Živković Samardžić

What Živković Samardžić does

Živković Samardžić is a full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia, founded in 1998 by Branislav Živković and Nebojša Samardžić. The firm employs more than 30 lawyers organized across 11 practice areas: Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Data Protection, Energy, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Employment and Immigration, Real Estate and Construction, Tax, and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). It serves both domestic SMEs and large multinational corporations, with named mandates spanning cross-border M&A (Olvi Oyj / Banja Luka Brewery), large-scale corporate refinancing (a €550 million transaction for Fortenova Group), and strategic divestments (Dijamant Zrenjanin sale to MK Group).

The firm operates with a partner-led engagement model and has no proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure consists of a bilingual website, email communication, and standard digital case management. It maintains ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) certifications and is regulated by the Serbian Bar Association. Partner and senior staff include University of Belgrade Faculty of Law professors and specialists in TMT, blockchain, competition law, and arbitration — an unusual concentration of academic and domain expertise for a Serbian firm of its size. The firm is a member of SEE Legal, a network of 11 firms covering 12 South East European jurisdictions, which it leverages to deliver cross-border mandates.

Živković Samardžić generates revenue through professional-services fees calculated on time spent, matter complexity, required expertise, and outcome, with quote-based pricing and monthly invoicing for ongoing matters. Payment terms are two weeks from invoice date with VAT applied. Client acquisition is driven primarily by legal-directory rankings (Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000, Legal 500), word-of-mouth referrals, and referral flow from the SEE Legal network and global/regional law firm partners. The firm has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and is structured as a Serbian law partnership (Advokatsko ortačko društvo).

Name

Živković Samardžić

Legal name

Živković Samardžić AOD

Website

https://zslaw.rs

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Živković Samardžić is a full-service Belgrade-headquartered commercial law firm with 30+ lawyers across 11 practice areas, serving domestic SMEs and multinational corporations in Serbia and the broader SEE region through partner-led engagements and the SEE Legal network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Commercial Law (BPAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Commercial legal services
• Corporate mergers acquisitions
• Banking finance advisory
• Dispute resolution arbitration
• Real estate construction law

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal services fees: Fees for legal services are based on time spent, outcome of the matter, size and complexity, degree of expertise required, responsibility involved, and pressure of time. The firm may provide a reasoned estimate before commencing work. Advance payment may be requested. Invoicing typically occurs upon completion, or monthly for ongoing matters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Živković Samardžić is a full-service commercial law firm offering comprehensive legal advisory through 11 practice groups including Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Data Protection, Energy, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Employment and Immigration, Real Estate and Construction, Tax, and TMT. Services span complex cross-border transactions and regulatory advisory to litigation and day-to-day corporate counsel, delivered via partner-led engagement to domestic and international clients operating in Serbia and the wider South East Europe region.

Product overview

Živković Samardžić is a full-service law firm offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas. The firm provides integrated legal advisory through distinct practice groups including Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Data Protection, Energy, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Employment and Immigration, Real Estate and Construction, Tax, and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). The firm's services range from complex cross-border transactions and regulatory advisory to litigation and day-to-day corporate counsel for domestic and international clients operating in Serbia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate and M&A Legal advisory on complex transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic corporate advice for domestic and international clients in Serbia.
• Banking and Finance Advisory on structuring and executing complex financing transactions, establishment of financial services businesses, and development of financial products and services.
• Capital Markets Advisory on regulatory and transactional aspects of capital market transactions including shares, bonds, and derivatives for corporate clients and financial institutions.
• Data Protection Practical data protection solutions, acting as local representatives for foreign data controllers or processors handling Serbian citizen data.
• Energy Advisory for energy sector clients including producers, suppliers, traders, and consumers in oil, gas, conventional power, solar, wind, and renewables sectors.
• Dispute Resolution Advisory and representation in all types of disputes, including commercial litigation, arbitration, and enforcement proceedings.
• Intellectual Property Protection, management, and enforcement of intellectual property rights across all technological and commercial areas of interest.
• Employment and Immigration Advisory on redundancy, reorganization, union negotiations, employment disputes, and immigration matters for hiring and retaining talent.
• Real Estate and Construction One-stop property services from acquisition and planning to financing, construction and disposal of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
• Tax Full-service tax advice including structuring, tax aspects of investments, M&A transactions, VAT, withholding tax, and tax planning for investors.
• Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Comprehensive legal advice throughout the full lifecycle of technology contracts, media regulatory matters, content acquisition, and telecoms regulatory issues.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SEE LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2003, SEE Legal is a highly integrated group of 11 law firms advising in 12 jurisdictions across South East Europe. Živković Samardžić is a member, providing integrated cross-border and regional legal services. The network offers single point of contact, single Letter of Engagement and invoice, regional focus on quality assurance, and in-depth knowledge of local institutions and business environments. The network covers practice areas including energy, taking and enforcing security, restructuring and insolvency, takeover bids, and employment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• CMS Belgrade: Global law firm with a Belgrade office and extensive regional network. Competes with ZS for top-end cross-border mandates, offering clients a global brand and integrated multi-jurisdictional coverage.
• Wolf Theiss: Major Austrian/Central European law firm with a significant Belgrade office and one of the largest SEE footprints. Competes with ZS on cross-border M&A, banking, and capital markets work.
• Schoenherr (in cooperation with Serbian lawyers): Austrian-headquartered regional law firm with a long-established Belgrade presence and broad CEE/SEE coverage. Competes with ZS for the largest cross-border M&A and finance mandates in Serbia.

Direct peers

• NKO Partners: Serbian full-service law firm with strong corporate, M&A, and banking practices. Comparable domestic peer serving similar enterprise and international investor clients in the Belgrade market.
• Gecić Law: Belgrade-based full-service commercial law firm. Comparable domestic peer with similar focus on M&A, regulatory, and corporate advisory work for international clients entering Serbia.
• Bojović & Partners: Belgrade-headquartered law firm with strong corporate, M&A, and dispute resolution practices. Comparable mid-sized Serbian peer competing for similar domestic and cross-border mandates.
• Karanović & Partners: One of the largest full-service law firms in the former Yugoslavia, with offices across the region. Closely comparable to ZS in practice mix, client type, and top-tier legal directory recognition in Serbia and SEE.
• Petrikić & Partneri: Serbian commercial law firm with full-service practice including M&A, banking, and corporate advisory. Comparable domestic peer competing for similar enterprise client mandates in Serbia.
• Janković Popović Mitić: Leading Belgrade-based full-service commercial law firm founded in 1991. Most direct domestic peer to ZS, with comparable practice areas including M&A, banking, and dispute resolution, and similar top-tier Chambers/Legal 500 rankings.
• BDK Advokati: Belgrade-based full-service commercial law firm serving domestic and international clients. Directly comparable on practice areas, client segments, and cross-border M&A focus in the Serbian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/živković-samardžić-law-office
• Xx.com/zslaw_rs

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Živković Samardžić