The Legal 500

Allen & Overy is the ‘top firm in Prague’ for banking, finance and capital markets work, and is ‘excellent on all counts’. It advises large international clients on cross-border deals, asset finance and derivatives, and has acted on the financing of several photovoltaic power plants. It advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs on the leveraged buyout and subsequent refinancing of Ontex. The Prague office worked with colleagues internationally to advise ING, BNP Paribas, Raiffeisenbank, and Société Générale on the acquisition financing of Ceské Radiokomunikace. It also advised a syndicate of banks on complex buybacks and new issuances of multimillion-euro notes by CEZ. Team head Václav Valvoda and associate Robert Pavlu are recommended.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. acted for AnaCap FP GP Limited, Equa Group Limited, and Equa Holdings Limited in obtaining approval from the Czech National Bank to take a controlling stake in Banco Popolare Czech Republic. It is also particularly active in aircraft finance: it is advising Crédit Agricole on the financing of an Airbus A319 purchase by CSA, and represented lead manager J&T Banka on ABS Jets’ CZK450m five-year bond issue. Partners Tomáš Otruba, Petr Mlejnek and Tomáš Sedlácek are recommended, as is senior lawyer Andrea Adamcová.

Libor Basl heads Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár’s team, which advised the banks on the sub-participation arrangement and CZK1bn refinancing of insolvent Window Holding. It is advising Bank of China on the €900m multi-jurisdictional distressed debt refinancing of Borsodchem, and represented Penta Investments on Fortuna Entertainment Group’s €78.3m IPO. Tomáš Skoumal has a ‘deep understanding of banking practise’.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. advises sponsors, borrowers, and lenders with a focus on cross-border deals. It advised Advent International on financing its €188m acquisition of Provimi Pet Food; Bainbridge Capital Retail Properties on refinancing a multi-jurisdictional shopping centre portfolio; and Energy 21 on the acquisition financing of over 20 Czech energy projects. Pavla Krecková heads the team locally and works alongside Paul Stallebrass, who has responsibility for CEE banking and finance.

‘Industry leader’ Clifford Chance advises on local and cross-border lending, including project and real estate finance. It advised KKCG SE on KKCG Group’s financial restructuring, including a €100m syndicated facility and €105m intra-group bilateral facility for the acquisition of a 50% stake in EUROPGAS from E.ON Ruhrgas International. It also advised Komercní banka on the first completed financial whitewash procedure. Managing partner Vlad Petrus and of counsel Tomáš Richter are ‘very knowledgeable’. Associates Martin Glajch, Miloš Felgr and Jindrich Arabasz have ‘extensive experience’ and a ‘pro-business approach’.

Regional firm PRK Partners stands on par with the international heavyweights. It is advising several leading Czech banks on the CZK12bn aggregate financing of 75 photovoltaic power projects and is representing numerous banks as lead managers and arrangers in various debt issuance programmes. It is advising European Investment Bank (EIB) on a framework agreement for the CZK7bn purchase of Czech government bonds to support flood relief. Robert Nemec leads the team, which includes Marek Procházka, Radan Kubr, and Martin Aschenbrenner. Martin Bruthans was promoted to partner.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is the ‘first choice for complex cases’. It is advising the Ministry of Finance on financing and other issues regarding an environmental clean-up project and the Transport Authority of the City of Prague on financing of a new €2.5bn subway line. It is also advising CEZ on its exchange and tender offer of €1.4bn notes as part of its existing €6bn EMTN programme. Karel Drevinek and Petr Severa co-head the team.

White & Case’s ‘excellent’, ‘dedicated’ banking, finance and capital markets teams is ‘usually one step ahead of the others in terms of knowledge and awareness of the commercial and legal environment’. The group, which has particular expertise in export financing, advised Ceskoslovenská obchodni banka on an €80m club project and export financing for Belarusian refining enterprise OJSC Naftan, and acts extensively for Czech Export Bank. It acted for lead manager Ceská sporitelna on the CZK2bn issue of floating rate municipal bonds by Statutory City of Liberec. David Plch heads the team and is recommended, as is the ‘loyal’ and ‘professional’ Jakub Dostál. Michal Dlouhý heads the capital markets team and Kvetoslav Krejcí is recommended for his client-friendly and solutions-oriented approach. Newly promoted partner Eva Svobodová is also recommended.

The ‘exceptionally good’ Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o. advised Cetelem CR, the consumer finance arm of issuer BNP Paribas Fortis, on the establishment of a five-year guaranteed MTN programme of up to CZK10bn. It is advising Letiste Praha on a syndicated guarantee facility replacing an outstanding guarantee in respect of borrowings from the EIB, and advised Ceská sporitelna and UniCredit Bank as arrangers and lenders on the CZK580m club working capital financing of Diamo. Ondrej Petr heads the team, which also includes recently promoted partner Jan Topinka.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár’s ‘well skilled, experienced’ team provides ‘high-quality advice’ to banks, with a recent focus on club financing and bonds. It advised five international banks, led by Komercní banka, on a €96m financing of two CGS Group companies; and Citibank Europe, together with a group of international banks, on the €160m financing of five domestic borrowers. It is also advising Ecm Real Estate Investments on restructuring its bond issues. Managing associate Martina Brezinová is recommended for her reliability, business understanding, and ‘perfect quality work’.

Norton Rose v.o.s. focuses on refinancing, syndicated and export finance, as well as energy project financing. Practice head Marek Belšan advised Ceská sporitelna on the refinancing and acquisition financing of a domestic borrower and other European borrowers. Pavel Kvícala led the team that advised the Statutory City of Liberec on its CZK2bn bond issue.

Olga Humlová heads Salans Europe LLP’s Prague group, which recruited counsel Daniel Hurych from Clifford Chance. It advised GLL Real Estate Partners’ Accession Fund on its €308m multi-jurisdictional portfolio refinancing, and Continental on Czech law aspects of its aggregate €750m bond issue and amendments to its €16bn syndicated bank facilities. Real estate finance specialist Jirí Stržínek was promoted to partner.

Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár majors in export and real estate financing, and also advises on syndicated and acquisition financing and hedging instruments. It acts extensively for Czech Export Bank as borrower and lender, and recently advised the City of Prague on its CZK5bn issue of communal bonds. Other clients include ING Real Estate Investment Management and CSOB. Banking head Vladimira Papirnik, European partner Danica Šebestová, partner Radek Janecek, and of counsel Karel Šturm are recommended.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s., led by managing partner Daniel Weinhold, recently acted for UniCredit Bank in club, syndicated, project, and acquisition financings, including energy project financing. It also assisted Ceská sporitelna on the provision of acquisition financing to a Czech company and on its new debt issuance programme. Other clients include ING, HSBC (Prague branch), and Auto Kelly. Pavel Jendrulek, Pav Younis, and Lukáš Zahrádka are recommended.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o. is particularly active in real estate and construction financings, where clients include Erste Bank, and photovoltaic power project financings, where it represented Raiffeisenbank and Bawag on several such matters. Practice head David Vosol is recommended.

Balcar Polanský Eversheds continued to advise WOOD & Company on matters pertaining to its acquisition of a local branch of Credit Suisse, including transferring a portfolio of funds to CONSEQ. It also advised HighSky Brokers on establishing a brokerage house locally. Michal Zahradnik heads the team.

The ‘innovative’ and ‘results-oriented’ Dunovská & Partners has particular expertise in financial matters relating to distressed or bankrupt companies. Clients include Volksbank CZ, Penta Investments Limited, HSBC (Czech Republic), and CSOB. David Urbanec is proactive and has ‘extensive knowledge of restructuring and banking law’, and Barbora Dunovská is recommended for her experience and legal knowledge. Both are ‘top financial services lawyers’ with ‘excellent negotiation skills’.

Glatzová & Co S.R.O advised Citigroup Global Markets and RBS on two secured notes issues totalling €1.25bn. It is advising KBC Bank in respect of a syndicated guarantee facility wherein an obligor is insolvent. Practice head Dana Schweigelová is an ‘expert in financial services law’. New associate and member of the Czech National Bank Appeal Committee Libor Nemec joined from Clifford Chance and is also recommended.

Kališ Opletal & Partneri, Advokátní Kancelár, which was formed in August 2010 as a spin-off from DLA Piper Prague LLP, provides ‘practicable solutions’ and ‘reliable know-how’. It is advising Volksbank – Investkredit Bank on the transfer and restructuring of a loan portfolio of Czech subsidiaries, and FIM & Partners on a €21m loan refinancing and development financing for a mixed-use real estate project. Lucie Brejšková is ‘highly qualified and efficient on the highest stage’.

Kotrlik Bourgeault Andrusko advises domestic and international clients on finance and capital markets matters, particularly media and US clients. It represented CME on its listing on the Prague Stock Exchange; acted for TV station CET 21 on a $90m revolving credit facility as well as on Czech law aspects of a senior secured notes issuance under New York law; and negotiated a large loan facility for Korado. Petr Kotrlík is the key contact.

Peterka & Partners continues to advise UniCredit Bank on export financing matters, including three contracts with Russian importers, and Plynex on export financing of approximately €4.7m. First Czech-Russian Bank and Nordic Partners are also clients. Managing partner Ondrej Peterka heads the practice.

DLA Piper Prague LLP recruited new practice head Pavel Marc from Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers. The team advises on high-value, complex acquisition and project financing, refinancing, and debt restructuring. Clients include UniCredit Bank and RBS.

Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár is recommended for domestic finance and collective investment and mutual fund work. It recently advised Conseq investicní spolecnost on redrafting prospectuses, including representation before the regulator, and the transfer of 100% of the assets from a Czech company to a qualified investor fund. Stanislav Dvorák co-heads the practice with Libor Vacek, who joined from Clifford Chance.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP advised EIB on a risk-sharing energy efficiency global loan facility totalling more than €100m provided to a leading Czech bank. It is also advising Bank of New York Mellon as bondholders’ trustee in Sazka’s insolvency proceedings. Miroslav Dubovsky heads the team.

Kocián Solc Balastík has particular expertise in regulatory matters. Its clients include Czech National Bank, Barclays Bank, CSOB, and OVB Allfinanz. Petr Kasík co-heads the team with Martin Krejcí, and is chairman of the III Chamber of the Czech National Bank’s appeals committee.

Noerr acts on refinancing and securitisations, including enforcements and foreclosures. Pavel Široký heads the team, which includes private equity specialist Barbara Kusak.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners is advising on energy sector refinancings. Clients include KKCG Finance. Practice head David Skopal and Radek Pokorný are recommended.

Randa Havel Legal advises corporations on investment loans and working capital financing, and recently advised Pražské služby on financing of a biomass and waste-to-energy project. Iva Javorská and Alois Šatava co-head the team.

Rowan Legal acts extensively for RBS, including in certain financial disputes, and is advising it on an intra-group, cross-border transfer of business. It is also acting for an Austrian property investor in investment firm licensing proceedings. Martin Šubrt is recommended.

Schoenherr acts as lead and local counsel on domestic and cross-border transactions. It recently acted for Erste Group Bank on the refinancing of a real estate developer and subsequent financing for the construction of a new office building in Prague. Veronika Odrobinová heads the team.

Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o. advises on securitisations and frequently acts for the International Capital Market Association and Securities Lending and Repo Committee on repurchase and securities agreements. Clients include JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs International. Josef Vejmelka and Petr Wünsch are key contacts.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol. is recommended for its local know-how on domestic financings. It continues to advise Moravia Steel. Practice head Jirí Spousta is flexible, experienced and has ‘excellent knowledge of the law’.

Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers’ ‘professional and proactive’ team advises international clients on various financings, including real estate, restructuring, and acquisition facilities. Managing partner Paul Sestak co-heads the team with Tomáš Rychlý, who joined from Clifford Chance.