Cechová & Partners > Bratislava, Slovakia > Firm Profile

Cechová & Partners
STAROMESTSKA 3
811 03 BRATISLAVA
Slovakia

Slovakia > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Cechová & Partners advises clients operating throughout the financial services sector, including foreign and Slovak banks. Head of the banking and finance department Simona Haláková has extensive experience in the regulatory aspects of banking, finance and capital markets matters, while Michaela Jurková is knowledgeable in financing transactions for both borrowers and lenders. Katarína Čechová covers project financing and corporate finance, while Miroslav Zaťko is also noted for his regulatory expertise.

Practice head(s):

Simona Haláková

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

BLACKROCK, INC.

Generali Italia S.p.A. .

Bitstamp

FreedomPay

Zurich Insurance Plc

AmTrust International

Simmons & Simmons

Work highlights

  • Advising Bank of America’s corporate and investment banking division on financial instrument trading in Slovakia, including trading in securities, precious metals and commodity derivatives with precious metals as the underlying commodity.
  • Advising BlackRock, and its investment funds based in Luxembourg and Ireland, on the regulatory aspects of providing collective investments services in Slovakia.
  • Advising Generali Italia on the partial demerger of the insurance company Cattolica Assicurazioni S.p.A. into the client itself.

Slovakia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Led by Lenka Šubeníková, Cechová & Partners has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial, corporate and M&A work, with the team advising on cross-border deals and domestic transactions for clients from various sectors, including life sciences, FMCG, automotive and transportation. Tomáš Rybár has strong sector experience in contracts, and is focused on corporate governance and compliance, while Katarína Čechová specialises in handling complex M&A deals. Michal Šimunič is noted for his experience in transactional work, as is Miroslav Zaťko, who regularly assists with cross-border projects. Marek Holka is another key name.

Practice head(s):

Lenka Šubeníková

Other key lawyers:

Tomáš Rybár; Katarína Čechová; Tomáš Maretta; Michal Šimunič; Miroslav Zaťko; Kristína Maschkanová; Marek Holka

Testimonials

‘Very skilled, pragmatic and knowledgeable. Always of great support.’

‘Very professional and committed lawyers who consistently provide excellent advice under pressure.’

‘We can develop our opinions together and then together make a good strategy.’

Key clients

ABB Optical Group

ait-deutschland

Amgen

Bausch Health

Cinema Holding/Cinema City

CROWN Group

Clamason Slovakia

EIM Interim Management

Hengstler

Inalfa Roof Systems

LEDVANCE

Lenovo

Mattoni 1873

Merck Sharp & Dohme

Minerals Technologies

NORDZUCKER GROUP

PACCAR Financial

Takeaway.com

Santen

Schiesser

Smartwings

SMRC (former Reydel)

syncreon

Telecom Italia (TIM) / Noovle Slovakia

Vertiv

Vienna Airport / Flughafen Wien AG

Work highlights

  • Assisted Mattoni 1873 with its acquisition of shares in General Plastic.
  • Advised Acti-Med Group GmbH on the indirect acquisition of EUROPIN Slovakia, a major producer of medical devices, via the acquisition of EUROPIN group.
  • Advised Sdiptech AB on a change of control relating to the parent company of its Slovakian branch.

Slovakia > Employment Tier 2

The team at Cechová & Partners covers a broad range of areas, including regulatory and compliance issues, whistleblower protection, and cooperation with third-sector organisations. Tomáš Rybár is the head of the labour and employment practice and works on a range of employment, compliance and privacy matters. Lenka Šubeníková regularly advises on the creation of procedures and HR policies, while Simona Haláková specialises in transfers of enterprises, outsourcing issues, and employee share schemes. Peter Fedor oversees the firm’s new office in Košice, with a focus on clients based in Eastern Slovakia, and particularly in relation to employment litigation.

Practice head(s):

Tomáš Rybár

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘In my view, this team combines domestic knowledge and experience with the international standards of provision of legal services. They are responsive and understand the requirements of multinational companies.’

‘This is a longstanding, cohesive and successful team, with a commensurate depth of expertise.’

‘I have found the partners I work with proactive where possible, responsive and knowledgeable; they delegate where appropriate but remain available and on top of matters.’

‘Tomáš Rybár has been particularly helpful with recent matters – he is my go-to lawyer in this field!’

‘The team has great expertise and knowledge of the market. They provide practical advice, communicated in a way that is easy to understand for business. They are very responsive and easy to work with.’

‘Tomáš Rybár and Peter Fedor are great when advising on big strategic projects or helping with urgent ad-hoc matters. Both are very responsive and have a great understanding of business needs and market practice.’

‘Great teamwork, high quality and timely reactions.’

Key clients

Lenovo

Crown Packaging

Merck Sharp & Dohme

LEDVANCE

Amgen

Hengstler (member of Fortive Group belonging to Fortune 500)

Bausch Health

AFS Visicom Slovakia, belonging to TELUS group (Canadian leading technology and communication company)

Tesco Stores

TUBEX SLOVAKIA, s. r. o.

Globalization Partners

Booster

GlobalLogic (a member of Hitachi group)

Organon

Work highlights

  • Advising Lenovo on day-to-day employment matters.
  • Assisting DP World group with a TUPE transfer involving over 2000 employees.

Slovakia > Real estate and construction Tier 2

Cechová & Partners regularly advises on construction and zoning law matters, as well as representing clients in proceedings before the relevant authorities. The team is skilled in advisory services regarding office, retail and residential leases; Tomáš Rybár is a key contact for such work. Lenka Šubeníková is experienced in advising on project developments, real estate transactions and construction contracts. Katarína Čechová is noted for her expertise in domestic greenfield projects. Michal Šimunič has expertise in negotiating office leases. Marek Varga is another active team member.

Practice head(s):

Lenka Šubeníková

Key clients

Axxence Slovakia

Lenovo

Amgen

Hengstler

ABB Solutions Slovakia

CROWN Bevcan Slovakia

Work highlights

  • Advising Axxence Slovakia on the acquisition of a new site for a production hall and office building, as well as on various easement agreements with companies neighbouring the site.
  • Advising Lenovo on lease matters relating to its new premises in the Panorama Business Center.

Slovakia > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Cechová & Partners regularly appears before arbitration tribunals, as well as handling administrative proceedings for local and international clients. Katarína Čechová serves as a permanent arbitrator of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre, and the Court of Arbitration of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, alongside serving as ad hoc arbitrator under the ICC and UNCITRAL rules of arbitration. Miroslav Zaťko  and Peter Fedor  are further key names.

Practice head(s):

Katarína Čechová

Other key lawyers:

Miroslav Zaťko; Peter Fedor

Key clients

Eiffage Construction

SMRC (former Reydel) Automotive Slovakia s.r.o.

Merck, Sharp & Dohme

P.E.M.

Smartwings

Crown Bevcan Slovakia

Work highlights

  • Representing Eiffage Construction Slovenská republika in litigation with a former managing director, including separate proceedings relating to a security injunction.
  • Representing SMRC Automotive Slovakia in proceedings regarding compensation due to a defective contractual performance.

The firm: Čechová & Partners is an independent Slovak law firm with a 34-year history. Since our establishment in 1990, we have been solving our clients’ legal issues in the areas of Slovak and European law. Our skills are reflected in our work and the satisfaction of our clients, as well as by our top ratings in numerous international and Slovak legal rankings every year.

Our primary focus is on corporate clientele. Our clients include foreign companies (often multinational organisations and their subsidiaries), as well as large international law firms and local businesses. We are delighted that many of our clients return to us and have sought our advice on a regular basis for many years. With some of our clients, we cooperate almost on a daily basis. With others, we work on specific individual projects.

Our attorneys speak many different languages – Slovak, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Hungarian, Italian. Therefore, we are able to communicate with our clients better and also understand their requests from their perspective. This is part of our first value – Professionalism. We view our clients as our partners. We are able to bring together a comprehensive team of experts, enabling us to provide clients with advice on different types of agenda.

Our second value is – Flexibility. We know that only having good knowledge of the law is no longer enough if we want to be among the best. We aim to identify and adapt to unique and changing requirements as rapidly as possible.

And last, but not the least, our main value – Integrity. We value the trust that our clients place in us. We work in line with the principles of decency and honesty, which we put first in the relationship between our law firm and clients. In recognition of these values, we advocate the principles of the fight against corruption, and apply the principles of internal compliance. We encourage all of our employees to adopt the same approach.

Areas of practice
M&A transactions: M&A advice forms the core of the firm’s practice. Cechova & Partners regularly advises foreign investors, multinationals and local clients on a variety of M&A and restructuring matters.

Competition and antitrust: the team acts on a broad range of competition matters including compliance issues, representing clients vis-à-vis the Slovak competition authority in antitrust investigations.

Corporate and commercial: Cechová & Partners is regularly involved in a large number of corporate matters, as well as contract drafting and reviews, including the areas of commercial, financial and civil contracts.

Labour and employment: the practice is one of the largest in Slovakia and provides full employment and labour law assistance including employment contracts, employment termination, damage actions, works councils, collective bargaining, anti-discrimination, employee data protection, health and safety at work, employee pensions, share plans and benefits.

Banking and finance: The firm’s clients include banks, facility arrangers, foreign investors, security houses, financial institutions and insurance companies.

Data protection and privacy: Cechova & Partners advises on standard data protection duties of controllers and processors, notifications and registrations, communication with the local authority, internal documentation, security of personal data, monitoring, cross-border transfers, binding corporate rules, privacy shield, and further aspects of the new GDPR.

Real estate and construction: Cechova & Partners gained respectable experience in the field of real estate development, advising in significant real estate deals to major international clients, investors, private equity funds, developers, banks, other providers of financing, property managers and other clients, dealing with all aspects of real estate transactions.

Regulatory and compliance: regulatory assistance is a key area, in particular in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food, IT, privacy, consumer protection, product safety, energy, transportation, postal services and public procurement. The law firm is a leading team in life sciences matters, including promotion, reimbursement and clinical trials. Compliance reviews and forensic assistance are also of prominence.

Dispute resolution: Cechova & Partners’ litigation team represents clients in various types of disputes at courts, arbitration tribunals and in administrative proceedings.

Insolvency and restructurings: Cechova & Partners regularly advises its clients on insolvency and restructuring matters while Katarina Cechova, partner, is licensed as a bankruptcy and restructuring trustee.

Department Name Email Telephone
Corporate and Commercial Tomas Maretta
Corporate and Commercial Lenka Subenikova
Competition and Antitrust Tomas Maretta
Competition and Antitrust Marek Holka
M&A Lenka Subenikova
Real Estate and Construction Lenka Subenikova
Labour and Employment Tomas Rybar
Labour and Employment Lenka Subenikova
Litigation and Arbitraton Katarina Cechova
Banking, Finance, Capital Markets Simona Halakova
Banking, Finance, Capital Markets Michaela Jurkova
Telecommunications, IT, Media Simona Halakova
Telecommunications, IT, Media Tomas Rybar
Regulated Industries, Public Law Simona Halakova
Regulated Industries, Public Law Tomas Rybar
Compliance and Investigations Tomas Rybar
Intellectual Property Michaela Jurkova
Life Sciences and Pharma Tomas Rybar
Life Sciences and Pharma Marek Holka
Data Protection and Privacy Tomas Rybar
Insolvency and Restructuring Katarina Cechova
Insolvency and Restructuring Michaela Jurkova
Company and Commercial Tomas Maretta
Company and Commercial Lenka Subenikova
Photo Name Position Profile
Katarina Cechova photo Mrs Katarina Cechova Partner. During 40 years of continuous legal practice Katarina advised and represented…
Peter Fedor photo Mr Peter Fedor Attorney / Senior Associate. Peter Fedor started to work in our law…
Simona Halakova photo Mrs Simona Halakova Partner. Simona is a head of banking & finance regulatory practice and regularly assists…
Marek Holka photo Mr Marek Holka Partner. Marek primarily deals with competition law and pharmaceutical law. He is…
Michaela Jurkova photo Ms Michaela Jurkova Partner. Michaela Jurková is a partner in Čechová & Partners with more…
Tomas Maretta photo Mr Tomas Maretta Managing Partner. Tomas is an expert in the area of competition and…
Kristína Maschkanová photo Ms Kristína Maschkanová Attorney/Senior Associate. Kristína Maschkanová is an associated attorney at our law firm…
Tomas Rybar photo Mr Tomas Rybar Partner. Tomas is active primarily in the fields of employment, pharmaceuticals, corporate…
Michal Simunic photo Mr Michal Simunic Attorney. Michal advises various international clients having its subsidiary in Slovakia on…
Lenka Subenikova photo Ms Lenka Subenikova Lenka Šubeníková is a partner at Čechová & Partners and leads the…
Marek Varga photo Mr Marek Varga Attorney/Senior Associate. Marek Varga has worked for our law firm as an…
Miroslav Zaťko photo Mr Miroslav Zaťko Attorney
Number of lawyers : 20
Slovak
English
French
German
Russian
Czech
Hungarian
Italian
Lex Mundi
World Services Group
IBA
AIJA
Slovak Bar Association
American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)
Camera di Commercio Italo - Slovacca

Cechova & Partners has a long tradition of community involvement, cooperation with third sector organizations and pro bono activities. We are inter alia supporting projects and foundations focused on providing help to children with severe diseases as well projects fighting corruption and supporting increased level of compliance and ethics in Slovakia. The attorneys of Cechova & Partners believe that they have a social obligation resulting from their status as legal professionals to provide such assistance and share their skills for the common good. To support those goals, a number of our attorneys serve in supervising and advisory bodies of entities administering certain of the projects.

When it comes to gender diversity, Cechova & Partners stands at the forefront in Slovakia. Unusually for the Slovak business environment, in Cechova & Partners the majority of partners and managers are women.


 

Cechova & Partners has a long tradition of community involvement, cooperation with third sector organizations and pro bono activities. We are, inter alia, supporting projects and foundations focused on providing help to children with severe diseases, as well as projects fighting corruption and supporting an increased level of compliance and ethics in Slovakia. Attorneys of Cechova & Partners believe that they have a social obligation resulting from their status as legal professionals to provide such assistance and share their skills for the common good. To support those goals, a number of our attorneys serve on supervisory and advisory bodies of entities administering certain projects.

When it comes to gender diversity, Cechova & Partners stands at the forefront in Slovakia. Unusually for the Slovak business environment, the majority of partners and managers in Cechova & Partners are women. In 2018, Katarina Cechova won the title “Top Businesswoman of the Year”. The competition was organized by Slovakia’s business daily Hospodárske noviny (HN) [https://hnonline.sk/]. First, she was shortlisted as one of the top ten most recognized Slovak businesswomen and finally won both categories: the main award and also the “public votes” award.

We have been organizing charitable events – in recent years, proceeds from those events were used, among other things, to support projects of the League Against Cancer, to revitalize Malá scéna theatre in Bratislava and to support Anton Srholec’s resocialization community.

Our law firm has been supporting the Spolu s odvahou Foundation established in 2001. The main goal of this foundation is to provide life-changing experience, strength and tools to live and recover for seriously ill children (children with cancer, diabetes, chronic joint inflammation and haemophilia) and their families. The foundation returns these children to their carefree childhood, which they lost during the struggle with severe illness. Thanks to positive feelings and experience, it gives them feelings of success, boosts their self-confidence, helps them gain the power to fight the illness and increases their belief in recovery. Mrs. Katarina Cechova is a member of the board of Spolu s odvahou Foundation. You can learn more about the foundation and its project here: https://spolusodvahou.org/sk/

The law firm Cechova & Partners gives professional support to the Stop Corruption Foundation, which is focused on eliminating corruption and its aftermath with respect to the quality of life and business environment and protecting whistleblowers. You can learn more about this organization here: http://zastavmekorupciu.sk/.

In 2023, five of our lawyers spent almost 540 working hours working pro bono.