Largest Czech-Slovak law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS has won the award for Best Venture Capital Investment in Slovakia for 2025 at the CVCA & SLOVCA Awards 2025, held at a prestigious gala evening.  The award recognizes the firm’s legal advisory work on a standout investment in Brightpick, a Slovak leader in warehouse automation. The landmark transaction, valued at $12 million, combined both equity and debt financing. Notably, the €5 million venture debt component—provided from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Venture Capital program—is the largest venture debt deal ever recorded in Slovakia HAVEL & PARTNERS provided comprehensive legal advisory to Brightpick throughout the entire transaction process.  The legal team was led by partner Jaroslav Baier, and included associates Kristína Saktorová, Miriam Podskubová, Andrea Mochorovská and junior associate Róbert Košala.

“This award in the Venture Capital Investment Slovakia category confirms that our team delivers top-notch legal services in the venture capital sector.  The Brightpick deal is a milestone for Slovakia’s startup ecosystem.  The company is on a strong path to becoming the country’s first unicorn,” commented Jaroslav Baier, partner at HAVEL & PARTNERS responsible for the venture capital and private equity practice, and associated partner at ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

Brightpick, a Slovak technology startup, has developed Autopicker—a revolutionary mobile robot capable of fully automating the order picking and consolidation process in warehouses. The company has seen an eightfold year-on-year revenue growth and serves major clients such as Rohlík.cz and ViaPharma.

“Closing this deal was a key milestone for us, enabling us to accelerate growth, expand our capacities, and strengthen our presence in global markets,” said Ivana Žižková, Brightpick’s CFO. “Thanks to this financing, we successfully expanded into our primary target market—the United States—where we secured our first two major clients and have already deployed over 150 Autopicker units. The HAVEL & PARTNERS team provided us with exceptionally professional and technically precise support throughout the transaction. Their understanding of innovative deal structures  and the startup environment was crucial for successfully navigating this complex investment,” she added.

“We are proud to have been part of this exceptional transaction and to support Brightpick’s journey toward global success.  This award is the result of our long-term commitment to supporting innovative technology companies and contributing to the development of the venture capital market in Slovakia,” added Jaroslav Baier.

HAVEL & PARTNERS has established itself as a key player in venture capital transactions not only in Slovakia but also in the Czech market, where it has been operating since 2005. Today, the firm has the largest team of lawyers, consisting of sixty professionals focused on startups, technology groups, and innovations, making it the largest venture capital practice in the Czech-Slovak market.

“The firm is not just a legal advisor but also an active investor.  We founded Cornerstone Capital, through which I personally, along with the law firm’s partners, invest in venture capital funds. Currently, the Cornerstone Capital team oversees investments in 12 Czech and Slovak venture capital funds, in which it has invested over €2.5 million,” explained Jaroslav Havel, managing partner of HAVEL & PARTNERS and main partner and investor at ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

Thanks to these investments, Jaroslav Havel and Cornerstone Capital are indirect co-owners of probably the largest number of startups in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as in other countries. This includes approximately 150 companies, where they hold smaller indirect stakes, including several dollar unicorns. In addition to capital, they bring know-how, contacts, and legal support throughout the entire lifecycle of a startup.

CVCA & SLOVCA Awards 2025

The gala ceremony took place on 12 June 2025, at the Hradná restaurant under Bratislava Castle, attended by more than 150 private equity and venture capital professionals from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.  The CVCA & SLOVCA Awards are jointly organized by the Czech Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (CVCA) and the Slovak Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SLOVCA), which bring together venture capital and private equity funds, financial institutions, and service providers in the private equity sector in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. CVCA, like SLOVCA, aims to develop and support the venture capital and private equity sectors and represent their interests in collaboration with Czech, Slovak, and European authorities.

The legal team at HAVEL & PARTNERS has provided comprehensive legal advice to leading Central European developer Panattoni and investment group Accolade in connection with the construction and subsequent lease of an industrial facility in Panattoni Park Ostrov North, located in the Karlovy Vary Region. The project was developed in line with the latest sustainability standards.

The legal support also included negotiating lease documentation on behalf of the landlord. The transaction was led by Lukáš Syrový, Partner, assisted by Adam Karban, Managing Associate, and Dominika Hřebačková, Junior Associate .

The tenant of the 57,400 sqm eco-friendly facility is ZF, a global technology company specialising in advanced products and systems for passenger and utility vehicle mobility, as well as industrial technology. Built on one of the largest brownfield sites in the Czech Republic, the facility will be used as a highly automated distribution centre for the aftermarket parts sector.

The legal team at HAVEL & PARTNERS has provided comprehensive legal advice to Czechoslovak Capital Partners (CSCP) on the acquisition and subsequent sale of five prime properties in Hradec Králové. The firm is currently assisting with the sale of a prestigious property located directly on Velké náměstí, a historic square in Hradec Králové.

The property in question is a representative apartment building with a total area of 1,400 sqm, fully renovated with the emphasis on the preservation of its historical character. It houses a restaurant and office spaces, making it a highly attractive real estate asset in a sought-after location.

Legal advisory was led by Managing Associates Ondřej Falta and Adam Karban, with support from Jekatěrina Vydržel, Junior Associate, and other team members. Czechoslovak Capital Partners investment group, formed through the transformation of Šestý uzavřený investiční fond, a qualified investor fund, has been active on the investment market since 2012. Over the years, the group has built extensive experience across the investment spectrum, having invested more than CZK 3.5 billion, part of which through its affiliated companies.

The legal team at HAVEL & PARTNERS has provided comprehensive legal advice to Czechoslovak Capital Partners (CSCP) on the acquisition and subsequent sale of five prime properties in Hradec Králové. The firm is currently assisting with the sale of a prestigious property located directly on Velké náměstí, a historic square in Hradec Králové.

The property in question is a representative apartment building with a total area of 1,400 sqm, fully renovated with the emphasis on the preservation of its historical character. It houses a restaurant and office spaces, making it a highly attractive real estate asset in a sought-after location.

Legal advisory was led by Managing Associates Ondřej Falta and Adam Karban, with support from Jekatěrina Vydržel, Junior Associate, and other team members.

Czechoslovak Capital Partners investment group, formed through the transformation of Šestý uzavřený investiční fond, a qualified investor fund, has been active on the investment market since 2012. Over the years, the group has built extensive experience across the investment spectrum, having invested more than CZK 3.5 billion, part of which through its affiliated companies.

With our venture capital expertise since 2005, our team of approximately 20 lawyers has been providing intensive advice to investors, promising startups, VC funds, and family offices. We focus on fund structures and tax consultancy. We are well-versed in modern technological trends, with detailed knowledge of the market, investment environment, and startup business.

― What’s Coming Up?―

Meet Us at Startup Money 2025

On Thursday, 29 May 2025, the Startup Money 2025 conference will take place at the Divadlo Husa na provázku theatre in Brno. This inspiring international event is aimed at the startup and investor community from the CEE region. HAVEL & PARTNERS is a partner of the event.

― What’s Been Happening? ―

― Podcast ―

TA3 Kapučíno Podcast: Startups Today and Tomorrow. How to Seize the Opportunity
Startups are about the courage to take risks, seize opportunities, and find support for innovative ideas. What are the real financing options for new projects in our region? What risks does a startup founder face after securing investment? Jaroslav Baier, partner at HAVEL & PARTNERS and expert in venture capital, private equity, and transactional law, answers these and many other questions in a conversation with Martin Rinčo on the TA3 Kapučíno podcast.

― What’s New with Us? ―

Czech Venture Capital Has Much to Learn

Jaroslav Havel, Managing Partner at HAVEL & PARTNERS, shares his current perspective on the local venture capital ecosystem in an article for CzechCrunch.cz.

More Information in Czech HERE

― We Advise Investors and Founders ―

As the largest Czech-Slovak law firm, HAVEL & PARTNERS was honoured at the 13th annual Law Firm of the Year competition in Slovakia, where it claimed the top spot in the International Law Firm category for the fourth consecutive year. It also won first place in the Competition category for the fourth time and triumphed in the Mergers & Acquisitions category. In other 14 categories, the firm was ranked among highly recommended and recommended law firms, further underscoring the high quality and exceptional comprehensiveness of its services. These achievements are complemented by the firm’s success in the Czech Law Firm of the Year competition, where it won the Best Domestic Law Firm and the Best Client Service categories for the fifth consecutive year in 2024. With a total of more than five dozen awards in Czech and Slovak competitions in previous years, HAVEL & PARTNERS stands as the most successful and comprehensive law firm in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

“Winning the main award in the International Law Firm category for the fourth consecutive year confirms our ability to provide comprehensive international support for Czech and Slovak law firms. Our unique know-how of the legal and tax environment, combined with our international reach, makes us a reliable partner anywhere in the world. Last year, we became the first law firm from the CEE region to establish a direct presence in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Moreover, ONE FAMILY OFFICE, a new multi-family office established in cooperation with HAVEL & PARTNERS, adds a new and even more global dimension to our international support,” commented Jaroslav Havel, Managing Partner of HAVEL & PARTNERS.

The Competition team at HAVEL & PARTNERS, comprising nearly thirty top lawyers and economists, is one of the most experienced, largest, and fastest-growing practices not only in Slovakia and the Czech Republic but also in the entire CEE region. This year, the team secured its fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious Law Firm of the Year competition in the Competition category.

“Over the past three years, we have significantly strengthened our local presence in Slovakia. With a team of five experienced colleagues, we can handle even the largest projects and the most demanding clients. This victory is the result of the efforts of all our colleagues who contributed to providing competition law advice in Slovakia, and the clients who trusted us last year,” said Partner Lenka Štiková Gachová.

Partner Robert Neruda added: “As the only law firm in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, we offer clients a combination of legal and economic advice in competition law matters. We possess unique know-how utilised by more than 190 local and international clients, to whom we are deeply grateful for their trust.”

In addition to the main award for International Law Firm and the victory in the Competition category, HAVEL & PARTNERS also won the Mergers & Acquisitions category at this year’s Law Firm of the Year competition. “We thank our clients for their trust in us to handle strategic issues in mergers, acquisitions, sales, and company reorganizations, which have a significant impact on their future business and expansion abroad,” said Ondřej Majer, Partner responsible for M&A in Slovakia. “Thanks to our unique international network of contacts and our recent direct representation in Frankfurt, we can now execute and manage cross-border transactions practically anywhere in the world,” added Ondřej Majer.

The transaction team, providing comprehensive advice on mergers and acquisitions, comprises more than 80 lawyers, making it the largest and most experienced in Central Europe. The team consistently ranks among the top in the number of transactions completed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Central Europe.

Law Firm of the Year is a prestigious industry competition evaluating the legal services of law firms operating in the Czech and Slovak Republics, organized by the publishing house EPRAVO Group, s.r.o. It was first announced in the Czech Republic in 2008, and since 2013 it has also been held in Slovakia in cooperation with the weekly TREND. Find out more information here.

The awards ceremony took place on 9 April during a grand gala evening organised by EPRAVO Group, s.r.o. in cooperation with the weekly TREND at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel in Bratislava.

Our law firm advised the prominent Czech investment and development group Accolade on the acquisition of a 100% stake in FK Teplice, a first league Czech football club.

The extensive and long-term legal advisory during the transaction involved negotiating and preparing the acquisition agreement as well as conducting related legal due diligence.

The advisory team was led partners Jan Koval and Lukáš Syrový, working alongside managing associate Ivo Skolil, senior associate Nikola Pospíšilová Leová, associate Jiří Moravec, and junior associates Dominika Hřebačková and Johana Němečková.

Accolade’s purchase of FK Teplice marks a strategic, long-term investment aimed at supporting the development of the entire region. The club’s former owner, AGC Group—active primarily in the glass manufacturing industry—will continue to collaborate with Accolade on the club’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, particularly in youth sports development.

The Czech-Slovak law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS has welcomed a new partner this April. Jan Procházka, an expert in banking and finance, has joined the firm. He will lead the further development of this specialised practice, which includes a team of 30 experienced lawyers, including six partners.

With a decade of experience in banking and finance, Jan Procházka focuses on providing legal advice to banks, insurance companies, individual and collective investment entities, and other financial market clients. His expertise covers regulatory requirements and regulatory aspects of transformations, restructurings, and acquisitions, AML, payment services including licensing, financial product distribution, and compliance in the financial sector.

“Banking and finance is one of key specialisations of our firm, showing long-term growth.  Jan brings not only his detailed expertise and extensive experience but also the ability to connect regulatory advice with current market requirements.  His arrival will allow us to further develop top-notch expertise and respond more effectively to the needs of banks, insurance companies, investment funds, and fintech companies,” said Jaroslav Havel, managing partner at HAVEL & PARTNERS.

Jan also specialises in labour law, including standard labour matters, flexibility, innovative benefits, and international postings.  He has experience negotiating terms in employment and management contracts as well as contracts with statutory body members. Jan has represented clients in both judicial and extrajudicial phases of employment termination and has led projects assessing employee or statutory body liability for damage and setting up corporate governance.

He co-authored the Commentary on the Labour Code published by C. H. Beck in 2018. Prior to joining our law firm in 2025, Jan was a partner and head of the Banking and Finance and Labor Law departments at Deloitte Legal.

Banking, finance, and capital markets are among the main practice areas of HAVEL & PARTNERS. The firm’s clients include leading Czech, Slovak, and international banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, corporations, and major institutional and private investors.  Most lawyers in the specialised team have experience from renowned international law firms or leading positions in regulatory authorities such as the Czech National Bank.

The Czech-Slovak law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS has joined the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI), aimed at streamlining the construction of rental apartments in the Czech Republic to significantly improve housing accessibility. Supported by HAVEL & PARTNERS and other partners such as Central Group, Česká spořitelna, KPMG Czech Republic, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), and LOXIA architects, the initiative is launching a new simplified design & build model for affordable housing construction for municipalities and cities.

The new model, leveraging standardized projects and typically fixed construction costs, significantly accelerates and simplifies the building process—from design to implementation. This approach effectively reduces the risk of additional work and delays associated with extensive paperwork.

HAVEL & PARTNERS has joined the initiative by preparing model contractual and tender documentation, enabling municipalities to implement the construction of apartment buildings. The preparation was led by a team headed by partner František Korbel, along with managing associate Mária Kopecká and senior associate Tomáš Kalenský.

“We believe this approach could be a basic impulse for the creation of thousands of rental apartments across the country, helping municipalities respond to the growing demand for quality and affordable housing,” commented partner František Korbel on the firm’s involvement.

The Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) is a specialised think-tank of leading companies and institutions aimed at improving housing accessibility in the Czech Republic. The simplified design & build system and standardized construction solutions can be utilized by both public and private investors nationwide. The initiative closely cooperates with the Ministry of Regional Development (MRD), the State Investment Support Fund (SFPI), the National Development Bank (NDB), and the Union of Towns and Municipalities (SMO).

HAVEL & PARTNERS, a law firm, provided legal advice to Amundi Czech Republic, investiční společnost, again in another significant real estate transaction. It concerned the sale of The Square, a major administrative centre located directly above the Budějovická station of the Prague metro.

The comprehensive legal advisory included the drafting of and negotiating over the transaction documents and was provided by partner Lukáš Syrový and managing associate Albert Tatra. The real estate was purchased by Mint Investments, a real estate group. The value of the transaction exceeded CZK 1 billion.

Photo: Amundi Czech Republic, investiční společnost, a.s.

Authors: Kateřina Slavíková, Martina Rievajová, Diana Gregová

In recent years, the issue of dual quality of food has been a frequently discussed topic, capturing the attention of not only consumers and the media but also European institutions. As of 1 July 2024, Slovakia has enforced a strict prohibition of the marketing of dual quality of goods, including food products. In recent months, supervisory authorities have started conducting initial inspections under the new legislation. In contrast, the State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI) (the “Czech food authority”) has been conducting similar inspections for years. Recently, the Czech food authority published updated information on this issue based on previous inspections. What legislative change initiated the control of dual quality of food products in Slovakia? What approaches do the respective countries take towards inspections? And what are the implications for manufacturers and consumers?

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SLOVAKIA:

PROHIBITION OF DUAL QUALITY DIRECTLY HAS ITS LEGAL DEFINITION

In Slovakia, it has long been problematic to penalise dual quality of goods. In particular, supervisory authorities lacked explicit legal support to effectively monitor and penalise dual quality of goods.

However, as of 1 July 2024, new consumer regulation came into effect (of which we informed HERE), introducing, among other things, a new unfair commercial practice. Under this regulation, the trader engages in a deceptive practice if:

• they present goods as identical to those marketed in another EU member state, while
• these goods have different properties or composition.

The new regulation also specifies that the aforementioned rule is not universally applicable and includes certain exemptions, namely:

• The difference must be substantial. It is not enough for the assessed goods to have a different composition; the difference must be significant. Therefore, the substitution of a marginal ingredient of food should not immediately be considered a prohibited practice;
• Even a substantial difference can be justified. If the goods differ in a significant component or property, the trader can justify this difference with objective and legitimate factors. Such factors include differences arising from local legal requirements (e.g., a specific amount of fruit juice required for a product to be called fruit nectar).

However, the new regulation does not introduce special rules for dual quality of food products. Therefore, their potential dual quality is assessed solely under general consumer regulation.

An interesting aspect of the new Slovak regulation is that it explicitly considers only the marketing of goods with prohibited dual quality characteristics as an unfair practice. This contrasts with the Czech regulation, which prohibits the placement of food products that violate this rule as such. Given the recent implementation of the Slovak regulation, it is uncertain how supervisory authorities will deal with this seemingly unintended narrowing of the prohibited practice.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TRADER VIOLATES THE PROHIBITION?

If the prohibition is violated, the trader will face penalties from the supervisory authority as well as potential claims from consumers.

In such cases, the supervisory authority may impose the trader a fine of up to EUR 200,000.
Additionally, consumers may demand contract withdrawal, the right to remedy, and compensation for damage.

HAVE INSPECTIONS ALREADY STARTED IN SLOVAKIA?

In contrast to the activities of the SZPI, in Slovakia the regional bodies of the Slovak Food Authority^[1] are only now starting to carry out their first inspections, and the eventual results of the inspections were not publicly known at the time of preparing this article.

However, it is certain that the Slovak food authority intends to conduct them. This is evidenced by an announcement published on the Slovak food authority’s website, urging consumers to participate in identifying dual quality and to report any suspected differences in quality via a form.

Given that the Slovak Food Authority^[2] has issued only one methodological guideline for inspections (while the Czech food authority already has the 5th version of its methodology guideline available HERE), which primarily refers to general EU recommendations, it is uncertain how the inspections will be conducted.

The guideline suggests that when assessing this unfair commercial practice, the key factors will be:

• whether the differences between identically labelled goods are clearly recognizable to consumers;
• whether consumers have genuine access to essential information about the differences;
• how the trader justifies the differences.

Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared for inspections and to consider the prevention of misleading food labelling when designing packaging, labelling, or marketing food products.

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

HOW ARE SUSPECT PRODUCTS IDENTIFIED?

Since the prohibition of dual quality of food came into effect in the Czech Republic in 2021 (of which we informed HERE) the Czech food authority conducted extensive monitoring across the country and other EU member states until 2023. The aim of these inspections was to identify products that might violate the dual quality prohibition. The selection included approximately 150 food samples from various categories, ranging from dairy products and confectionery to durable products from both well-known and private brands.

During the monitoring, inspectors evaluated several aspects, such as packaging appearance, differences in composition, sensory properties, and how consumers were informed about any differences.

The results of these analyses served as the basis for subsequent official inspections.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF OFFICIAL INSPECTIONS?

Based on the monitoring results and consumer reports, eight inspections have been initiated since 2022, focusing on significant differences in the composition or properties of food products marketed in the Czech Republic compared to reference products from other EU member states.

As of April 2024, a violation of the dual quality prohibition was confirmed in one case only. This involved differences in the vegetable oils used (the product from Germany and Austria contained sunflower oil, while the Czech sample contained palm oil).

HOW ARE MANUFACTURERS PRACTICALLY RESPONDING?

Over the last three years, the issue of dual quality of food has moved forward significantly. The key trends are:

1. Harmonising recipes across the EU: This approach is considered the most desirable and contributes to higher consumer trust.
2. Packaging adjustments: Many manufacturers have altered product appearances to help consumers clearly distinguish between products (changes in colours, fonts, images, or even product names).
3. Regional adaptation: Some manufacturers introduce products with different flavours or variants to various markets (e.g., tomato and garlic-flavoured crackers in Austria, while only spinach flavour is available in the Czech Republic).
   

Based on the overview of the situation in both countries, it is clear that the topic of dual quality of food is highly relevant. It is essential to be prepared for potential inspections and, if possible, to adopt preventive measures.

At HAVEL & PARTNERS, we are ready to assist you with assessing appropriate food labelling, proper communication about food quality, and provide swift, targeted assistance in the case of inspections Feel free to contact us!

[1] State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic.

[2] State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic.

Central Europe’s largest independent law firm, HAVEL & PARTNERS, once again reported outstanding economic results for the last year. The total turnover of the law firm in 2024 grew by 8% year-on-year, reaching CZK 1.5 billion. The group’s overall turnover, which includes the debt collection agency Cash Collectors and other specialised services, reached a preliminary figure of CZK 1.7 billion. 

“Last year’s results once again confirm our exceptional long-term economic stability, which is the result of a well-thought-out strategy, investments in innovation, and systematic strong team building. In the last year, we not only maintained but also strengthened our position as the largest independent law firm in Central Europe. We expanded our international presence, which is crucial in the era of globalization, by opening a direct representation office in Frankfurt, Germany. Our success is primarily based on the solid foundations of top-notch expertise, the trust of our clients, and our ability to provide them with comprehensive solutions for their business development,” summarized Jaroslav Havel for 2024.

HAVEL & PARTNERS saw significant economic progress in its tax practice in 2024, with turnover growing by 17%. Economic growth was also supported by favourable results from teams specialising in litigation, private client services, and public procurement. Additionally, there was growth in practice groups specialising in mergers and acquisitions, competition law, and real estate law.

Last year saw exceptional interest in legal and tax services for private clients, particularly in the areas of professional asset management and protection. This is linked to the significant expansion of services offered by the affiliated family office, ONE FAMILY OFFICE, which provides comprehensive services for high-net-worth clients. These services include succession planning for family businesses, Czech endowment funds and trusts and foreign trusts, global mobility of family and assets, international investment opportunities, healthcare and family security, education and development of the next generation, and family philanthropy strategies.

“The development of ONE FAMILY OFFICE in its first year since its official launch has significantly exceeded our expectations, not only in terms of expanding our service portfolio but also in establishing new business partnerships and increasing the number of affiliated families and individuals. Overall, we have made new investments totalling CZK 4 billion, with 75% allocated abroad, particularly in the USA,” said Jaroslav Havel, founding partner of ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

In 2024, HAVEL & PARTNERS Group was ranked among the TOP 100 most valuable companies controlled by Czech owners, according to the Česká elita ranking. The ranking was compiled by Seznam Zprávy in collaboration with Deloitte. The latest analysis by Patria Corporate Finance valued the law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS, including its Slovak office and educational Academy, at CZK 2.8 billion. The value of the entire group, which also includes the debt collection agency Cash Collectors and other specialised entities, was estimated at over CZK 3.3 billion.

HAVEL & PARTNERS’ success and the high level of services provided are further supported by numerous professional awards, including the title of Law Firm of the Year 2024 for a domestic firm in the Czech Republic and Law Firm of the Year 2024 for the best client services. The firm also won the main award for the best international law firm in the Slovak competition Law Firm of the Year last year.