Dentons has a leading reputation for advising borrowers and lenders on a range of complex, often cross-border matters. In recent years, the firm has made a concerted effort to broaden its offering, now routinely advising on acquisition and leveraged finance, restructuring and insolvency matters, export finance and debt capital markets deals. The full-service team is jointly headed by Peter Kubina and Stanislava Valientová, who specialises in capital markets and led on several of the team's standout highlights. Also recommended are counsel Patricia Gossányiová and senior associate Katarína Slezáková, who have experience of debt capital markets and alternative investment funds.

Kinstellar's strong regional foothold is reflected in its impressive portfolio of domestic clients and blue-chip multinationals, which turn to the banking and finance team for advice on syndicated lending, acquisition finance, real estate finance, structured finance, and infrastructure and project finance. Managing associates Tomáš Melišek and Vladimír Polička jointly lead the practice; Melišek is particularly noted for his expertise in regulatory matters, and Polička specialises in cross-border real estate and acquisition project financing. Dual-qualified special counsel Denise Hamer and senior associate Martin Koša, who previously worked as in-house counsel at Tatra Banka, are also noted.

White & Case s.r.o is widely regarded as one of the premier practice groups in Slovakia, equally adept at handling high-value bank lending and capital markets transactions for clients at the domestic, regional, and international level. The team has extensive experience of a range of debt finance matters, including bond financing and acquisition finance deals. Recently, the firm has made a concerted effort to expand its activity in PPP and construction financing, and increasingly advises on buyer credit for a growing number of alternative investors. Juraj Fuska heads up the capital markets practice.

Domestic and international banks, investors and insurers turn to Cechová & Partners for its proficiency in regulatory matters, and its strong reputation in project financing mandates. The team also handles corporate deals in the financial services industry and reorganisations for domestic and international corporate clients. The firm has also highlighted its commitment to female leadership; the banking and finance practice is led by regulatory expert, Simona Halakova. Michaela Jurkova, who handles project financing, is also recommended.

BBH advokátska kancelária, s.r.o. acts for a number of leading regional banks and financial institutions, advising on debt capital markets transactions and assisting with myriad regulatory matters. Of late, the firm has leveraged its expertise in complex debt financing products to win increasingly cross-border and high-stakes transactional mandates. Miroslav Fašung and real estate finance expert Matej Blahút jointly lead the team.

The team at CMS regularly collaborates with colleagues in Prague and Vienna to advise leading regional banks, corporate borrowers and private equity investors on cross-border acquisition financing mandates and loan agreements. The firm also regularly advises its clients on restructuring proceedings and various regulatory matters. The practice group is led by Peter Šimo, who has experience of transactions throughout the CEE, and Petra Čorba Stark, who is instructed by various financial services clients.

RELEVANS Law Firm provides end-to-end advice on a variety of financing transactions, securities matters and financial regulatory issues. The team is particularly noted for advising domestic banks, asset managers and commercial borrowers on real estate, telecoms and IT project financing and loan negotiations. Founding partner Marián Masarik heads up the practice group and specialises in project finance.

Squire Patton Boggs s.r.o.’s banking and finance practice stands out for its strength in fintech and blockchain and cryptocurrency matters. Practice head Silvia Belovičová has specialist expertise in fintech and regtech issues, but also leads the team on a range of regulatory and restructuring mandates, real estate financing and acquisition financing. Also of note is the emerging focus on trade receivables and factoring work, often in collaboration with colleagues from the firm’s Prague and Berlin offices.

The team at Taylor Wessing Slovakia is regularly instructed by Slovak financial institutions and mid-sized Austrian banks and leasing companies operating in the CEE region. The firm focuses on compliance matters and cross-border financings, and also regularly advises on restructuring matters. Silvia Hlavačková, a transactions specialist with prior experience at the legal department of a large regional bank, leads the team.

Wolf Theiss regularly acts for regional and international clients on a variety of refinancings, acquisition financings, and complex debt capital market matters. The team is particularly noted for its cross-border regulatory capabilities, often working in collaboration with colleagues from the firm’s offices in Prague and Vienna. Capital markets specialist Robert David leads the team from Prague, while recently hired counsel Bruno Štefánik strengthens the team’s regulatory practice. Katarína Bieliková left in May 2020.

Advokátska kancelária MCL, s.r.o. has expertise in borrower-side mandates, including hedging arrangements and refinancing, acting for a number of private equity investors, consumer goods manufacturers and real estate developers. The team is jointly led by Martin Jurečko, a transactions specialist, and Michal Ranostaj, a corporate finance specialist based in the Prague office. Senior associate Simona Rapavá was a new arrival in March 2021.

A number of international clients utilise bnt attorneys in CEE’s strong regional network for projects with a cross-border element. The presence of a largely German-speaking team and a German-qualified lawyer makes the Slovak office an attractive choice for clients across the region seeking assistance on mandates, including acquisition financings, loan and credit negotiations. The team is led by dual German- and Slovak-qualified attorney Margareta Sovova.

The banking and finance practice at bpv Braun Partners s.r.o., o.z. is noted for its transactional capability and creditor-side loan mandates for regional banks and financial institutions. The team also provides regulatory advice to a number of alternative lenders and financial services clients. Igor Augustinič and Arthur Braun jointly lead the team from Bratislava and Prague respectively, alongside financial law specialist David Vosol, who is based in Prague.

CERHA HEMPEL Šiška & Partners s. r. o. advises creditors and debtors on a range of financings, planning matters, treasury operations, and regulatory issues. In particular, the firm is noted for experience acting for international banks. Managing partner Karol Šiška is a key figure for banking and finance work. Practice head Jozef Bannert is also recommended for corporate transactional work and litigation.

Deloitte Legal s. r. o. acts for a number of local, regional and international banks and financial institutions in a range of strategic tax and financing issues and regulatory matters. The firm is also noted for its borrower-side financing mandates, routinely advising on syndicated and bilateral lending transactions. The practice group is led by Dagmar Yoder, who handles many of the team's standout transactions and also provides comprehensive regulatory advice.

The team at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH, o.z. leverages the firm’s strong global and regional presence in multi-jurisdictional financing and refinancing transactions. In addition to borrower and lender-side facility negotiations, the firm also assists commercial clients and financial institutions with insolvency matters and regulatory advice in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Michaela Stessl manages the practice.

Since its formation following the incorporation of Dvořák Hager & Partners in December 2019, the team at Eversheds Sutherland, advokátska kancelária, s.r.o. has marked itself out as a strong player in project-based banking and finance mandates. The team often collaborates with the Prague office on a range of cross-border acquisition financings, debt securities deals and regulatory advisory work. Bernard Hager heads up the team and is qualified to practice in Czechia and Slovakia.

Noerr regularly acts for domestic and international credit institutions, financial institutions, investment funds, leasing companies and corporate clients on financing transactions. In particular, the team is noted for its experience acting for German-speaking clients. Tomáš Záborský heads up the banking and finance practice.

Paul Q Law Firm has a broad service offering, with recent highlights spanning acquisition financings, syndicated lending, securities transactions, debt restructurings and refinancings. The team is also noted for its regulatory advisory capabilities, and frequently handles referral work from a number of international law firms, often acting for investment banks, pharmaceutical companies and real estate developers. The team is jointly led by Eduard Winkler, who frequently advises clients on commercial and corporate finance matters, and financial law specialist Jiří Budinský.

The sizeable team at SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA, s. r. o. has a particularly strong reputation in the insurance sector, and acts for a number of longstanding clients in the areas of banking and insurance in Slovakia. The firm's participation in the Lawyerex programme has bolstered its experience in international jurisdictions, a fact reflected in its increased focus on cross-border mandates. Practice heads Marek Benko and Milan Gocník are noted for their expertise in various segments of the insurance market, while Gocník has also taken the lead in high-value loan transactions in the energy and construction sectors. Senior associate Miloš Gáfrik is also recommended.