Department profile
HAVEL & PARTNERS

Competition/Antitrust

Europe Guide 2026 : Czech Republic

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HAVEL & PARTNERS

Rankings

About

Provided by HAVEL & PARTNERS

Our competition law team is the largest in Czechia and Slovakia. We offer one comprehensive solution for both countries. Due to the location of our main offices (Praha, Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Pilsen, Bratislava), we are prepared to provide quick assistance to our clients in case of dawn raids regardless of the client location.

The competition team’s practice results have not only been recognized by our clients, but also market insiders. Aside from being awarded by Chambers and Partners – Europe for Competition/Antitrust as Band 1 both in Czechia and Slovakia with Robert Neruda as Band 1 and Lenka Štiková Gachová and Petr Kadlec as Band 3 ranked individuals and Tomáš Varšo as an Associate to watch, our competition team has become the absolute winner of its category in the Czech Law Firm of the Year Awards (2025, 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013) and has been ranked among the highly recommended law firms in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

We and our members have also been awarded for our practice in Czechia and Slovakia by GCR 100 – The Global Elite and by The Legal 500 as EU and Competition top-tier law firm. In 2025 (as well as in 2024, 2023 and 2022) we have become the absolute winner of the Slovak Law Firm of the Year Awards in the Competition Law category. Our Slovak competition law practice was awarded as the largest in Slovakia in The Slovak Spectator review for the fifth year in a row.

The team is led by Robert Neruda, partner and former Vice-Chair of the Czech NCA.

Industries (13)

  • Agriculture
  • Automotive
  • Banking and other financial services
  • Consumer goods
  • Energy
  • Entertainment, film and media
  • Food and forestry
  • Life Sciences
  • Metallurgy, mechanical engineering and chemical industry
  • Public sector
  • Retail and e-commerce
  • Telecommunications
  • Transport and logistics

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/Antitrust - Czech Republic

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

HAVEL & PARTNERS remains one of the leading competition law firms in the Czech market. The team has experience handling merger investigations before both the Czech and Slovakian competition authorities. It has further expertise in behavioural investigations, including into alleged abuses of dominance, cartel involvement and possible resale price maintenance. Team members also assist clients with state aid matters and the competition law compliance aspects of distribution agreements.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • HAVEL & PARTNERS represented Veolia Energie in a cartel investigation by the Czech Competition Authority.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • HAVEL & PARTNERS' team stands out for its exceptional precision, its ability to deep dive into complex technical and commercial details and its outstanding responsiveness under tight deadlines.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

  • HAVEL & PARTNERS has a strong ability to manage legally and strategically complex matters with precision and discretion.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

  • The team proactively brings ideas and approaches each matter with a comprehensive perspective.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

  • The team has an excellent knowledge of the local market.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

  • The team at HAVEL & PARTNERS is very knowledgeable and competent in the competition law field. The lawyers have extensive experience and are very dedicated in their work.

    Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Robert Neruda
    Robert Neruda

    Robert Neruda

    Robert Neruda is highly regarded for his broad competition law practice, which covers advising clients on merger control filings before both the Czech and Slovak authorities, as well as representing them in cartel inquiries and resale price maintenance investigations in both jurisdictions. He offers further experience in the competition law compliance aspects of distribution strategies.

    • Robert Neruda's level of expertise is top-notch. He also offers practical and strategic advice.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

    • His advice is clear, practical and aligned with business needs.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

    • He is one of the best lawyers in the competition field. He has excellent people skills and very in-depth knowledge of the subject matter.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

    • Robert Neruda is an outstanding competition law specialist with extensive experience across the CEE region, as well as international exposure.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

    • Robert Neruda has extensive knowledge about Czech and EU competition law and the practical aspects of dealing with the Czech authority. He gives advice in a clear and always practical way.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope
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  • Lenka Štiková Gachová
    Lenka Štiková Gachová

    Lenka Štiková Gachová

    Lenka Štiková Gachová frequently represents clients in abuse of dominance and resale price maintenance investigations before the Czech NCA. She is a member of the Bar in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and has additional experience representing clients in cartel investigations before the Slovak NCA. She also assists clients with competition compliance issues, including around distribution agreements.

    • Lenka Štiková Gachová combines deep legal expertise with a strong grasp of our business priorities. Her advice is both technically sound and commercially practical.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope

    • Her responsiveness and ability to manage sensitive regulator interactions make her a highly trusted partner.

      Competition/Antitrust respondentEurope
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  • Petr Kadlec
    Petr Kadlec

    Petr Kadlec

    Petr Kadlec assists clients with behavioural matters, representing clients in appeals against fines. He has additional experience advising clients on state aid matters.

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Ranked Individuals at HAVEL & PARTNERS (3)

Czech Republic

Members

Provided by HAVEL & PARTNERS

HAVEL & PARTNERS has rankings in the following guides

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