On February 25, 2014 the International Antitrust Law Committee of the American Bar Association, organized a dedicated teleconference covering the CEE antitrust issues of interest for the international practitioners. The teleconference followed successful publication of the Competition Law in Central and Eastern Europe, A Practical Guide, by Kluwer Law International BV and addressed major antitrust developments across Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Republic of Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Eurasian Economic Area. Some of the main topics included: (i) Legislative snapshot; (ii) Enforcement priorities, records and trends; (iii) targeted industries and (iv) landmark cases.

The program was moderated by Ingrid Vandenborre, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with the presentations from speakers Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber, Partner, bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte, Aleksander Stawicki, Partner, WKB Wierciński, Kwieciński, Baehr Sp.k., Vassily Rudomino, Senior Partner, ALRUD Law Firm and Boris Babić , Senior Partner, Babić and Partners Law Firm Ltd.

A successful event ended with lively debate including participants from Stepanovski, Papakul and partners from Belarus, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchuko & Velichkov from Bulgaria,  Allen & Overy LLP from Czech Republic, Raidla Lejins & Norcous from Estonia, Raidla Lejins & Norcous from Latvia, Raidla Lejins & Norcous from Lithuania, Szecskay Attorneys at Law from Hungary, Sayat Zholshy & Partners Law Firm from Republic of Kazakhstan, bpv Grigorescu Ştefănică from Romania, Prica & Partners from Serbia, Čechhová & Partners from Slovakia, Jadek & Pensa from Slovenia, ELG Attorneys at Law from Turkey, Asters from Ukraine.

About

Babic & Partners hosted a Seminar Doing Business in Croatia – Insights and tips on investing in the EU’s newest member. The Seminar was held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 14 October 2013 and it covered need-to-know legal issues when exploiting opportunities in Croatia.

Facilitator

Sarah Hutchinson, Vice President (Business Development), The University of Law, London

Speakers

Boris Babić, Senior Partner, Babić & Partners, Zagreb, Croatia

Marija Gregorić, Partner, Babić & Partners, Zagreb, Croatia

Iva Basarić, Senior Associate, Babić & Partners, Zagreb, Croatia

Topics

The topics included:

– Croatia’s economic outlook and sector specific investment opportunities

– Tips to overcome cultural differences and mitigate legal risks

– Dominant issues and how to deal with obstacles

– Buyer beware: essentials when buying business in Croatia

– Opportunities and challenges in employment and immigration law

– Reflections on EU membership and its effects on Croatia

Additional Information

For further information, including presentations from the Seminar, please contact us at office@babic-partners.hr

On 1 July 2013 Croatia became the 28th member of the EU, after more than eight years from applying for full membership (2003) and after having acceded to the treaties back in December 2011. Boris Babić, senior Partner in Babic & Partners law firm commented for Chambers & Partners: “I think it is great moment and we all hope it will foster and bring benefits to the economy.” He adds that there is still work to be done and that Croatia will continue to make reforms, but it is “a good signal to the business community and will improve stability in the region.”

Boris Babić, Senior Partner in Babic & Partners law firm and Vice-Chair of Real Estate Committee of International Bar Association (IBA) and attended the 8th Annual Bar Leaders’ Conference held in Zurich from 22-23 May 2013. The conference was organized by IBA in association with the Zurich Bar Association and the Swiss Bar Association. This conference brought together bar presidents, senior officers, bar executives, law firm and individual practitioners from all around the world to discuss the latest developments and issues affecting the law profession. The speakers included leading officers of IBA and American Bar Association (ABA), as well as leading officers of several national bar associations.

Ministry of Economy, as the registry authority for the Croatian representative offices of corporations seated outside Croatia officially announced that, as a result of amendment to the Croatian Trade Act, the representative offices of corporations seated in EU member countries will cease to exist by operation of law as of the date of Croatia’s accession to EU. Under the Ministry’s announcement, the founding entities of such representative offices who intend to continue or extent their business operations in Croatia are required to change local corporate form by way of establishing a local branch office or an affiliate. Given that the announced termination of the representative office is expected to occur on 1 July 2013 (by Croatia’s accession to EU) and that no grace period has been provided to the founding entities in this regard, the above announcement of the Ministry will strongly affect the business of all corporations seated in EU having established representative office in Croatia.

Babić & Partners are proud to present their brand new website (http://www.babic-partners.hr/). The website is designed primarily to better inform clients and potential clients about Firm’s legal services as well as to outline news and trends important for the business and legal community. In an effort to provide a stronger client experience, we have focused resources on building a content-rich website with an emphasis on our commitment to clients and their interest, including steady stream of legal news, updates, expert publications and other resources.