Batarelo Dvojković Vuchetich is a tax, finance, and corporate law firm with a team of 12 legal experts who have extensive experience in a variety of industries such as financial services, industrials, food and beverage, construction, retail and consumer products, energy, technology, infrastructure and transportation, and private equity.
Partner Vladimir Batarelo leads the tax department, which focuses on VAT and other indirect taxes, international tax law, personal income tax and transfer pricing. Brigita Džajić, senior tax and finance manager, has extensive experience in corporate income tax, personal income tax, transfer pricing, financial reporting, and tax audits, as well as Stephani Jelčić, senior associate, who has significant experience in VAT, international tax and personal income tax.
During the research period, the firm was involved in the first tax law issue presented before the CJEU since Croatia's admission to the EU – and it was successfully settled for the client, relieving him of VAT duty in the amount of around €3 million. The team also advised Croatia's largest shipyard on the VAT handling of imported marine engines and the EU inward processing regime.
Attorneys at Law Monika Rakitničan and Antonia Ćurković joined the firm during the research period.
Client feedback
“Advisory services are precise; presented options are transparent with clearly defined implications, everything is provided promptly and on time.”
“Understanding of our business, quick response, detailed explanations.”
“Absolutely professional. Very practical advice for a global startup with a subsidiary in Croatia.”
“They help us most suitable solution for employees under the disputed shareholder situation.”
“BDV's team of highly competent and resourceful young professionals has a strong expertise in EU VAT and customs law. Their advice is practical, easy to understand - even though the tax matters can be quite complicated - and really helps solving matters.”
“BDV has a well-established tax department that is highly active in tax planning work, particularly in corporate tax. The team is extremely close-knit, and they share knowledge and experience to the benefit of the clients. Experienced, knowledgeable and agile experts can quickly adapt to its clients’ requests or problems. The team provides invaluable support to the client through the whole legal process.”
“BDV tax team shows passion for thoroughly and meticulously building up tax cases/mandates. Very smart, creative, multilingual team experienced in various tax related matters, especially in VAT and international tax law, and tax controversy matters. BDV has presented exceptional expertise and a high level of professionalism. The team is very efficient in problem solving. All team members are dedicated to their work and leave no stone unturned.”
“Proactive, skilful, knowledgeable.”
“BDV tax team, headed by tax partner Vladimir Batarelo, houses a robust and multidisciplinary tax practice with a strong focus on direct, indirect tax, international tax, transfer pricing and income taxes. They are very client oriented, proactive and solution oriented. They provide a straightforward and easy-to-follow solution. They demonstrated extensive tax experience and great effectiveness in international and transactional tax matters, and multi-jurisdictional coverage with the ability to quickly team up with tax professionals from other jurisdiction in order to find a solution.”
“Working with BDV on daily basis, we could say that BDV shows as a flexible, always-available, knowledgeable and very motivated team being able to react quickly with easy-to-follow advice. In our experience working with them – the team distinguishes from other firms in problem-solving capabilities having a great ability to adapt to new situations in business and a user-friendly manner. Solutions are communicated in a simple and clear way, making them easy to follow.”
“The team is very professional, responsive and clear in their advice. The experts within the team impressed me with their creative, helpful and straightforward approach. They developed robust expertise in the tax-related aspects of cross – border reorganisations, offering multi-jurisdictional coverage.”
“BDV team is agile and has a great organisational and technical skills. They are providing successful solutions and are focused on the preservation of the client’s interest. Team members are dedicated to their work and naturally put in the best effort irrespective of the task given. They demonstrated extensive tax experience dealing with this complex matter and challenging cross-border issues.”
“BDV team is highly professional, with in-depth knowledge, reliable and one of the best law firms in Croatia. They are highly specialised in cross-border transactions and with valuable knowledge on tax issues.”
“BDV is a tax team with high level of competence in tax matters. They have capacity to creatively brainstorm solutions and are proven to work great in MNE environment. The team is multidisciplinary with a strong tax law emphasis. This results in reasoned opinion, backed-up with EU case law which can be very handy when dealing with new situations and implementing innovative solutions on the market. It is a great pleasure working with them.”
CMS is a well-established tax practice that provides domestic and international clients, as well as private individuals, with a one-stop shop service for tax advice and dispute resolution. In cross-border transactional matters such as group restructurings and advising MNEs in sectors such as energy, banking, and IT, the team has the support of its global network. Tamara Jelić Kazić, a partner at the firm, is assisted by consultant Maja Marcelic, senior tax manager Marko Starčević, and attorney-at-law Mirta Klaić.
Recently, the firm supported Croatia's first unicorn, a short text messaging company, with a number of complicated tax challenges, including VAT questions, the establishment of tax audit standards, an analysis of tax risks, transfer pricing support and PE risk advice. Shell was also advised on gas trade licencing and tax implications by the team.
