The Legal 500

White & Case’s comprehensive tax practice represents corporate interests in domestic and cross-border matters. Practice head Aleš Zídek represents a number of energy and private equity clients, and recently has been advising on tax structuring for a multijurisdictional leveraged acquisition. He also advised HSBC Bank and Czech Export Bank on tax negotiations and transfer-pricing issues relating to financing nuclear power plants in Slovakia. Tomáš Hlavácek advises on tax aspects of M&A deals and corporate restructurings, and on setting up real estate investment funds. Former partner Ales Cechel left to work for Bonatrans Group Holding, which remains a client of the practice.

Konecná & Safár provides tax-related advice and structuring on de-mergers and other transactions, including representing an international client on a €500m energy sector deal. Practice head David Stanek is ‘a highly experienced practitioner with a pragmatic approach who always provides solutions’.

Noerr v.o.s.’s Prague tax practice is headed by Dita Šulcová and works closely with the corporate and M&A and real estate practices. Recent tax advice has centred on advising Czech and European clients on tax aspects of local and cross-border transactions and post-acquisition restructuring. The firm represents a number of Germany-based clients, including advising Hannover Leasing GmbH & Co on real estate projects and CTS Eventim on market entry. Other clients include Next Wave Ventures and a number of manufacturers.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s.’s tax team has the ‘very professional mark of a global law firm’, and its key strength lies in tax litigation. Daniel Weinhold heads the practice and has experience acting in significant tax litigation; Ondřej Havránek provides tax advice on corporate and real estate deals and financing. The group recently represented the local subsidiary of a US corporation in obtaining successful outcomes on three separate litigation matters. Clients include leading European banks, mobile phone operators and manufacturers as well as a global oil company. Ivan Sagál joined Bird & Bird in September 2010.

Alfery & Partner s.r.o offers tax law advice, consulting and auditing services. Jana Alfery heads the practice and provides transfer pricing, tax litigation and compliance advice relating to domestic and cross-border transactions. It is representing AEG Components in court proceedings brought by the state in relation to an investment incentive.

Associate Michal Dusek heads Allen & Overy’s tax practice, which was joined by former Ernst & Young senior manager Radek Novotny in June 2010. The practice advises on tax aspects of local and cross-border financing and corporate transactions, as well as investment structuring and restructuring. It also advised Czech and Slovak investment group J&T. Finance on tax issues regarding its acquisition of a local asset management company. Other clients include global retailers and manufacturers.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. continues working on tax matters through its alliance with Fucík a Partneri.

bpv Braun Partners advises on complex tax issues, particularly tax insurance matters for clients such as Dutch retail group Ahold. It recently advised Deutscher Ring on tax compliance and other matters. The group also advised Solarstrom on real estate transfer pricing relating to a renewable energy project. Of counsel Ian Rowbotham heads the team.

Senior associate Pavel Fekar heads Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár’s well-regarded practice, which is particularly notable for international taxation matters. Fekar advised Abbott Laboratories on the post-acquisition restructuring of a Czech business and also advised Zimmer on regulatory compliance relating to its acquisition of part of a local distributor. Daniela Rotter focuses on VAT and excise duties.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o.’s Marek Lošan is recommended for tax structuring advice.

Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár focuses on tax relating to domestic and cross-border transactions for clients such as JPMorgan, Hyundai Motor and E.ON Ruhrgas. Recent matters include advising on cross-border tax aspects of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech’s bond issuance, and providing tax structuring and due diligence advice to a consortium of banks on financing CVC’s acquisition of CEE subsidiaries of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Associate Petr Sebesta heads the team and has tax litigation experience.

Peterka & Partners’ Magdaléna Vyškovská advises clients such as Veolia Group and Mylan on international taxation and tax litigation. The team advised Renault on tax restructuring of group companies in the Czech Republic.

Petr Kotáb leads Salans Europe LLP’s tax team, which advises Czech and multinational clients on tax aspects of corporate transactions and restructuring.