The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár is regarded as one of Prague’s leading litigation and arbitration practices. Martin Hrodek leads the team, which has recently seen an increase in construction and insolvency cases. The group successfully defended CSOB in a high-value ICC arbitration involving cross-border issues, and Hrodek represented a German insurer on liability cases concerning a high-profile train accident in the Czech Republic. Associate Jan Zrcek ‘has exceptional ability to understand highly complex cases’, and was involved in acting for an international construction company in arbitration.

Salans Europe LLP’s experienced group focuses on international arbitration encompassing IP, commercial and regulatory issues, and also undertakes domestic litigation. Following Alena Banyaiová’s departure to join Bányaiová Vožehová, s.r.o., advokátní kancelár, Olga Humlová now leads the practice across the Prague and Bratislava offices, with support from managing partner Ladislav Štorek. Humlová represented clients on bankruptcy and real estate-related disputes, while Štorek successfully represented Technoexport in arbitration over a payment claim. The team is also acting for Skoda Transportation in a co-manufacturing royalties and contract dispute with a US company.

Clients praise Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ dedication and meticulous service. It has strong expertise in international arbitration, and represents private companies and the state in complex, high-value disputes. Practice head Karolína Horáková represented the Ministry of Finance in a €1.3bn ICC arbitration against a local bank and also undertakes commercial litigation, including defending Telefónica against claims made by minority shareholders regarding share prices. Karel Muzikar, Petr Severa and Martin Kramar are recommended for ‘perfectly analysing a problem and solving it in accordance with the client’s business needs’. Muzikar and Kramar led on defending Odra River Basin Directorate against a €590m flood damages claim brought by a private company.

White & Case’s four-partner team represents clients on a range of litigation and arbitration, including insolvency, commercial, regulatory and criminal cases. Tomáš Zagar specialises in the finance and energy sectors, and recently represented creditors in insolvency proceedings. Ivo Janda, who focuses on competition and labour disputes, is appreciated for his ‘ability to react flexibly in the appropriate time on client requests and propose suitable solutions’. Janda has worked as part of a multi-office team representing clients such as Unipetrol and Toshiba in cartel investigations. The team successfully defended CEZ before the European Court of Justice against a claim brought by Land of Upper Austria concerning the client’s Temelin nuclear power plant.

Counsel Mikuláš Touška heads the disputes team at Allen & Overy, for which regulatory investigations have become a significant focus. Recent highlights include representing Avestus Real Estate in proceedings relating to changes to Prague’s zoning plan. The practice also defended the Ministry of Finance against a commercial contract claim by a Czech bank.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s.’s disputes team acts for local clients including investment companies, insurers and property developers on domestic litigation and international arbitration. Recent instructions have focused on insurance litigation for clients including Czech Insurers Bureau and Skoda Power. The team also successfully defended automotive manufacturer Linde + Wiemann in an ownership dispute concerning a Czech production plant. Frantisek Honsa and Vladimir Uhde head the practice.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s.’s senior associate Tomáš Matejovský heads the disputes group, with managing partner Iveta Plachá focusing on arbitration. The team represented the Ministry of Finance in €65m arbitration relating to property owned by a mining company. IP disputes expert Gabriela Vendlova left the practice to found Law Offices of JUDr Gabriela Vendlova, Ph.D and Partners.

Cermak Horejs Matejka a spol. specialises in intellectual property, for which it retains a strong reputation. Karel Cermak and Jan Matejka head the patent disputes team.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP is particularly strong in high-profile international corporate and commercial arbitration and litigation. Miroslav Dubovsky and Pavel Skopovy recently represented the Ministry of Finance in settling a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) arbitration with a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal regarding the privatisation of a stake in Vítkovice Steel and a €1bn damages claim. The team also acted for PKN Orlen in high-value arbitration proceedings against a Czech company.

Commercial, IP and insolvency disputes are key for Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár, which represents several well-known global brand manufacturers and government entities. Recent highlights include acting on a BIT arbitration, and representing a Czech gas company in an alleged €1bn breach of a shareholder agreement. Of counsel Ruzena Trojánková specialises in bankruptcy proceedings, while Jitka Logesová represents companies in commercial litigation and arbitration.

Competition disputes are a core focus for Pavel Dejl and Alexandr Kocian at Kocián Solc Balastík. The team also recently represented waste system operator REMA System in appealing against the Ministry of Environment’s refusal of an application.

PRK Partners’ Robert Nemec and Marek Procházka represent a range of domestic and international clients in litigation.

Peterka & Partners acts for local and international clients in arbitration and litigation. Managing partner Ondrej Peterka and Jirí Cerný lead on most cases, and have particular experience in insolvency and restructuring disputes. Peterka represented an international bank in a $10m dispute with the Ministry of Finance, while Ondrej Dušek acted for Renault in various trade mark, competition and antimonopoly matters. The practice also appealed successfully on behalf of Schoeller Textile to change a bankruptcy court order.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár has substantial experience in international arbitration including numerous BIT arbitrations. It successfully defended the state in Phoenix Action v The Czech Republic, which resulted in a dismissal of claims. Rostislav Pekar leads the Prague team.

The well-regarded Milan Polák heads Weinhold Legal, v.o.s.’s ‘reliable, professional’ team, which also includes Ondřej Havránek and Zbyšek Kordač. The group acts as local counsel to the Ministry of Finance in various arbitration proceedings. It also represents clients in tax and insurance disputes, and acted for a client in an arbitration dispute regarding the sale of a major food company. Other clients include Daimler, Unicredit Bank and Komercní banka.

Fritjof Winkelmann heads bpv Braun Partners’ disputes practice, which represents local and German clients in various matters, and has experience in German court proceedings. The group is currently acting on a number of corporate and labour law disputes, including an international arbitration for Geosan Group relating to contractual payment obligations.

Balcar, Polanský Eversheds has substantial experience of representing local and European corporations in international proceedings, and has recently experienced an increase in bankruptcy cases. Practice head David Lejcek recently represented adidas in a brand protection matter. He also acted for Komercni in high-value white-collar crime, bankruptcy and fraud cases; these included international court proceedings and successfully appealing a Supreme Administrative Court decision.

Clifford Chance’s Emil Holub and counsel Jirí Fiala handle construction and real estate disputes, and represented Ikea in a construction liability claim against Skanska Construction. Other clients include ING Real Estate and energy-sector interests. Managing partner Vlad Petrus handles bankruptcy and insolvency cases.

Managing partner Peter Valert heads DLA Piper Prague LLP’s practice, which has focused on insurance and IP disputes for major multinational clients from the insurance, consumer products and media sectors.

Dvorák & spol., advokátní kancelár’s Stanislav Dvorák is an experienced tax litigator. He and Stanislav Servus led on a number of insolvency proceedings for various corporate clients. Meanwhile, Michal Wija acted for a local media company in an unfair competition dispute with a telecoms operator.

Glatzová & Co., v.o.s. is praised for its professional service and good business sense on high-value disputes. The team is also representing KKCG Industry in long-running litigation concerning shares in Vítkovice. The well-regarded Vit Horácek is local counsel to RPG Industries on ongoing real estate disputes.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o. acts on corporate disputes and handles enforcement proceedings for financial investors. Practice head Marek Vojácek has experience handling bankruptcy and restructuring disputes, with Dušan Sedlácek recommended for local court representations. Clients include the City of Prague, the Czech Football Association, and the Czech subsidiary of Erste Bank.

Established in 2005, Kotrlik Bourgeault Andrusko has a highly regarded disputes team, led by Petr Kotrlik. It is an ‘excellent, go-to firm for complicated, important issues’, and experienced in international and cross-border disputes. Clients include EBRD and Fortis Bank.

Philip Smitka heads Noerr v.o.s.’s disputes practice, and has a particular focus on international arbitration and investment disputes. Libor Prokeš specialises in IP and unfair competition litigation.

Norton Rose v.o.s. offers particular strength in IP and commercial disputes, with recent highlights including representing Sandoz in patent infringement litigation and successfully appealing a Supreme Court decision for Povodi Moravy. Managing partner Milana Chamberlain heads the Prague practice.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners’ six-partner team of ‘very good professionals’ provides ‘proper perspective’ on matters. Its expertise encompasses IP, competition, commercial, finance and insurance litigation, and it handles cases for clients such as CSOB, Dell, Nestlé, CEZ and Telefónica O2. Radek Pokorný and Petr Málek won a claim for Agrofert against PKN Orlen in relation to the privatisation of Unipetrol. Richard Wagner and Pavel Beránek are recommended.

Randa Havel Legal’s disputes team has a particular focus on construction and energy cases, but also has expertise in labour, commercial and public law disputes. It represented ArcelorMittal in a high-value dispute with Czech companies Osinek and Vítkovice, and settled a contractual dispute for AFI Europe. Martin Randa is recommended.

Pavol Krošlák heads Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol.’s team, which handles IP, labour, corporate and other disputes. František Vyskocil has been representing Czech construction company Metrostav in IP litigation.

Wolf Theiss in co-operation with Czech lawyers represents clients in corporate, commercial, real estate and other disputes. Pavel Marc successfully represented food producer Agrana against the government in a Czech Supreme Court case concerning production quotas.