Hillbridges, s.r.o.

Hillbridges is a Slovak law firm founded in 2008 by partners with extensive experience at Linklaters (Bratislava, London and Paris). In 2022, HILLBRIDGES was joined by a team of partners and senior lawyers previously working at White & Case (Bratislava and Brussels).

We are dedicated to delivering value where it counts most for our clients. This involves concentrating on specialized areas where we excel and where our expertise can genuinely impact outcomes. We invest time to understand the industries our clients operate in, enabling us to better grasp their needs and anticipate future challenges.

Where niche, highly specialized advice is required, we collaborate with the world's leading experts in specialized fields, prioritizing expertise that best serves our clients' needs.We find joy in continually advancing in this direction, working on innovative and revolutionary projects, and bringing global cutting-edge transaction experience to the Slovak market.

We are inspired by our clients' projects in complicated regulated industries (Slovenské elektrárne, Slovak Telecom, Zentiva and others), as well as by admirable successful Slovak companies (e.g. Pixel Federation or Martinus). Building long-term, trusting relationships with our clients enables us to better understand their concerns, anticipate potential challenges, and support them in their strategic decisions. Notable clients include GLP, Sanofi, Metinvest, Spinea, Timken, PPA Controll, Grand Circle LLC, LX Hausys, among many others.

Banking, Finance and Capital Markets

Our dedicated team advises on a wide range of banking and financial products, including syndicated loans, acquisition finance, corporate and project finance (including bond issues), real estate finance, asset purchase finance, as well as financial sector regulation.

Corporate / M&A

With extensive experience in managing and negotiating major international transactions, our lawyers advise on acquisitions, joint ventures, privatisations and divestitures in Slovakia and abroad in a variety of industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, real estate, automotive, construction, telecommunications, IT, insurance and others.

Crisis Response and Risk Management

We assist our clients in developing strategies to better manage crises and mitigate their impact. And we stand by our clients when crises happen.

Dispute Resolution

We represent clients in complex disputes and help them resolve serious commercial issues, whether out of court or before courts of all instances, before the Constitutional Court, as well as in arbitration and other dispute resolution proceedings. Our in-depth knowledge of the sectors in which our clients operate, including energy, insurance, telecommunications and others, enables us to effectively defend their interests before local or European regulatory authorities.

Emerging Companies

We support growing companies from inception through investor introductions, capital raises, debt financings, M&A transactions, new strategic partnerships and expansion to global markets.

Energy and Projects

Our lawyers represent leading players in the Slovak energy and network industries, including e.g. Slovenské elektrárne, eustream, Transpetrol, Nafta or Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) .

In the field of infrastructure, members of our team were involved in key PPP projects in Slovakia (R1, D1, D4/R7) and the Czech Republic (the first Czech motorway project as well as feasibility studies for the construction of railway lines). We represented the National Highway Company in negotiations and disputes with its contractors. Other important infrastructure clients advised by the firm include Bouygues, Colas, Metrostav, Intertoll, Ferrovial and PORR.

Employment

We assist our clients in complex and sensitive employment law matters, including changes in senior management, termination of employment, collective redundancies, managing relations with trade unions and industrial action.

Environment and Permitting

Our environmental law advice focuses on innovative and practical approaches to a variety of environmental issues in the context of transactions and permitting proceedings.

We guide clients through complex permitting processes related to construction and operations in various sectors (including energy, telecommunications, automotive, real estate and others) and represent them in negotiations with public authorities and in administrative or related court proceedings.

EU law, Competition and State Aid

Our practice includes advising on matters relating to restrictive agreements, abuse of dominance, mergers, state aid, public procurement as well as EU law in general. We often represent our clients before the European Commission, the General Court, and the European Court of Justice in legal proceedings against the European Commission and public authorities.

Insolvency and Restructuring

We advise investors, banks and companies on insolvency issues, bankruptcies, and restructurings (e.g. we represent an association of more than 400 creditors in the restructuring proceedings of Arca Investments, a.s.).

Private Clients, Trusts and Estates

We advise clients in connection with the administration of their estates and succession planning. We are trusted advisors to our clients' families and strive to maintain their trust across generations. We have established structures usual for building family offices succession schemes in jurisdiction across the region.

Private Equity

Our private equity team assists clients through the full life cycle, from fund establishment and fundraising to advising on private acquisitions and exits.

Public Policy

Our team helps clients anticipate and respond effectively to legislative developments. We have extensive experience in proposing and commenting on legislative and regulatory changes and in preparing effective and persuasive arguments to policymakers.

Real estate and Construction

Our legal advice in this area covers a full range of activities, including transaction structuring, construction, purchase and sale, design, leasing, operation, financing of commercial, administrative and other real estate, as well as logistics and industrial centres in Slovakia.

Technology, IP and Privacy

We advise clients on creation, protection, implementation and licensing of novel technologies and creative ideas in a broad range of areas spanning from heating industry, defence and civil safety, through food and beverages, digital governance and reporting, and entertainment and media. Leveraging our technology insights, broad experience with regulatory and governance frameworks, and our familiarity with new and traditional business models, we support our clients on various compliance matters primarily focused on privacy and data security, international sanctions, and export control