The Legal 500

‘Very strong in finance’, Allen & Overy Bratislava, s.r.o.’s Hugh Owen and Martin Magál lead the practice, which continues to advise clients such as HSBC on restructuring and insolvency as well as infrastructure, energy and real estate project financing. On the lender side, it advised on revolving credit facilities for local and cross-border transactions, such as UniCredit Bank’s financing of a logistics park. The team acted for key client VUB on the restructuring of real estate player Orco Group and transportation company STD Donivo, as well as on financing for the leveraged acquisition of Fun Radio Group. Other clients include Citibank Europe, OTP Bank, Erste Group, ING, Eurohypo and Schaeffler.

White & Case advises domestic and international banks on financing transactions, including project, export and PPP financing as well as regulatory and bankruptcy advice. Practice head Marek Staron focuses on export and project financing, and represents local banks such as VUB on real estate financing. He also acted for EBRD on implementing a financial support programme for construction projects in the renewable energy space. On the capital markets side, the team advised the state on the first sovereign bond issuance using local law. Silvia Belovicová specialises in restructuring and insolvency, and recently advised Raiffeisen Bank on a regional rollout of its direct banking subsidiary, which will launch in Slovakia, and a consortium of banks on financing a first-of-its-kind PPP project in the jurisdiction.

CHSH Siska & Partners S. R. O. Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s Bratislava team is led by managing partner Karol Šiška, who has notable experience on cross-border lease financing. Ladislav Poloma is another key figure in the 11-lawyer team. The group’s recent work has included a heavy diet of real estate and renewable energy project financing, including advice on regulatory and bankruptcy issues. Clients include real estate leasing company Bawag, GE Money and Austrian banking and financial groups such as Volksbank, Raiffeisen and Hypo Alpe Adria.

Cechová & Partners’ Katarína Cechová and Michaela Jurková lead on banking and finance transactions. Cechová advised international banks and corporations on various group and loan financings and acted on an issuance of secured notes, while Jurková advised one major client on restructuring its financing by replacing a senior and mezzanine facility with a single facility agreement. Simona Haláková provided regulatory advice to clients, including on money laundering issues. Jana Durisova left to set up her own firm Zárecky Zeman Durišová

Alena Cernejová heads banking, finance and capital markets work at the local firm of Cernejová & Hrbek, which has a strong reputation for representing Slovak and international clients on loan transactions, securities and regulatory issues.

Dedák & Partners’ banking, finance and securities work is led by Jirí Budinský, who has experience advising local and international clients, particularly on real estate financing. The firm typically serves a mix of Austrian and Slovakian companies and investors. It recently advised Sparkassen Immobilien on financing for commercial retail and administrative real estate projects in Slovakia, and represented Slovakia’s National Property Fund on a state bond issuance. Other clients include domestic insurance company Sevisbrokers and local automotive supplier Hornlein.

Law Firm Detvai Ludik Maly Udvaros continues to advise domestic and international clients on commercial finance and securities law. Securities specialist Štefan Detvai heads the team of 12 fee earners.

Hamala Kluch Víglaský s.r.o. is recommended for its specialist banking and finance expertise. The group’s track record includes acting for Slovak and international lenders on high-value syndicated real estate and acquisition financings. Among the team’s key members are name partners Roman Hamala, Martin Kluch and Peter Viglaský, who specialises in private equity and project financing.

Kinstellar advises on domestic and cross-border financing transactions. Managing partner Patrik Bolf heads the team, which recently acted for Goodman and ProLogis on real estate refinancing. Other matters include advising Vinci Concessions on a €1bn-plus loan for its R1 highway project – the jurisdiction’s first PPP project. Other clients include RBS and Ballymore Properties.

Ruzicka Csekes s.r.o. advises lenders and borrowers on financing relating to real estate, projects and acquisitions. The practice continued to advise Belgium-based KBC Bank on financing the Eurovea centre, a mixed-use development in Bratislava. It also handled energy project financing for EnerCap and oil refinery Slovnaft as well as cross-border transactions for BC Partners and Zürcher Kantonalbank. The seven-lawyer team includes practice head Sylvia Szabó and Peter Šimo, who take the lead on project finance.

Squire Sanders s.r.o. maintains a strong practice locally, advising borrowers and issuers on financing and capital markets transactions. Clients of the three-partner team include Slovak energy companies, as well as local and international banks. Managing partner Julian Juhasz has substantial experience on high-value domestic financings. He and real estate specialist Adrián Barger advised a local broadcasting company as borrower on a €5m leveraged financing deal. Peter Šuba advises National Bank of Slovakia on securities and cross-border regulatory matters, and acted for a US energy company’s local subsidiary on a multimillion-dollar financing.

Weinhold Legal, v.o.s.’s banking and finance practice in Bratislava is led by senior attorney Rastislav Kuklis, who receives cross-border support from Prague-based Daniel Weinhold and senior attorney Pavel Jendrulek. Clients include leading Czech and Slovak banks and corporations as well as major international financial groups. The team recently advised UniCredit on syndicated lending as well as a consortium of lenders on financing a public highway construction project. It also advises on regulatory issues and real estate acquisition financing.

Wolf Theiss advises major international banking and finance groups, including Raiffeisen and Immorent, on securities and real estate acquisition financing. It also acted for an international bidder on financing documentation regarding the Slovak government’s public tender for a major PPP project. Erik Steger and recently promoted partner Luboš Frolkovic co-head the office and the practice.

ARS Iuris Slovakia, spol. s.r.o.’s Pavol Blanar handled a significant project financing mandate, advising a consortium of banks on financing the €1bn R1 Motorway – Slovakia’s first PPP road infrastructure project. Blanar has specialist experience in PPP and project finance.

B&S Legal s.r.o. advises international clients on a range of banking, insurance, restructuring, and debt finance matters. The team serves a number of French clients, with practice head Peter Bartošík notably advising local subsidiaries of Groupama and PSA Finance on financing. The group also represented Air Slovakia on financial restructuring under local bankruptcy regulations.

BBH advokatska kancelaria, s.r.o.’s Olga Belánová and Peter Bak advise on banking, finance, insurance and regulatory issues.

Commercial and banking law expert Michaela Stessl heads the Bratislava practice of DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, having joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2009. Energy companies and investors, banks, private equity and financial groups form the core international client base, which the firm represents on project finance and cross-border transactions across the CEE region.

Hillbridges continues to develop its banking and finance practice, which offers local expertise and international experience on a range of financing matters. The three-partner team includes project finance expert Zuzana Bartošovicová, who recently advised on solar energy developments, and Zora Mistríková, who acted as local counsel to a consortium of leading international banks on a cross-border €3bn bond issuance. Miroslav Trencan specialises in private equity and structured finance, and recently advised on bond and mezzanine financing for domestic real estate developments. Clients include BNP Paribas, UniCredit, Sanofi-Aventis and Banca IMI.

Senior associate Pavol Rak leads Noerr’s banking and finance practice, which advises on financial regulatory issues and assists international clients with Slovak market entry. Its track record includes acting for lenders on corporate financing, restructuring and documentation.

Emil Nemec and Martin Kríž head the banking, finance and capital markets group at Czech firm PRK Partners s.r.o., which advises a range of international and domestic clients on cross-border financing.

Czech firm Peterka & Partners offers a ‘very professional and special’ service, and has been advising on numerous mid-sized financings, restructurings and insolvencies. The well-regarded Premysl Marek leads the Bratislava team, which particularly serves French clients. Recent highlights include advising the local subsidiary of Sanef as borrower on a syndicated financing for a Slovak development, while Aeroports de Paris and the French liquidator of Key Plastics Slovakia were advised on bankruptcy proceedings involving multijurisdictional insolvency issues.

Prague-based Olga Humlová leads Salans Europe LLP’s Prague and Bratislava banking and finance teams, with counsel Sona Hanková handling commercial matters and real estate financing from the latter office. Much of the work is carried out as part of a multi-office team, which acts for banks and medium-sized corporate borrowers on structured finance and investment banking matters. Recently, the practice has been advising on commercial real estate refinancing and general financing.

Schoenherr continues to develop its presence in the market, advising international banks such as Deutsche Bank and Raiffeisen on domestic and cross-border matters. Stanislav Kovár heads the team, which advised on derivatives and syndicated loan transactions as well as a cross-border corporate refinancing for German pharmaceutical wholesaler Phoenix.

Carnogurský ULC s.r.o. handles general banking and finance matters for Slovak and international banking groups. Name partner Ján Carnogurský leads the team in Bratislava.