The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár is ‘a prominent team of experienced professionals that always exceeds market standards’. It continues to advise Raiffeisenbank on implementing its new IT infrastructure, including core banking software. Google is a major client, and the team also represents other international corporations such as Unilever and Bristol-Myers Squibb on trade mark matters. Tomáš Skoumal is ‘outstanding, committed, and pragmatic’, and is known for his telecoms and media expertise. Senior associate Jirí Cermáck heads the department and specialises in IT and IP law.

Cermak A Spol. Law and Patent Office is a leading IP firm best known for its patent work, but it also handles copyright and trade mark issues. It undertakes contentious and non-contentious matters, including IP protection. Firm heads Karel Cermack and Jan Matejka are the names to note.

Pierstone acts for a range of players in the IT, telecoms and internet sectors, including service providers, advertising and media groups, private equity investors and government entities. Practice co-head Jana Pattynová, who is outside lead commercial counsel for Microsoft, has been advising on the implementation of cloud computing and new distribution models. Fellow co-head Tomas Schollaert advises on technology sector M&A, litigation and regulatory matters. The team acted for Vodafone in litigation with Telefónica Czech Republic and on regulatory and competition issues.

Vyskocil, Kroslak a spol. is recommended for copyright law advice in the film and music industries. Clients include the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Universal Music, and Negativ. Petr Ostrouchov is recommended.

Allen & Overy’s Prague-based practice has been advising media, telecoms, and IT sector clients on TMT law aspects of acquisitions. It advised MIH Allegro (a member of Naspers) on its acquisition of e-business applications supplier Net Direct. Václav Valvoda heads the team.

Bird & Bird advises on contentious and non-contentious patent, trade mark, and copyright matters, including anti-counterfeiting and copyright levies. Clients include major international telecoms, media, and IT corporations such as Nokia, IDT Europe, and Lenovo. It is advising SPIR on regulatory issues and Warner Bros on data protection. Consultant Richard York is recommended for his professionalism, preparedness, and excellent negotiation skills. Vojtech Chloupek heads the practice.

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s.’s recently promoted partner Tomáš Matejovský is the main contact. He advises on media and advertising laws, IP, and compliance and regulatory matters for IT sector clients. International partner Ian Parker advises on telecoms transactions. Clients include Mid Europa Partners, Advent International, GMT Communications Partners, and 3i Group.

DLA Piper Prague LLP utilises its global network and advises international clients on IT and IP issues, including trade mark and data protection. It is advising Warner Bros Entertainment Europe on various trade mark protection matters, particularly for its Harry Potter franchise in the Czech Republic. Practice head Peter Valert is ably assisted by senior associate Jaroslav Tajbr.

Glatzová & Co S.R.O advises on development, licensing, and distribution of IT products, as well as IP issues. Its clients include Y Soft, 2K Czech, and Ford. Practice head Vit Horácek also provides telecoms advice. Of counsel Jindrich Jelínek is also a key contact.

Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o. has particular expertise in IT law, including outsourcing, implementation, and data protection, and also advises on IT sector competition issues. It is advising IBM on the state treasury’s IT implementation project, as well as other IP and software matters. Practice head Robert Nešpurek ‘always gets the job done’. Senior associate Richard Otevrel is ‘the first port of call for data protection work’ and has a ‘solid understanding of IT law’.

The ‘reliable, concise, and precise’ Hana Gawlasová leads Kinstellar s.r.o advokátní kancelár’s ‘efficient’ TMT practice, which provides ‘prompt, pragmatic, and to-the-point’ advice. The practice resides within the corporate and M&A group, and also provides TMT and IP support on transactions in other areas. It advises on regulatory and compliance, date protection, IT, e-communications, and broadcasting. Clients include CME, SAZKA, Exact Software, and Infor Global Solutions.

Pokorný, Wagner & Partners’ team is primarily a trade marks practice, but also has capability in other TMT matters, including competition and litigation. It continues to advise Teléfonica Czech Republic, and is managing Ceské aeorolinie’s trade marks portfolio. Pavel Beránek leads the team, which also features Richard Wagner and Dalibor Šalek.

IP boutique Rott, Ruzicka & Guttmann advises domestic and international clients, including global brand manufacturers, on contentious trade mark, patent, copyright, anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting matters. Key name Martin Guttmann advises on Czech IP from his office in Bratislava.

Squire Sanders, v.o.s., advokátní kancelár acts on a broad range of telecoms issues for T-Mobile Czech Republic, including the impact of EU Directives, competition issues such as single and collective dominance, and the structuring of distribution channels. Other clients include Amdocs, Sonus Networks, and the Prague office also works with the Bratislava office to advise Orange Slovensko. Petr Slach joined Salans Europe LLP.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges focuses on contentious matters. It represented Telefónica Czech Republic in administrative and court proceedings concerning abuse of dominant position, service costing, and universal service, as well as in litigation against the Office for Protection of Economic Competition. It is also advising the Czech Roadway and Motorway Directorate on an IT tender. Managing partner Karel Muzikar leads the practice, which also features Martin Kramar.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s. ‘understands the client’s needs’ and provides ‘practical solutions’. It is advising Ceská pošta, s.p. on trade mark matters, and advised IT start-up Cognitive Security, which specialises in security software, on investments from venture capital funds and other private investors. Twentieth Century Fox Group and Walt Disney Group are also clients. The ‘excellent’ Thilo Hoffmann has a ‘practical approach and understanding of the business perspective’. Practice head Martin Lukáš is also recommended.

White & Case recently advised AVAST Software on IP matters prior to its sale to Summit Partners. TMT Czech and HBO are also clients. Practice head Václav Jerman focuses on telecoms matters including the incorporation of subsidiaries, licensing tenders, and litigation. Media law and private equity expert Michal Smrek advises on acquisitions and investments. The firm recently bolstered its IT and IP team practice by recruiting associate Jakub Mencl and of counsel Barbora Rovenská from Horák & Chvosta.

BBH, advokatni kancelar, v.o.s. advised Ceska pojistovna on licence compliance and an ICT provision project with an offshore entity. The Czech Ministry of the Interior and Omnicom Media Group are key clients. Former practice head Ondrej Knebl left the firm in February 2012.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o. advises on trade mark issues, IT (including outsourcing), and licensing. It advised Wall Street Systems Sweden on an IT tender and related SW licensing agreements. Other clients include dotFree Group and E.ON IT. Pavel Vincík heads the team. Arthur Braun and senior associate Hedvika Hartmanová are recommended.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law is ‘client-oriented with a sound commercial understanding’. It advises CSC Computer Sciences on licensing and purchasing agreements, and Chance 4 Children on trade mark and goodwill protection. Petr Dobeš is recommended.

Kališ Opletal & Partneri, Advokátní Kancelár advises on trade marks, licensing, patent protection, and TMT competition matters. It is advising GfK Czech on participation in a public tender for electronic television audience measurement. Other clients include Innovative Global Products Inc and Asahi Chemical Group. Magdalena Hrdlicková is the primary contact.

Kotrlik Bourgeault Andrusko advises clients in the media sector and has been highly active in advising CET 21 and Central European Media Enterprises Group on the transition to digital broadcasting.

Norton Rose v.o.s. advises on competition, regulatory, and licensing issues, as well as IP, generally in the context of M&A transactions. It is advising Verizon Czech on licensing applications, regulatory matters, and compliance issues relating to data and voice communications. It also advised PM Media on the acquisition of Red Dot Kft. Pavel Kvícala heads the team.

PRK Partners advises telecoms clients on licensing and regulatory issues. Robert Nemec heads the team.

Peterka & Partners advises on contentious and non-contentious trade mark, licensing, data protection, regulatory, and competition issues. Clients include Renault, Samlerhuset Group B.V., and Johnson & Johnson.

Randa Havel Legal’s Martin Randa specialises in data protection and IT implementation and also undertakes IP and licensing work. Randa co-heads the team with Tomáš Rydvan, who specialises in public and private IT implementation project tendering. The City of Prague is a key client.

Martin Maisner heads Rowan Legal’s team, which has been particularly active in advising on telecoms infrastructure matters for the public and private sectors. It advised Logica Czech Republic on project subcontracting arrangements for the implementation of an information system for the state treasury. Josef Donát specialises in ICT law and public procurement.

Traplová Hakr Kubát Law and Patent Offices focuses on patent and trade mark law with Jarmila Traplová specialising in contentious and non-contentious trade mark matters.

Vejmelka & Wünsch, s.r.o. advises on IT and IP matters, including the sale of trade marks and technology. It advised OTTO Group and Ringier CR on IP aspects of respective asset acquisitions. Josef Vejmelka and Petr Wünsch are the key contacts.