Anja Haramija explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs  

What do you see as the main points that differentiate PETERKA & PARTNERS law firm Ltd. from your competitors?

PETERKA & PARTNERS is the one truly CEE law firm that has built a pan-regional full-service practice with a unique fully-integrated infrastructure covering the region of Central and Eastern Europe through its own branches in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia, with a team of more than 150 lawyers and tax advisors. PETERKA & PARTNERS is best known for its unique, client-focused service model consisting of:

• A single delivery point for legal services throughout the entire CEE region
• The opportunity to truly “outsource” legal services within the CEE region
• One partner dedicated to coordinating all of the client’s activities in the entire region
• Knowledge of the client’s business structures, corporate culture and standards shared among all offices to the client’s benefit
• All services can be governed by a single agreement on the provision of legal services
• A single fee structure for the entire region reflecting important regional synergies

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We mainly anticipate the following practices to grow in the next 12 months: Real Estate Deals: The Croatian real estate market is attracting a large number of foreign investors due to Croatia’s stunning coastline. Our firm has extensive experience in providing legal assistance to foreign real estate investors in all phases of real estate transactions. We guide our clients through the entire purchase process and provide assistance afterwards if a problem arises. Law of Information Technologies, Cybersecurity, Data and Privacy Protection: The growing expansion of artificial intelligence in the business world will surely accelerate a change in information technology law. Demand for legal expertise from clients so that they will be in compliance with data privacy laws, cybersecurity and other legal aspects of technology implementation is expected. Our firm is prepared for these changes, as we have a special team dedicated to the Law of Information Technologies and Cybersecurity, Data and Privacy Protection. Employment and Environmental Law: Constant changes in employment law and remote working policies have caused a higher demand for legal advisory on how to be compliant with new employment regulations. There will be shifts also in environmental law due to climate change, which increases the demand for sustainable solutions.  

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

Some time ago, we succesfully implemented several strategic changes that significantly benefit our clients. Such changes include:

• Knowledge of the client’s business structures: Knowledge of the client’s business structures, corporate culture and standards are shared among all PETERKA & PARTNERS offices to the client’s benefit. We nurture a culture that prioritizes client needs and expectations.
• Constant Professional Development: We are commited to continuous learning and professional specialization. Our lawyers regularly attend various seminars where they improve their skills.
• Legal alerts: We inform our clients on significant legislative amendments which effect their businesses on a regular basis. Our clients experience better access to information which leads to confidence in our firm’s expertise.
• Strategic Partnerships: We are a proud member of several international alliances of independent law firms.

Together with the external law firms with which we cooperate, we can provide comprehensive legal assistance on cross-border cases and projects (and all of this is managed by our centralized global team for the entire PETERKA & PARTNERS group).  

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Nowadays, technology in the legal profession is playing a big role and it ensures smooth interaction with clients. We use some of the available tools for remote communication. We have also developed an in-house billing and CRM system, which allows our clients to be up-to-date with the status of their records. We have also started to hold webinars on specific topics so that our clients are always up-to-date on topics important to their businesses.  

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Our firm’s main goal is to become long-term partners with our clients. Hence, due to our vast experience acquired in various industries we try to provide our clients not only with legal assistance but also with business-oriented advice, which certainly adds value to our client’s business. Additionally, our extensive network of connections with international law firms has been a key asset for our clients looking to enter new markets. We successfully support our clients in extending their operations onto these other markets and facilitate their global expansion.  

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Without a doubt, they are; clients are seeking stability and an active approach from their law firms, and nowadays more than ever. In three years time, we are sure we will be a dynamic firm known for its outstanding legal expertise and client-oriented approach. We will continue to provide tailored legal assistance which aligns closely with our clients’ business goals. We are committed to working on our growth while remaining focused on delivering exceptional legal services to our clients.