Interview with: Bogdan Gecić, Founding Partner

Bogdan Gecić explains the value of innovation in a dynamic regional legal market

 

1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate Gecic Law from your competitors?

We founded Gecić Law with a vision for our firm’s development but also with the aim of breaking the mold of the traditional law firm and its role in the business environment of the SEE region. For us, innovation is about continuous curiosity and discovery. We explore new practice areas and add value to our clients by providing a fresh perspective and meaningful solutions tailored to their businesses’ new challenges in a rapidly changing environment. We take pride in being among the first independent law firms in the region to expand our offer into emerging legal areas and industries likely to shape the future of business. Our commitment is to provide cutting-edge solutions to add value beyond the law with a deep understanding of our clients’ industries and objectives. With a unique combination of international experience and international expertise, our lawyers guide our clients through a complex regional legal environment where the latest developments in EU law intertwine  the growth opportunities offered by  emerging markets.

 

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

We see growth in the broad array of legal topics stemming from advanced developments in technology, including intellectual property, data privacy and security, and product liability. In our region, we expect developments in the field of alternative dispute resolution driven by significant foreign direct investment. We continue to focus on ESG as defining regulation takes shape in the EU and the countries of our region.

 

3) What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

Our focus has been on expanding the team and adapting our organizational structure to support the expansion of the breadth and depth of our offering and our geographic reach, which has taken us well beyond our regional market. We are also applying new technologies that help us rationalize our firm’s processes, improve team collaboration, and concentrate on delivering our clients the highest quality of service efficiently and cost-effectively.

 

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

In the face of rapid technological evolution, our client engagements and service offerings have transformed. We leverage cutting-edge digital communication tools and platforms, provide access to legal documents and information online, and integrate data and analytics into our strategic decision-making. As a result, we can offer more agile and adaptive legal services, staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving legal environment.

 

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

We can provide numerous examples of this, but a recent win in a state-aid procedure where our firm represented EP BiH the electric power utility firm of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the government of the country in a state-aid case before the Energy Community, enabled the clients to go ahead with the USD 1.1 billion investment, the largest in the country’s energy sector in the last fifty years and vitally important for its energy security. We advise Telekom Serbia Group, the largest telecommunications and multimedia provider across the Adria and Balkans, in a series of cases that span across 21 jurisdictions. Our team provides strategic and legal guidance throughout these processes, assisting the client in overcoming some of the most important business obstacles. Last year our team structured a unique, highly complex deal in the mining industry, helping one of the largest global mining companies enter the Serbian market.

 

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

Indeed, clients are increasingly expecting more from law firms, well beyond the traditional, and we welcome these trends. We are exceptionally positioned to meet these requirements. In the next three years and beyond, we expect to continue with the tremendous growth we have achieved in the past several years. We will accomplish this by building on our reputation as a top-tier provider of innovative and value-added services. We aim to consistently expand our offer to meet the most sophisticated needs of businesses as they evolve and expand our geographic footprint to be present wherever our clients need us. We’ll persist in harnessing technology to amplify our services and remain at the forefront. We will continue to affirm a value-based culture of collaboration and continuous learning and improvement to ensure we always deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.