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LEGAL 500 - 2010

Corporate, M&A  and Privatisation
 

“In a quiet market, Harrisons Solicitors continued to advise the Serbian government on the fourth tender for the privatisation of RTB Bor, and picked up several acquisition mandates including advising Greenhouse Investments on their purchase of one of the largest Serbian internet providers. Structuring and restructuring of loans and trade finance guarantees kept head of banking and capital markets Aleksandar Preradovic busy on behalf of the IFC and the EBRD.”

Real Estate 

“Harrisons Solicitors’ recent real estate development mandates, including advising Hydra Properties on the largest ever real estate development in southeast Europe, have originated largely through opportunities in Montenegro and have included advising new clients Hilton on the execution of management agreements, and Starwood Hotels on mixed-use projects. The practice also advised investors on land law matters.”

LEGAL 500 - 2009

Corporate, M&A  and Privatisation
 

“Another firm garnering its share of privatisation work is Harrisons Solicitors, where privatisation guru and firm director, Goran Martinovic, has a long track record, principally as lead advisor to regional governments but also to blue-chip purchasers such as US Steel and BAT. Martinovic has been engaged by the government of Serbia on the tender for the sale of the Serbian copper industry. The firm’s involvement in headline deals includes advising Fiat Group Automobiles and Iveco on proposed joint ventures with Zastava, the state-owned car manufacturer. Head of banking and capital markets Aleksandar Preradovic is active on behalf of EBRD and German development bank DEG. ‘Approachable’ managing partner Mark Harrison, a ‘business man’s lawyer’, is a qualified English solicitor who is responsible for the firm’s offices in Belgrade, London and Montenegro.”

Real Estate

LEGAL 500 - 2008

Corporate, M&A  and Privatisation

“Harrisons Solicitors is unique in having offices in Montenegro, the UK and Serbia. Under the aegis of the only English solicitor practising in Serbia, Mark Harrison, this outfit is endorsed by clients as ‘delivering timely advice’ and ‘offering excellent insight on the local market’. Recent notable achievements include advising Citigroup on the opening of its representative office in Serbia, and acting for the Government of Serbia in the sale of copper company, RTB Bor. Standout personalities include firm director, Goran Martinovic, who is distinguished for advising clients on privatisation matters. Banking and capital markets head Aleksandar Preradovic is also noted for his ‘responsive and friendly attitude.’ Key clients include Heinz, Johnson & Johnson and Morgan Stanley.”

Real Estate

The real estate team at Harrisons Solicitors excels as ‘highly professional’ and ‘dynamic practitioners who truly understand the Serbian market’. The firm’s high volume of deal activity includes advising Hungarian group Trigranit Development Corporation on the development of the new railway station in Belgrade and advising Adriatic Marinas on the development of the Tival Arsenal in Montenegro into the biggest mega-yacht facility in the Mediterranean.

Legal 500 - 2007

Corporate and Commercial

“The first lawyer to set up an international practice in Serbia, Mark Harrison of Harrisons Solicitors now heads a 12-fee-earner office. The firm acted for the IFC in relation to the financing of leading Serbian bank, Continental Banka. Slavia Capital instructed the team in acquiring the first ever NPL portfolio in Serbia, and the team advised Hungary's OTP Bank, on the purchase of leading Montenegrin bank Crnogorska Komercijalna Banka.”

Privatisation

“The Harrisons Solicitors team includes Goran Martinovic, one of the leading lawyers in privatisation, who has been involved on more transactions of this type than any other Serbian lawyer in the post-Milosevic era so far; his team was the sole legal adviser on behalf of the Serbian Government. Harrisons Solicitors acted for Italy-based R Polimeri in connection with sale by privatisation of Hipol (a leading chemicals producer), and for leading Polish bank PKO Banka in relation to the acquisition of Panonska Banka.”

Real Estate

“Mark Harrison, the only English solicitor practising in Serbia, leads an 'extremely capable, responsive and creative' team. Harrisons Solicitors acted for Barbados-based PM Securities on the largest real estate development in Montenegro. This related to the direct investment of the largest mega-yacht marina in the Mediterranean. The firm also advised ProCredit Bank on co-investment contracts and Film Studio Net on a major real estate transaction with Newscorp.”

Legal 500 - 2006

"Harrisons' founder Mark Harrison is one of the leading lawyers in the Balkans. He is ably supported by some very experienced partners, including Blanche Sas, an energy expert, Aleksandar Preradovic, a banking and capital markets specialist, and Goran Martinovic, who is Serbia's most active lawyer in the fields of privatisation and foreign investment. Highlights in 2005 include advising on the new Belgrade Railway Station, the largest real estate development in Serbia, and advising a Canadian billionaire on the largest nautical tourism project in Montenegro. Clients include US Steel, British American Tobacco and Pernod Ricard."

Legal 500 - 2005

British lawyer Mark Harrison established Harrisons in 1999 and it is considered by clients as 'the most experienced corporate firm' in SiM. Highlights include advising the Serbian government on the privatisation and corporate restructuring of a metal company, and representing Temirbank of Kazakhstan in a land development project. Mark Harrison was recently appointed a member of the Business Advisory Council for South Eastern Europe. Partner Blanche Sas is an expert in energy law and Goran Martinovic is experienced in privatisation. Harrisons is the only firm in Serbia with two UK-qualified solicitors and is recommended for its 'extremely qualified, knowledgeable and responsive approach'.

Legal 500 - 2004

Harrisons acted for US Steel in 2003 in a major foreign investment. The firm also acted for US Tobacco and Beopetrol. Managing partner, English lawyer Mark Harrison, has an outstanding reputation for his international commercial experience coupled with his strong local knowledge. Partner Blanche Sas is also noteworthy as an expert in energy and natural resources.

Legal 500 - 2003

Harrisons advised Petrochemical Holdings (Austria) on the securitisation of the assets of Petrohemija, the Serbian petrochemical company, and represented KPMG Consulting (USA) on establishing a presence in Serbia. The firm also acted for the EBRD and the government of Montenegro on several transactions. Mark Harrison has an excellent reputation for his knowledge of the M&A market. He is described by clients as 'knowledgeable' and 'quick in providing answers'. Blanche Sas has a focus on energy and natural resources and acts for several oil companies.

Legal 500 - 2002

Harrisons was the first foreign law office to set up an international law practice in Yugoslavia, when founding partner Mark Harrison moved to Belgrade in 1997. The firm was strengthened by the arrival of former Denton Wilde Sapte eastern Europe energy partner, Blanche Sas in June 2001. The firm has advised the EBRD on a number of projects and acted for Gazprom on a securitisation of $65m (Eur 70m) assets of local oil company, Petrohemija. It also advised the government of Serbian on the drafting of the energy and mining laws. Other clients of note include UK news company, ITN, and National Bank of Yugoslavia. The firm has a second office in Montenegro where it advises both the EBRD and the government on a range of matters.