RELEVANS Law Firm

RELEVANS Law Firm

• Excellent knowledge of the Slovak market
• Multiple legal awards
• One of the largest law firms in Slovakia
• Active participation of partners in all stages of a project
• Complex legal problems solving
• Business-oriented approach
• Stable and satisfied clientele

Since its establishment in 2011, RELEVANS has become one of the most prestigious law firms in Slovakia.

RELEVANS has proven its status in various local as well international rankings as one of the leaders in the legal market repeatedly, making itself one of the most sought-after law firms in the country.

Legal awards

• 3 x National Law firm of the Year
• Ranked in Chambers EUROPE
• Ranked in The Legal 500
• The Legal 500 – Top Tier Litigation
• The Largest Law Firm in Slovakia in respect to Litigation area and Development/real estate area

RELEVANS lawyers are leading experts with decades of experience in handling complex legal projects, cases and various issues of all kinds.

Clients

• Corporations
• Private clients
• Developers and investors
• Finance groups
• Banks and finance institutions
• TV broadcasters
• Energy companies
• Railway companies
• IT companies
• Many others

Based in Bratislava, the firm has the advantage of a uniquely strategic accessibility to provide its legal services to entrepreneurs and international companies seeking to protect their rights and interests within the whole CEE region.

Main areas of practice

1)   Dispute resolution: RELEVANS litigation practice is a key pillar of RELEVANS Law Firm’s expertise. Cases and teamwork are handled easily thanks to the firm’s special analytical and control system. RELEVANS Law Firm applies plain style of legal writing which was amended and improved greatly by senior lawyers over the years.

Work highlights

• Representation of the defendants in a dispute on the invalidity of legal acts with a total value exceeding EUR584m
• Representation of one of the largest banks in Slovakia in a dispute on determining the existence and validity of a receivable exceeding the value of EUR166m
• Representation of clients in numerous disputes publicly known as “the Carlton Case” (together more than 50 civil, administrative, and criminal proceedings with a total value of the most significant ones over EUR200m)
• Representation of the defendants in a numerous disputes initiated by electric power manufacturers seeking refunds of payments for access to distribution network
• Representation of the defendants in a dispute on payment of damages including appurtenances exceeding EUR90m

Contact: Alexander Kadela, managing partner
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

2)    M&A and corporate: M&A and corporate division focuses on transaction consulting. RELEVANS Law Firm assists its clients during the entire transaction – from the very beginning until its closure. The firm suggests an optimal transaction setup, negotiates the LoI/HoT/NDA, carries out due diligence, drafts the contractual documentation. RELEVANS represents its clients in negotiations concerning the transaction and its financing and also in the process of obtaining the necessary regulatory consents, including competition clearance.

Work highlights

• Providing comprehensive legal advice in negotiating and drafting a Shareholders’ Agreement of a leading Central European energy group
• Providing comprehensive legal services to the investment fund on exit from the target company (a telecommunications operator providing internet, television and data services) and settlement of related shareholder and other relationships
• Representation of the seller on the sale of the administrative part of the Klingerka Project to the ERSTE realitná Renta fund managed by the Asset Management of Slovenská sporiteľna.
• Complex legal advice provided in cooperation with British law firm Setfords SOLICITORS to a buyer acquiring real estate in London valued in excess of EUR450m
• Legal advice provided to buyers in acquisition of an ownership interest in a company managing alternative investment funds

Contact: Marian Masarik, partner
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

3)    Banking and financing
Areas of expertise

• Transaction financing – project finance, acquisition finance, syndicated loans, factoring and forfeiting transactions, the financing of PPP projects and other
• Regulation within the banking and finance sectors – issues relating to banks, payment service providers, securities dealers and insurance companies
• Securities – issuance of shares (IPOs), issuance of bonds in domestic and foreign markets, the placing of securities for trading on regulated markets, takeover bids, compulsory purchases and redemption of shares

Work highlights

• Comprehensive legal advice to debtor in the syndicated financing of the construction of the second phase of EUROVEA II shopping centre and administrative premises – one of the largest real estate loans in Slovakia in recent years
• Representation of debtor in syndicated bank financing of construction of the 1st residential skyscraper in Slovakia
• Legal advice provided to a sole underwriter of bonds in connection with issuing of the bonds and financing their acquisition with a value exceeding EUR200m
• Legal advice provided to a collection company in obtaining a license granted by the National Bank of Slovakia for providing consumer loans without limitation of consumer loans’ extent
• Legal advice provided to an owner of bonds, valued at EUR135m, in connection with claiming rights under the terms of the bond issue, representation in negotiations with representatives of the issuer, as well as in analysing the issuer’s requests

Contact: Marian Masarik, partner
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

4)    Real estate and development: The real estate department provides complex legal advice covering multifunctional, administrative, residential, retail, logistic, industrial, and hotel projects, including some of the largest and the most important ones in Slovakia.

Work highlights

• City Center Nové Lido in Bratislava – legal advice on the approval process and preparation for construction of the city centre on the Petržalka side of the Danube and related infrastructure
• Eurovea and Eurovea II – legal advice for polyfunctional centre Eurovea, legal advice on construction of Eurovea II Complex, sale and lease of residential and non-residential premises, including representation of debtor in syndicated bank financing of construction of the 1^st residential skyscraper in Slovakia
• Rubáň, France – legal advice on a project designed for residential real estate and a winery in Slovakia and abroad
• Legal advisory to the buyer on the acquisition of a premium parcel in London South in cooperation with British law firm
• Legal advice to the seller on a sale of two polyfunctional centres in Bratislava

Contact: Alexander Kadela, managing partner
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]