The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Czech Republic > Real estate and construction

Clifford Chance's real estate practice is 'among the best'. The team, which is jointly led by the highly regarded Emil Holub and real estate financing specialist Miloš Felgr, covers the full gamut of real estate matters across a wide range of sectors. It advised Atrium European Management on the disposal of a shopping centre; acted for J&T Banka on the financing for the acquisition of Chatham; and advised Goldman Sachs International on the Czech aspects of the refinancing of Residomo. Its client list also features CPI Property Group, Cromwell European Management Services, PFCEE Dutch Holding and Independent Capital Group. Senior associate Milan Rákosník is also noted.

Dentons is singled out for its 'excellent sector knowledge, highly professional team, and high-quality services provided at agreed time schedules'. Managing partner Michal Hink  jointly leads the real estate practice with Evan Lazar and Jiří Stržínek. The group has a wealth of experience advising on major real estate acquisitions, disposals and developments in the CEE region. Among its recent transactions, Stržínek advised Stage Capital on the sale of a portfolio of Czech logistics/light industrial assets to CBRE Global Investors; Hink acted for HB Reavis on the sale of the Metronom Business Centre to the ČS nemovitostní fund, which is managed by Reico investiční společnost České spořitelny; and Lazar and Markéta Tvrdá, who was recently made up to partner, advised Residomo on the Czech aspects of the issuance of senior secured bonds. Stewart Middleman and counsel Jana Matisková are also recommended.

Kinstellar's 'exceptional' team assists major domestic and international real estate players with their high-value investments in the offices, retail, residential, logistics and hospitality space. The 'business-minded' Klára Štepánková advised CBRE Global Investors on the acquisition of a logistics/light industrial portfolio from Stage Capital and acted for Accolade Group on its purchase of a logistics warehouse. Kamil Blažek focuses on real estate transactions, as does corporate practitioner Jan Juroška.

White & Case (Europe) LLP has core specialisms in big-ticket transactions and financing mandates, which is reflected in its recent advice to ECE Real Eatate Partners and Rockspring Property Investment Managers on their €374m sale of Olympia shopping centre to Deutsche EuroShop. Practice head Petr Pánek is advising LaSalle Investment Management on its real estate acquisitions in Central Europe, and recently advised on the client's multimillion-euro acquisition of Palác Anděl from Aberdeen Asset Management Deutschland. Other mandates include advising P3 Logistic Parks on its acquisition of a logistics centre, and assisting UniCredit with the financing for the development of Vlněna office centre. Václav Kubr and Ladislav Chundela are also recommended.

Baker & McKenzie s.r.o., advokátní kancelář's workload features a mix of real estate transactions and contentious matters. Recent highlights include acting for a range of clients on leasing matters; assisting a US manufacturing company with the development and the lease of a warehouse and a distribution centre; and representing CTP Group in a dispute concerning a supplemental building permit relating to the construction of a warehouse and industrial premises. David Šimonek heads the team, which also includes senior associate Michaela Drábková.

bpv Braun Partners s.r.o.'s real estate standing was enhanced by the hire of Gabriela Porupková, managing associate Miroslav Dudek and senior associate Pavlína Tejralová from Schoenherr Czech Republic. The practice counts blue-chip companies and major Czech and regional real estate investors and developers as its clients, and has broad sector knowledge spanning logistics, retail, manufacturing, residential and industrial. In 2017, Jiří Bárta advised Corpus Sireo on the purchase of the Oasis Florenc office building from Lone Star Group; Porupková assisted Triuva with its acquisition of an office building from Skanska; and Arthur Braun and David Vosol advised Olredo Spol on its acquisition of residential buildings.

Achour & Partners advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.'s recent highlights include advising Strabag on its planned construction of a power plant in Ukraine, acting for Trigema on its acquisition of the Administrativní Centrum Letňany office project and assisting a Czech public service provider with the development of a CZK1bn logistics centre. Gabriel Achour is noted.

DLA Piper Prague LLP regularly advises on cross-border real estate financing and M&A transactions. In 2017, practice head Jakub Adam was part of  a multijurisdictional team that advised Allianz Group and ING Bank on a €160m syndicated loan provided to CTP Group for the financing of a portfolio of industrial properties. Other highlights include advising The Regus Group on leasing matters and assisting Karlín Group with the establishment of a joint venture for a residential development. Miroslav Dubovský is recommended for his transactional expertise.

Giese & Partner, s.r.o. is recommended for real estate financing deals, with particular strength in acting for German and Austrian banking and financial institutions. The team, which is jointly led by Jitka Sytařová and Martin Holler, advised Landesbank Hessen Thüringen and Deutsche Pfandbriefbank as joint lenders on the refinancing of an existing bank loan and new development financing for the logistic park CTPark Bor. UniCredit Bank Austria, FMS Wertmanagement and The Berlin Hyp are also clients.

Konecná & Zacha acts for developers, investors and lenders and handles transactions and contentious matters. The team also has notable expertise in leasing matters. Founding partner Radka Konečná is highly recommended.

Squire Patton Boggs s.r.o., advokátní kancelář's practice advises on a range of financing, sale and acquisition transactions, as well as handling contentious matters. 'Excellent negotiator' Radek Janecek represented a real estate development company in a warranty claims dispute and assisted Redstone Real Estate Group with its purchase of IOG Cestlice Industrial Park from CEIF Luxembourg and CEIF Properties. Jeffrey McGehee advised WPP on the negotiation of the complete redevelopment and lease of office space in a historical building from CPI Property Group.

Bird & Bird s.r.o. advokátní kancelář's team is led by senior associate Daniela Opletalová, who handles a range of corporate and commercial real estate matters. Clients include developers, construction companies, investors and funds.

Eversheds Sutherland Dvořák Hager, advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.'s client roster features a mix of foreign companies and Czech investment groups, which it advises on leasing and sales and acquisition transactions. Practice heads Stanislav Servus and Lukáš Zahrádka are 'exceptional, knowledgeable and diligent'. Highlights included advising Opifer Investments on its acquisition of Euro Mall Brno Real Estate from Atrium European Real Estate.

Glatzová & Co., s.r.o.'s recent highlights include advising a well-known real estate investor on the acquisition of land for the development of a logistic centre and assisting a local bank with the financing for the construction of an industrial warehouse. Martin Dančišin is singled out for his 'thoroughness, willingness, carefulness, and the ability to identity what the clients really need'. Erik Kolan is also noted.

RANDA HAVEL LEGAL has expertise in construction, energy, industrial and infrastructure projects. The team is advising Šmukýřka Development on the development, construction and the sale of residential apartments and assisted Pražské služby with a series of acquisitions and the division of various estates. Notable practitioners are Martin Řanda and Tomáš Slabý.

BADOKH's 'solid' team, jointly led by Michael Mullen and Ondrej Hampl, focuses on real estate transactions and development projects. The team advised VGP on its acquisition of Gehooldva and assisted Decci with the acquisition and the subsequent redevelopment of a mixed-use property. Jakub Dostál is another name to note; he specialises in acquisition and real estate financing transactions.

Cerha Hempel's team is now led by Petr Kališ following the departure of Pavel Široký, who is now with ŠIROKÝ ZRZAVECKÝ advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.. The team recently advised CTP on a number of acquisitions of companies and real estate properties and acted for U City, a Thai real estate investor, on its acquisition of a number of hotels in Europe. Leasing and financing matters also feature in the team's workload.

Deloitte Legal s.r.o., advokátní kancelář's recent highlights include advising on real estate M&A, lease and relocation issues, planning and construction projects. Martin Bohuslav is noted.

DELTA legal is praised for its 'excellent client care and understanding of the client's business'. 'Commercial-minded lawyer' Pavel Fára leads the team with Libor Vacek. It advised Investika, investiční společnost on a number of acquisitions, and assisted Q Property Developments with leasing and property management matters.

INVICTA Law is praised for its 'excellent real estate sector knowledge and its solution-oriented approach'. It advises on real estate acquisitions and developments, and counts Metrostav Development, JRD, BPD Europe BV and DBK Praha as clients. Practice head Martin Mládek has solid experience advising high-profile clients on sizeable transactions, and is also a key name for development work. Senior associate Petra Eliášová is 'an effective negotiator' and is recommended for corporate and financing transactions in the real estate space.

UEPA advokáti s.r.o. advised Crestyl, a Czech real estate development company, on a series of construction and acquisition mandates, and assisted LaSalle Investment Management with the purchase of a multi-use development. The team is led by the 'very experienced' Andreas Ueltzhöffer and Lars Magnus Klett.