Advokátska kancelária RELEVANS s.r.o.

RELEVANS Law Firm

• Excellent knowledge of the Slovak market
• Multiple legal awards
• One of the largest law firms in Slovakia
• Active participation of partners in all stages of a project
• Complex legal problems solving
• Business-oriented approach
• Stable and satisfied clientele

Since its establishment in 2011, RELEVANS has become one of the most prestigious law firms in Slovakia.

RELEVANS has proven its status in various local as well international rankings as one of the leaders in the legal market repeatedly, making itself one of the most sought-after law firms in the country.

Legal Awards

• 3 x National Law firm of the Year
• Ranked in Chambers EUROPE
• Ranked in The Legal 500
• The Legal 500 – Top Tier in Litigation
• The Largest Law Firm in Slovakia in respect to Litigation area and Development/real estate area

RELEVANS lawyers are leading experts with decades of experience in handling complex legal projects, cases and various issues of all kinds.

Clients

• Corporations
• Private clients
• Developers and investors
• Finance groups
• Banks and finance institutions
• TV broadcasters
• Energy companies
• Railway companies
• IT companies
• Many others

Based in Bratislava, the firm has the advantage of a uniquely strategic accessibility to provide its legal services to entrepreneurs and international companies seeking to protect their rights and interests within the whole CEE region.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:

1) Dispute Resolution

RELEVANS litigation practice is a key pillar of RELEVANS Law Firm’s expertise. Cases and teamwork are handled easily thanks to the firm’s special analytical and control system. RELEVANS Law Firm applies plain style of legal writing which was amended and improved greatly by senior lawyers over the years.

10 Work Highlights

• Representation of companies in the banking and finance sector that were involved in a lawsuit to determine the invalidity of legal acts, with the disputed amount exceeding EUR 584 million
• Representation of one of the largest banks in Slovakia in a dispute on determining the existence and validity of a receivable exceeding the value of EUR 166 million
• Representation of clients in numerous disputes publicly known as “the Carlton Case” (together more than 50 civil, administrative, and criminal proceedings with a total value of the most significant ones over EUR 200 million)
• Representation of the defendants in numerous disputes initiated by electric power manufacturers seeking refunds of payments for access to distribution network with the cumulative value of the disputes being several tens of millions of euro
• Representation of the defendants in a dispute on payment of damages including appurtenances exceeding EUR 90 million
• Representation of a client operating in the production and sale of refractory materials in an international arbitration proceedings for payment of amount exceeding EUR 25 million
• Representation of the claimant (cargo company) in legal proceedings to challenge the actions and decisions of the Slovak Antimonopoly Office, which resulted in the imposition of a fine exceeding EUR 10 million
• Representation of the claimant MCH – Medical Care Holding in a dispute against the Slovak Republic regarding unpaid compensation for unconstitutional expropriation, with the total claim exceeding EUR 60 million
• Representation of the defendant in proceedings to determine the invalidity of legal acts and to establish property rights to real estate valued at more than EUR 50 million
• Representation of the complainant REDQUEST LIMITED in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights for violation of the right to a fair trial in connection with the annulment of final decisions based on an extraordinary appeal (value of the dispute more than EUR 8 million) and in related court proceedings before the courts of the Slovak Republic

Contact: Alexander Kadela, managing partner

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

2) M&A & Corporate

M&A and Corporate division focuses on transaction consulting. RELEVANS Law Firm assists its clients during the entire transaction – from the very beginning until its closure. The firm suggests an optimal transaction setup, negotiates the LoI/HoT/NDA, carries out due diligence, drafts the contractual documentation. RELEVANS represents its clients in negotiations concerning the transaction and its financing and also in the process of obtaining the necessary regulatory consents, including competition clearance.

10 Work Highlights

• Providing comprehensive legal advice in negotiating and drafting a Shareholders’ Agreement of a leading Central European energy group
• Providing comprehensive legal services to the investment fund on exit from the target company (a telecommunications operator providing internet, television and data services) and settlement of related shareholder and other relationships
• Representation of the seller on the sale of the administrative part of the Klingerka Project to the ERSTE realitná Renta fund managed by the Asset Management of Slovenská sporiteľna.
• Complex legal advice provided in cooperation with British law firm Setfords SOLICITORS to a buyer acquiring real estate in London valued in excess of EUR 450 million
• Legal advice provided to buyers in acquisition of an ownership interest in a company managing alternative investment funds
• Legal advisory services to European institutions regarding the acquisition of properties in the centre of Bratislava for the purpose of establishing the European Parliament's first contact office, representation of the European Commission, and the interactive exhibition "EUROPA EXPERIENCE" operated by the European Parliament in Bratislava
• Legal advisory services provided to the buyer in the acquisition of three shopping centers in Spain, with a transaction value of approximately EUR 500 million
• Legal advisory services related to the formation of a joint venture that integrates companies engaged in the operation of electronic toll collection systems in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, along with companies specializing in providing systems, solutions, and operational control for electronic toll collection, as well as electronic highway sticker systems
• Legal advisory services provided to the buyer, a Slovak grocery stores chain, in relation to the acquisition of a 100% stake in KON - RAD, a company that operates a network of wholesale and retail grocery stores throughout Slovakia
• Legal advisory services provided to the seller in the transaction of selling multiple commercial and administrative centres to the real estate funds

Contact: Marian Masarik, partner

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

3) Banking & Financing

Areas of expertise

• Transaction financing – project finance, acquisition finance, syndicated loans, factoring and forfaiting transactions, the financing of PPP projects and other
• Regulation within the banking and finance sectors – issues relating to banks, payment service providers, securities dealers and insurance companies
• Securities – issuance of shares (IPOs), issuance of bonds in domestic and foreign markets, the placing of securities for trading on regulated markets, takeover bids, compulsory purchases and redemption of shares

Work Highlights

• Representation of debtor in syndicated bank financing of construction of the 1st residential skyscraper in Slovakia
• Legal advisory services to the debtor regarding bank financing of EUR 116 million for constructing the second phase of the EUROVEA II shopping centre, including retail and administrative spaces
• Legal advisory services to the debtor (client) in securing a loan from a German bank for acquiring shares in companies owning shopping centres in Spain and refinancing an existing syndicated loan
• Legal advisory services provided to the arranger in relation to the issuance of bonds with a transaction volume of 135 million euro, and to the issuer for the issuance of bonds with a volume of 100 million euro.
• Legal advice provided to a sole underwriter of bonds in connection with issuing of the bonds and financing their acquisition with a value exceeding EUR 200 million
• Legal advice provided to a collection company in obtaining a license granted by the National Bank of Slovakia for providing consumer loans without limitation of consumer loans’ extent
• Legal advisory services to the seller for selling a stake in a telecommunications operator focusing on internet, television, and data services, including settling intragroup and syndicated loan relations
• Legal advisory services provided to a management company authorized by the National Bank of Slovakia to create and manage alternative investment funds, regarding changes in its ownership structure
• Legal advisory services provided to a Slovak bank regarding measures to prevent the creation of monopolies in the insurance of banking products
• Legal advisory services to the debtor for financing a shopping centre project in Eastern Slovakia

Contact: Marian Masarik, partner

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

4) Real Estate and Development

The Real Estate Department provides complex legal advice covering multifunctional, administrative, residential, retail, logistic, industrial, and hotel projects, including some of the largest and the most important ones in Slovakia.

10 Work Highlights

• City Center Nové Lido in Bratislava – legal advice on the approval process and preparation for construction of the city centre on the Petržalka side of the Danube and related infrastructure
• Eurovea and Eurovea II – legal advice for polyfunctional centre Eurovea, legal advice on construction of Eurovea II Complex, sale and lease of residential and non-residential premises, including representation of debtor in syndicated bank financing of construction of the 1 st residential skyscraper in Slovakia
• Rubáň, France – legal advice on a project designed for residential real estate and a winery in Slovakia and abroad
• Klingerka I, II, III - legal services to the developer in the construction of the Klingerka administrative project and its subsequent sale to ERSTE realitná Renta, as well as in the preparation and construction of the Klingerka II and III projects
• Legal advisory to the buyer on the acquisition of a premium parcel in London South in cooperation with British law firm
• Legal advice to the seller on a sale of two polyfunctional centres in Bratislava
• Acquisition of real estate in Eastern Slovakia - legal services to the client (a real estate company owned by a foreign investment fund) in connection with the acquisition of strategic real estate in Eastern Slovakia with an area exceeding 150,000 m²
• Sale of Logistic Parks – legal services provided to a number of sellers on the sale of a logistic park portfolio in Devínska Nová Ves, Bratislava, and in Nitra and Trnava to a foreign investor – the CTP group
• Westend Business Park in Bratislava - comprehensive legal and advisory services for an administrative business zone
• Embassy – legal advice on the sale of a company owning land in the center of Bratislava for the purpose of an embassy construction

Contact: Alexander Kadela, managing partner

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]