The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár’s ‘formidable’ M&A practice is a ‘top choice’ for big-ticket transactions. It advised Stryker on Czech aspects of its acquisition of Boston Scientific, and Attachmate on the $2.2bn acquisition of SUSE Linux and Novell – Praha. Head Tomáš Skoumal ‘cannot be beaten in representing private equity sponsors and large corporations in landmark transactions’. Managing partner Alexandr César is recommended for public sector transactions and associate Tereza Štefunková is recommended for corporate restructurings.

Clifford Chance ‘knows how to deliver’. It advised Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund on its acquisition of Ceské Radiokomunikace, and Dalkia Ceska republica on its 100% share acquisition of NWR Energy. It provides routine corporate advice to clients such as Pfizer, Chevron, HSBC, Philip Morris, and KKCG. Alex Cook advises on cross-border work, and is ‘the perfect lawyer for busy in-house counsels’. Cook co-heads the team with David Kolácek, who focuses on domestic transactions.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár’s ‘sophisticated and service-oriented’ team ‘delivers beyond expectations’. It advised Anglo American on its cross-border divestment of Tarmac Group’s hardstone and sand and gravel businesses, and E.ON Ruhrgas International on the demerger of EUROPGAS, EUROPGAS Group and SPP Bohemia. It acted on several acquisitions for Czech Property Investments. Managing partner Lukas Sevcik is recommended for his ‘personal approach to clients, business acumen, and experience’. Jitka Logesová provides ‘excellent’ advice.

Highly regarded Kocián Solc Balastík has been particularly active in advising on mergers and restructurings, including the complex reconfiguration of RPG Real Estate. It also advised Alpiq Generation on its merger with Alpiq Zlín, and DAF Trucks on a business partnership with DAF. Martin Šolc and Dagmar Dubecká are ‘two of the best M&A lawyers in the Czech Republic’. Jan Dedic and Petr Kasík are recommended for corporate work.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges extensively represents CEZ, including advising on its acquisitions of Energotrans and TMK Hydroenergy Power and the sale of a 50% stake in JTSD-Braunkohlebergbau. It also advised Railway Infrastructure Administration and provides ongoing support to EVRAZ Vitkovice Steel. Managing partner Karel Muzikar heads the team, and Martin Kramar is also a name to note.

White & Case ‘always outperforms the opposition’. It strengthened its resources when Horák & Chvosta merged into the firm, adding corporate experts Ludek Chvosta and Jirí Horák to the team. Recent instructions include advising MidEuropa Partners/Falcon Group on its sale of Ceské Radiokomunikace; Euromedic Czech Republic on acquiring healthcare facilities; and Istrabenz on the €382m auction sale of Droga Kolinska. Team head Michal Dlouhý and Damian Beaven are recommended.

Allen & Overy is advising Glencore Grain on its proposed deal to buy certain assets from Lisovna Usti nad Labem, Lukana Oil, and STZ Development. It also advised GTS CE on purchasing Sitel Data Centre, and direct pojištovna on an insurance affinity agreement. Jan Myška heads the practice, and regional managing partner Jane Townsend advises on financing aspects of corporate transactions.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. advised Tromsom and Bertail on winding up of the OOO Eldorado joint venture and associated litigation, and advised PPF Group (Tromsom’s owner) on buying a 50% minus one share stake in Eldorado Group. Practice head Tomáš Pešek and Jirí Nemec are recommended.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. advised Honeywell on Czech aspects of the sale of its sensors business and sale of Honeywell Control’s shares in Sensata Technologies. It advised American Global on transferring its interest in American Express to American Express Euro Travel and American Express Continental. Helen Rodwell, head of corporate in CEE, ‘clearly knows the Czech market’. Bratislava-based senior partner Ian Parker is also a key contact for Czech corporate law advice.

Glatzová & Co S.R.O’s ‘very good, efficient’ team is advising Czech company New World Resources Group on its reincorporation to the UK as a share-for-share offer, and Scientific Games Corporation on its £33m acquisition of Barcrest Group and Cyberview Technology. Jirí Sixta is highly rated, and senior associate Jindrich Král is also recommended.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o.’s full-service team represents foreign investors and domestic and international corporations. It advised Lenzig on its 75% acquisition of Biocel Paskov and KBC Private Equity on its €50m sale of a majority stake in Novaservis. Other clients include Ringier Axel Springer CZ and Credo Ventures. Robert Nešpurek has an ‘excellent combination of law and business acumen’, and is recommended along with Dušan Sedlácek and ‘charismatic’ practice head Jaroslav Havel.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP’s highly regarded team advises international clients on cross-border deals, particularly M&A. It advised Penta Investments on its sale of TES Group, and HighCo on its acquisition of a 48.25% interest in POS Media Europe. Miroslav Dubovsky is ‘knowledgeable, responsive, and business-oriented’.

Norton Rose v.o.s. provides ‘robust’, detail-oriented advice. It acted for Genesis Private Equity Fund on its divestment of AB Facility, and on POS Media’s acquisition of Celcsoport. Milana Chamberlain is recommended for cross-border transactions.

PRK Partners advised Aliq Energy on the cross-border merger by acquisition of certain group companies. It is advising Secunet Security Networks in the liquidation of Czech subsidiary, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP on the ABN AMRO demerger. Martin Kríž and Radan Kubr are the key contacts.

‘Professional and fast’, Salans Europe LLP advises companies on M&A, divestments, and restructurings. It advised Strategic Hotels & Resorts on the €110m sale of Hotel Intercontinental, Praha. Other clients include Merck Sharp & Dohme (now Merck & Co), BP, and Synthos Kralupy. Counsel Jan Procházka co-heads the practice with Tomáš Bílek, who is ‘great to collaborate with and thinks one step ahead’. Petr Slach joined from Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár.

Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár advised SMC Development on its CZK1.5bn reorganisation of an investment company into a holding company and three project companies. It also advised GE Capital International Holdings on a Czech divestiture.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s. is ‘precise’ and ‘good for complicated transactions’. It advised MND (Moravian Oil Mines) on a multi-jurisdictional merger of five companies, and HDS Retail Czech Republic on its acquisition of the coffeeheaven chain. Other clients include Auto Kelly and Eurovia. Daniel Weinhold and senior attorney Martin Lukáš are recommended.

bnt – pravda & partner, s.r.o. ‘keeps pace with market trends and developments’ and ‘takes the chance with new possibilities’. It advises across a range of sectors, particularly steel, mining, and gas. It advised SPP on terminating a joint venture with E.ON and KKCG, and on subsequent demerger of SPP Bohemia. Pavel Pravda’s knowledge and performance is ‘marvellous’, and newly made up partner Jan Šafránek provides ‘excellent service’.

DLA Piper Prague LLP is ‘solid, reliable’, and provides ‘a very high level of service’. Clients include Baxter, SPAR and Scatec Solar. The practice was bolstered by the arrival of the ‘widely experienced’ Jakub Adam and his team of four associates from Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers. Pavel Marc, head of finance and projects, also joined from the same firm and led on various insolvencies, restructurings, and mergers.

The ‘excellent’ Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár is recommended for mid-market M&A and restructuring as well as commercial advice. It advised Plzenský Prazdroj on SABMiller’s Europe-wide spin-off of its distribution operations, and KKCG on the multi-jurisdictional merger of four companies. Stanislav Dvorák and Stanislav Servus are recommended.

Noerr advises predominantly foreign investors and corporations on domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals. It advised private equity investor BC Partners on its acquisition of Chembon via its portfolio company Synlab. Barbara Kusak is recommended.

‘Service-oriented and flexible’, Peterka & Partners advises French and other foreign clients on transactions. It extensively advises Veolia Voda, and also advised India-based Technoplast on its acquisition of a Czech manufacturer. Ondrej Peterka and Jan Liška are recommended.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners acted for key client CEZ in reorganising assets and the subsequent merger of CEZ Distribuce and CEZ Distribucní zarízení; and in the detachment of a coal power station and incorporation of a new company. KKCG is also a key client. David Skopal heads the team.

Randa Havel Legal acted for ASA in several corporate restructurings, including intra-group mergers and liquidations. It also advised Seznam on its takeover of GLOBAL INSPIRATION. Other clients include Benson Oak Capital and ŠKODA MACHINE TOOL. Alois Šatava is an expert in industrial and real estate acquisitions. Šatava co-heads the team with Iva Javorská, who focuses on private equity and M&A.

Schoenherr ‘knows the local market and its players’, and has strong ties to German-language clients. It advised Volksbanken on its €272m sale of Europolis. Martin Kubánek and senior attorney Miroslav Pokorný are recommended.

Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o. has ‘terrific’ industry knowledge and good business acumen. It advises on complex deals and general corporate and commercial matters, particularly contract law. It extensively advised Kapsch regarding the Czech road toll system, and Ringier on its joint venture with Axel Springer. Petr Wünsch’s ‘conduct of negotiations is first class’. Martin Peckl is also recommended.

Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers mainly advises Austrian and Czech clients with recent instructions focusing on disposals. It is advising Wiener Städtische Versicherung on its sale and leaseback of a portfolio of DIY stores. Paul Sestak is recommended and co-heads the team with Tomáš Rychlý.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o. has a ‘no-nonsense, business-oriented approach’, and provides due diligence advice on Czech and Slovak law aspects of large corporate and M&A transactions. It also advised ELK Fertighaus on a joint venture and corporate governance. Arthur Braun is ‘always focused on client service’.

Balcar Polanský Eversheds continues to advise Tyco International on various disposals. Practice head Michal Zahradnik advised a shareholder on two transactions, increasing its stake to 51% and then a 90% shareholding in VEBA textilní závody.

Bányaiová Vožehová, s.r.o., advokátní kancelá advises on M&A, corporate restructuring and other matters for clients such as Vinci Energies, Alimpex Food, and Photon Energy Group. Practice head Lucie Vožehová is ‘excellent’ for M&A.

Bird & Bird predominantly represents foreign entities and their Czech subsidiaries in M&A and corporate governance. Recent instructions include advising on photovoltaic power plant acquisitions, and advising a foreign company on reorganising its European operations. Ivan Sagál is the name to note.

Erwin Hanslik heads enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law’s team, which is actively advising on domestic and cross-border restructurings and acquisitions. Clients include C&A Moda and VAMED. Petr Dobeš is recommended.

Giese & Partner specialises in real estate and advises foreign and domestic clients on related M&A, restructuring, and general corporate matters. It advised SEB on selling two photovoltaic power plants. Ernst Giese and Willard Rhoades Finney are recommended.

Haskovcova & Co. provides ongoing corporate and commercial advice to its clients, including joint venture and restructuring matters. Clients include IDEA RS and UniCredit Leasing. Head Thu Nga Haskovcova and senior associate Petr Šabatka are recommended.

Kališ Opletal & Partneri, Advokátní Kancelár has won a number of mid-market mandates in restructuring and M&A since it de-merged from DLA Piper Prague LLP in 2010, and has also advised on corporate governance. Clients include PILSEN STEEL, Scatec Solar, and SD Bohemia Group. Petr Kališ is recommended.

Kotrlik Bourgeault Andrusko advises on acquisitions and foreign investments, including the acquisition of Bontonfilm by CME Media Pro and its parent company. Petr Kotrlík is the key contact.

Law Firm Liška&Sabolová s.r.o. has expertise in establishing qualified investor funds. It also advised Tedom on a joint venture with CEZ. Other clients include Metroslav, Hoya, and CPI.

Pelikan Krofta Kohoutek, advokatni kancelar s.r.o’s four-partner practice advises across the gamut of corporate, commercial, and M&A matters, and acts for debtors and creditors in bankruptcy and insolvency cases. Tomáš Pelikán and Augustin Kohoutek are recommended.

Rowan Legal mainly provides domestic corporate, commercial, and acquisition advice and also advises on some cross-border matters. Practice head Martin Janoušek has niche expertise in IT and real estate law and is recommended. Barbara Meinl left the firm.

Velíšek & Podpera, advokátní kancelár s.r.o has ‘deep knowledge of the local market’, but predominantly advises banks and corporations on cross-border M&A. Practice head Jíri Podpera advised SGS Czech Republic on SGS Romania’s acquisition of CEZ Distributie. Podpera and Pavlína Hartmann are recommended.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol. advises on restructuring, mergers and liquidations. Michaela Fuchsová co-heads the team with Jirí Spousta, who advised a Czech entrepreneur on the disposal of an alternative power plant.

Zilvarová Ctibor Hladký advises on general corporate and commercial matters with particular strength in the automotive and transport industry. It advised divisions of Chrysler on its alliance with Fiat, including restructuring of the new group. Radek Hladký is a ‘profound lawyer’ with a ‘creative mind and can-do attitude’.