Partner

Maja Žgajnar

Languages

Slovenian
English
Croatian

Social media

Maja Žgajnar, a lawyer with nearly two decades of professional experience in Banking & Finance and Capital Markets who held senior positions in the international law firms for the past years, joined Slovenian CMS office in March 2017 as a Banking & Finance partner.

The focus of her practice lies in banking, finance, financial restructurings and distressed debt, workout, acquisition and sale of performing and non-performing financial assets (all types of loan portfolios), regulatory compliance in financial institutions, structured finance, derivatives, insolvency proceedings and banking & finance litigation. Maja Žgajnar has been recognized by clients and peers as an expert financial and capital markets lawyer. In the past years she has continuously been listed among highly regarded practitioners in banking and capital markets by international legal directories. Her portfolio of domestic and international clients spans from banks, financial institutions to large companies.

Awards & Recognitions

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"Maja Žgajnar is wonderful to work with. She is an amazing resource of knowledge within the jurisdiction."

Chambers Europe, 2024
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"We have worked a lot with Maja Žgajnar. Professionalism, knowledge, understanding of business, seeking for solutions are strengths that Maja has."

Chambers Europe, 2024
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'highly professional and prompt'

The Legal 500, 2022
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‘Maja Erker Žgajnar is excellent in finding solutions in a tricky negotiation.’

The Legal 500, 2023

Relevant experience

Advised the international investors on acquisition of the corporate NPL portfolio of NLB, the largest banking and financial group in Slovenia, with the exposure of app. EUR 250m in Slovenia, Croatia and BIH which was the biggest NPL portfolio placed on the market in Slovenia in 2017.
Advised the borrower, leading omnichannel, multi-brand and direct-to-consumer electronic retailer in CEE, with respect to the debt refinancing provided by international bank and security documents.
Advised the largest Slovenian bank in its disposal of a corporate and retail NPL portfolio and a portfolio of leasing receivables with a gross exposure of approximately EUR 800m.
Provided comprehensive legal support to the international banking group in Slovenia in the contemplated sales of NPL portfolio (value over EUR 180m).
Represented an international investment bank in the cross-border purchase of loans in ACH Group from DUTB (The Bank Assets Management Company) and other banks, the value over EUR 160m

Memberships & Roles

Bar Association of Slovenia
Slovenian Association of Mediator

Awards & Rankings

Žgajnar's 'experience with loans transactions and sharp focus on delivery' places her 'above the local competition' (Legal 500, Market overview, 2019)
Maja Žgajnar, who has ‘a strong understanding of the financial drivers of deals’ (Legal500, Market Overview, 2018)
Highly regarded lawyer (IFLR 1000, Banking, Capital markets, 2018)

Lectures list

As an expert on non-performing loans Maja Žgajnaris regularly invited to speak at international NPL and TMA conferences in Europe.

Education

2009 - Mediator’s licence, Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Justice
2005 - State bar examination, Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Justice
2001 - Bachelor of Laws (univ. dipl. pravnik), University of Maribor, Faculty of Law

Practice Areas

Banking & Finance Corporate Crime, Compliance & Forensics Insolvency & Restructuring

Insights

Global Reach