The Legal 500

Allen & Overy provides ‘top expertise’ on a broad range of banking, finance and capital market matters. The team’s recent significant instructions include advising Komercv ni banka, HSBC and RBS as lenders on the 50% share acquisition in Europgas as well as on financing renewable energy projects and on refinancings. Asset finance work included advising on transport leasing for clients such as Czech Airlines and Angel Trains. Czech Export Bank is a longstanding client. ‘Highly efficient, reliable and well connected’ practice head Václav Valvoda has strong international experience and is recommended for derivatives-related matters, as is associate Robert Pavlu. Senior associate Robert David is ‘experienced and supportive’.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s.’s ‘very responsible lawyers’ advise local and international banks and investment groups on debt, asset and structured financing. The team acted for PPF Bank on a number of transactions including restructuring loans, a bond issuance and acquisition financing. It also represented Skoda Transportation on a syndicated loan. Its other clients include Czech National Bank, Bawag, ING, CEZ, Bank of America and Home Credit Group. Practice head Tomáš Otruba, Petr Mlejnek and Tomáš Sedlácek are ‘business and risk focused, and consistently find solutions’. Associate Andrea Adamcová is also recommended.

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár has made itself a go-to firm for IPOs, and advised on the first such listings on the Prague Stock Exchange since 2008: those of Fortuna Entertainment, which was simultaneously listed on the Warsaw bourse, and software provider KIT digital. On the finance front, practice head Libor Basl advised Czech food group Nowaco on its multimillion-dollar financing by a consortium of banks, following its acquisition by South Africa-based Bidvest. The team also advised on several refinancings, including Tomáš Skoumal acting for Aqualia. Other clients include banks such as UniCredit, Investkredit Bank and CSOB.

Clifford Chance is ‘able to deliver quality in line with international standards’ and ‘belongs among the firms of choice’ for domestic and cross-border banking and finance matters, particularly debt financing. It was busy with real estate-related transactions and restructuring in 2010. Practice head Vlad Petrus led on Unicredit Bank’s financing of one of the biggest solar power plants in the jurisdiction. In capital markets, the practice specialises in emissions trading, and recently advised the Ministry of Environment on its trades. The well-regarded team includes associates Jindrich Arabasz (‘well educated, experienced and able to communicate well with both the client and their counterpart’), Miloš Felgr (‘reliable’) and Martin Glajch (‘very good knowledge of products, excellent theoretical background and outstanding ability to deal with clients’).

PRK Partners’ banking and finance team is led by Robert Nemec, and also includes Marek Procházka, Radan Kubr and Martin Aschenbrenner, who provide strong securities expertise. The group has been focused on advising investors and banks concerning financing of solar energy projects.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ borrower-oriented practice demonstrates a ‘high level of expert knowledge, professional competence and total dedication to the interests of clients’. It recently advised longstanding client CEZ on a €270m refinancing to help it acquire a German mining company, and also advised state authorities on financing infrastructure and PPP projects. Other clients include Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. Securities expert Karel Drevinek co-heads the practice with Petr Severa, who focuses on capital markets and private equity. Severa successfully represented Evraz Vitkovice Steel in litigation.

‘One of the strongest financing practices in town’, White & Case also offers ‘a deep knowledge of debt capital markets, is very quick to respond and always finds the best solution for a client’. It represented Unicredit Bank as arranger on one financing and for Doosan Heavy Industries on another. On the capital markets side, it acted for the Ministry of Finance on a Swiss bond issuance and for CEZ, European Investment Bank and Ceské dráhy (Czech Railways) on other bond issuances. Practice head David Plch is ‘very responsive, knowledgeable, and client-oriented’, and recommended along with Jirí Tomola (‘delivers perfect quality; demonstrates business understanding, negotiation skills’) and Kvetoslav Krejcí (‘very quick and reliable, provides top-quality advice’). Senior associate Eva Svobodová is also recommended.

Pavla Krecková and CEE banking and finance head Paul Stallebrass lead CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s.’s Prague team, which serves a mix of international and local banking and private equity groups. Krecková specialises in real estate and acquisition financing, and has been advising on solar power project financings and representing a consortium of banks as potential lenders for financing Prague Military Hospital, which is the jurisdiction’s first PPP. Other clients include Mid Europa Partners, Aareal and EnerCap Capital Partners. The team hired Mark Segall from Unicredit in November 2010.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár’s ‘very professional’ Prague team attracts praise for its international perspective. Its cross-border mandates included advising a group of international banks on one of the region’s largest acquisition financings in 2009. Along with restructuring and refinancing, the practice also recently acted on a club loan transaction. Senior associate Martina Brezinova was appointed as banking and finance practice head in March 2010 and provides a ‘responsive, knowledgeable, client-oriented approach’. Kamil Blažek offers a range of financing and restructuring expertise.

Norton Rose v.o.s. handles a range of financing and has been expanding its energy sector work. Practice head Marek Belšan focuses on real estate financing and private equity, and recently handled restructuring of a €9m mezzanine facility and the financing of a multijurisdictional real estate project. Pavel Kvicala advised Genesis Private Equity Fund II on its investments. Other clients include Czech Export Bank, KB, BNP Paribas and Hypo Investments.

Salans Europe LLP’s banking and finance team now fields 11 fee earners after acquisition finance expert Jan Procházka rejoined the firm as counsel following a stint at Clifford Chance and associate Juraj Alexander rejoined the Prague team from New York. Practice head Olga Humlová focuses on real estate-related financing, including advising Raiffeisenbank on residential projects and Czech bank KB on financing infrastructure developments in Azerbaijan. Counsel Jirí Stržínek handled domestic and cross-border financings for clients such as Unicredit and Continental.

The ‘excellent’ team at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár is ‘very flexible’ in negotiations. It represents clients such as CSOB, KBC Bank, Czech Export Bank and local subsidiaries of HSBC and Crédit Agricole. The practice continues to develop its strengths in export and real estate financing, advising borrowers and lenders on local and cross-border refinancings and acquisition financings of real estate developments. Banking head Vladimira Papirnik, Radek Janecek, Danica Šebestová and of counsel Karel Šturm are ‘all professionals ready to offer alternatives’.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s.’s well-regarded team is led by managing partner Daniel Weinhold, who recently handled various acquisition and project financings for clients such as UniCredit and HSBC. The team also acted on real estate financings and advised ING on a number of projects. Věra Filkuková acted for the retail bank, Ceská sporitelna, as issuer on a number of bond issuances. Pav Younis, Pavel Jendrulek and Lukáš Zahrádka are also recommended. Ivan Sagál joined Bird & Bird in September 2010.

bpv Braun Partners’ banking and finance group, which is well regarded for its renewable energy project financing capabilities and understanding of international business. Practice head David Vosol is recommended for his problem-solving ability on financing. Recent highlights include solar power and real estate project financings for Austrian and German banks. Thu Nga Haskovcova left the firm to set up Haskovcova & Co. in 2010.

Balcar, Polanský Eversheds’ commercial head Michal Zahradník also leads the banking and finance team in Prague. The practice advised investment bank Wood & Company, which recently acquired Credit Suisse’s local asset management business, on UCITs funds and warrant listings. It also established a local brokerage firm for a client.

Glatzová & Co., v.o.s. is particularly recommended for loan financing, where its clients include Citigroup, RBS, Goldman Sachs, Komercní banka and Investkreditbank. Practice head Dana Schweigelová and Martin Dancišin led on various cross-border transactions, including advising HeidelbergCement on a syndicated loan and refinancing.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o. provides capital markets advice, acquisition and project financing as well as regulatory advice to a range of local and international investors, financial groups and industry corporations. Recent instructions include acting on Czech aspects of cross-border financings, and advising Slovak finance group Istrokapital on its €150m Prague bourse listing. Ondrej Petr leads the team, which includes Jaroslav Havel, Robert Nešpurek, and senior associate Jan Topinka.

Peterka & Partners advised on various project and export financings for clients such as UniCredit, vehicle manufacturer Iveco and real estate developer Sogeprom. The practice continued advising Nordic Partners on refinancing and restructuring, as well as First Czech-Russian Bank on bank licensing issues. Ondrej Peterka heads the practice.

Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers focuses on financing deals for Austrian and other international clients. Appointed managing partner in July 2010, practice head Pavel Marc provides ‘round-the-clock availability and assistance’, while associate Zuzana Slováková has ‘organisational skills coupled with strong nerves’. Marc and Slováková advised on financings for Hypo Steiermark, Raiffeisen and US private equity firm, Patriarch Partners.

DLA Piper Prague LLP’s managing partner Peter Valert has cross-border corporate financing experience. However, the firm lost the refinancing and restructuring expertise of its former practice head Lucie Brejšková, who left to set up Law Firm Kalis, Opletal & Partners.

Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár is recommended for domestic financing, and recently acted for investors on fund management issues. The group also handles capital markets advice for clients such as CSOB and Conseq. Stanislav Dvorák heads the practice.

In 2010, Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP advised lenders and borrowers on cross-border corporate and real estate financings. Highlights included advising an international investor on financing a Czech bank’s energy efficiency loan. Managing partner Miroslav Dubovsky heads the team.

Noerr v.o.s.’s Barbara Kusak specialises in private equity and corporate finance and has been busy advising banks on financings, particularly for real estate acquisitions.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners’ ‘major strength is its local know-how’, and the team is well regarded for its negotiating skills. It acts for local investment and banks, recently advising CSOB and UniCredit. Other clients include the Prague Stock Exchange and Raiffeisen. Radek Pokorný provides a professional and hands-on approach. Dalibor Šalek and Vendelín Balog are also recommended.

Rowan Legal’s team, which adopts a ‘pro-business approach and is able to find effective solutions’, continues to advise on refinancings and EU projects. The firm is local counsel to RBS, for which it recently handled private equity refinancing, regulatory and litigation matters. Practice head Martin Šubrt is well regarded for his in-depth finance knowledge, having previously worked for international institutions.

Banking and finance specialist Veronika Odrobinová heads Schoenherr’s Prague team, for which recent mandates include acquisition financings for Erste Bank and Raiffeisen. Other clients include Bawag and Deutsche Bank.

Vyroubal Krajhanzl Skolout, Law Firm, Ltd. serves domestic and international banking groups and investment companies including Ukraine-based PrivatBank, GE Money and Wood & Company. Gabriela Dudasova specialises in capital markets work.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol.’s Jirí Spousta offers securities and derivatives expertise, and continues to advise Czech steel company Moravia on financing. Michaela Fuchsová advised on general financing and standard documentation.