A, corporate and commercial matters, while also fielding experts in securities, takeovers, taxation, regulatory issues, public procurement and data protection. The firm additionally has notable sector expertise in energy, telecoms, financial services, infrastructure and mining. Corporate department head Nenad Popović is ‘the driving force of the M&A team’, while Jelena Gazivoda leads the mining and energy departments. Nikola Poznanovic, Jelena Stanković Lukić, Nikola Đorđević, Bojana Javorić and Janez Voncina are also key practitioners.

With ‘extensive corporate and commercial knowledge’, Karanovic & Partners o.a.d.' sizeable group has an enviable market reputation for its expertise in M&A deals in Serbia and regionally. Corporate and commercial group head Dragan Karanović has longstanding experience in M&A, privatisations and energy and infrastructure transactions; Miloš Vučković focuses on renewables and mining-related matters; and Marjan Poljak advises on high-end M&A transactions. Other key figures are private equity, retail and consumer goods sector expert Miloš Jakovljević, and ‘very capable and experienced practitioner’ Ivan Nonković, along with Goran Radosevic, Sava Drača and Marko Ćulafić.

Law Office Miroslav Stojanovic, in cooperation with Wolf Theiss ‘stands out for its seamless combination of local expertise with an international firm’s resources and reach’. Consistently mandated by multinational clients for cross-border work, the 11-strong corporate and M&A group’s recent activity covers major deals in the IT, IP, healthcare and gaming sectors. In Belgrade, Miroslav Stojanović assists with high-profile M&A and corporate transactions; Nataša Lalović-Marić is experienced in finance, Hi-tech and life sciences-related transactions; and Anđelka Todorović is a cross-border transaction specialist. Aleksandar Ristić was promoted to partner in January 2024.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr‘s ‘ability to deliver swift, high-quality solutions, especially in complex M&A and corporate matters, is exceptional’. Recent highlights include major deals in the telecoms, energy, gaming, pharmaceutical, tech and financial sectors. The corporate and M&A practice is co-led by Matija Vojnović, an adviser to both strategic investors and private equity firms on M&A; and Luka Lopičić, who has retail, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and automotive sector experience. The practice also showcases Slaven Moravčević, Vojimir Kurtić, Jovan Barović, Igor Živkovski and Bojan Rajić.

Petrikic & Partneri AOD in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz fields ‘excellent lawyers who are well versed in corporate law’. The practice also comprises experts in commercial matters, M&A and regulatory matters. Radivoje Petrikić ‘advises multinational corporations on the most complex matters’; Maja Stepanović has longstanding experience in corporate, M&A and commercial work in Serbia; Marija Tešić‘s practice encompasses status changes, takeover bids and delisting procedures; and Srđan Janković heads up the firm’s competition, commercial, public procurement and TMC practices in Belgrade. Jelena Đorđević and Mila Drljević complete the team.

Displaying ‘high-level expertise and dedication’, BDK Advokati AOD‘s 12-member M&A, corporate and commercial practice advises both strategic investors and private equity clients on major deals across Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Founding and managing partner Tijana Kojović plays a major role in the Belgrade office’s transactional mandates; and senior partner and M&A leader Vladimir Dašić assists private equity clients and multinational companies on M&A, management buyouts, joint venture investments, carve-outs and divestitures. Also highly regarded, Jelena Hrle‘s workload covers corporate law, M&A and other regional commercial transactions.

Gecić Law ‘offers comprehensive corporate law solutions’. The corporate department is routinely sought out for high-stakes international transactions, including M&A, foreign direct investments, commercial transactions and ESG compliance. The firm’s sector expertise ranges from manufacturing, infrastructure and telecoms, to retail, food and transport. Heading up the corporate and M&A practice from Belgrade, Ognjen Colić is an M&A, commercial agreement and ESG compliance specialist; Nemanja Sladaković assists with international investment projects across the Western Balkans; and Miloš Petaković specialises in greenfield and M&A transactions. Žarko Popović is another name to note.

MVJ marković vukotić jovković's 10-strong group specialises in large-scale M&A transactions, as well as spin-offs, reorganisations, restructurings, cross-border deals and joint ventures. The department additionally covers equity investments, shareholder relations, and board and management issues. Heading up the ‘very committed team’, Marko Jovković is a ‘leading transactional lawyer in Serbia’; Uroš Marković advises on M&A, joint ventures, real estate and infrastructure projects; and Stefan Jovičić‘s practice encompasses M&A and corporate and commercial law. The department further includes Nikola Milojević, who also advises on M&A transactions and corporate law.

NKO Partners has ‘vast experience in closing M&A deals’. The group’s corporate and transactional work also covers corporate restructuring, takeover bids, management buyouts, joint ventures and privatisations.  The nine-strong corporate department is co-led from Belgrade by highly-regarded M&A, corporate, real estate and commercial law specialist Djordje Nikolic; and Djuro Otasevic, an expert in M&A, corporate, mining, telecoms and general commercial law, who is ‘regarded as one of the best commercial, corporate and M&A partners on the market’. Promoted to partner in June 2023, Branko Jankovic regularly advises on pharmaceutical-related M&A transactions.

‘Exceptional to work with’, Prica & Partners is mandated by both Serbian and international companies on corporate and commercial transactions, M&A, incorporations, contract drafting and corporate governance. The 12-strong team in Belgrade also covers shareholder issues, restructurings and divestments. The group is co-led by M&A, corporate, energy, infrastructure and tax expert Danica Gligorijević; and Ana Čalić Turudija, who ‘excels in M&A advice’. The practice further showcases Ana Krstić Vasiljević, whose workload covers corporate and M&A law; Jovana Obradović, an adviser on general corporate law matters; and ‘high-level professional’ Paula Rafailović Vladović.

‘Invaluable for guiding clients through complex commercial and M&A transactions’, BOPA Bojanovic & Partners‘ 16-strong corporate and commercial team group also focuses on privatisations, joint ventures management buyouts, corporate structures, LBOs and status changes. Other notable areas are takeover bids, fund structuring, and private equity and venture capital deals. Vladimir Bojanović‘s ‘expertise is ‘highly valued by clients during M&A transactions’, while Tanja Dugonjic maintains a wide-ranging corporate and commercial practice.

‘Capable of managing complex M&A topics very efficiently and swiftly’, Deloitte Legal Serbia‘s Belgrade practice advises on joint ventures, privatisations, corporate restructuring and takeovers. Stefan Antonić is an M&A and contract law specialist, and Mirjana Mladenović has ‘a deep understanding of business goals’. The group also includes Igor Denčić, who covers M&A mandates; and Srđan Šijakinjić, an adviser to domestic and international clients on corporate, commercial and M&A matters.

Housing ‘champions of corporate and M&A work’, Doklestic Repic & Gajin comprises specialists in corporate transactions, M&A, takeovers, joint ventures, divestments, spin-offs, and buy-outs and buy-ins. It also assists with restructurings, reorganisations, and commercial and corporate agreements. Slobodan Doklestic is ‘top class’; Dragan Gajin is admitted in both Serbia and New York; and Ljubinka Pljevaljcic is experienced in corporate reorganisations. The department also includes Dejan Peric, who ‘excels in M&A transactions’.

Involved in both domestic and cross-border mandates, Draškovic Popovic & Partners has ‘the ability to provide end-to-end M&A services’. The 13-member practice is also home to aviation sector experts. Heading up the corporate, commercial and M&A team, Vuk Drašković‘s track record includes large, regional deals; and Uroš Popović leads the firm’s competition, projects, energy, TMT and data protection offering. Other experienced practitioners are Milica Pešterić, Stefan Golubović and Miloš Andrejević.

Joksovic, Stojanovic & Partners advises on day-to-day corporate matters, such as commercial agreements, management changes, branch establishments and regulatory permits. The firm also has notable automotive and railway sector expertise. Milan Joksović focuses on corporate law, M&A and greenfield investment projects; Petar Stojanović is ‘great for strategic advice’; Srdjan Tolpa‘s track record includes several large transactions; and Goran Vučić advises on M&A, foreign direct investments and corporate and commercial law.

The M&A and corporate department at MMD Advokati houses ‘brilliant lawyers and experts’, who routinely advise on high-value transactions across a range of sectors. Practice head Rastko Mališić is a corporate and M&A law expert, and ‘certainly one of the top lawyers in Serbia for corporate and commercial matters’. The Belgrade team also features FMCG sector specialist Oliver Radosavljević, and Jelena Ranisavljević, whose workload covers corporate matters and M&A deals.

The result of a July 2023 merger between Joint law office Marić in cooperation with Kinstellar and SOG Law Firm, SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar handles acquisitions, sales, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations and restructurings, as well as mergers, spin-offs and public takeovers. The ‘very dedicated, efficient and hard-working’ Milan Samardžić regularly advises on corporate and M&A transactions; and Mina Srećković heads the M&A, corporate and private equity service line in Belgrade.

‘Strongly recommended for its strength in a range of areas’, Stankovic & Partners (NSTLAW) is experienced in both domestic and cross-border corporate and M&A matters. The 10-strong team is also sought out by international businesses setting up operations in Serbia. International business law specialist Nenad Stankovic ‘never fails to impress’, while Andrej Savin is an IT sector expert. Other key figures are Andjelka Radovanović, Sara Pendjer, Luka Marosiuk and Tijana Milišić.

Zivkovic & Samardzic Law Office's four-member corporate and commercial team fields experts in M&A, privatisations and other investment mandates. It also assists with employment, competition and tax aspects. The practice in Belgrade is co-led by Branislav Živković, a regular adviser on cross-border transactions; and IT, media and telecoms industry specialist Sava Pavlović, who has ‘a deep understanding of corporate and M&A work’. Ana Grebo and Ilija Milosavljević complete the group.

BIT Law Office's M&A practice in Belgrade covers due diligence, sale and purchase agreements, shareholder contracts and the negotiation and closing of transactions. Djordje Igrić is experienced in M&A, corporate matters, privatisation and restructuring; while Boris Baklaja assists oil and gas, mining, construction, pharmaceutical and distribution companies on acquisitions.

Particularly active on behalf of Middle East and North African clients, English law firm Harrisons Solicitors, which has longstanding experience in major acquisitions and sale transactions, is increasingly sought out by both start-up IT and agricultural companies. M&A specialist Goran Martinovic and firm founder Mark Harrison are the key figures.

Mihaj, Ilic & Milanovic Law Firm's corporate team is experienced in the development of real estate, energy and infrastructure projects that encompass cross-border aspects. Nemanja Ilić advises on energy-related corporate and M&A mandates, while Marko Milanović‘s ‘negotiation skills are unique’. The practice also features Dusan Markovic and Marija Alhaj.

PS Legal was recently co-founded by Milos Pandzic and Aleksandra Stojanovic, both former Doklestic Repic & Gajin lawyers. An ‘excellent lawyer’, Pandzic handles contractual, real estate, corporate and commercial mandates, along with energy, mining, pharmaceutical and healthcare-related matters; while Stojanovic, whose ‘skills are remarkable’, is a corporate, commercial and M&A expert.

Delivering ‘pragmatic, fast and reliable advice’, Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners AOD's seven-member commercial, corporate and M&A practice is led by Saša Stojanović, an expert in cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, along with real estate and banking deals. Flanking Stojanović, Djordje Vicic focuses on corporate and M&A matters.

Recent mandates for Vukovic & Partners' ‘fast, responsive and excellent’ team in Belgrade encompass the shipping, logistics, finance, FMCG and energy sectors. The corporate and commercial law department is headed by IT law, e-commerce and corporate governance expert Dejan Plamenac, an adviser on restructurings, M&A, private equity, joint ventures and privatisations.