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Last week (9 and 10 May 2024), our team represented CMS RRH Competition practice at the “Meet to Compete Competition Law and Policy Conference – Tools for New Rules” held in Opatija, Croatia. Dieter Zandler from CMS Austria, Marija Zrno Prošić, Dina Čeliković and Filip Bjelinski from Croatia, Srđan Janković and Maja Živanović (Serbia, Montenegro & North Macedonia), and Robert Kordić and Gašper Hajdu from Slovenia, together spent two wonderful days in interactive discussions with representatives of competition authorities, judges, attorneys, in-house lawyers, and other legal practitioners from all over the Europe. During the first day of the conference, discussions centered on topics including concentrations and FSR, the implications of the "effects-based approach," and recent developments in the Central and Southeast Europe (CEE & SEE) region. The team spent their first conference day pleasantly networking at the coffee break powered by CMS and in the evening at the cocktail and dinner with conference attendees. The second day of the conference was all about workshops covering topics such as exclusionary abuses of dominance, horizontal agreements and disagreements, RPM, etc. Our Marija Zrno Prošić led a focused workshop on the most common vertical restraints, using practical examples from the field and engaging with the audience through survey questions to enhance interaction and understanding. The audience reactions were very positive and discussions continued after the workshop. Overall, we were happy to have our close-nit competition team at this conference, as such events with regional outreach are crucial in fostering collaboration, enhance understanding of regulatory nuances, and promote best practices across different jurisdictions. About the Conference The Conference traditionally offers a platform for discussion about recent antitrust developments, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and South-East Europe (SEE). The Conference is supported by the Croatian Competition Agency, universities and local organizations, with great speakers from the OECD, European Commission, universities, industry and regulators from the entire region and Europe.  

CMS wins Chambers Europe 2024 award for Central and Eastern Europe. ​​​

CMS Austria and CMS North Macedonia were awarded the 2023 Deal of the Year.

12 October 2023 We are delighted to receive the Women in Law Award for Best Law Firm 2023, which confirms our ongoing commitment to diversity and equality in the legal industry. Our efforts to promote gender diversity, create a fair and inclusive working environment, and support initiatives such as the Ladies League have enriched our culture. Our CMS Diversity and Inclusion charter as well as our internal initiatives reflect our passion to promote women and diversity and to create an inclusive legal industry. We are grateful for this recognition and look forward to a future that is even more diverse, inclusive and sus­tain­able.    Spe­cial thanks to Future-Law, Women in Law Austria and the Association of Austrian Corporate Lawyers - VUJ for the award and to our Ladies League team: Denisa Brighton, Daniela Karollus-Bruner, Daniela Krömer, Jelena Nushol Fijačko, Andrea Potz, Maria Orlyk, Nedzida Sa­li­hovic-Whalen, Gabriela Staber, Marija Tesic and Döne Yalçın.

The team of six competition lawyers from CEE shared the experience from their respective countries on the topic of exchange of sensitive information

The conference "Serbian Companies on the Changing Power Market" organised by Balkan Green Energy News gathered together numerous players in the renewable energy market. An industry meeting of regional importance On 22 February 2022, leading electricity market experts from Serbia and abroad met in Belgrade to discuss key issues in the Serbian energy sector. The topics were relevant for the entire region. The experts provided insights into both the way the Serbian electricity market would likely develop in the coming years and the opportunities available to various market participants. The conference offered an analysis of the most important challenges facing companies in the course of the energy transition. CMS also relies on innovative advisory products to help its clients benefit from the energy transition. The conference was opened by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlović and Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Artur Lorkowski. CMS was a sponsor and participant of this crucial event for the energy sector and was delighted to be represented onsite by its lawyers Ivan Gazdić, partner CMS Serbia, Georg Gutfleisch, lawyer CMS Austria, and Tamara Kosi, lawyer CMS Slovenia, and Maja Živanović, Business Development Country Head, CMS Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.  One step ahead in the energy crisis The 2021 energy crisis has continued into 2022 causing unprecedented increases in electricity prices across Europe. The Serbian government has put up a rescue parachute for companies and capped the electricity price at EUR 75 per MWh for the period until June 2022. However, it remains to be seen how electricity prices will develop in the medium and long term. In the coming years, the Serbian electricity market will – like the entire region – be affected by other important changes too: decarbonisation and the need to align its business with the Green Agenda; the projected growth in solar and wind capacity; the increasing attractiveness of customers producing their own energy onsite; and the carbon cap tax on exports to the EU. The conclusion was: “The event ‘Serbian Companies on the Changing Power Market’ provided an excellent opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas that are urgently needed to better understand trends in the power market and to remain competitive". The CMS Energy and Climate Change Sector Group provides leading advice products on all aspects of innovative energy, climate change and ESG.