dr SLOBODAN DOKLESTIĆ, LL.M. (CEU), MANAGING PARTNER, LAW FIRM DOKLESTIĆ, REPIĆ & GAJIN

Dr SLOBODAN DOKLESTIĆ, LL.M. (CEU), MANAGING PARTNER, LAW FIRM DOKLESTIĆ, REPIĆ & GAJIN

Success Based On Principles

The Doklestić, Repić & Gajin Law Firm is recognised internationally by Legal 500, the world’s most renowned legal directory, as a leading law firm in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The firm’s clients are leading foreign and domestic companies operating in almost all fields of industry

The focus of our firm is on commercial law and corporate clients - explains Dr Slobodan Doklestić, noting that firm utilises its specialised teams of lawyers to cover all areas of commercial law, from corporate law, M&A transactions, banking and financial law, to competition law, real estate etc.

You are known on the market as a top law firm that distinguishes itself from others through its approach to business and clients. Who are they? Who are your clients and what areas do you handle?

It’s certainly very nice to hear that we are recognised as such on the market, especially given that our market is fairly competitive and has really good law firms. The focus of our firm is on commercial law and corporate clients. Our clients are leading foreign and domestic companies in almost all fields of industry, from the tobacco industry, the FMCG sector, the automotive industry and construction, to healthcare.

In order for us to be able to provide high-quality legal support to such a wide range of clients, it is essential for our lawyers to be specialised in various areas of law. One important part of our practice is labour law, because that’s something that’s important to all corporate clients and it is very important to regulate labour-legal relations within a company in advance, thus ensuring the conditions for the well-ordered and organised work of employees and the protection of the interests of both employers and workers. We consider that business success must be based on certain values, which both guide and define us. We have established five such principles that define our work

We know that you are very proud of the five principles that define you and your practises. Could you tell us more about that?

Yes, as with everything else in life, we consider that business success must be based on certain values, which both guide and define us. We have established five such principles that define our work. The first is that we always strive to provide our clients with a top-class legal service. Second, we cultivate a business-oriented approach, which sets the parameters of our task to support the business of clients, and not to look for reasons why something cannot be done. Third, we endeavour to always be efficient in our work and to ensure that clients are satisfied with the value that we deliver for the money they pay us. The next principle is that we never deviate from our professional integrity. And, finally, we view our clients as long-term partners, and not as one-off customers.

How did you come to be among the founders of the association of leading independent law firms in the Adriatic region, under the name Lex Adria?

A large number of our clients are present not only in Serbia, but also throughout our region, and consequently they have a need for effective legal support regionally. That’s why we initially established our offices in Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in cooperation with local lawyers. We are very proud that we are today among the rare law firms to be internationally recognised (e.g. by Legal 500) as a leading law firm in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Furthermore, we are one of the founders of the Lex Adria® regional network of law firms, which encompasses the entire ex-YU region, plus Bulgaria and Albania. Members of the alliance are leading law firms in their own countries, and we regularly advise clients throughout the region through close cooperation with them. Clients thereby gain a “one-stop-shop” for the entire region. And we also thus serve as a good example of regional cooperation that others can learn from.