Mr. Dejan Zurovac, WOLEP member, Serbia, on work on restitution of nationalized property: „It sometimes feels like doing detective job!”

Read here part I of the WOLEP Talk with Mr. Dejan Zurovac

WOLEP: Novi Sad has some very fine historical buildings. It is always difficult to preserve such buildings while also respecting modern building codes. Have you been involved in any historical preservation projects on behalf of your Clients?

Dejan Zurovac: Actually, I have experience with a procedure of restitution of property which was seized after World War Two. There were actually a lot of historical buildings which were taken over by Yugoslav authorities after the end of the war. So, I have a lot of experience in this area of law and there are some factories, some buildings which are representative for the history and the identity of Novi Sad.

It is very similar to an investigation that you do to find information in archives, in old documents – you check information in old files, you must think very fast, and this work is quite for interesting for me as a lawyer.

WOLEP: It sounds like the job of a detective of sorts.

Dejan Zurovac: Indeed it is, because most of the documents were destroyed after WWII. There are so many missing documents, and you have to piece the puzzle together – we’re talking decisions, arguments of courts, and other procedures.

WOLEP: What type of professional collaborations would you like to be a part of, as a WOLEP member?

Dejan Zurovac: I can help my colleagues in other countries with their Clients who want to start their business here in Serbia, because I have experience in company law, i.e. with starting business. Similarly with other countries, we have a Registry of Companies here. The procedure is very simple. For six years, I have been representing a small company, so that gave me an important experience in this field. Plus, at the start of my career, when working in a law office, we represented companies – I like this kind of work because there are a lot of problems that you must find solutions to, in a very short period of time. You have to think very quickly – Clients want answers right away, which is very challenging but also very fulfilling for you as a lawyer.

I can also help with checking information needed for buildings employed by startups, information needed when constructing factories in Serbia, and so on. The company that I mentioned want to buy some land for their business, so I drafted the contract, checked the solutions and I started the procedure for legalization of this object. It is very big, however some small parts of it are interfering with the soil and the plot of the State, in the city. It is a complicated case, but also a beautiful one. I hope I can solve it and achieve success for my Client.

WOLEP: We are confident that will be the case. As you are based in Novi Sad, a beautiful city that I’ve had the pleasure to visit, please share a few tips for a WOLEP lawyer who travels with business there in 2023, and has a few spare hours.

Dejan Zurovac: I recommend they visit Petrovaradin fortress, which is located above the Danube, a historical landmark from the 18th century. It is a very interesting spot, rich in history and with a lot of hidden gems. Our colleagues from WOLEP can find there some good restaurants, and they can also enjoy a panoramic view of Novi Sad.

I would also recommend the Fruška Gora Mountains, where there are many places such as medieval monasteries. In Novi Sad also, there are some very good restaurants with traditional food, like Plava Frajla, which translates to „Blue Girl” restaurant. The city centre is so beautiful on holidays like Christmas and New Year, so I hope my WOLEP colleagues do pay us a visit!

Are you a legal eagle with a passion for collaboration? Join forces with other legal professionals and elevate your practice to the next level. Don't wait, sign up now to WOLEP and connect with like-minded lawyers today. Register your account here.