The Legal 500

With a focus on energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, Clifford Chance was able to stay active with transactional work handling local and cross-border deals. The practice completed the sales of local operations for International Power and Anheuser-Busch InBev, and acted on significant regional TMT and energy sector transactions such as Dalkia’s acquisition of NWR Energy, and EQT Partners’ acquisition of Bulgaria-based telecoms companies. The group provides ongoing corporate and commercial advice to clients such as Chevron, Pfizer, KIT digital, Essmann, and Unipetrol. Practice head Alex Cook is supported by David Kolácek, who continues to develop the team’s energy-related work.

‘Very personable’ managing partner Lukáš Ševcík heads the corporate and M&A practice at Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár and focuses on cross-border transactions. Jitka Logesová handles commercial matters and private equity deals, and recently advised E.ON Ruhrgas International on the complex de-merger of its Europgas joint venture with KKCG. Kamil Blažek led advice to Czech Property Investments on a $34m retail business portfolio acquisition, and is also expert in energy and projects matters. A large part of the group’s practice is the representation of financial entities such as CSOB, Gazprom Bank and Ceská sporitelna, Erste Group’s local subsidiary.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated team represents many state-owned companies. Karel Muzikar is an experienced adviser on cross-border transactions, and recently advised CCMP Capital Advisors on its €250m sale of food producer Nowaco. Muzikar also acted for CEZ on a number of acquisitions of local energy providers. Karel Drevinek and Petr Severa provide general corporate and commercial advice to local companies such as Unipetrol and Vítkovice, while Martin Kramar recently acted for Viamont, a construction company, in selling a 50% stake to local competitor Strabag.

Possessing a ‘readiness to learn about industry specifics’, White & Case has recently acted on small and mid-market local transactions as well as large cross-border deals, and has witnessed an increase in outbound acquisitions by its sizeable Czech client base. Recent highlights include advising South Korea-based Doosan on acquiring Skoda Power for €450m, the client’s biggest foreign acquisition to date. Damian Beaven and Michal Smrek form ‘a fantastic team that is very passionate and committed to delivering even more than expected’. Beaven and Smrek worked as part of a cross-office team representing Studio Moderna on selling a minority stake to private equity groups.

Allen & Overy has a ‘very good team, with a deep knowledge of the M&A area’. Corporate head Jan Myška has ‘commercial sense’ and handles energy-related deals, while regional managing partner Jane Townsend advises on financing aspects of transactions. Energy and TMT deals have kept the practice busy and highlights included acting on Germany-based EnBW’s acquisition of Pražská energetika and on the sale of Ceské Radiokomunikace’s retail operations to T-Mobile. The group also advised J&T on acquiring Czech Republic-based Atlantik.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s.’s clients include CEZ and the insurer Ceská pojiš’tovna. Skoda Holding is also a key client, for which the firm completed the sale of Skoda Power to Doosan as well as handling restructuring of its transport business. The team also advised PPF Partners on setting up joint venture holdings with Czech companies in the energy and real estate sectors. Practice heads Jirí Nemec and Tomáš Pešek provide cross-border experience, while associates Miloslav Strnad and Petr Precechtel are also recommended.

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár ‘provides diligent, cost-effective and highly commercial service’. Practice head Tomáš Skoumal is ‘a skilled and pragmatic problem solver with superb negotiating skills. If you can get him on the deal, the deal will get done’. Skoumal acted on Bidvest Group’s €250m acquisition of certain CEE-based food companies, including Czech wholesaler Nowaco. Other clients include Google, Dura Automotive and Boston Scientific. ‘Cool-headed and highly organised’, Alexandr Cesar led on ADM’s acquisition of ViaChem Group’s local subsidiary. Associate Marek Kreisl is ‘sensible, practical and gets things done’.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s.’s Prague practice is recommended for cross-border deals and has recently focused on private equity investments in renewable energy. Helen Rodwell leads the corporate practice across the CEE region, and, following a reshuffle, Tomas Krutak joined from Balcar, Polanský Eversheds in May 2010, to head the Prague corporate group. Gabriela Vendlova left to set up Law Offices of JUDr Gabriela Vendlova, Ph.D and Partners, while Richard Bacek joined Siemens. Rodwell led on BC Partners’ €300m cross-border acquisition of a medical laboratory operator, while Šárka Robinson has been focusing on outbound corporate transactions in Turkey.

Glatzová & Co., v.o.s.’s corporate and M&A team is praised for its business sense as well as its legal expertise. M&A and privatisation expert Vladimíra Glatzová leads the practice, and recently advised RWE Power on a power plant project joint venture. Martin Dancišin has been acting on domestic and cross-border acquisitions in the IT and manufacturing sectors. Jirí Sixta is also recommended, along with associates Jindrich Král and Marie Janšová.

Name partner Jaroslav Havel is a key part of Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o.’s M&A team, which mainly represents foreign investors and has been advising clients such as Air France-KLM and KSK Power Ventur.

Kocián Solc Balastík’s recent work includes restructuring, disposals and M&A. Most recently, the team acted for Spolchemie on a joint venture with a Japanese competitor. Other clients include ArcelorMittal and New World Resources. Jan Dedic, Dagmar Dubecká, Petr Kasík and Martin Šolc are recommended.

Providing ‘top service in all aspects’, Norton Rose v.o.s. is expert on corporate finance and M&A. Managing partner and practice head Milana Chamberlain focuses on cross-border transactions and possesses ‘great ability to go directly to the point’. Chamberlain’s recent work includes advising on Doosan Heavy Industries’ acquisition of Skoda Power. Pavel Kvícala advised Czech private equity investor Genesis on strategic acquisitions and sales, while Marek Belšan advised Olympus on restructuring its local subsidiaries.

PRK Partners recruited François Veit and a ten-member Prague team from Gide Loyrette Nouel in January 2011, following the French firm’s decision to close its Czech operations. The newcomers join a practice that already included Martin Kríž, Marek Procházka and Radan Kubr. The team acts on domestic and cross-border transactions, and advised CVC Capital Partners on the Czech aspects of acquiring Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Central European operations, and also represented local energy group Dalkia during negotiations for its acquisition by CEZ.

A ‘high standard of services is offered’ by Pokorný, Wagner & Partners’ four-partner corporate and M&A team, which is led by David Skopal. The group represents leading domestic companies, such as Czech Airlines, CEZ and Mero CR, and recently acted on KKCG Finance’s sale of Atlantik. It advised on Czech Airlines’ high-profile business divestments, including the sale of its duty-free operations.

Salans Europe LLP is highly regarded for its business savvy and professional service. Its recent focus has been on mid-market deals including restructuring for international companies across financial, retail, food, automotive, and other industry sectors. Tomáš Bílek offers ‘technical skills, business acumen, customer focus and perspective’. He co-heads the practice with counsel Jan Procházka, who joined from Clifford Chance in July 2010. Petr Kotáb displays ‘deep knowledge on corporate law matters’.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár represents a broad mix of financial groups, investors, real estate and automotive industry clients on cross-border deals, with recent matters including a number of divestments. Vladimira Papirnik recently acted for US-based Cadence Innovation on divesting an equity interest in a Czech automotive supplier. Petr Slach handled various transactions for clients including GTS Novera and Olympus.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s. represents a mix of local and international clients such as banks, investment groups, energy corporations and manufacturers. Managing partner Daniel Weinhold heads the practice and advised on some significant sales and acquisitions in the Czech market, including the high-value sale of local automotive supplier Auto Kelly to a European competitor and Aelia’s acquisition of Czech Airline’s €30m duty-free business. Pav Younis specialises in real estate related matters, while restructuring expert Thilo Hoffman recently acted for publisher Mafra and furniture retailer XXXLutz.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP has experience in cross-border transactions and has been busy advising a range of clients on restructurings. Miroslav Dubovsky heads the corporate practice, while Pavel Skopovy ‘has a very good sense of what a client’s legal and commercial needs are’ and Marketa Tvrda is also recommended.

Noerr v.o.s. advises banks, investors and leading German corporations, such as Volkswagen and RBS, as well as a number of Czech clients, including the Ministry of Finance and Skoda Auto. The group recently advised German companies on acquisitions in the Czech energy sector. Practice head Barbara Kusak has cross-border transactional experience.

Peterka & Partners typically serves French and other international clients. Managing partner Ondrej Peterka acted for Veolia on a wastewater project in Prague. Jan Liška and Ondrej Dušek handled cross-border transactions for Nordic Partners and Time Technoplast, respectively. Associate Magda Prchalová is also recommended.

Schoenherr’s ‘very professional team’ acts for international companies as well as domestic and foreign investors. The team advises a number of automotive industry players–Continental, Behr, Kia Motors and Mercedes-Benz–as well as Immofinanz and Strabag. Martin Kubánek is recommended.

Josef Vejmelka and Petr Wünsch spearhead the team at Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o., which is appreciated for its ‘proactive approach and sound knowledge’. It handles general corporate matters for various clients, and advised TEI, a German real estate company, on starting up its business and Petroplus Marketing on restructuring.

Pavel Marc and Paul Sestak co-head Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers’ corporate and M&A group, which is particularly focused on retail, life sciences and renewable energy sectors. The practice serves Austrian and local clients on domestic and cross-border transactions, and advises on the Czech aspects of multijurisdictional M&A such as Futurelab’s takeover by BC Partners.

Alfery & Partner s.r.o’s Pavel Alfery-Hrdina handles various corporate and commercial matters, but recent work has focused on acting for local industrial manufacturers on restructuring and divestments. The team also advised an Austrian investor on a transaction regarding a solar energy project.

Ambruz & Dark is a Czech law firm associated with accounting group PricewaterhouseCoopers, and its corporate and M&A practice advises on a wide range of related matters. Vladimir Ambruz and Jan Spácil head the practice.

bnt – pravda & partner, s.r.o. advises international companies from various sectors, including the manufacturing, energy and pharmaceuticals sectors. Highlights included acting on de-mergers of local joint venture operations for Germany holding company Scholz and Slovakian gas supplier SPP. Practice head Pavel Pravda ‘is very business oriented, and finds simple solutions for very complicated situations’. Senior associate Jan Šafránek is part of a strong support team.

bpv Braun Partners handles a variety of matters, particularly corporate governance issues, for domestic and international clients. It represented E.ON in setting up a Czech joint venture and also advised clients on local divestitures. Managing partner Arthur Braun ‘is very focused on results’, while the team also includes Pavel Vincík and David Vosol.

‘Professional, efficient and effective’, Balcar, Polanský Eversheds is praised for its market knowledge, creativity in problem solving and experience in cross-border transactions. The practice lost Tomáš Kruták, who left to join CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. in 2010. Michal Zahradnik took over as practice head, and recently led on Wood & Company’s acquisition of Credit Suisse’s local asset management business. Other clients include Tyco International and Next Group.

Anton Blaha and Pavol Erben head the practice at Slovak law firm Blaha, Erben & Partneri, which advises public and private-sector Slovakian and international clients.

DLA Piper Prague LLP represents clients such as Bank of Scotland, UBS Bank, Medipack and Skoda Steel on cross-border transactions. Peter Valert and senior associate Jirí Salac led on restructuring and inbound acquisitions work in 2010.

Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár is recommended for domestic transactions and is also well regarded for its international perspective. Recent matters include renewable energy project transactions and restructurings, while the firm’s clients include automobile manufacturer Aisan Industry and energy investor EnerCap Capital Partners. Stanislav Dvorák is ‘a lawyer who really delivers, providing very accurate advice and services’. Stanislav Servus and Tomáš Procházka are also recommended.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law advised El Sewedy of Egypt on a local acquisition and Redevco Central Europe on a real estate retail portfolio sale. Erwin Hanslik handles M&A and Petr Dobes advises on commercial transactions. Ivan Rada leads on general corporate and commercial matters for clients including CSC Pharmaceuticals, Orco and CSC Computer Sciences.

Giese & Partner serves local and international clients, including manufacturers and private equity investors, and recently represented Melecs Holding in selling a business. Ernst Giese and Willard Rhoades Finney are recommended.

Liška&Sabolová s.r.o.’s Lucie Sabolova and Lukas Liska lead on corporate and commercial matters, while the firm works in co-operation with tax and consulting company Tacoma. The practice represents leading domestic clients such as Metrostav, J&T and Kofola. Recently it acted on a cross-border merger for Cimex, a real estate investor, and on restructuring matters for fashion retailer Kenvelo.

Pelikan Krofta Kohoutek, advokatni kancelao’s four-partner practice has been handling domestic acquisitions and sales ranging up to €100m in value. Clients include shareholders of Profimedia, Lexum, and Penta Group. Tomáš Pelikán and Augustin Kohoutek are recommended.

Randa Havel Legal is led by Martin Randa, who provides cross-border transactional experience. The team is particularly recommended for energy matters, but its recent work also includes IT and media sector deals such as acting for JVS Media and internet company Seznam in acquiring Czech targets. Other clients include waste management group ASA and construction company Betvar.

IT and real estate are specialisms of Rowan Legal, which has attracted new clients including CEZ, L&B Invest, and state-owned Air Navigation Services. Practice head Martin Janoušek, who focuses on PPP-related transactions, is recommended along with Barbara Meinl.

Vyroubal Krajhanzl Skolout, Law Firm, Ltd. handles corporate work for domestic clients including banks, insurers, manufacturers, engineering groups, and state-owned entities. Petr Vyroubal is recommended.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol.’s Michaela Fuchsová and Jirí Spousta lead on a range of corporate and commercial matters, particularly for real estate and TMT-sector clients. František Vyskocil handled general corporate issues for advertising agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett.