The Legal 500

Allen & Overy Bratislava, s.r.o. offers clients a service that is ‘very deal-focused’, with managing partner Hugh Owen praised for ‘a high commitment to his work’. Owen is one of two partners handling corporate and commercial work in the firm’s Slovak practice, alongside Martin Magál, with regular clients including VUB, Slovintegra, CMS, Telefónica O2 and BAE Systems. The practice successfully defended Telefónica O2 Slovakia in a case brought by a competitor alleging the invalidity of its licence, and worked for Deutsche Telekom in the tender to operate the electronic highway tolling system for Slovakia’s National Highway Company.

Clients are ‘extremely happy’ with the work of Cechová & Partners, which is a Slovak firm of seven partners. The firm’s M&A reputation is largely thanks to the work of name partner Katarina Cechová, who in 2008 advised longstanding client Arriva on its acquisition of bus companies SAD Nové Zámsky and Slovenská autobusová. The practice is also well-known for competition work, and advised TNT Post in successful proceedings at the European Commission and before the Slovak postal authorities concerning an alleged breach of EU competition rules by the Slovak Republic.

Another leading Slovak practice resides at Cernejová & Hrbek, where clients are always ‘happy’ with the service delivered. Led by Alena Cernejová, the six-partner firm was founded in 1992 and has well-established relationships with national and international clients, with recent mandates seeing the practice engaged for a number of bidders tendering for the high-profile public-private highway tolling partnership project, and for overseas clients setting up operations in Slovakia.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Bratislava gives clients a ‘high level of service’, with four senior lawyers handling corporate and commercial work. Led by senior associate Stanislav Kovar, the office advised ConocoPhillips on the divestment of its retail activities in Slovakia in 2008, and continued to advise ING on its acquisition of the pension group Sympatia-Pohoda and insurance company Tatry-Sympatia. Other clients include Tesco, Heinz, Cerberus, Japan Tobacco International and Siemens.

Kinstellar is the new brand name under which the former offices of the UK law firm Linklaters now operate in Slovakia, following the latter’s decision to exit Central and Eastern Europe. Led by partner Patrik Bolf in Bratislava, the practice continues to enjoy a close relationship with Linklaters, giving it access to an international client base in addition to its own 120-lawyer network spread across additional offices in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.

Partners Daniel Weinhold and Pav Younis at Weinhold Legal, v.o.s. both divide their time between the firm’s offices in Prague and Bratislava, and are praised by clients as ‘very good’. The firm’s Slovak practice regularly works for clients including ProLogis, Enel, Société Generale, ExxonMobil/Esso, ChevronTexaco and Slovak Telekom, amongst others, and in 2008 continued to advise on the €840m privatisation of the Slovak Electricity Company.

White & Case offers clients a ‘perfect service’ under the leadership of partners Ivo Bárta and Marek Staron. Bárta enjoys a stellar reputation in the Slovak market for his work advising both local and international clients on M&A, having worked with the likes of CEZ, Allianz, Johnson Controls and Deutsche Telecom. In 2008, White & Case worked for investment fund ECM Group on its acquisition of supermarket chain Carrefour Slovensko, and for ArcelorMittal on its acquisition of the ferroalloy business and assets of OFZ, the largest Central European producer of ferroalloy products.

ARS IURIS Slovakia, spol. s.r.o. is a local firm launched in 2005 by partners Katarina Miháliková and Pavol Blanár, both former employees of the Slovak operations of Linklaters. With a total of 12 fee-earners, the practice acts for clients including French energy group Dalkia, construction company Vinci, Austria’s Kapsch Telematic Services and the Australian insurance company QBE. The team advised Dalkia on its acquisition of the energy business of ZSNP from Penta Group.

B&S Legal s.r.o. partners Peter Bartosik and Boris Svaby founded the firm in 2005, having both previously worked in major Slovak law firms. Bartosik is described by clients as ‘very talented’ and ‘provides accurate and swift advice’, while Svaby ‘enjoys particularly good contacts with French clients’. In 2008, the practice worked for Martinrea Fluid Systems, of Canada, on the launch of a Slovak car parts subsidiary, and for Saint-Gobain Construction Products on a merger of three of its legal entities. One client describes the firm as ‘smart, organised and business-focused’.

Brzobohatý Broz & Honsa is a leading Czech firm that opened an office in Bratislava in 2007, where it has two partners and a total of 12 lawyers resident. Led by partners Peter Bak and Olga Belánová, the office has an emphasis on corporate and banking work, handling a large amount of work for inbound investors. Clients include Swiss group PPF Group, CEZ, Czech Television and Skoda Holdings. The team is ‘precise and always willing to provide us with advice,’ according to clients.

CVD s.r.o. counsellors at law (former Csekes, Világi, Drgonec & Partners spol. s.r.o.) is a Bratislava-headquartered law firm that enjoys a good reputation with clients thanks to its corporate and commercial expertise. The firm’s two partners are Erika Csekes, who is a member of the board of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic, and Ján Drgonec, who has been a partner with the firm since 2000.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach offers a good quality service with a ‘quick and practical approach’ for corporate clients in Slovakia. With a team led by practice head Milan Cervenka alongside senior associate Lucie Schweizer, the office handles corporate and restructuring work, M&A, private equity and capital markets work for international and national clients.

Dedák & Partners offers clients ‘great levels of service and high quality knowledge’, with a total of 23 lawyers in its Bratislava team. Founded in the 1990s, 70% of the firm’s income is generated by foreign clients, with managing partner Pavol Blahusiak and partner Boris Brhlovic leading the corporate team. Offering a ‘consistently high standard’, clients include IT group Asbis, cement business Cembrit Holdings, electronics retailer Datart Megastore and accounting firm Deloitte. The practice advised global pharmaceutical giant Merck Sharp & Dohme Idea in relation to commercial and contract law, competition, employment and intellectual property matters.

Law Firm Detvai Ludik Maly Udvaros is home to six partners, including Štefan Detvai, Zoltán Ludik and Jozef Malý, all of whom are recommended for their abilities to advise on local corporate and commercial law issues for both Slovak and international clients.

Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz s.r.o. has two partners based in its office in Slovakia, handling the local elements of pan-European transactions as well as local deals. Clients describe the team, led by partners Zuzana Špániková and Libor Prokeš, as ‘very professional’ and able to ‘react quickly’, and they are praised for taking ‘a very practical approach and answering at very short notice’. Clients include Philip Morris and SAF Holland.

Clients expressed ‘100% satisfaction’ with the work of Peterka & Partners in Slovakia, where the Czech firm’s practice is led by resident partner Premysl Marek. Corporate work in 2008 included advising dairy producer Senoble on the acquisition of Gemerská mliekaren, a rival that required anti-competition clearance from the Slovak authorities. Other clients include Descours & Cabaud, Swiss Re and Peugeot Slovakia. One client praises the Bratislava operation for delivering ‘the same quality and interest in a client that we enjoyed when co-operating with the Prague office’.

Procházka Randl Kubr is a leading Czech law firm that opened an operation in Slovakia three years ago. Led by partner Emil Nemec, the team acts for both banks and corporate clients who are active across the region, including Marks & Spencer, Lego and Tyco.

Ružicka & partners, s.r.o. is recommended by clients who have enjoyed working with the firm on ‘both sides of the table’ and operates in alliance with the pan-European law firm CMS. Managing partner Jaroslav Ružícka in Bratislava works closely with partner Ian Parker, who is often in the Prague office, and a team of 22 fee-earners. M&A clients included S&T System Integration & Technology Distribution, GHBI Holding, Satellite, CapMann and MAV Cargo, while the team advised the Slovak Ministry of Finance on three motorway PPP projects and advised a number of clients looking to invest in energy assets in the country.

Salans partner Olga Humlová handles a considerable amount of M&A work for the firm in Bratislava, including work in 2008 for Meracrest and Kolbenova setting up operations in Slovakia using the new European Company structure, and advising Agate Medical Investments on the acquisition of Slovak medical centre Iscare. Of counsel Katarina Pecnova advised Asseco Slovakia in connection with a placement of shares on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Squire Sanders S.R.O. was one of the first international legal service providers in Bratislava when it opened in 1991, and today has 17 lawyers handling deals for clients in the country, under the leadership of partner Julian Juhasz. The firm’s Slovak practice is closely integrated with the larger and highly-rated Prague operation.

ULC Carnogurský s.r.o is a local Slovak firm praised for its work on corporate and commercial matters for both local and international clients. Partner Ján Carnogurský leads the practice and handles privatisations, M&A and investment projects, advising energy companies, banks, insurance companies and pharmaceuticals businesses.

Wolf Theiss is an Austrian firm that has 11 lawyers based in Bratislava under the leadership of partner Erik Steger. Typically active for real estate clients and banks including Raiffeisen Zentralbank, Erste Bank and Immoeast, in 2008 the team acted for an international consortium on a tender for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of a section of the D1 motorway, the first major PPP project in the Slovak Republic and valued at €3bn.

Balcar Polanský Eversheds s.r.o. is led in Bratislava by name partner Jaroslav Polanský, who divides his time between the Slovak Republic and the firm’s much larger operation in Prague. Best-known for his work in international law and arbitration proceedings, Polanský is leading a drive by the firm to handle more international transactional work from Bratislava, where the team is also strong on labour law advice. Clients describe the practice as ‘responsive and professional’.

Blaha, Erben & Partneri is a Slovak firm led by partners Anton Blaha and Pavol Erben, acting for clients on all types of mergers and acquisitions and corporate matters in the country, and benefitting from a strong reputation amongst clients.

e|n|w|c Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law is a full-service Austrian firm with three partners and five other lawyers based in Bratislava. Its corporate team is led by partners Andrej Leontiev and Radovan Pala, and in 2008 acted for AFG Services on the purchase of the number one Slovak producer of doors and windows, and for Bus Partners Services on the sale of 60.3% of its shares. One client describes the practice as ‘a firm that is not just counting hours but trying to get the best for its client with a reasonable amount of time charged’.

Konecná & Safár is a Czech firm launched in 2000, with 10 lawyers in Slovakia in addition to offices in Prague and Bucharest. Led by partner Dagmar Yoder on the corporate side, the practice is praised for its ‘good work’ for national and international clients on Slovak law matters.

Valko & Partners boasts two offices in Slovakia, in Bratislava and Piešt’any, with a total of 19 lawyers that includes one based in Prague. Partners Ernest Valko and Andrew Tomlainová lead the practice, working for large Slovak companies, developers and inbound investors.