The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár is ‘very proactive at finding the best solutions for the client’s business’. The ‘very professional and skilled’ David Šimonek recently advised FEI Company on the construction and future lease of an office and warehouse facility. Associate Martin Ostrihoň provides ‘professional accuracy’.

At Clifford Chance, the ‘responsive’ Emil Holub led advice to Atrium European Real Estate on its €191m acquisition of Palác Flora retail and office complex. Other clients include Rodamco Česká Republika, s.r.o, HPI Germany Hotelbesitz GmbH, and Hannover Leasing GmbH & Co KG.

Dentons advises investors, developers and lenders on major cross-border transactions and development projects. Olga Humlová and Evan Lazar are the names to note.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o. is noted for its strength in alternative energy, particularly photovoltaic projects, and is also well known for PPP developments, and for advice on new legislation. Practice head Jan Holásek, who is well regarded, advised AZORA Europa on €10m of real estate investments in the region.

At White & Case, department head Petr Pánek specialises in real estate transactions, but is also able to handle complex portfolio restructuring, investment fund formation, and real estate disputes. Václav Kubr is also a key member of the team. The team assisted Letiště Praha with its restructuring.

Jane Townsend heads the team at Allen & Overy, which also includes senior associate Magda Pokorná, who is well versed in a range of matters including retail, administrative, residential and hotel projects. Pokorná and the well-respected Jan Myška are advising Glencore on its acquisition of a processing, refining and bottling plant at Ústí nad Labem. The team is ‘very business-oriented, and always finds the right solution’.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o. delivers ‘excellent service across the board, and invests time and effort to provide superior service’, with practice head Jiří Bárta being identified as ‘an experienced specialist who sees the broad picture’. The firm recently advised key client Hornbach Baumarkt Group on its acquisition and subsequent development of two hobby markets, a project worth €25m. Managing partner and cross-border transactional expert Arthur Braun is ‘committed to deadlines’.

CMS is ‘excellent to work with’. It recently advised Somerston Group on the sale of Olympia Brno shopping centre, and also acted on the disposal of a 62,000sq m warehouse owned by a joint venture between Panattoni and a fund managed by Standard Life Investments. Senior partner Iveta Plachá is recommended. Hilary McDowell left the firm in 2012.

Haskovcova & Co. ‘continues to gain traction in the real estate market’. Founding partner Thu Nga Haškovcová is the main real estate lawyer, who works closely with corporate colleagues on acquisitions and sales of real estate portfolios. The team also advises on real estate regulatory issues, such as zoning and building permits, as well as investments and EU funds.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár displays ‘great knowledge and negotiating skills’. Recent highlights include advising Czech Property Investments on making €750m of acquisitions; Goodman International on a built-to-lease ware-house project; and Tesco Stores CR on negotiating an expansion of Tesco Postrizin distribution centre. Klára Ŝtěpánková heads the team.

PRK Partners is appreciated for its ‘short response times and value-for-money approach’. The firm recently advised on a syndicated loan relating to a flagship real estate portfolio. Team head Daniel Rosický ‘rapidly understands the client’s needs’ and has ‘excellent negotiation skills’.

Peterka & Partners is valued for its ‘solution-oriented approach’. In 2011, Hynek Peroutka advised Veolia Voda on agreements relating to a public tender for the €230m reconstruction of a wastewater treatment plant. The highly recommended Ondrej Dusek is the go-to lawyer for Sogeprom’s real estate affairs.

Schoultz & Partners is advising GE Real Estate and Avestus Capital Partners on their disposal of the Mall of Sofia shopping centre in Bulgaria. Jiri Simecek is ‘an excellent all-round lawyer with a clever business brain’, and is also valued for his ‘out-of-the-box thinking’. Katie Schoultz ‘sees the big picture and also the deepest detail of any transaction’.

Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár provides ‘very quick and professional services with knowledge of both Czech and international law’, and is known for intricate matters such as mezzanine finance, property tax structuring, and regulatory compliance. Jeff McGehee and Radek Janecek are the key contacts.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ team of ‘high-quality lawyers’ includes Karel Muzikar and Petr Severa, who recently advised ČEZ on the construction of two new units in the Temelin nuclear power plant.

Weinhold Legal represents Irish banks such as Allied Irish Banks plc and Investec Ireland Limited, retail distributors such as HDS Retail Czech Republic, and construction clients such as Metrostav and Grandi Stazioni. Pav Younis and Ondrej Havranek are the key contacts.

Wilson & Partners v. o. s., advokátní kancelár is ‘a professional firm’ with a good reputation among international real estate companies, particularly those in the US, the UK, Germany, and Austria. Recent highlights include advising PwC on a flagship office leasing deal.

Gabriel Achour heads the team at Achour & Hajek s.r.o. Law Firm, which acts on investments, financing, development, facility management, and construction matters.

Ludmila Neustupná heads the team at Balcar Polanský Eversheds, which represents ‘better value than other firms used for comparable work’. It is currently advising Next on its Czech operations. Pavel Fara is ‘diligent and focused’, and Libor Vacek is ‘practical, with broad technical skills’.

DLA Piper Prague LLP’s Jakub Adam recently advised L88 Investments Prague 1 on its $94m purchase of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s headquarters in Prague. Other clients include The Regus Group and VIG.

Giese & Partner has a strong track record in real estate financing, particularly for German and other European lenders, and also has experience representing real estate funds, developers and construction companies. Its experience includes brownfield site developments of large residential complexes and hotels. Martin Holler is recommended.

Glatzová & Co., s.r.o. is ‘flexible, and provides straightforward solutions’. In 2012, the well-respected Martin Danĉišin and Markéta Tvrdá advised OKDC mont on its CZK35m acquisition of a residential development project in Frydek Místek.

Hogan Lovells (Prague) LLP’s Miroslav Dubovsky recently advised Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan on its majority investment in a joint venture to acquire two major shopping centres in the Czech Republic. Other clients include UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Karlin Group.

Wolf Theiss Advokáti s.r.o. is ‘always available for the client’, and Michal Pravda is ‘a superb lawyer’. The firm handles sophisticated acquisitions for clients such as CTP Invest.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. is regularly instructed on high-value matters, and is representing Bell & Blake in the sale of Navetina, a company holding a significant portfolio of land plots. The firm also advised PPF Real Estate on a large leasing of Moscow office space. Jiri Sterba heads the team.

bnt Attorneys-at-law provides ‘concrete solutions for the client’s business’. In addition to handling ongoing management responsibilities for clients Fer Immo and Fer Consult, the team also handles major developments for private equity funds and investment institutions. Pavel Pravda and Tomáš Behounek are ‘real professionals’.

Bird & Bird gives ‘high-quality advice at acceptable rates’. Vladimír Nyč, who is ‘an excellent lawyer who knows real estate law and the market in and out’, recently advised Groupe SEB on its acquisition of a Czech franchisee. Other clients include JSRP Group and Optime Finance.

CHSH Kalis & Partners s.r.o. handles a range of transactions including project development and negotiation of financing agreements, as well as residential and commercial leases The firm is also active on the contentious side in respect of landlord and tenant disputes and construction litigation. Senior associate Jan Morávek is the contact.

Dvorak & Spol., advokatni kancelar, s.r.o. advises clients including Bondi Consulting and Tengelmann Real Estate International on matters pertaining to retail and logistics parks, as well as on clean energy mandates. Stanislav Servus heads the team.

Randa Havel Legal provides ‘highly professional services in the requisite time and with due care’. Martin Řanda and Tomáš Slabý recently assisted Tulipa City with obtaining planning permission for an office park, and on contractual documentation pertaining to infrastructure.

Rutland Jezek, advokatni kancelar’s Mojmir Jezek is ‘quick and intelligent, with good business sense and knowledge’, and Michael Novák is ‘an excellent analytical lawyer, with outstanding negotiating skills’. Clients include Horizon Holding Group and CIMBRIA HMD.

Schoenherr recently advised Continental AG on the construction of an extension to its tyre and automotive parts factories. Martin Kubánek heads the team, which also acts for clients including Hornbach and Magna.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law’s advice is ‘at all times solution-oriented and practicable’. The well-respected Petr Dobeš recently advised S+B Gruppe on the commercialisation of the QUBIX building in Prague. Other clients include Hervis and Austrian Grammar School Prague.

Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o.’s team ‘reacts well on urgent matters’, and its advice is ‘well structured’. It recently advised Assa Abloy on its new plant project; and Kirkbi on leasing arrangements. Josef Vejmelka displays ‘a balanced approach to the subject, with excellent overall understanding of the business environment’.

Velíšek & Podpera, advokátní kancelár s.r.o is recommended for its ‘professional care and short response times’. Rainer Frank recently led advice to Česká spořitelna on a real estate restructuring, a matter which involved holding companies in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Zilvarová Ctibor Hladký provides ‘quick, profound and reliable advice’, and has ‘a deep understanding of all obstacles in the construction and maintenance of big real estate projects’. Radek Hladký ‘does not waste time by providing lengthy opinions’, and is ‘a good negotiator’.