Jaroslav Havel is the managing partner
of our law firm. His clients include leading financial institutions
operating in the Czech and Slovak Republics, numerous Fortune 500
and Czech Top 100 companies, ministries, state-owned enterprises, some
of the most successful and wealthiest Czech and Slovak private business
people, and also foreign entrepreneurs doing business in the Czech
Republic and Slovakia.
Jaroslav specializes in banking,
finance, corporate and commercial law (advising in particular on matters
related to top management of business companies), mergers,
acquisitions, private equity/venture capital, legal audits and legal
due diligence, comprehensive projects (including in the public sector),
insurance, capital markets, energy, transport and healthcare law.
Typical projects led by Jaroslav consist
of advising major Czech, Slovak and international corporations
and individuals on acquisitions and divestitures of companies and
businesses, including the financing of these transactions.
He has published numerous articles on
corporate law, mergers, acquisitions, banking and financial law in both
Czech and foreign legal journals. He is regularly cited in management
surveys as a leader of the Czech and Slovak legal business.
Before
establishing our law firm in 2001, he worked for more than six years at
prominent local and international law firms based in Prague, including
Linklaters.
Recommendations of international publications
The
prestigious international rating publications PLC Cross-border,
European Legal 500, IFLR 1000, Chambers Global, European Legal Experts,
and Global Law Experts have all recommended Jaroslav as a leading Czech
expert in the fields of mergers, acquisitions, corporate and commercial
law, and some of them also for insolvency, restructuring, banking
and finance. In 2011 Jaroslav was cited by the independent international
publication Who’s Who Legal as one of leading international experts in
the Czech Republic for competition law and in 2014 for information
technology. In 2007, Jaroslav was named the “Lawyer of the Year” for
Banking and Finance in the prestigious annual competition organized
jointly by the Czech Bar Association and the Czech Internet-based
company epravo.cz.
Membership in professional associations
Czech Bar Association
Slovak Bar Association
International Bar Association
SME Union of the Czech Republic (member of the management board)
Chamber of Public Tender Administrators (vice-chairman of the management board)
Charles University, Faculty of Law, Prague (2000), JUDr. (Doctor of Laws)
Charles University, Faculty of Law, Prague (1996), Mgr. (Master of Laws)
Jaroslav Havel has acted as the lead counsel or has been instrumental in a number of the largest transactions executed in the Czech Republic in recent years.
business combination of two major insurance companies in several countries in Central and Eastern Europe (a transaction worth EUR 5.1 billion)
the largest bankruptcy proceedings in the Czech Republic’s history
contemplated privatization of Czech Airlines
acquisition of the largest Czech paper and pulp manufacturer
acquisition of a home building savings bank with a subsequent merger of two home building savings banks
contemplated acquisition of the world’s third largest engineering manufacturer
combination of two leading Central-European soft drink producers
sale of a shareholding in one of the largest Czech companies in the photovoltaic sector to a major global private equity fund
joint venture of two leading European publishing companies
sale of one of the Czech Republic’s largest construction companies
several major acquisitions and divestitures in the food industry
In the first six months of 2026, the largest Czech-Slovak law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS generated revenue of CZK 666 million. The revenues of the entire group, which also includes collection agency Cash Collectors and other specialised services, exceeded CZK 815 million, an increase of 9 per cent. “The aim is not merely to increase revenues; what matters most […]
In 2026, HAVEL & PARTNERS once again successfully featured in the prestigious international Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2026, receiving the highest possible rating of Band 1 in the Private Wealth Law – Czech Republic category. The private client team, comprising 50 lawyers, tax advisers and accountants, handles the private affairs of clients, including many of […]
Two transactions on which HAVEL & PARTNERS acted as legal counsel were recognised at this year’s prestigious CVCA & SLOVCA Awards 2026, one of the leading awards programmes in the venture capital industry. The investment by PortfoLion and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in GymBeam received the award for Venture Capital Deal […]
HAVEL & PARTNERS will internally promote a total of 19 legal and tax professionals as of 1 April. Róbert Gašparovič, Irena Munzarová and Albert Tatra will be promoted to the position of Counsel effective April. A further five professionals will advance to the role of Managing Associates: Marta Fantová Argalášová, Pavla Korcová, Peter Košecký, Kamil […]
The revenues of the law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS grew year‑on‑year by 7% in 2025, reaching CZK 1.6 billion. The total revenues of the entire group, which also includes the debt‑collection agency Cash Collectors and other specialised services, exceeded CZK 1.8 billion according to preliminary results. HAVEL & PARTNERS Group, which celebrates its 25th anniversary […]
For the eighth time, HAVEL & PARTNERS has won the international award as the best law firm in the Czech Republic in the Lexology Index Awards 2025 (formerly Who’s Who Legal). In its evaluation, the respected international legal ranking highlighted HAVEL & PARTNERS’ exceptional client care, strong professional position in the market and focus on innovation. With […]
In the 18th annual Law Firm of the Year awards, HAVEL & PARTNERS was named the Best Domestic Law Firm in the Czech Republic for the sixth consecutive year, while also receiving the award for Best Client Service. In addition, HAVEL & PARTNERS received a special honour as the Innovative Law Firm of the Year. […]
HAVEL & PARTNERS has once again confirmed its leading position on the Slovak market. In the annual ranking of the TOP 10 largest law firms, compiled by SME and The Slovak Spectator, HAVEL & PARTNERS was named the largest Czech law firm, the second largest regional law firm, and the third largest law firm overall […]
