Established in 1991, Jankovic Popovic & Mitic (JPM & Partners)
is internationally focused and is the exclusive member firm in Serbia for Lex Mundi, the largest law firm network. Additionally, because it is largely involved in cross-border work, it has German, French, and Russian international desks.
Focusses / specialisms
The banking practice is highly regarded for its work in sectors of energy, infrastructure, IT and telecoms. It has experience advising the Ministry of Finance in the drafting of ley laws.
The M&A team advises local and international clients in innovative and complex transactions. Assisting both buyers and sellers, the practice is known for its complex cross-border work and headline transactions.
The firm’s projects department specialises in PPP, infrastructure, mining renewables and energy. It advises on a wide range of complex and novel issues.
Key clients
Among its clients are Gastrans; JP Srbijagas, BASF, Dulux Group, Australia, ŠKODA Auto Czech; MTU Aero Engines AG; China Shandong, Kingspan Holding, Microsoft and Hewlett Packard.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period the firm was active in financial and corporate, and project development.
In corporate and M&A the firm advised acquirers and sellers on projects in a versatile range of industries, including oil and gas, banking and constructions and materials.
In project development it advised project companies on projects in various industries, including oil and gas, most notably, and energy and technology and telecommunications.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Gastrans Novi Sad, Serbia €50 million oil and gas project
FCN Energy Logistics joint venture
Transportgas Srbija, Novi Sad Demerger
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2023/2024)
Asset finance
“JPM is definitely one of the best if not the best law firm in Serbia. All members of their team are agile, and proactive with lots of accumulated experience and expert knowledge. They are available at all times and respond almost immediately.”
M&A
“They are fast, precise, efficient, accurate and problem solving-orientated.”
"Their professionalism, problem-solving, and business dedication were always second to none. We can fully rely on their legal knowledge and experience.”
"They are highly astute, numerate and knowledgeable when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. They have a deep bench and plenty of relevant, first-hand experience.”
Private equity
“They were very dedicated in establishing the facts and finding the optimal solution for our interests. Communication was very friendly, focused on content, not form.”
Project development
“JPM is the best law firm in Serbia in the gas sector. They know the industry very well – better than anybody else on the market. They are experienced, up to date, very skilled, professional, dedicated to us for more than decade and the team of our ultimate professional trust. They are always at their very best level and they are in many aspects unique in the market – they have done many things first in the market. They did everything in the very best way and manner and they enjoy the trust of the regulator due to their knowledge and expertise, which is also very important to us. The cooperation is smooth, they understand our needs and they accomplish all our goals and requests.”
"They know the industry extremely well. They are well established and recognised in the market as number one in the energy sector due to their engagement on energy projects for more than 15 years, participation in the biggest and most complex energy projects implemented in Serbia, professional attitude and complete dedication to us as the client.”
"They are extremely well acquainted with the industry, up to the best international standards, very proactive and very respected by the regulator as well. In my opinion, they know the market the best in the Republic of Serbia. To my knowledge, they are also very appreciated by the international law firms with which we all cooperated, due to their expertise and manner of work.”
"JPM possess unique knowledge in this sector and they are the sole law firm with such deep understanding of the natural gas sector and peculiarities of the operations of natural gas transporters.”
Project finance
“They are: professional with exceptional knowledge of Serbian corporate law and legal system; very committed to the task; exceptional negotiator; able to provide accurate and reliable legal opinions; perfect in the English language; and quickly responsive.”
Nikola Djordjevic
“Nikola Djordjevic is a team player, devoted equally to the team and us as the client. He is smart, he knows the industry well, very dedicated and also devoted to our projects for years. He knows well the problems in the industry, he is hard-working and very engaged.”
“Nikola Djordjevic is valuable member of the JPM team. He is very dedicated, focused and tactical in approach. Very hard-working and diligent. I appreciate his work too.”
“Nikola Djordjevic has been in the industry a long time, understands it well, and is always available and cooperative and very helpful.”
“Expert in corporate law, responsible, project-orientated, calm, sympathetic thinking.”
“Highly knowledgeable, very responsive, creative in finding viable solutions (that are not obvious to fellow legal practitioners), and hard-working.”
“Nikola Djordjevic is a valuable member of the JPM team. He has been in the industry a long time, understands our industry and needs and is very hard-working and devoted.”
“Nikola is JPM's tax partner, extremely diligent and knowledgeable. He is a great asset to every client. His advice is always precise and to the point.”
Jelena Gazivoda
“Jelena is an excellent lawyer with experience spanning M&A, banking and finance, energy and projects, concessions, and related matters. She is thorough, dedicated and extremely client-orientated.”
“She is one of a kind. Extremely professional, knowledgeable, extremely respected in the industry and with the regulator. She is herself a true brand – her name is synonymous wit expertise, leadership and results. Smart, sharp, persuasive, proactive, knowledgeable, expert – a true gem as a professional and as a person.”
“Jelena Gazivoda is No 1 on the Serbian market, with no doubts. She has been well established in the industry for more than 15 years. She follows the trends, undertakes continuous training, always performs at the highest level. She has a great mind, she is decisive but mild in approach, she accomplishes all her aims, she thinks outside the box, finds solutions, she is pragmatic and practical, and she possesses true charisma and enormous knowledge. She is really a true and unique pleasure to cooperate with and true superstar in what she does. Great support in projects and such a nice person to cooperate with.”
“Jelena Gazivoda is a leader of the JPM team – true leader in every sense. She is extremely knowledgeable, very clear and precise in advice. She is a solution finder and person of utmost expertise and professional and personal trust. She is direct, sharp and focused on every single detail. It has always been my pleasure working with her.”
“Jelena Gazivoda is JPM's senior partner. She leads the JPM firm and JPM team in many matters including energy and project development matters. She is a fantastic professional and great person with clear vision, brilliant mind, complete focus on client, perfect knowledge of the industry, initiative, passion and enthusiasm in all she does. She is direct, sharp, open, constructive, smart and such a great negotiator. Really the best one I have ever worked with. I am always strongly recommending her to everyone who needs top legal advice without complicating things, commercial mind and business-orientated approach. Always also a true pleasure to cooperate with.”
“Corporate law expert, responsible, project-orientated, perfect English, good negotiator.”
Nenad Janković
“Knowledge and ability to empathise.”
Bojana Javoric
“Incisive legal mind, highly responsive, very resourceful and extremely diligent and hard-working.”
“Dedication to work, respect for deadlines, communicativeness.”
Marko Mrđa
“Marko Mrđa is a team player. He is learning fast and successfully follows Jelena Gazivoda and Nikola Djordjevic, also very dedicated to us as a client, hard-working and engaged.”
“Marko, Mrđa is a valuable member of the JPM team. Marko is organised, devoted, punctual and always available. We know we can count on him whenever we do not want to bother Jelena Gazivoda or Nikola Djordjevic. Very nice person in addition.”
Ivan Petrović
“Ivan Petrovic has very good knowledge of the industry. He is always there for us and he is very practical. When he gets a particular mandate, he is really dedicated to us. This is something I particularly respect and value. He is punctual and correct in every sense.”
“Ivan is a JPM partner and head of the real estate and construction department. He is responsible and accountable and has huge expertise in real estate and contracting matters. It is always a pleasure to work with Ivan.”
Nenad Popovic
“Nenad is a veteran lawyer with extensive experience being the lead attorney in the most complicated transactions. He oozes confidence and is respected by his peers.”
Nikola Poznanović
“He is trustworthy, precise, fast, problem-solving and responsive.”
“Nikola is a partner in JPM in charge of competition and banking and finance matters. In all these years he proved to be dedicated with a pragmatic approach and available at all times.”
“Nikola is an outstanding lawyer, detail-orientated and with great business acumen. He possesses great legal knowledge and is an excellent team player.”
