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 2
Wolf Theiss' team is led by Rudolf Pfeffer, who has expertise in advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on all aspects of local and international finance transactions, including leveraged finance and real estate finance. The team has placed advisory work relating to loans at the heart of its offering, and has expertise covering all forms of lending. On the regulatory side, the firm has advised international clients on issues related to MiFID II, CRD IV, PSD2 and AML.Practice head(s):
Rudolf Pfeffer
Testimonials
‘Excellent advice and very responsive.’
‘Rudolf Pfeffer – very knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive. Gets to the nub of an issue and suggests possible solutions. A joy to work with.’
‘Wolf Theiss in Slovakia stands out for its extensive experience in banking and finance, particularly in handling complex regulatory matters related to fintech.’
‘What truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to gaining a profound understanding of their clients’ businesses. This deep knowledge enables them to deliver legal advice that is not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with their clients’ goals. Their admirable focus on building enduring client relationships further enhances their reputation as a trusted advisor in the field.’
‘The lawyers at Wolf Theiss in Slovakia possess exceptional first-hand experience in advising fintech companies, grounded in their profound understanding of commercial and regulatory intricacies.’
‘Rudolf Pfeffer stands out as an outstanding lawyer. He brings a wealth of expertise in banking and financial services to the table, with a dedicated focus on fintech. Rudolf’s extensive knowledge and experience provide clients with invaluable insights for navigating complex regulatory landscapes. His meticulous approach and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction consistently ensure the delivery of top-notch, tailored legal advice.’
Key clients
Packeta
Erste Group Bank
Raiffeisen Bank International
Slovenská sporiteľňa
ING Bank
Bayerische Landesbank
Helaba (Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen)
Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale
Work highlights
- Advised Packeta Group and its local subsidiary in Slovakia on local aspects of the successful debut club financing provided by a club of major Czech banks, headed by Česká spořitelna, and comprising UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia and the Czech branch of Citibank Europe.
- Advising Erste Group Bank, as arranger, on the establishment of the €7.5bn debt issuance programme of Slovenská sporiteľňa.
- Advising Erste Bank Group, Erste Bank Croatia, Česká spořitelna and Slovenská sporiteľňa on the establishment of a multi-issuer programme for the issuance of notes for MREL and own funds purposes.
Slovakia > Employment Tier 2
Wolf Theiss covers a broad range of employment issues across the CEE region, handling both contentious and non-contentious work, including transactions, terminations, and day-to-day labour issues. Joining from Allen & Overy Bratislava, s.r.o. in April 2023, Katarína Matulníková has taken over leadership of the team, and regularly advises both national and multinational companies on the full range of employment law issues, including restructurings and redundancies. Zuzana Hodoňová is experienced in assisting with contractual arrangements and employment policies, while Jozef Virčík advises clients on structuring transactions from an employment viewpoint.Practice head(s):
Katarína Matulníková
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very responsive and clear.’
‘Exceptional knowledge of employment law and excellent practical advice.’
‘Jozef Virčík works professionally. Outstanding and precise.’
‘The legal services provided by Wolf Theiss are at an excellent level, billing is appropriate considering the value of their work, collaboration with them is excellent.’
‘Katarína Matulníková is one of the best employment lawyers in Slovakia, so there is no need to write more! She is excellent and wise.’
‘Katarína Matulníková is by far the most experienced labour and employment lawyer in Slovakia. Her wide knowledge of the legal acts incorporated in the daily matters and huge experience with all kinds of clients makes her one of the most wanted lawyers when a company is dealing with issues it is not familiar with, mainly top management issues, terminations of agreements and the lawsuits arising from them.’
Key clients
AT&T
Autovista Group
Ingersoll Rand
Lookout
Oracle
Work highlights
- Advising AT&T on Covid-related employment law queries under the applicable orders, regulations and guidance in Slovakia.
- Advising LookOut, a cybersecurity company using predictive machine intelligence to analyse data, on the employment law aspects of the acquisition of SaferPass, a Slovakia-based developer focusing on password management software.
- Advising ORACLE, a multinational computer technology corporation, on the full spectrum of employment law issues.
Slovakia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Led by Bruno Štefánik, who has over twelve years of experience in transactional mandates, Wolf Theiss has advises on M&A and corporate restructuring in the automotive, healthcare, life science, and financial services sectors. Zuzana Hodoňová‘s expertise lies in related competition matters, including merger control proceedings, while Vladimír Šimkovic is regularly involved in prominent local and cross-border M&A transactions.Practice head(s):
Bruno Stefanik
Other key lawyers:
Zuzana Hodoňová; Vladimír Šimkovic; Karin Kirchnerová
Testimonials
‘We appreciated the team’s support, expertise and responsiveness in dealing with various issues.’
‘The front person of the Wolf Theiss team we interacted with was Bruno Stefanik. We appreciated their responsiveness and expertise and practical business-minded approach.’
Key clients
Lookout
Intuitive Surgical Operations
Liqui Box Corporation
DC Bank
Compass Group
Waterland Private Equity
Elvaston Capital Management
Müller Transporte
Agrofert
BMI Group
Bridgestone
Work highlights
- Advised Lookout, Inc., a major cybersecurity company, on the acquisition of SaferPass, a global developer of password management solutions for consumers and businesses.
- Advised Intuitive Surgical Operations on the divestment of its portfolio pertaining to the distribution, maintenance and supply of high-end microsurgery robotics instruments in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- Advised Olympus Partners and its subsidiary, Liquibox Corporation, on a post-closing internal reorganisation of operations in Slovakia.
Slovakia > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Wolf Theiss is well versed in commercial, regulatory, IP, IT, employment and banking disputes. The team also helps clients to manage their corporate liability risk and prepare procedures for handling crisis situations within the context of white-collar crime and sanction. Robert Pelikán leads both the Slovak and Czech practice groups. Zuzana Hodoňová is experienced in the private enforcement of competition law. Bruno Štefánik and Rudolf Pfeffer are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Robert Pelikán
Other key lawyers:
Zuzana Hodoňová; Bruno Štefánik; Rudolf Pfeffer; Marko Ernek
Key clients
Wiener Privatbank
GoEastFashion
LOGSTOR
Work highlights
- Representing LOGSTOR, a Danish manufacturer of energy efficient products, in connection with the bankruptcy of its exclusive distributor in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- Representing GoEastFashion in litigation relating to significant damage caused by a transportation company while transporting the client’s goods in the UK.
Slovakia > Real estate and construction Tier 4
Wolf Theiss regularly handles real estate transactions on behalf of clients from different sectors, as well as advising investors. Bruno Štefánik leads the team, and is well versed in transactions and project financings. Vladimír Šimkovic assists with lease issues.Practice head(s):
Bruno Štefánik
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
H & M Hennes & Mauritz
Work highlights
- Advising H&M Hennes & Mauritz SK s.r.o. on various lease agreements related to the expansion of its retail network in Slovakia.
- Advising a client on the long-term lease of office premises in Bratislava.
- Assisting a W&I insurance underwriter with drafting warranty and indemnity insurance policies for the acquisition of a hotel in Bratislava by the Czech real estate group CPI.
Slovakia > Projects and energy
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 390 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, compliance and investigations, 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 | Katarína Matulníková | katarina.matulnikova@wolftheiss.com | +421 2 591 012 69 |
| 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 Hodoňová | Counsel. | View Profile |
|
Ms Katarína Matulníková | Partner. | View Profile |
|
Mr Rudolf Pfeffer | Counsel. Rudolf’s practice focuses on advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on all… | View Profile |
|
Mr Vladimír Šimkovic | Senior Associate. | View Profile |
|
Mr Bruno Štefánik | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 390 at this office : 14Languages
Czech English German Slovak FrenchMemberships
Slovak-Austrian Chamber of Commerce American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia Slovak Compliance CircleOther
Contact : Katarína Matulníková (Office 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 35% female partners, one of them within our management board, and 48% 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 the Best in Central Europe Award at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2023 and to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2022, 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
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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.