Event Report

Legal 500 returned to Prague for the GC Summit Czech Republic 2026, bringing together senior in-house counsel and legal leaders from across the Czech Republic and the wider region for an afternoon of focused discussion, practical insight, and networking. The Summit explored how general counsel are navigating increasingly complex commercial, transactional, and strategic challenges, and how the role of the GC continues to evolve at the heart of business decision-making.

Opening remarks were delivered by Joe Boswell, Global Editor of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist series, who welcomed attendees and highlighted the growing strategic importance of the general counsel role. Boswell noted that today’s GCs are expected not only to manage legal risk, but to play a central role in shaping business outcomes, particularly in areas such as M&A, external counsel management, and long-term corporate strategy.

The first session, Negotiating the SPA from the Perspective of Transaction Structure and Commercial Aspects, held in association with Deloitte Legal, focused on the commercial realities underpinning complex M&A negotiations. Petr Suchý, Partner at Deloitte Legal; Michal Kandráč, Senior Legal Counsel at Tripledot Studios; Miroslav Svoboda, Country Leader at Deloitte Czech Republic; and Petr Dědeček, Partner, Corporate Finance at Deloitte Czech Republic discussed how legal teams can balance risk protection with deal momentum, and where GCs can add the greatest value during SPA negotiations.

The second panel, W&I Insurance in Practice: Managing Risk in Transactions, in association with JŠK, examined the growing role of warranty and indemnity insurance in Czech and cross-border transactions. Tomáš Doležil and Daniel Pospíšil, Partners at JŠK, were joined by Stefka Nacheva, Senior Underwriter, W&I Insurance, CEE Specialist at WECOYA Transactional Risk Solutions, and Jan Bakule, Head of Private Equity and M&A CEE at Renomia Gallagher. The discussion covered when W&I insurance delivers real value, common pitfalls, and evolving market trends across the CEE region.

Following a networking coffee break, the third session, Mandating Legal Services: Selecting External Counsel That Delivers, in association with Bird & Bird, addressed how in-house teams can appoint and manage external advisers more effectively. Ivan Sagál, Managing Partner at Bird & Bird; David Reminek, Legal Director at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group; Marian Husar, General Counsel at J&T Finance Group; and Alica Koblovská, Chief Legal Officer at ARETE shared best practices on pitching, performance review, and building long-term partnerships aligned with business priorities.

The final panel, Positioning the GC at the Centre of Business Strategy, brought together Nadiya Bilous, General Counsel CEEMEA at The LEGO Group, and Martina Tesařová, Head of Legal and Compliance at Twisto, alongside Joe Boswell. The discussion explored what it truly means to be a strategic business partner, from embedding legal teams early in decision-making to balancing long-term strategy with day-to-day operational pressures.

The Summit concluded with closing remarks from Joe Boswell, followed by drinks and canapés, giving attendees the opportunity to continue conversations and strengthen connections within the in-house legal community. The GC Summit Czech Republic 2026 once again demonstrated Legal 500’s commitment to providing a practical, peer-driven forum for general counsel navigating the evolving demands of the role. We look forward to our next edition of this flagship event for corporate counsel in Czechia, when we will raise the bar even further.