Wolf Theiss > Bratislava, Slovakia > Firm Profile
Wolf Theiss Offices
AUPARK TOWER, EINSTEINOVA 24
851 01 BRATISLAVA
Slovakia
Wolf Theiss > The Legal 500 Rankings
Slovakia > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3
Wolf Theiss' team is active in sectors such real estate, energy, IT and manufacturing. Its banking work covers a range of transactions, such as those involving project finance, acquisition finance and securitisations. Elsewhere, the firm is instructed in debt capital markets transactions, such as notes issues and private placements. Robert David heads up the practice.Practice head(s):
Robert David
Testimonials
‘Excellent team, seamless advice across jurisdictions and departments of banking and tax, very knowledgeable with practical advice for client on how to navigate risks and pitfalls. Very approachable and commercially-minded team.’
Key clients
Kommunalkredit Austria AG
Erste Group Bank
Work highlights
- Advising Kommunalkredit Austria on the project financing of 65 MW solar portfolio of five ready-to-build solar PV plants.
- Advising Erste Group Erste Group Bank, Erste Bank Croatia and Ceska Sporitelna and Slovenska Sporitelna on the establishment of a multi-issuer programme for the issuance of notes for MREL and own funds purposes.
Slovakia > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Wolf Theiss attracts a wide variety of litigation and arbitration mandates from clients, such as commercial claims, IP/IT disputes and employment litigation. It also acts for clients in contentious matters connected with sectors such as banking, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Elsewhere, the firm is increasingly prominent in white-collar crime cases and cybercrime matters. Robert Pelikán leads the team, which also includes senior associate Marko Ernek .Practice head(s):
Robert Pelikán
Other key lawyers:
Marko Ernek
Slovakia > Employment Tier 3
Wolf Theiss, which is known for its extensive coverage of the CEE/SEE region, advises clients on cross-border relocations of workforces, as well as collective redundancies, trade union negotiations, severance agreements and hiring practices. It is also prominent in employment litigation. The practice is led by Zuzana Hodoňová, who has a strong profile among domestic and multinational clients.Practice head(s):
Zuzana Hodoňová
Other key lawyers:
Jozef Virčík
Testimonials
‘Whether our workforce is located within or outside of the Slovak Republic, they are able to cover strategic employment law issues in different jurisdictions. This team works at a high professional level. They have demonstrated their deep expertise while working on more complex assignments. You can see the team spirit and collaboration between individual colleagues – experts from different areas to deliver their services at the highest level.’
‘As different attorneys on the team specialise in various sectors, they are able to provide a broad range of specialised advice. Zuzana Hodoňová’s team is highly dedicated and we consider WT to be a reliable team with an outstanding client-friendly approach.’
Key clients
Pinsent Masons LLP
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Monster Beverage Corporation
H&M Hennes & Mauritz
Canonical Group Limited
Amazon
Oracle Slovensko spol. s.r.o.
Autovista Group Ltd.
Booking Holdings Inc.
Gardner Denver Inc.
DAUFOOD Slovakia s.r.o.
Peek & Cloppenburg KG
Aras Corporation
Fiserv, Inc.
AT&T Inc.
Work highlights
- Provided tailored advice to existing regional clients Pinsent Masons LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP on multiple queries related to COVID-19, especially with respect to pension arrangements, Short-Time Work introduction, protective measures.
- Continuously advising H&M Hennes & Mauritz, one of the top high street fashion retailers, on various employment issues on a day-to-day basis, especially related to new COVID-19 measures in Slovakia and provide practical business solutions applicable in Slovakia.
- Continuously advising the Slovak-based entity of Autovista Group on employment law related matters, especially transfer of employees to permanent work from home, which is part of their global strategy.
Slovakia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
Known for its ‘brilliant commercial, corporate and M&A law-related expertise’, Wolf Theiss advises on a broad spectrum of M&A transactions involving large, high-growth companies and private equity firms. Also notable is its involvement in energy, software and technology-related matters. Practice head Bruno Štefánik ‘handles mandates with professionalism and can meet tight deadlines’.Practice head(s):
Bruno Štefánik
Other key lawyers:
Dalibor Palatický; Jitka Logesova; Zuzana Hodoňová
Testimonials
‘Wolf Theiss Bratislava has brilliant commercial, corporate and M&A law-related expertise, their resources and the dedicated team being the core strengths. The Slovak corporate team is highly experienced in any corporate related issues and our collaboration is always time and cost-efficient. Due to their market knowledge and 13 offices in the CEE and SEE region, they are a preferred choice. All mandates are handled seamlessly and dynamically.’
‘They can offer a broad range of specialised advice covering many jurisdictions.’
‘Dalibor works hard and provides a high-quality service. His real strength is in the practical advice he gives and his ability to explain to non-Slovakian counsel how the legal system works. Bruno Štefánik leads and coordinates a seasoned and skillful corporate team consisting of accomplished lawyers. He handles mandates with professionalism and can meet tight deadlines. Furthermore, he is exceptionally dedicated and available for his clients at any time. He has a reliable team with an outstanding client-friendly approach.’
‘We consider Zuzana Hodoňová as a highly experienced and excellent lawyer with outstanding legal expertise in the employment field. Her communication is remarkably clear and to the point. Furthermore, she is easy to communicate with, dependable and always approachable.’
‘Knowledge of market and expertise in M&A, in particular Jitka Logesova and Bruno Stefanik.’
Key clients
ALSO Holding AG & Roseville Investments sp. z o.o. & ALSO Polska sp. z o.o.
Olympus Partners
TA Associates Ltd.
BMI Group Management UK Limited
Aras Corporation
Elvaston Capital Management GmbH
Work highlights
- Assisted private equity firm TA Associates with the acquisition of Klikpojisteni.cz, a leading online insurance brokerage company in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, through a joint venture company of TA Associates and the technology investment fund MCI EuroVentures.
- Advising BMI Group Management UK Limited and its affiliates on a pan-European group legal entity simplification project.
Slovakia > Real estate and construction Tier 4
Specialising in multijurisdictional matters, Wolf Theiss has particular experience of advising international clients from the software and fashion retail sectors, as well as real estate investors in retail businesses. The firm also advises landlords and tenants on commercial leases, and the practice is active in a range of real estate acquisitions and sales of properties. Counsel Bruno Štefánik, who leads the team, is experienced in transactions, development projects, project finance transactions and negotiating lease agreements.
Practice head(s):
Bruno Štefánik
Other key lawyers:
Radka Nenickova
Testimonials
‘Radka Nenickova and the team are incredibly helpful. They have assisted us seamlessly throughout the process. They are happy to jump on calls and to guide stakeholders through the process. The drafting and advice is clear and well considered.’
‘Radka Nenickova is standout. Always happy to assist and always clear and precise in her guidance.’
Key clients
H&M Hennes & Mauritz SK s.r.o.
Canonical Group Limited
Work highlights
- Advising H&M Hennes & Mauritz SK s.r.o. (“H&M”), the Slovak branch of the popular international retailer, on various lease agreements related to the expansion of its retail network in the Slovak Republic.
- Advising Canonical Group Limited on the long-term rent of office premises in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Wolf Theiss > Firm Profile
The firm: Wolf Theiss opened its first office in Vienna in 1957 and soon established a reputation as one of the region’s leading law firms. The firm has since grown into a multinational team of approximately 360 lawyers, making it one of the largest integrated law firms in the region. It has offices in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.
This presence on the ground is one of the firm’s key strengths. It works in a fast-moving part of the world that requires deep local knowledge and experience. By combining expertise with a strong international network, the firm is well-placed to handle complex cross-border transactions with a high degree of speed and flexibility.
Apart from its local offices in 13 CEE/SEE countries, Wolf Theiss also offers extensive regional experience in other countries in the region, such as Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
*The firm has regulatory frameworks within which it needs to comply. So by ‘presence’, we mean a legal form that is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in that country.
Areas of practice: Wolf Theiss’ full range of services covers financial services, competition and antitrust, corporate/mergers and acquisitions, employment law, energy and infrastructure, intellectual property and information technology, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, real estate and construction, regulatory and procurement, and tax. The firm’s dedicated practice teams provide in-depth specialist knowledge in their respective areas and collaborate closely to provide clients with seamless advice.
Slovakia: The Wolf Theiss Bratislava office was established in 2002. The team has local and international legal expertise as well as in-depth industry knowledge to support our clients doing business in the Slovak Republic and CEE/SEE region. We regularly advise local and international companies and clients from a wide range of industries. Wolf Theiss Bratislava has strong expertise in banking and finance, capital markets and financial regulation, corporate/M&A, real estate pharmaceutical law, competition law and employment matters. Our full integration with all other Wolf Theiss offices in the region and coordination of multi-jurisdictional deals are a strong asset and important factor for clients retaining us with respect to large cross-border transactions.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking and finance | Rudolf Pfeffer | rudolf.pfeffer@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 37 |
| Competition/antitrust | Zuzana Hodoňová | zuzana.hodonova@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 36 |
| Compliance | Jitka Logesová | jitka.logesova@wolftheiss.com | +420 234 765 223 |
| Corporate/M&A | Bruno Štefánik | bruno.stefanik@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 30 |
| Corporate Investigations | Jitka Logesová | jitka.logesova@wolftheiss.com | +420 234 765 223 |
| Dispute resolution | Marko Ernek | marko.ernek@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 38 |
| Employment | Zuzana Hodoňová | zuzana.hodonova@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 36 |
| Energy and infrastructure | Bruno Štefánik | bruno.stefanik@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 30 |
| Intellectual property | Zuzana Hodoňová | zuzana.hodonova@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 36 |
| Life Science | Zuzana Hodoňová | zuzana.hodonova@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 36 |
| Real estate | Vladimír Šimkovic | vladimir.simkovic@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 45 |
| Regulatory and procurement | Marko Ernek | marko.ernek@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 38 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mr Marko Ernek | Senior Associate | View Profile |
 | Ms Zuzana Hodonova | Counsel. | View Profile |
 | Mr Rudolf Pfeffer | Counsel. His focus lies on advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on all aspects… | View Profile |
 | Mr Vladimír Šimkovic | Senior Associate. | View Profile |
 | Mr Bruno Štefánik | Counsel | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 360 at this office : 12Languages
Czech English German Slovak FrenchMemberships
Slovak-Austrian Chamber of Commerce Slovak-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia ELSA Slovakia Slovak Compliance CircleOther
Contact : Jitka Logesová (Office managing partner) Contact : Claus Schneider (Regional managing partner) Other offices : Belgrade Other offices : Bucharest Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Kyiv Other offices : Ljubljana Other offices : Prague Other offices : Sarajevo Other offices : Sofia Other offices : Tirana Other offices : Vienna Other offices : Warsaw Other offices : ZagrebDiversity
At Wolf Theiss, we strongly believe that in a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce (both men and women of several generations and from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds) is better able to understand the marketplace it serves, offers better and more unique perspectives and thus, is better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics.
For us, uniting people and overcoming cultural divisiveness is part of our philosophy. By respecting each other, we have created a unique workplace camaraderie that spills over into our daily lives. Wolf Theiss considers itself to be politically liberal, not biased in any direction and imposing no restrictions on its workforce in terms of political view, religion, way of life, race, language and sexual orientation.
Our leadership team is comprised of 22% female partners, one of them within our management board, and 53% of our senior lawyers are women. We strive to stand at the forefront in the region, when it comes to gender diversity. We were one of the first law firms in the region to implement a maternity policy. Innovation initiatives at our firm are driven by female talent. We also encourage our lawyers to spend part of their daily work on firm-wide non-billable initiatives.
Wolf Theiss is proud to have been awarded Best National Firm – Work-Life Balance, 2021, Best gender diversity initiative by a national firm, 2020 and Best national firm mentorship programme, 2020 and to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012, “Best in Croatia” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 & 2013 and “Best in Romania” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2016, 2015 & 2014.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
At Wolf Theiss we believe that success is a two-way street. Our financial success depends in large part on our doing quality work for our clients, so they come back to us and recommend us to others. But our success also depends on the support of the local communities where we live and work. They provide us with a great deal of input and impulses, including the talented lawyers and assistants who make it possible for us to do what we do. We all think it is essential that we give something back to the community.
One way to show our commitment to the community is by providing legal advice on a pro bono basis to clients who need legal help, but are unable to pay for our services. Our pro bono work is directed at clients whom we consider to be very deserving or who face legal issues that we believe are especially important to our communities or to society as a whole.
Legal Briefings
Sustainable construction and ESG reporting in the commercial real estate sector in Poland
According to the World Economic Forum, buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and almost 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the European Commission (EC) proposes that from 2030 all new buildings should be zero-emission.