Divjak Topic & Bahtijarevic has had another solid year and consolidates its position in the second tier. "They work very hard and are solution oriented," one client says, adding that, "they dig into the individual topic at hand....
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Divjak Topic & Bahtijarevic has had another solid year and consolidates its position in the second tier. "They work very hard and are solution oriented," one client says, adding that, "they dig into the individual topic at hand." The firm's peers have noted that it has been visible on the market. "Divjak's guys are good and we compete with them," says one rival, adding that, "it has good senior lawyers and a good batch of young lawyers."
With EU accession on the horizon, the firm aspires to be among the leaders in Croatia's transformation into a sophisticated business jurisdiction. Apart from its transactional prowess, the firm provides regulatory advice on cross-border investment and banking to clients such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Additionally, the firm advised Commerzbank with regard to cash pooling structures, something of a rarity in Croatia.
Damir Topic is a well-respected legal practitioner. "If I had to, I would instruct Damir Topic for legal work," one partner says.
Deals
Divjak Topic & Bahtijarevic advised BNP Paribas in 2011 as the security agent on the refinancing of a €2 billion loan facility to a leading European roof system producer group. The deal, which closed in January 2012, involved six lenders and this added complexity to its structure. Moreover, the firm advised the lender, KfW IPEX in a €46 million loan for the construction of the biggest wind-power plant in Croatia. The deal closed in March 2012 and it was the first time in Croatia that a floating charge was made over a wind farm facility.
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