Peter Vrábel

Energy law and projects, lawsuit and arbitration, real estate and construction law, mergers and acquisitions, public procurement, restructuring and insolvency, tax law

Peter is the founder and Managing Partner of Legate, which he has led since 2002. He specializes in energy law, litigation and arbitration, real estate and construction, and restructuring and insolvency, and advises clients on complex, high-value matters across both the private and public sectors. He is licensed as a bankruptcy trustee and acts as an arbitrator before the Arbitration Court of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Before founding Legate, Peter worked as an external associate lawyer at Slovnaft, a.s. (2001–2002), where he coordinated the company's international legal agenda and advised on infrastructure and investment projects, divestments, real estate and banking law, and DBOF and EPC construction contracts. In 2000, he practiced at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P. in Bratislava, focusing on privatization, M&A and competition law. Earlier in his career (1996–1999), he headed the legal department at BELAR GROUP, a.s., where he managed legal affairs at holding level and oversaw internal legal teams.

Peter has over 25 years of experience advising clients on high-value transactions, disputes, and matters in regulated sectors.

EALA – European Aviation Law Association

Globalaw

International Bar Association

Members of our team regularly contribute to internationally recognized legal publications and comparative legal guides.

Selected publications include:

– Practical Commentary of the Energy Act (Wolters Kluwer, 2018)

– Corporate M&A – Slovakia Chapter (Chambers Practice Guides, 2019)

– Slovakia: Litigation Comparative Guide (The Legal 500, 2023, 2024)

– Slovakia: Commercial Litigation Comparative Guide (The Legal 500, 2023, 2024)

– Slovakia Aims for Investor-Friendly but Fair Legislation: A Buzz Interview with Peter Vrabel of Legate (CEE Legal Matters, 2025)

In addition, our lawyers have authored numerous other professional articles focusing on tax law, commercial law and litigation.

JUDr. Peter Vrábel is the Managing Partner of LEGATE, s.r.o., and one of Slovakia's leading energy lawyers, inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for his outstanding work in the Energy sector. He is widely recognised for his deep expertise in energy law, his highly practical approach, and his ability to bring complex, high-value projects to a successful conclusion. Clients consistently highlight the exceptional quality of his work — his openness to innovative ideas, his ability to develop intelligent, strategic solutions to regulatory and commercial challenges, and his pragmatic, business-oriented mindset — which sets him apart from competing firms.

Throughout his career, Peter has led legal advice on numerous high-profile energy and infrastructure projects, including for Slovenský plynárenský priemysel, eustream, Schneider Electric Slovakia, and the Košice Self-Governing Region, among others.

He also continues to be a leading dispute resolution lawyer, holding long-term lead partner roles on matters for Slovnaft, a.s. (the 3rd largest non-financial enterprise in Slovakia by annual revenue), Slovenský plynárenský priemysel, a.s. (6th largest), Eustream, a.s. (2nd largest taxpayer in Slovakia), the Capital City of the Slovak Republic Bratislava, and MH Teplárenský holding, a.s. (state-owned holding company of six heating plants) — a track record that reflects the steady growth of his reputation.

In real estate and construction, Peter has led major projects worth tens of millions of euros for leading Slovak and international companies, including Slovenský plynárenský priemysel a.s., Schneider Electric Slovakia, Podotech s.r.o. and Orange Slovensko a.s.

In corporate and M&A work, Peter acts as leading partner on the firm's ongoing commercial, corporate and M&A assignments, reflected in his membership of the Globalaw M&A workgroup. His close cooperation with AVENIAS tax advisors (former KPMG tax counsels), ProRate M&A valuation advisors and other specialists (technicians, appraisers, accountants) means he delivers more than standard legal service — providing complex counselling that prevents side issues on clients' M&A and acquisition projects, including proper legal and tax shields.

University of Komenius in Bratislava

Master of Laws

1991 - 1996

Hall of Fame - Energy & Projects

The Legal 500

2026

Leading Partner - Dispute Resolution

The Legal 500

2026

Leading Partner - Energy & Projects

The Legal 500

2026

Representation of clients from following jurisdictions before Slovak authorities: United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America, Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Czech republic; representation of a client in foreign jurisdiction before foreign authorities is not allowed under Slovak laws