POLÁČEK & PARTNERS

Managing Partner: Pavol Poláček

Number of partners: 3

Number of lawyers: 22

Poláček & Partners is well known on the Slovak legal market and particularly recognised for its expertise in the field of energy, real estate and construction, environment and dispute resolution. The firm mainly deals with complex and difficult issues, the solution of which requires a team approach. Even so, its clients (mostly leading companies on the Slovak and/or international market) appreciate that when communicating the issues Poláček & Partners can deliver a clear strategy without using complicated language. Poláček & Partners also cooperates with leading industry associations and participates in the preparation of related legislation. The lawyers of Poláček & Partners have frequently spoken at recognized law conferences and are regularly quoted by major media (journals, TVs, radios). Poláček & Partners is a member of Interlaw, the elite global legal practice made up of leading law firms from around the world. Through Interlaw, it is able to offer direct global access to key people in overseas jurisdictions that are fluent in the language and customs of each country in which you wish to operate. Interlaw brings together over 8 000 first class lawyers operating in more than 150 cities worldwide.

Practice Areas:

• Energy
• Real Estate & Construction
• Dispute resolution
• Environment
• Corporate, M&A
• Employment
• Public procurement
• Information Technology and IP

Energy:

Energy is one of the firm’s key areas of the expertise. Poláček & Partners has one of the largest energy teams in Slovakia, consisting of 9 professionals. The firm provides comprehensive legal advice on the regulation of business activities in the energy sector, electricity production and pricing, including issues connected with distribution and trade in electricity, gas and heat. It focuses on the issues of renewable energy sources and their subsidy. Poláček & Partners provides comprehensive legal advice regarding the construction, permitting, connection as well as operation of various types of power plants (PV, hydropower, biogas stations, wind power plants, biomass plants, and various types of cogeneration units) and local distribution systems. It also prepares legal due diligence and relevant contractual documentation for its clients. Poláček & Partners represents clients in various negotiations and in proceedings before the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO), the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic as well as in court proceedings. The firm actively cooperates with leading industry associations (the Slovak Association of Photovoltaic Industry and Renewable Energy, the Slovak Hydro-energy Association, the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association, the Slovak Biogas Association, the Association of Energy Suppliers, the Slovak Gas and Oil Association, etc) and participates in the preparation of energy legislation.

Contact: Pavol Poláček, Jozef Hudák, Juraj Ondrejka

Real Estate & Construction:

Real Estate & Construction is another of the firm’s key areas of expertise. It has extensive experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating the terms of complex contractual documentation in the field of real estate, development and construction (purchase contracts, works contracts, lease agreements, etc.), including contracts in accordance with international FIDIC standards, in addition to regularly performing real estate due diligence. In the event of disputes, the team regularly handles significant litigation in terms of defective work or damage claims.

On the public law side, Poláček & Partners advises clients in zoning, construction and building permit proceedings and in all related administrative and permitting processes and provides legal representation before administrative authorities and administrative courts. The real estate & construction team has also collaborated in the preparation of comments on construction legislation. It has particular experience in the development of energy and greenfield projects and has dealt with power stations and timber projects. Poláček & Partners is a member of the Slovak Green Building Council and the Buildings for the Future association.

Contact: Pavol Poláček, Šimon Hudák, Jakub Žák

Dispute Resolution:

Poláček & Partners is renowned on the market for its dispute resolution practice. The team feels comfortable in high-profile and sensitive cases and is particularly strong in industry specific litigation – energy and construction. The firm is goal driven and believes in placing a strong emphasis on procedural strategy. The firm accompanies clients through all stages of dispute resolution. This includes an in-depth analysis of the facts and the assessment of potential risks and rewards associated with the case, drafting of filings (pre-trial notices, petitions for interim measures, actions, statements, remedies), legal representation in negotiations and court proceedings and assistance in enforcement proceedings. It represents clients in all stages of court proceedings, from the lower courts up to the Supreme and Constitutional Courts as well as before the European Court for Human Rights and arbitration courts.

Contact: Pavol Poláček, Jozef Hudák

Environment:

Poláček & Partners is aware of the importance of environmental protection and the fact that it has become a dynamically developing industry with irreplaceable importance. The firm considers its involvement in a case of underground drinking water protection for a municipality in Slovakia to be one of its most significant achievements in this area. Together with the Slovak courts, the firm created one of the first decisions where the courts dealt in detail with the climate crisis. The firm covers all areas regulated by environmental law,including waste management issues and guides developers through the process of environmental impact assessments.

Contact: Šimon Hudák, Jakub Žák

Corporate, M&A:

Poláček & Partners caters to awide array of corporate needs. The firm assists with the establishment of companies and subsidiaries and obtaining trade licenses and business permits for both domestic and international clients. An important part of the firm’s corporate and M&A practice involves assistance with acquiring shares and enterprises as well as with negotiations and day to day matters such as board meetings and amendments to corporate documents. The team also has extensive experience with the identification and verification of ultimate beneficiary owners in the Registry of the Public Sector Partners.

Contact: Pavol Poláček, Jakub Žák

Employment:

Poláček & Partners provides legal advice regarding the preparation of employment agreements, management contracts, internal corporate rules and employment termination agreements. The firm also provides legal advice in relation to the termination of employment relationships, collective redundancies, the secondment and transfer of employees and the collective bargaining process, and paysspecial attention to the preparation of legal opinions concerning liability in employment relationships, the ban on discrimination and health and safety at work. Poláček & Partners also has experience with the specific labour law protection of whistle-blowers, liability in employment relationships, the ban on discrimination and health and safety at work. Representing clients before public administration authorities supervising compliance with labour law forms an integral part of its work.

Contact: Juraj Ondrejka, Šimon Hudák

Public Procurement:

Poláček & Partners provides comprehensive legal advice in the field of public procurement for contracting entities and public contracting entities, as well as tenderers and candidates interested in participating in public procurement procedures. The firm also provides the service of an authorized person in the register of public sector partners, in which the identification of the ultimate beneficial user is an entry into public procurement. It provides comprehensive legal advice on the preparation of tenders, the evaluation of their compliance with the conditions for participating in public procurement procedures and the criteria for the evaluation of tenders. The firm represents clients in revision procedures and procedures on objections at the Office for Public Procurement.

Contact: Jozef Hudák, Šimon Hudák

Information Technology:

Poláček & Partners provides consultation in the field of information technology, especially in the development, implementation and provision of computer programs and IT solutions, in IT outsourcing and in the regulation of electronic communication and the provision of communication services. The firm also deals with cyber security and GDPR. The firms also helps its clients to protect copyrights, trademarks, patents, designs, utility models and product labels. It also represents clients in registration proceedings before the Industrial Property Office and the European Union Office for Intellectual Property.

Contact: Juraj Ondrejka, Jakub Žák