NEWS & INSIGHTS

January 2022 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce that it has entered into a cooperation and association agreement with Žurić i Partneri (ZiP) law firm in Croatia. ZiP is now a fully integrated office of Kinstellar.

The expansion to Zagreb is part of our strategy to provide full-service coverage across all of Emerging Europe. By joining forces, we broaden our offering in the western Balkans and leverage the resources and expertise of our firm to deliver exceptional client service. 

We believe that the new office gives us a strong, integrated and profitable operation creating significant synergies with our existing business. A presence in the Croatian market complements our core strengths and broadens our appeal to clients seeking a single point of contact for support across the region with a consistent quality and style of service.

Founded in 1995, ZiP is one of the most reputable law firms in Croatia. It currently has 22 lawyers, including five partners. ZiP has an exceptional client base consisting of major multinationals, investment and private equity funds and financial institutions. Its long-standing tradition of legal excellence and innovative legal solutions is valued by clients and peers and is reflected in its prominent position across all practice areas in the leading international legal directories The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Clients praise the firm for its knowledge and deep understanding of the Croatian legal system and for being client-oriented, responsive and approachable. In recent testimonials, clients state that ZiP is ‘‘one of the best law firms in Croatia and the region, in terms of size, professionalism and history” and highlight that “confidentiality, loyalty and integrity combined with the excellent service’’ are key strengths (Legal 500, 2021), while other clients note that “the lawyers were always available and ready to step in on whatever we needed’’ and "what we value most is that the team not only give us the legal standpoint but try to protect us and warn us of problems that may arise. We see the team as a partner who is always taking our side". (Chambers Europe, 2021)

The firm’s clients are typically large international companies and banks looking to invest in Croatia or to support existing operations, or large domestic entities looking to build out their footprint across the region.

Recent transactions that the firm has worked on include:

• The acquisition of Sberbank in the CEE region by Agri Europe Cyprus Ltd.
• The debt optimisation of the motorway and road sector of the Republic of Croatia
• The amendments to the Concession Agreement for the Istrian Y Motorway
• The revision of the Zagreb Stock Exchange and Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency’s Corporate Governance Code

Leadership & Partners

Kinstellar’s practice in Croatia will be led by Duško Žurić and Miroslav Plašćar, as Co-Managing Partners. For more information on the team and our new office, please click here.

Jason Mogg, Senior Partner Kinstellar, comments: ‘‘We have attracted a high-quality team with strong market recognition and a close cultural fit with Kinstellar. We are confident that with this team, Kinstellar will maintain the established top-tier position in the Croatian market and enhance the regional appeal that the firm has already built. We are happy to have found a team complementary to our values and goals. We wish them a warm welcome and look forward to working together!’’

Duško Žurić, Co-Managing Partner Žurić i Partneri, comments: ‘‘From the very beginnings of Žurić i Partneri law firm, creating a law practice with a genuine international profile was always a driving force of our team. By becoming part of Kinstellar, a law firm with 11 offices across Europe, Turkey and Central Asia, we have added a new value to a long tradition of pioneering the market and going forward to new horizons. We are certain that with Kinstellar we will strengthen our position in the Croatian and regional market. Looking forward to starting a new chapter together!’’

For more information please contact Jason Mogg, Senior Partner, at jason.mogg@kinstellar.com, and Duško Žurić, Co-Managing Partner Žurić i Partneri, at dusko.zuric@zuric-i-partneri.hr.