Kocián Solc Balastík > Ostrava, Czech Republic > Firm Profile

Kocián Solc Balastík > The Legal 500 Rankings

Czech Republic > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Boasting a comprehensive banking, finance and capital markets practice, the team at Kocián Šolc Balaštík handles the full spectrum of domestic and international transactional work, which includes debt issuances, regulatory capital raisings, and special lending products. Additionally, the firm has demonstrable experience in advising financial institutions and non-banking corporations on financial regulation concerns, as well as digital financial services products. The department also covers project finance and real estate finance. The firm is regularly engaged to advise the Czech National Bank on various matters. On the capital markets front, the group counts investment fund services, securities issuances, and the regulation of investment and compliance services within its core workload. Martin Krejčí, an expert in cross-border financial work, leads the team alongside Vlastimil Pihera, a specialist in financial services and private equity matters, and Petr Kasík, who primarily handles corporate law and restructuring cases.

Czech Republic > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Noted for its regular involvement in landmark cases, Kocián Šolc Balaštík’s dispute resolution offering specialises in the telecoms, pharmaceutical, chemistry, and media industries. Recognised for its strengths in international arbitration and EU law, the firm regularly appears before not only domestic courts of all levels, but also the European Court of Human Rights. The team operates under the joint leadership of Pavel Dejl, who specialises in insolvency and competition disputes, and Sylvie Sobolová, who handles claims relating to public procurement issues, administrative proceedings, and state aid cases.

Czech Republic > Tax Tier 1

Kocián Šolc Balaštík is recognised for handling a wide range of matters, including the taxation of intangibles and the personal income tax of residents and foreign nationals. With expertise in advising on cross-border tax elements of business restructurings and international holding structures, the firm also assists clients with private equity and pension fund investments. Elsewhere, the group advises on tax-related litigation and VAT claims in relation to TV and radio fees. The practice is co-led by Jan Černohouz, who specialises in corporate tax, and Helena Navrátilová, who is often instructed by international tax proceedings to cover tax administration and proceedings.

Czech Republic > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

The corporate, commercial and M&A team at Kocián Šolc Balaštík advises on a range of matters, including local and foreign acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, and regulatory concerns. The firm counts start-ups, financial institutions, and banks among its key clients. The group regularly carries out due diligence exercises in addition to preparing and negotiating transaction documents. The practice is collectively led by restructuring specialist Dagmar Dubecká; Martin Šolc, who is noted for his involvement in milestone M&A transactions; Jan Dědič, whose corporate expertise spans the gamut of relevant issues; and Petr Kasík, who focuses on banking law.

Czech Republic > EU and competition Tier 2

Kocián Šolc Balaštík’s extensive EU and competition practice operates across the IT, food and catering, retail, and agricultural sectors. The team routinely advises clients on significant merger proceedings on the Czech market, often in front of the Czech Competition Authority as well as domestic administrative courts. The group also offers guidance on state aid-related competition concerns and cases connected to the abuse of dominant market positions. Elsewhere, the firm is recognised for its experienced compliance training team, which entails coordinating dawn raid work. The department is co-led by Pavel Dejl, who frequently handles merger and antitrust proceedings before the European Commission, and Sylvie Sobolová, who primarily provides competition law advice in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.

Czech Republic > Intellectual property Tier 2

Kocián Šolc Balaštík’s intellectual property offering is reputed for its strengths in the IT and e-commerce sectors, and has demonstrated recent growth in the regulation of web platforms and non-personal data protection. The group guides clients through all IP issues, such as unfair competition, disputes relating to the unauthorised use of protected real estate projects, regulatory concerns, and software licensing agreements. The team is co-led by Sylvie Sobolová, who also covers competition and public procurement work, and Drahomír Tomašuk, who advises on TMT and M&A-related IP cases. Petra Mirovská is a key contact within the department and has extensive experience in litigation relating to trade secrets.

Czech Republic > Employment Tier 3

The employment practice at Kocián Šolc Balaštík operates across a wide range of industry sectors, most notably IT, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. The firm advises on various employment and labour issues such as terminations, workplace injuries, business immigration and the transfer of employees, and the investigative procedures of employment authorities. Recently, the group has demonstrated activity in handling collective bargaining and trade union-related concerns, as well as assisting clients in navigating their ESG responsibilities. Václav Rovenský  leads the team and also offers know-how in the real estate, energy, construction, and public procurement sectors.

Czech Republic > Projects and energy Tier 3

At Kocián Šolc Balaštík, the department’s scope of work includes the planning, development, and implementation of heat and power generation instalments, and the construction of power facilities. Additionally, the team offers advice on the development of renewable energy sources, public contracts, compliance concerns, and energy project financing. Recent highlights include assisting clients with the operation of new power plants, nuclear waste management, and distribution grids. The team is jointly led by Václav Rovenský, who specialises in energy construction projects and related regulatory concerns, and Tomáš Sequens, who handles the environmental elements of commercial transactions. Sylvie Sobolová is a notable member of the group and covers public procurement and state aid work.

Czech Republic > TMT Tier 3

Kocián Šolc Balaštík’s TMT offering is broad ranging and assists clients from a broad range of sectors, including IT, satellite telecoms, finance, media, energy, and automotive. The firm handles software development work, cybersecurity and regulation matters, compliance concerns, and IT outsourcing. Additionally, the team has demonstrable experience in the set-up of e-commerce platforms, data protection matters, and transactional advice. The group is co-led by Drahomír Tomašuk and Sylvie Sobolová, who share a wealth of experience between them, particularly in IP, competition, and IT cases. Associate Jaroslav Zahradníček focuses on e-commerce and consumer protection law.

Czech Republic > Real estate and construction Tier 4

Kocián Šolc Balaštík’s real estate practice has recently been active handling a range of development projects, the construction of solar parks, and the sale and acquisition of multiple administrative buildings in Prague. Regularly engaged by hotel developers and logistics and warehouse companies, the team has strength in advising architectural studios on contract negotiation and project documentation. The group is co-led by Jiří Horník, who primarily advises real estate investment companies, and Václav Rovenský, who focuses on highway construction mandates and the management of hotels.