Dragan Zeljic

PARTNER

Biography

Dragan’s practice focuses in particular on civil and criminal litigation cases, asset tracing & recovery, white collar crime and investigations, including case management and coordination between various jurisdictions. His industry focus varies from banking, mining, aviation, finance, commodity trading, cryptocurrencies, energy to real estate and sports law.

His bilingual legal education Dragan received from the Universities of Geneva and Basel. During his LL.M. studies at the University of Miami, School of Law, Dragan was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for excellent achievement in the study of International Economic Law (received the highest grade in class). In addition, he obtained the Certificate in International Trade and Finance (CITF) from the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF) in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (ICC) after completing a Russian language course at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). Moreover, Dragan obtained a Master’s degree in Business and Administration (MBA) from the Geneva Business School, where he is currently writing his doctoral thesis on the legal implications of cryptocurrencies. In parallel, he obtained the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in International Sports Law from the University of Zurich, LL.M. International Business Law, with the support of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Dragan is a native Serbian and German speaker, fluent in English, French and Russian and basic Brazilian Portuguese. Prior to joining TA Advisory, Dragan practiced for Swiss and international law firms based in Basel, London and Geneva.

Practices

  • Civil and criminal litigation
  • Asset tracing & recovery
  • Investigations, white-collar crime and fraud
  • International arbitration
  • Sports law and contracts law

Industries

  • Banking & Finance
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Mining
  • Energy
  • Real Estate
  • Sports
  • Aviation

Regional Focus

  • Russia and CIS
  • Western & Southeast Europe
  • Middle East

Education

  • LL.M., University of Miami Law School
  • MLaw, University of Basel and Geneva Law School
  • MBA, Geneva Business School
  • CITF, London Institute of Banking and Finance in collaboration with the ICC
  • CAS in International Sports Law, University of Zurich Law School and FIFA
  • DBA, Geneva Business School

Bar Admissions

  • Geneva, Switzerland

Representative experience

  • Restructuring a well-known group of companies for a Russian Oligarch
  • Liquidation of several Swiss companies in the capacity as appointed liquidator
  • Civil litigation before the Swiss courts related to a complex dispute between Russia and Ukraine
  • Acting as agent and legal representation with respect to international transfers of football players
  • Collaboration with Cyprus lawyers in a Swiss law related fraud case
  • White-collar crime proceedings before the Federal Prosecution Authorities
  • Representing a Russian investor regarding real estate projects in Switzerland, Serbia/Montenegro
  • International commercial arbitration proceedings in Geneva, Zurich and London
  • Setting up charity foundations for the Greek Orthodox Church
  • AML proceedings before The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)
  • Acting for a large Russian bank in respect to the enforcement of a share pledge pertaining to an over USD 1 bio claim
  • Acting for a large Russian bank in Switzerland in respect to the asset tracing and enforcement of a claim worth over USD 300 mio
  • Acting for an international inter-governmental organization based in Geneva in respect to the internal audit, fraud and embezzlement investigation and criminal matters against former top appointees of the organization
  • Acting for a Russian investor in respect to an asset tracing and recovery matter against former business partners
  • Acting for a group of Russian investors in connection with an anti-raiders action in Russia and its international ramifications
  • Acting for a South-African billionaire in respect to a corporate dispute with a Russian investor
  • Representing a Russian real estate developer in a cross-jurisdiction dispute and fraud matter against a former business partner
  • Representing a consortium of investors in respect to the potential acquisition of an oil-refinery in the Balkans
  • Representing a Russian oligarch in a wide range of family office and commercial matters
  • Representing international clients in respect to the acquisition of commercial real estate in Switzerland