- Assisted five Central European banks in the merger filing procedure in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia
- Assisted a leading European oil and gas company in the merger filing procedure in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Assisted a Slovak producer of freight wagons in the merger filing procedure in Serbia
- Assisted a leading energy company in Central and Eastern Europe in the merger filing procedure in Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia
- Assisted a Slovenian airline in a landmark State aid case under Serbian and EU law
- Assisted a leading wholesaler of pharmaceuticals in the merger filing procedure in Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia
- Assisted a leading wholesaler of pharmaceuticals in antitrust proceedings in Serbia
Competition and Antitrust — Western Balkans
Doklestic Repic & Gajin advises on competition and antitrust matters across the Western Balkans, including Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Albania.
Doklestic Repic & Gajin is ranked for Competition/Antitrust in Chambers Europe and Legal 500 EMEA.
Competition regimes in the region are largely aligned with EU competition law, but enforcement continues to vary significantly across jurisdictions. Differences in institutional practice, procedure, timing, and remedies mean that competition issues in the Western Balkans often require dedicated local analysis, even when matters are structured or coordinated at EU or global level.
Our practice focuses on applying EU-based competition concepts in local regulatory environments, with particular attention to how competition authorities in the region operate in practice.
Scope of Practice
We advise on the full range of competition law matters, including:
- Merger control — local and multi-jurisdictional filings, clearance strategy, and authority engagement
- Antitrust — restrictive agreements and abuse of dominance investigations
- State aid — matters involving EU-law considerations and cross-border implications
Our work frequently arises in the context of cross-border transactions and investigations, where Western Balkans competition issues form part of a broader regulatory or transactional framework.
Approach and Practical Focus
We emphasize advice that is precise, structured, and operationally useful, including:
- Clear assessments of jurisdictional reach and filing obligations
- Realistic guidance on procedure and review timelines
- Insight into authority practice and enforcement priorities
- Focused recommendations supporting decision-making and transaction planning
Our role is typically concentrated on local competition law issues, with advice designed to integrate smoothly into wider legal strategies.
Regional Experience
We have extensive experience dealing with competition authorities throughout the Western Balkans and closely follow enforcement trends across the region.
While substantive rules are largely harmonized with EU law, local practice remains highly fact- and authority-specific. Familiarity with these differences is often critical to managing risk, sequencing filings, and anticipating regulatory outcomes.
Leadership
The competition practice is led by Dragan Gajin, admitted to practice in Serbia and New York.
He advises on antitrust, merger control, and state aid matters across the Western Balkans and is recognized by Chambers Europe and Legal 500 EMEA for competition/antitrust work in Serbia. He is also listed in Lexology Index: Competition.
