Cechová & Partners > Bratislava, Slovakia > Firm Profile
Cechová & Partners Offices
STAROMESTSKA 3
811 03 BRATISLAVA
Slovakia
Cechová & Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Slovakia > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2
Cechová & Partners is praised for its ‘deep knowledge of international market standards’, and assists a wide range of clients with their banking and finance matters, from foreign and Slovak banks, facility arrangers, and foreign investors, to security houses, collective investment companies, e-money and payment services institutions, and insurance and re-insurance companies. Advice on loans and financial product transactions is also within the broad capabilities of the team, as are financial restructurings, reorganisations, and project finance matters. Simona Haláková sits at the helm of the practice with expertise in regulatory mandates, supported by Katarina Čechová, who is skilled in project financing, and Michaela Jurková, who advises both lenders and borrowers.Practice head(s):
Simona Haláková
Other key lawyers:
Katarina Čechová; Michaela Jurková; Miroslav Zatko
Testimonials
‘In addition to being very skilled legally, they are pragmatic and straight to the point, and are always able to provide alternative solutions based on sound commercial grounds.’
‘Deep knowledge of international market standards and a truly international mindset.’
‘The team is always accessible and their responses are always quick and to the point.’
‘Katarina Čechová and her team are always available and quick to answer queries, which is very important.’
‘Katarina Čechová and Miroslav Zatko both possess the ability to translate and transform complex legal matters for non-lawyers. Furthermore, they have a very deep commercial understanding which is of great use in many cases. Finally, they are always available and able to deliver with tight deadlines, which is a very big plus.’
Key clients
The Single Resolution Board
European Investment Bank
Bank of America
BLACKROCK, INC
Bitstamp
FreedomPay
Barclays plc
Coinbase Global, Inc.
Simmons & Simmons
Leonteq Securities
Barclays Bank Ireland
Zurich Insurance Plc.
Crypto.com
PayCo
Work highlights
- Advised Single Resolution Authority on the local law of aspects relating to the granting of collateral over the assets of a financial institution to which the client would grant liquidity support as part of a resolution tool under the respective EU and local resolution mechanisms.
- Advised the European Investment Bank on the local law aspects of financing the purchase of 16 electric locomotives and 113 freight wagons from Slovak producer and seller TATRAVAGÓNKA to MEDWAY Rosco to expand rail cargo services in Portugal and Spain.
- Advising the Bank of America’s corporate and investment banking division on financial instrument trading in Slovakia, including trading in securities, precious metals, and commodity derivatives with precious metals as the underlying commodity.
Slovakia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
Cechová & Partners is notably strong in advising global companies with subsidiaries in Slovakia, and private equity investors. Sectors of focus for the team include FMCG, automotive, life sciences and transport. The team assists with M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, and competition and antitrust matters. Katarína Čechová and Lenka Šubeníková jointly lead the team, supported by associate Miroslav Zaťko, who has significant experience in corporate governance matters.Practice head(s):
Katarína Čechová; Lenka Šubeníková
Other key lawyers:
Miroslav Zaťko
Key clients
ABB Optical Group
AFS Technologies Inc
ait-deutschland GmbH
Allergan
Amgen
Bausch Health
Cinema Holding
CROWN Group
Clamason Slovakia
EIM Interim Management
Hengstler
Inalfa Roof Systems
LEDVANCE
Lenovo
Mattoni 1873
Merck Sharp & Dohme
Minerals Technologies
NORDZUCKER GROUP
PACCAR Financial
Takeaway.com
Santen
Schiesser
Smartwings
SMRC
syncreon
Telecom Italia
Noovle Slovakia
Vertiv
Vienna Airport
Flughafen Wien AG
Work highlights
- Assisted Takeaway.com with the acquisition of an online food delivery service through the acquisition of a Slovak company.
- Advised a healthcare group on due diligence, transaction structuring, and documentation drafting regarding the indirect acquisition of EUROPIN Slovakia.
- Assisted Mattoni 1873 with the acquisition of shares in General Plastic.
Slovakia > Employment Tier 2
The employment practice group at Cechová & Partners is adept at handling HR matters, regulatory compliance issues, including whistleblowing-related work, and mandates involving employee privacy. It also has experience representing clients in administrative proceedings. Tomáš Rybár is head of the team, which also includes Lenka Šubeníková, who supports clients with the employment aspects of M&A transactions, including the transfer of employees, reorganisations, and mass terminations, as well as matters regarding companies entering the Slovak market.Practice head(s):
Tomáš Rybár
Other key lawyers:
Lenka Šubeníková; Simona Haláková; Peter Fedor
Testimonials
‘Very open, always available, and easy to communicate with.’
‘Very professional and able to explain difficult things in an easy way.’
‘Deep knowledge of their clients’ organisations and an ability to always think of all possible solutions.’
‘Tomáš Rybár has deep knowledge and a solution-oriented approach.’
Key clients
Lenovo
Crown Packaging
Merck Sharp & Dohme
LEDVANCE
Amgen
Hengstler
Vertiv
Reutter SK
Tesco Stores
TUBEX SLOVAKIA, s. r. o.
Globalization Partners
Booster
GlobalLogic
Organon
Work highlights
- Assisted Lenovo with a range of employment matters, including advising on the impact of Covid-19.
- Advising Merck, Sharp & Dohme on disciplinary actions, terminations, restructurings, employee transfers, investigations, standard documentation and contracts, internal policies, and privacy issues.
- Assisted clients in the engineering and manufacturing sectors with collective bargaining processes and related negotiations and analyses.
Slovakia > Real estate and construction Tier 2
The team at Cechová & Partners adeptly handles real estate development projects and transactions, as well as related litigation concerning ownership titles, construction and contractual issues, and environmental concerns. The group also advises clients on project financing transactions regarding the disposal of energy construction plants, as well as zoning law and construction matters. Its offering also consists of assisting with leasing in the office, retail, and residential spaces. Lenka Šubeníková leads the team and specialises in project developments, real estate transactions, tenancy relations, leasing, and construction law matters. Katarína Čechová is a notable name in the greenfield projects arena.
Practice head(s):
Lenka Šubeníková
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Axxence Slovakia
LR COMFORT
ams OSRAM
Lenovo
Amgen
Hengstler
Inalfa Roof Systems
YIT
Astellas
CROWN Bevcan Slovakia
SMRC Automotive Solutions Slovakia
Work highlights
- Advising a major pharmaceutical company on its commercial lease for an office building.
- Assisting a client with negotiations regarding the changes of current lease contracts concluded with approximately 57 individuals on a lease of flats owned by the client, and with a negotiation relating to the potential transfer of ownership rights for such flats to lessees.
- Advised ams OSRAM on a real estate transaction.
Slovakia > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Cechová & Partners represents clients in disputes before courts of all levels, as well as domestic and foreign arbitration tribunals. Commercial litigation, real estate-related disputes, administrative cases, damages claims, and incidental proceedings all fall within the team’s strong capabilities. Expert arbitrator Katarina Cechova leads the group, which also includes Miroslav Zaťko and Peter Fedor, who have experience in commercial and insolvency litigation, respectively.Practice head(s):
Katarína Čechová
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Mattoni 1873 Group
Eiffage Construction Slovenská republika
SMRC Automotive Slovakia s.r.o.
DAF Trucks N.V.
Merck, Sharp & Dohme
FKP Sojuzplodoimport
Paccar Leasing GmbH
P.E.M
Smartwings, a.s.
Work highlights
- Representing Eiffage Construction Slovenská republika in litigation with a former managing director, including a separate proceeding for a security injunction.
- Representing SMRC Automotive Slovakia in a court proceeding regarding damage compensation due to a defective contractual performance.
- Representing DAF Trucks in proceedings regarding the enforcement of legal claims relating to early withdrawal and assignment of claims.
Cechová & Partners > Firm Profile
The firm: Čechová & Partners is an independent Slovak law firm with a 34-year history. Since our establishment in 1990, we have been solving our clients’ legal issues in the areas of Slovak and European law. Our skills are reflected in our work and the satisfaction of our clients, as well as by our top ratings in numerous international and Slovak legal rankings every year.
Our primary focus is on corporate clientele. Our clients include foreign companies (often multinational organisations and their subsidiaries), as well as large international law firms and local businesses. We are delighted that many of our clients return to us and have sought our advice on a regular basis for many years. With some of our clients, we cooperate almost on a daily basis. With others, we work on specific individual projects.
Our attorneys speak many different languages – Slovak, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Hungarian, Italian. Therefore, we are able to communicate with our clients better and also understand their requests from their perspective. This is part of our first value – Professionalism. We view our clients as our partners. We are able to bring together a comprehensive team of experts, enabling us to provide clients with advice on different types of agenda.
Our second value is – Flexibility. We know that only having good knowledge of the law is no longer enough if we want to be among the best. We aim to identify and adapt to unique and changing requirements as rapidly as possible.
And last, but not the least, our main value – Integrity. We value the trust that our clients place in us. We work in line with the principles of decency and honesty, which we put first in the relationship between our law firm and clients. In recognition of these values, we advocate the principles of the fight against corruption, and apply the principles of internal compliance. We encourage all of our employees to adopt the same approach.
Areas of practice
M&A transactions: M&A advice forms the core of the firm’s practice. Cechova & Partners regularly advises foreign investors, multinationals and local clients on a variety of M&A and restructuring matters.
Competition and antitrust: the team acts on a broad range of competition matters including compliance issues, representing clients vis-à-vis the Slovak competition authority in antitrust investigations.
Corporate and commercial: Cechová & Partners is regularly involved in a large number of corporate matters, as well as contract drafting and reviews, including the areas of commercial, financial and civil contracts.
Labour and employment: the practice is one of the largest in Slovakia and provides full employment and labour law assistance including employment contracts, employment termination, damage actions, works councils, collective bargaining, anti-discrimination, employee data protection, health and safety at work, employee pensions, share plans and benefits.
Banking and finance: The firm’s clients include banks, facility arrangers, foreign investors, security houses, financial institutions and insurance companies.
Data protection and privacy: Cechova & Partners advises on standard data protection duties of controllers and processors, notifications and registrations, communication with the local authority, internal documentation, security of personal data, monitoring, cross-border transfers, binding corporate rules, privacy shield, and further aspects of the new GDPR.
Real estate and construction: Cechova & Partners gained respectable experience in the field of real estate development, advising in significant real estate deals to major international clients, investors, private equity funds, developers, banks, other providers of financing, property managers and other clients, dealing with all aspects of real estate transactions.
Regulatory and compliance: regulatory assistance is a key area, in particular in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food, IT, privacy, consumer protection, product safety, energy, transportation, postal services and public procurement. The law firm is a leading team in life sciences matters, including promotion, reimbursement and clinical trials. Compliance reviews and forensic assistance are also of prominence.
Dispute resolution: Cechova & Partners’ litigation team represents clients in various types of disputes at courts, arbitration tribunals and in administrative proceedings.
Insolvency and restructurings: Cechova & Partners regularly advises its clients on insolvency and restructuring matters while Katarina Cechova, partner, is licensed as a bankruptcy and restructuring trustee.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate and Commercial | Katarina Cechova | ||
Corporate and Commercial | Tomas Maretta | ||
Corporate and Commercial | Lenka Subenikova | ||
Competition and Antitrust | Tomas Maretta | ||
Competition and Antitrust | Marek Holka | ||
M&A | Katarina Cechova | ||
M&A | Lenka Subenikova | ||
Real Estate and Construction | Lenka Subenikova | ||
Real Estate and Construction | Katarina Cechova | ||
Labour and Employment | Tomas Rybar | ||
Labour and Employment | Lenka Subenikova | ||
Litigation and Arbitraton | Katarina Cechova | ||
Banking, Finance, Capital Markets | Simona Halakova | ||
Banking, Finance, Capital Markets | Michaela Jurkova | ||
Telecommunications, IT, Media | Simona Halakova | ||
Telecommunications, IT, Media | Tomas Rybar | ||
Regulated Industries, Public Law | Simona Halakova | ||
Regulated Industries, Public Law | Tomas Rybar | ||
Compliance and Investigations | Tomas Rybar | ||
Intellectual Property | Michaela Jurkova | ||
Life Sciences and Pharma | Tomas Rybar | ||
Life Sciences and Pharma | Marek Holka | ||
Data Protection and Privacy | Tomas Rybar | ||
Insolvency and Restructuring | Katarina Cechova | ||
Insolvency and Restructuring | Michaela Jurkova | ||
Company and Commercial | Katarina Cechova | ||
Company and Commercial | Tomas Maretta | ||
Company and Commercial | Lenka Subenikova |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Katarina Cechova | Partner. During 39 years of continuous legal practice Katarina advised and represented… | View Profile | |
Mr Peter Fedor | Attorney / Senior Associate. Peter Fedor started to work in our law… | View Profile | |
Mrs Simona Halakova | Partner. Simona is a head of banking & finance regulatory practice and regularly assists… | View Profile | |
Mr Marek Holka | Partner. Marek primarily deals with competition law and pharmaceutical law. He is… | View Profile | |
Ms Michaela Jurkova | Partner. Michaela Jurková is a partner in Čechová & Partners with more… | View Profile | |
Mr Tomas Maretta | Managing Partner. Tomas is an expert in the area of competition and… | View Profile | |
Ms Kristína Maschkanová | Attorney/Senior Associate. Kristína Maschkanová is an associated attorney at our law firm… | View Profile | |
Mr Tomas Rybar | Partner. Tomas is active primarily in the fields of employment, pharmaceuticals, corporate… | View Profile | |
Mr Michal Simunic | Attorney. Michal advises various international clients having its subsidiary in Slovakia on… | View Profile | |
Ms Lenka Subenikova | Partner. Lenka leads our real estate practice and specializes in project developments,… | View Profile | |
Mr Marek Varga | Attorney/Senior Associate. Marek Varga has worked for our law firm as an… | View Profile | |
Mr Miroslav Zaťko | Attorney | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 20Languages
Slovak English French German Russian Czech Hungarian ItalianMemberships
Lex Mundi World Services Group IBA AIJA INSOL EUROPE Slovak Bar Association American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)Diversity/Community
Cechova & Partners has a long tradition of community involvement, cooperation with third sector organizations and pro bono activities. We are inter alia supporting projects and foundations focused on providing help to children with severe diseases as well projects fighting corruption and supporting increased level of compliance and ethics in Slovakia. The attorneys of Cechova & Partners believe that they have a social obligation resulting from their status as legal professionals to provide such assistance and share their skills for the common good. To support those goals, a number of our attorneys serve in supervising and advisory bodies of entities administering certain of the projects.
When it comes to gender diversity, Cechova & Partners stands at the forefront in Slovakia. Unusually for the Slovak business environment, in Cechova & Partners the majority of partners and managers are women.
Diversity/Community
Cechova & Partners has a long tradition of community involvement, cooperation with third sector organizations and pro bono activities. We are, inter alia, supporting projects and foundations focused on providing help to children with severe diseases, as well as projects fighting corruption and supporting an increased level of compliance and ethics in Slovakia. Attorneys of Cechova & Partners believe that they have a social obligation resulting from their status as legal professionals to provide such assistance and share their skills for the common good. To support those goals, a number of our attorneys serve on supervisory and advisory bodies of entities administering certain projects.
When it comes to gender diversity, Cechova & Partners stands at the forefront in Slovakia. Unusually for the Slovak business environment, the majority of partners and managers in Cechova & Partners are women. In 2018, Katarina Cechova won the title Top Businesswoman of the Year. The competition was organized by Slovakias business daily Hospodárske noviny (HN) [https://hnonline.sk/]. First, she was shortlisted as one of the top ten most recognized Slovak businesswomen and finally won both categories: the main award and also the public votes award.
We have been organizing charitable events in recent years, proceeds from those events were used, among other things, to support projects of the League Against Cancer, to revitalize Malá scéna theatre in Bratislava and to support Anton Srholecs resocialization community.
Our law firm has been supporting the Bator Tabor Foundation established in 2001. The main goal of this foundation is to provide life-changing experience, strength and tools to live and recover for seriously ill children (children with cancer, diabetes, chronic joint inflammation and haemophilia) and their families. The foundation returns these children to their carefree childhood, which they lost during the struggle with severe illness. Thanks to positive feelings and experience, it gives them feelings of success, boosts their self-confidence, helps them gain the power to fight the illness and increases their belief in recovery. Mrs. Katarina Cechova is a member of the board of Bator Tabor Slovakia Foundation. You can learn more about the foundation and its project here: https://batortabor.hu/en/
The law firm Cechova & Partners gives professional support to the Stop Corruption Foundation, which is focused on eliminating corruption and its aftermath with respect to the quality of life and business environment and protecting whistleblowers. You can learn more about this organization here: http://zastavmekorupciu.sk/.
In 2018, five of our lawyers spent almost 200 working hours working pro bono.