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Baker & McKenzie v.o.s.

PRAHA CITY CENTRE, KLIMENTSKÁ 46, 110 02 PRAHA 1
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 68 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Czech Republic

Banking, finance and capital markets

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & Mckenzie V.O.S.’s banking and capital markets team is led by partner Tomas Skoumal and includes the popular senior associate Libor Basl as part of an eight-member practice. Skoumal is praised by clients for ‘creating respect among lawyers and business people’, and ‘providing top quality and cost-effective service’. Clients include Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, Citibank and Franklin Templeton Investments, and the team worked in 2008 for Dura Automotive Systems on a $50m (€36m) loan and accounts receivable factoring facilities totally €65m.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie V.O.S.’s corporate practice in Prague is led by Tomas Skoumal and includes two other partners, Martin Hrodek and Alexandr Cesar, and a total of 13 associates. Described by one client as ‘one of the top law firms in the Czech Republic for all commercial and M&A services’, the practice acted for publicly-listed imaging company Barco on the restructuring of its operations in the Czech Republic in 2008, and advised Grupo Atento on the acquisition of Telemarketing Prague. Other clients include Siemens, Metro International, Ahold Czech Republic and aAIM Europe. The team ‘gives sound advice and instils confidence with clients’.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

The size of the Czech market, and the sophistication of the court process, means that specialist litigation practices are rare in Prague. That said, Baker & McKenzie v.o.s.’s dispute resolution team comprises eight lawyers led by partner Martin Hrodek, and is well-versed in both international and domestic arbitration. Praised by clients for its ‘unrivalled experience’ and a ‘practical, goal-orientated approach’, the practice advises clients including CSOB, Telefonica O2 and Tatra. In 2008 the team was busy representing CSOB, the largest Czech bank, in an ICC arbitration against the Czech Republic valued at €1.5bn. The case required expertise in international arbitration, EU public aid law, Czech law and Austrian law, since the seat was in Vienna.

Within Dispute resolution , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. expanded its dispute resolution team in 2008, with the addition of senior associate Tomas Matejovsky from Vyskocil, Kroslak a Spol. and the hire of intellectual property partner Gabriela Vendlova from Baker & McKenzie v.o.s.. Two other partners handle disputes work - Iveta Placha in the field of real estate and construction, and Richard Bacek. The team is ‘very good’ and in 2008 worked for Eastern Sugar Czecka Republika on several claims.

Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie V.O.S.’s real estate team is led by partner David Simonek, who works with four assistants in the practice. The lawyers deliver ‘up to all international standards’, and work for clients including Telefonica O2, aAIM Europe, Raiffeisenbank and ITT Holdings. In 2008, Simonek led a team working for aAIM, one of the fastest-growing commercial property investment funds, restructurings its operations in the Czech Republic.

TMT

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Few firms boast the same focused approach to, and stable of clients in, the TMT sector as Baker & McKenzie v.o.s., where partner Tomas Skoumal and senior associate Jiri Cermak are well-regarded. Described as ‘a friend for a client but a tough fighter and competitor’ by one client, Skoumal is best-known for his corporate work for TMT clients such as Google, Telefonica O2, Motorola, Oracle and Apple. Recognised as ‘lawyers with sufficient knowledge of the IT industry and technology’, Cermak in 2008 worked for Google on various legal matters relating to its internet business in the Czech Republic.

Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie V.O.S.’s tax practice in the Czech Republic is led by associate Pavel Fekar and comprises three tax advisers, including Daniela Vykysala who joined from Deloitte. Praised as ‘very responsive, proactive and efficient’ by clients, the team acted in 2008 for Moët Hennessy in relation to the establishment of its distribution entity in the Czech Republic and obtaining an excise duty warehouse licence. Other clients include eBay and Grupo Atento.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments in Czech Republic

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Tax Review – How To Protect One’s Rights Effectively

    In the Czech Republic, a country with a continental legal system, court decisions do not set precedents as they do in common law jurisdictions. Nevertheless, court decisions in tax proceedings may not be ignored, as to a considerable extent they modify the interpretation of legislation.  Without knowledge of court decisions one may not succeed in tax proceedings. Recently, two substantial decisions of the Czech Constitutional Court concerning tax reviews have been published.
    - PETERKA & PARTNERS v.o.s

  • Changes in Ukrainian law with an Impact on Real Estate

    Recently some changes to Ukrainian law have been introduced which have repealed the need to notarise land lease agreements and bring greater transparency in land certification and land allotment procedures. This article briefly describes these changes.
    - PETERKA & PARTNERS v.o.s

  • New Regulatory Regime for Credit Rating Agencies in the European Union -

    Comments on legal basis and main features. The recent financial crisis has shown many of the weaknesses in the current regulatory framework of the financial market - a lack of or insufficiencies in the legal rules on the one hand and a lack of or insufficiencies in the competency and expertise of financial market supervisors and regulators on the other.
    - Brzobohaty Broz & Honsa, v.o.s.

  • Funds of qualified investors in the Czech Republic: beneficial way of RE investment

    A number of law changes requested over last few years regarding the regime of funds of qualified investors were finally enacted and became effective. These changes may give a positive stimulus to further development of the fund industry in the Czech Republic.
    - Ambruz & Dark

  • Due Diligence – when and why?

    The term “Due Diligence” is commonly used when referring to a process through which a potential buyer evaluates a target company, an enterprise or its assets. Typical due diligence usually focuses in particular on the area of law, taxes and finance with the aim on emphasizing strengths and weaknesses of the target and detecting risks connected with its acquisition. For the sake of simplification, we will use the term “enterprise” or “target” when talking about subject matter of the due diligence.
    - Weinhold Legal v.o.s

  • Amendment to the Income Tax Act - July 2009

    On 3 July 2009, President of the Czech Republic signed an amendment to Act No. 586/1992 Sb., on income taxes, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “ITA”), drawn up by the Ministry of Finance. This amendment has been published in the Collection of Laws under No. 216/2009 Sb. and became effective on 20 July 2009. The law amends the Income Tax Act in the following areas (without limitation): Depreciation of tangible assets , Financial lease-purchase agreements , Education of employees
    - Alfery & Partner

  • Opportunities for entrepreneurs in times of economic crisis

    Against the backdrop of the worsening economic conditions, company management are often faced with the decision whether certain business activities should be terminated or if different measures should be taken with respect to cost reduction. In this article, we will examine various measures that can be taken within a given context. At the same time focus will be placed upon the circumstances in respect of individual cases. Concurrently, it is nevertheless always advisable to carry out a detailed and extensive analysis of the economic, tax and legal aspects in regard to the circumstances surrounding the given case.
    - Weinhold Legal v.o.s

  • Let´s Bid in the Czech Republic

    Public procurement is a significant part of the Czech economy and constitutes more than 17% of its GDP. Public procurement is regulated by Act No. 137/2006 Coll., on Public Contracts and Act No. 139/2006 Coll., on Concession Contracts and Concession Procedure (Concession Act).
    - Wolf Theiss

  • Business owners delaying sales

    The economic downturn has made layoffs and bankruptcies commonplace as of late, and companies of all sizes and reputations have been humbled by the turmoil.
    - Ambruz & Dark

  • CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

    The main corporate entity to be discussed is a joint-stock company (a company limited by shares, the “Company”). The Company issues shares and such shares that are recognised must be in documentary or book-entered (registered in Security Centre) forms are. Subject to the approval and fulfilment of the statutory conditions, the shares may be submitted for trade on the publicly (regulated) markets. The minimum amount of registered capital is equal to CZK 2,000,000.
    - Weinhold Legal v.o.s
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