Mark Harrison, Founder and Principal of Harrisons Solicitors has spent nearly four decades at the forefront of legal practice in Serbia and Montenegro, carving a unique path as the first and only English solicitor registered with the Serbian Bar Association.
In this interview with The Region, Harrison shares insights into his journey from advocating for Serbian companies during the 1990s sanctions to building one of the most respected legal practices in the region. With a deep understanding of the “Balkan Way” and a client list that includes some of the world’s largest companies, Harrison discusses the keys to success, the importance of loyalty and teamwork, and why the Balkans continue to inspire his work and life.
You were the first English solicitor practising in Serbia and Montenegro, and the first European lawyer registered with the Serbian Bar Association. Twenty-five years on, you remain the only one. How do you explain this unique position?
After the Berlin Wall collapsed in November 1989, large London Law Firms decided to move into Central & Eastern Europe and open offices in the capital cities. Six months before that, Slobodan Milosevic came to power in the ex-Yugoslavia. I had been flying back and forth to Belgrade from 1987 to 1990 and even convinced my English Law Firm to open an office in Belgrade, but then the Balkan Wars started in 1991, and my plans were scrapped. Great timing!
Therefore, the London law firms ignored Yugoslavia, even more so when UN Sanctions were imposed from May 1992 until November 1995. However, my UK Law Firm decided, quite rightly in my view, to act for Serbian and Montenegrin Companies and help them through the sanctions by representing them in the UK Courts and EU institutions and engaging with OFAC in the US. In essence, we stood up for Yugoslavia in this difficult period, even once dragging the Bank of England Enforcement Unit to give evidence on our client’s behalf and save 4 Aviogenex Planes from being seized.
When the sanctions were lifted, the British Foreign Office asked me to help rebuild trade and business between the UK, Serbia and Montenegro. So, in February 1996, I played a lead part in an FCO delegation to Serbia, followed by Montenegro. I advised the FCO we should run roadshows around the UK (instead of just London) promoting the rump Yugoslavia, which we did in various cities, and the FCO requested I host all official Government Delegations to London on their “one-night” off on official visits.
I did the first privatisation in Montenegro in 1996 of the Niksic Brewery and the Pivara Skopje Brewery in Macedonia. I started to get that “Balkan blood.” Timing clearly was not my forte as I decided to pack in everything in the UK, including my equity partnership in a leading law firm, and moved full-time to Belgrade in February 1998. On 31st March 1998, Sanctions were re-imposed on Serbia & Montenegro! This continued to keep the English Law Firms away.
So, when sanctions were lifted in October 2000, I was the only English Lawyer on the ground. To this day, only one other English Law Firm opened but then closed an office in Belgrade, and for geographical reasons, only 3 law firms from Austria arrived after me.
In summary, we have English fly-in and fly-out lawyers, and for economic reasons, many London and U.S. Law firms have cut back on their C & E Europe operations. I cannot foresee a large English Law Firm opening an office in Belgrade in the future as privatisations are virtually over, and it would not be economically viable. The early bird catches the worm!
Clients often describe you as a lawyer with invaluable contacts and an impressive client list. How have you achieved this, and what does it take to maintain such a reputation?
As stated above, like any person, if you stand by them in hard times, they respect that and look after you in the future. From 1987, I have been working with Serbia & Montenegro-37 years. I have learnt the “Balkan Way” to understand the Balkan mentality, and being an avid chess player, I have learnt to think three moves ahead. I am non-political but fully aware of local politics. It is also critical you establish offices in the countries, which we did as that shows to everyone you respect them and are serious.
Our clients clearly like the fact that we are supervised and regulated strictly by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and are insured through Lloyd’s of London. We are strict about confidentiality, conflicts of interest, knowing our clients and Anti-Money Laundering Regulations.
The only thing predictable about the Balkans is its unpredictability
If you are a large Western Company, say listed on a Stock Exchange, knowing you are dealing with an English Law Firm that has 25 years of experience and a deep understanding of local conditions and laws in the region that gives them that extra element of security, hence why our Client List is our best marketing tool. They feel safe with us.
You often highlight that people are what make your law firm what it is, emphasising loyalty, teamwork, and a strong sense of camaraderie as your defining traits. How proud are you of your team and the success you’ve built together?
A good football team is never based on one player. There are many good individual lawyers in Serbia, but to really succeed, you must act as a team. Backing each other, helping each other, communicating and enjoying each other’s company. There is no way I could have done this on my own. My colleagues represent the firm. I reiterate that we are a friendly team and treat everyone the way we would like to be treated. So many team members being together for so long is a testament to our firm.
Your clients include some of the world’s largest companies, and you handle transactions worth billions of dollars, yet you seem to approach it all with ease and genuine enjoyment. Is this your philosophy toward work and life?
I said from the start that if I ever did not want to go to work in our office, I would pack everything in. I still love going to the office and seeing everyone. We are a family. You work to live, not live to work. Everyone knows I am a great believer in fate, and my motto is “Carpe Diem.” I spent 10 years commuting to a London Law Firm. I now drive 5 minutes to work. The only thing predictable about the Balkans is its unpredictability. I see why serious diplomats love this part of the world and why many want to return. It gets under your skin. Believe me, there is stress, but as Serbs would say, take everything step by step. At the end of the day, I would not want to change anything. I feel blessed by my life here, a life full of rich experiences and stories. I will never put my feet up; I will always be around, but I do fancy writing a book one day – so many memories!
