B&M works on Croatian privatisation

Baker & McKenzie's London and Frankfurt offices are advising the Croatian government on the privatisation of its telecoms network.

The firm was selected after a beauty parade in which it is believed to have beaten Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy and US firms Debevoise & Plimpton and Squire Sanders & Dempsey.

Baker & McKenzie is working with Zagreb law firm Filipovic, Law Office on the £531m sale of a 35 per cent stake in the Croatian telecoms operator, Hrvatske Telekomunikacije to Deutsche Telekom.

London-based partner Clive Cook led the Baker & McKenzie team. He says: "I believe the government has successfully implemented a landmark privatisation for Croatia which should boost foreign direct investment and help kick-start the economy."

Telecoms partner Peter Strivens led the corporate side, with Frankfurt-based Joachim Scherer overseeing regulatory work. Strivens says: "We clearly want to maintain our relationship and would expect this to lead to further advice."