The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár is ‘the first choice in civil litigation matters in the Czech Republic’, and typically advises in high-profile, high-value litigation and arbitration. It successfully defended CSOB in a CZK34bn arbitration claim brought by the Czech Republic, and is representing an international bank in CZK1.5bn litigation brought by the trustee of a bankrupt conglomerate. Practice head Martin Hrodek gives ‘balanced legal advice’ that is ‘always to the point’. Associate Jan Zrcek is also recommended.

Salans Europe LLP advises public and private entities in litigation as well as domestic and international arbitration. It represented GE Real Estate and GE Global Equity in €40m aggregate claims in insolvency and judicial proceedings relating to non-performing loans acquired by CKA. Olga Humlová is recommended, and co-heads the group with managing partner Ladislav Štorek.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is best known for its arbitration practice, but it acts extensively for Czech government entities and CEZ in litigation, as well as arbitrations ranging from contract claims to tort damages. It successfully defended the Odra River Basin Directorate against Ostramo’s liability claim for €590m in damages as a result of flooding. It is also acting for claimant Vitkovice Heavy Machinery in the International Court of Arbitration seeking nearly $36m damages against STX Engine for breach of a collaborative agreement. Practice head Karel Muzikar and Martin Kramar are recommended.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s. is ‘impressive in litigation’ and ‘very popular and trusted among the local business community’. It is well known for tax disputes, and also advises on contentious real estate, corporate, and IP issues, as well as BIT arbitrations. In international arbitration, the team won dismissal of all claims against the state, totalling nearly CZK4bn, brought by a German entrepreneur alleging frustration of his investment in Cargo Transport – Internationale Spedition. Milan Polák is recommended for his astute assessment of opponents.

White & Case’s broad practice spans commercial law litigation as well as white-collar crime, and boasts a strong presence in international arbitrations. It is representing Unipetrol and Synthos Kralupy in proceedings before the European Commission in a cartel investigation against members of the ESBR (styrene butadiene rubber) industry association. Ivo Janda is ‘highly qualified and experienced’.

Allen & Overy represents banks, companies and public sector entities, and is advising Hitachi, Hitachi Europe, and Japan AE Power Systems Corporation in judicial review proceedings in the ECJ. It continues to advise the Ministry of Finance in a ring-fencing dispute with a Czech bank. Counsel Mikuláš Touška heads the Prague-based practice and is recommended. The firm recently relocated associate Matthew Hodgson, who is well regarded in the field of international arbitration, from London.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. is busy with insolvency proceedings and contract disputes, including the insolvencies of SAZKA and AB-CREDIT. It is also representing ŠKODA POWER in arbitration over receivables insurance. František Honsa has extensive experience in criminal proceedings, particularly white-collar crime, whereas Vladimír Uhde focuses on commercial court and arbitration proceedings.

David Lejcek heads Balcar Polanský Eversheds’ practice, which is increasingly active in corporate, commercial, and banking litigation. It represented SPVs CDV-1 Ltd and CDV-2 Ltd in bankruptcy, arbitration, and court proceedings relating to non-performing loans and won decisions in the Supreme and Constitutional Courts on defaults and bad debts.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. handles litigation at all levels, including the European Court of Human Rights, and international arbitration regarding business torts, commercial disputes, white-collar crime, regulatory and competition issues. Recent highlights include successfully representing the Ministry of Finance against allegations of illegal state aid provision for the privatisation and sale of the state’s stake in OKD. Partner Tomáš Matejovský heads the practice.

Vladimíra Glatzová leads Glatzová & Co S.R.O’s team, which is acting in many top-end litigation and arbitration proceedings including representing Fuji Electric Holdings and Fuji Electric Systems in the ECJ regarding cartel allegations and a fine imposed by the Czech Antimonopoly Office. It is also representing the International Photovoltaic Investors Club (over 100 entities) in BIT arbitration over state levies, and in court. Practice head Vit Horácek successfully represented RPG Industries SE in real estate arbitration against the Ministry of Finance.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP handles high-profile international commercial and corporate litigation and arbitration. Miroslav Dubovsky and Pavel Skopovy are representing Alstom before the ECJ in a cartel investigation, and Dubovsky continues to advise PKN Orlen in the €800m arbitral damages claim brought by Agrofert Holding, which has filed a procedural appeal.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár’s dispute resolution practice is part of its corporate group, and commercial disputes and insolvency proceedings are substantial sources of instructions. The team is representing the Ministry of Finance in insolvency proceedings against European Media Ventures SA. Of counsel Ruzena Trojánková is the key contact.

Kocián Solc Balastík’s expertise includes real estate disputes, where Václav Rovenský leads a team that is, for example, representing Corinthia Group in administrative proceedings. The group also successfully represented a major Czech insurance company in a CZK127m arbitration. Pavel Dejl specialises in competition and antitrust disputes, and Alexandr Kocián focuses on litigation and criminal law. Jan Dedic and Martin Šolc are arbitrators at the Exchange Court of Arbitration.

Robert Nemec is the key contact in PRK Partners’ dispute resolution practice, and is particularly well known for contentious banking matters. Marek Procházka represented Viktoria Plzen against illegitimate insolvency proceedings and is advising Saprantrans Shipping Limited in banking litigation against the Czech state. Jiri Cerny is also recommended.

Peterka & Partners represents foreign and domestic banks and corporations in disputes as well as bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. Ondrej Peterka and Jirí Cerný are the names to note.

Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár’s strength lies in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional arbitrations, particularly BIT arbitrations, although it also handles litigation. Practice head Rostislav Pekar is representing the defendant in a BIT arbitration concerning a failed retail development project. It is also acting for GE Real Estate in court and arbitration proceedings relating to lease and non-payment of rent claims.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o.’s litigation and arbitration practice includes administrative and insolvency proceedings, and it is also known for advising foreign investors in enforcement proceedings. It is representing the City of Prague – Prague 1 in arbitration over alleged damages incurred during the privatisation of municipal apartments. It is also representing the Czech Football Association in approximately 25 sports law litigations. Marek Vojácek, Dušan Sedlácek, and Daniel Ulicný co-head the practice, which expanded in 2011 by recruiting three new senior associates.

Kotrlik Bourgeault Andrusko advises in high-profile litigations and arbitrations in the media sector. It recently won a CZK1m defamation award for Marek Vašut, and represented claimant MARSH in a precedent-setting case requiring the review of all public procurement tenders by the Anti-Monopoly Office. It also represents CET 21 in commercial, goodwill, and regulatory disputes.

Norton Rose v.o.s.’s ‘highly professional’ team has ‘profound knowledge and experience’. It focuses on corporate and commercial disputes, including competition and insolvency, and is representing SOR Libchavy in cross-border litigation against a Polish bus manufacturer in a licensing agreement and competition dispute. Managing partner Milana Chamberlain heads the team, in which Marek Belšan and Zuzana Valoušková are recommended.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o. represents Czech and German clients in litigation and arbitration with a recent focus on contract disputes. It is advising Nemecek – Elektromontáž in a €6m contract dispute, and continues to advise Geosan Group in international arbitration. Fritjof Winkelmann heads the team.

Bányaiová Vožehová, s.r.o., advokátní kancelá’s Lucie Bányaiová is ‘knowledgeable, has plenty of commonsense, and is a trusted adviser’. Alena Bányaiová is representing Komercní banka in four disputes with Ceskoslovenská banka. The team regularly represents local subsidiaries of foreign companies.

Bird & Bird’s practice is co-headed by country head Ivan Sagál, who focuses on banking, commercial, and corporate disputes, and Vladimír Nyc, who focuses on real estate and construction disputes. The team successfully represented Trikaya Real Estate in several administrative litigations concerning construction permits. Vojtech Chloupek acts in IP and IT disputes.

Clifford Chance is acting in corporate and contractual disputes, insolvency proceedings, and competition law matters. It advised Czech Export Bank in ICC and LCIA arbitrations relating to power plant projects in Pakistan. Managing partner Vlad Petrus specialises in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, whereas Emil Holub and counsel Jirí Fiala focus on construction and real estate disputes.

DLA Piper Prague LLP advises media, insurance, and consumer products clients with a focus on IP and insurance disputes. Peter Valert heads the practice.

Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár’s Stanislav Dvorák and Michal Wija are representing mediatel in a private enforcement of antitrust law litigation relating to abuse of dominant position. Wija is also representing Tesco Stores in insolvency and arbitration proceedings against former commercial tenants.

Kališ Opletal & Partneri, Advokátní Kancelár advises in corporate and commercial arbitrations and litigations, including real estate disputes.

Mališ Nevrkla Legal, advokátní kancelár, s. r. o. advises in arbitration, mediation and litigation, and is representing GEOSAN GROUP in the Constitutional Court in a recovery of damages action following a business sale. Daniel Mališ is the key contact.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners has a broad-based litigation and arbitration practice. It represented AGROFERT HOLDING in arbitration concerning privatisation of Unipetrol and in subsequent civil proceedings relating to annulment of an arbitral award. Other clients include Dell, CSOB, CEZ, and Telefónica Czech Republic. Richard Wagner and Pavel Beránek are recommended.

Randa Havel Legal’s recent focus has been on contract disputes and labour law disputes with trade unions. It also has expertise in construction, energy and public law cases. It is representing International Land Associates and ŠKODA POWER in court proceedings. Martin Randa is recommended.

Tomaier & Tomaierová, advokátní kancelár was founded by Jan Tomaier and Klára Tomaierová in 2010. The firm acts in commercial disputes and arbitrations as well as administrative and insolvency proceedings. Tomaier has a ‘proactive, creative approach’, and is an ‘aggressive litigator’. Tomaierová is ‘intelligent, knowledgeable, and very good to work with’. Eiffage Construction is a key client.

Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o. acts in corporate and commercial disputes. It is representing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in ongoing breach of contract litigation with two companies, and Jablonex Group in court disputes with minority shareholders and with two Czech banks. Tomáš Fiala specialises in competition law disputes.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol.’s primary focus is IP litigation, but it also acts in corporate disputes. František Vyskocil is acting for Památnik Lidice in litigation relating to co-authoring of the Lidice Memorial for child victims of war. Pavol Krošlák heads the team.

Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers acts for corporate clients in trade disputes and other corporate and commercial matters. Recommended senior associate Petr Syrovátko is representing H&M in a data protection dispute and Kotexma in a trade dispute before the Czech courts.