NSTLAW has advised the seller on the acquisition of Banjalučka Pivara by OLVI Group, marking the closing of the takeover of the largest brewery in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The transaction was signed in September 2025 and successfully closed on January 5, 2026, following the fulfilment of the agreed condition precedents.

With the completion of the acquisition, Banjalučka Pivara has become a full member of the OLVI Group, further strengthening the Group’s presence in Southeast Europe and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the development of local brands and markets.

Founded in 1873, Banjalučka Pivara retains its identity, brands, production capacities, and team, while gaining access to OLVI Group’s international expertise, know – how, and broader distribution network.

Patrik Lundell, CEO of OLVI Group, commented that the completion of the transaction represents an important step in the implementation of the Group’s multilocal strategy. “Banjalučka Pivara is a strong, well-managed company with a clear identity and significant potential for further growth. We believe that by combining local strength with international experience, we will further strengthen our position in the region and create long-term value for consumers, partners, and local communities,” Lundell said.

Ilija Šetka, CEO of Banjalučka Pivara, stated that joining OLVI Group marks a new phase in the company’s development. “We remain true to what makes Banjalučka Pivara recognizable, while at the same time gaining the opportunity to accelerate growth, expand our product range, and further strengthen our presence in regional and export markets. The greatest value of this acquisition lies in the people, knowledge, and shared values we have with OLVI Group,” Šetka noted.

NSTLAW provided comprehensive legal support to the seller throughout the transaction, including transaction structuring, negotiations, drafting and reviewing transaction documentation, as well as assistance through signing and closing.

NSTLAW team consisted of Nenad Stankovic, Mitar […]

We are pleased to announce the contribution of our team of attorneys, Mitar Simonovic, Filip Grdinić, and Pavle Mandić in this year’s GLI’s publication – Global Legal Insights – Bribery & Corruption 2026.

Our team coauthored the chapter regarding bribery and corruption laws and regulations 2026 – Serbia, providing an overview of the law, enforcement regime and activity, and policy during the last year. Furthermore, the chapter dealt with the law and policy relating to matters of facilitation payments and hospitality. In addition, authors have shed light on key issues relating to investigation, decision-making, and enforcement procedures and provided an outline of cross-border issues. Finally, particular emphasis was placed on the corporate liability for bribery and corruption offenses, while the whole article concluded with the proposed reforms in the year ahead.

Special thanks go to the Global Legal Group and GLI’s team working on the publication Global Legal Insights (GLI) for the trust placed in our team, unconditional support in preparing Serbia’s chapter, and all efforts put into the publishing process.

We look forward to and are pleased to continue and broaden our cooperation and work on the next edition.

For more information on the content of the publication and chapter coauthored by our team, please use the link below: https://lnkd.in/eSYTf-BE

We’re excited to welcome Marko Micanovic as new Partner at Stankovic&Partners!

Marko brings a unique blend of academic excellence and professional expertise. A graduate of the University of Belgrade, he holds a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M.) from New York University. He has gained extensive experience in M&A advisory and banking, and as a practicing attorney at law, spanning over 20 years.

With his strong international background and deep understanding of financial and legal frameworks, Marko will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow and expand our services.

We look forward to his contributions and are excited about the future we’re building together.

We are pleased to announce that Stankovic & Partners (NSTLAW) has successfully completed another cross-border M&A project.

In sale of 100% of the shares of Banjalucka pivara, Banjaluka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, NSTLAW acted as a legal counsel to the seller – Altima UK Value Investment Limited. The acquisition was done by Finnish beverage powerhouse, Olvi Group

NSTLAW team members are Senior Partner Nenad Stankovic, Senior Associate Luka Marosiuk, Counsel Mitar Simonovic (with respect to competition issues), and Legal Trainee Bojan Krstic, with support of Aleksandra Dimic and her legal team from of Banjalucka pivara.

Both teams were proud to provide full legal support throughout this strategic transaction, which marks a significant milestone in regional consolidation and industry expansion.

Founded in 1873, Banjalucka pivara has a longstanding tradition in beer production and is known for its strong local brands, including Nektar. Banjalucka pivara has developed operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with sales operations in Montenegro, Croatia and across the region.

Olvi Group, with over 145 years of experience, produces beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and RTD cocktails across Europe. As part of its multi-local growth strategy in the Balkans and a broader region, Olvi Group has signed an agreement to acquire Banjalucka pivara, including its Serbian branch.

On the occasion of signing, Patrik Lundell, CEO of Olvi Group, commented:

“This acquisition is the second step in executing our multi-local strategy, where we seek inorganic growth in Europe through both domestic add-ons and expansion into new markets. Banjalucka pivara is known for its strong brands and proud history in the region, and it is an excellent addition to Olvi Group. Its solid position in Bosnia and Herzegovina, rapidly growing presence in Serbia, and high-quality production capabilities offer us a unique opportunity to grow across the Balkan region—where we see long-term organic […]

We are pleased to announce that NSTLAW has advised Celanova Ltd on the successful acquisition of Immocentar, a well-known shopping center located at Gandijeva 21, Block 64, in New Belgrade. Immocentar is a prominent retail destination in one of Belgrade’s most dynamic commercial areas, offering a wide range of retail and service outlets.

This marks the latest transaction handled by our M&A practice, which continues to support clients through complex acquisitions and cross-border deals.

While M&A is a key focus area, NSTLAW provides a full range of legal services to both corporate clients and individuals — from real estate and commercial law to dispute resolution and regulatory compliance.

We are delighted to announce that Nenad Stankovic, Mitar Simonovic, Luka Marosiuk and Filip Grdinić of Stankovic & Partners contributed the chapter on the law surrounding Bribery & Corruption in Serbia for the CEE Legal Matters Comparative Legal Guide 2025.

Our authors provide a comprehensive overview of the most important national and international regulations governing bribery and anti-corruption, while also introducing readers to some of the most important ways in which these regulations impact the work of both public and private sector organisations. They highlight the nature and severity of the sanctions that could potentially be imposed on both natural persons and legal entities, and also outline the most important legal definitions of the main topics, with the aim of giving readers a better understanding of the key legislation as it operates in Serbia. In a particularly significant segment of the chapter, the authors draw a link between the current regulations and potential future amendments, by outlining developing trends in national bribery and corruption law.

To read our contribution, and for further insights into the relevant issues, please follow the link below: https://ceelegalmatters.com/bribery-corruption-2025/serbia-bribery-corruption-2025

This month saw the publication of Legal 500’s EMEA rankings and we are pleased to say that, once again, Stankovic and Partners has been recognized as a leading law firm in this high profile directory.

The firm has been ranked in a number of significant categories, achieving a tier 2 ranking for dispute resolution, tier 3 rankings for banking & finance, competition, employment, intellectual property and projects & energy, and a tier 4 ranking in both real estate and construction.

These prestigious rankings are primarily based on feedback from our peers in the market, as well as from our clients. We are particularly delighted at the extensive commendations from clients, who recommended the team for providing a high standard of client care across the board, and noting that our team is: “Strongly recommended for its strength in a range of areas” and “Great to work with”.

A number of individuals at the firm were also recognised in the rankings tables, including   Senior Partner Nenad Stankovic who has been highlighted as a leading individual in the field of dispute resolution, while of Counsel Sara Pendjer has been included in the same category as a next generation partner. This year’s ranking also revealed Stankovic and Partners’ star on the rise, recently promoted to Counsel – Mitar Simonovic who was recognized as a leading associate in the field of Dispute Resolution.

We would like to thank our clients and contacts for such great feedback and for helping us secure these excellent results.

We are pleased to announce that Stankovic and Partners has once again been recognized by IFLR1000, a leading international legal market research organization specialized in the ranking of financial and corporate law firms and lawyers.

Our team has achieved a Tier 3 ranking in Financial and Corporate and a Tier 4 ranking in Project Development.

We are particularly delighted that two of our partners received recognition from IFLR1000 –  Nenad Stankovic was acknowledged as Highly Regarded, while Andjelka Zatezic was recognized as a Notable Practitioner, placing them among the elite practitioners in Serbia.

Our sincere gratitude goes to IFLR1000 for acknowledging our team’s hard work. Stankovic and Partners is, and will always be, committed to continuous improvement in order to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients.

For more information regarding the ranking, please see the following link:

https://www.iflr1000.com/Firm/Stankovic-Partners/Profile/5805#rankings