HAVEL & PARTNERS, the largest Czech-Slovak law firm, won the main award in the International Law Firm category and also won the Competition and Health Law categories in the 11th annual Law Firm of the Year 2023 competition in Slovakia. In 11 other categories, it ranked among the top-ranked law firms. The official announcement of the results took place on 26 April at a gala dinner organised by the publishing house EPRAVO Group, s. r. o., in cooperation with the weekly TREND at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel.
The firm has thus consolidated its exceptional position on the Slovak and Czech legal market, which is unique in Europe, and remains the most successful and comprehensive law firm in both countries. “This is an outstanding result in this competition in Slovakia – defending the main award and winning the Competition category, including winning the Health Law category, and 11 positions in the specialist categories among the top-ranked law firms confirms our versatility and the top quality of all our specialist teams,” said Jaroslav Havel, the firm’s managing partner, on the success in the competition. “We offer clients a comprehensive service that not only includes excellent knowledge of the law across all areas of law and business, but we can also combine it with tax advice, technology solutions, an innovative approach, PR, as well as exceptional business insight and business intelligence that can take a client’s business further,” he added.
“Our law firm is a reliable legal and tax partner not only in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, but our successes and capabilities go far beyond the borders of these two countries. Winning the Main Award in the International Law Firm category again therefore confirms that thanks to our unique knowledge of the legal and business environment and comprehensive services we are able to execute and manage cross-border transactions and projects anywhere in the world,” commented Ondřej Majer, the firm’s partner. “Thanks to top experts, superior language skills, exceptional know-how and a wide network of international contacts that we have been building for more than two decades, we currently offer comprehensive support to companies and entrepreneurs in 12 world languages. We have assisted our clients in more than 110 countries and up to 70% of our cases have an international element,” explained Štěpán Štarha, the firm’s partner.
The firm also defended its winning in the Competition category. “A big thank you to our clients. We greatly appreciate their trust. We believe that the quality of our services in the area of competition law is confirmed by our constantly growing and satisfied clientele,” said partner Lenka Štiková Gachová. Partner Robert Neruda added, “Last year we significantly strengthened our local presence in Slovakia and with a team of five experienced colleagues, we are able to serve even the largest projects and most demanding clients. This winning is a credit to all the colleagues, lawyers and economists of our firm who were involved in providing competition advice in Slovakia.” In 2022 and 2021, in the ranking of the TOP 10 largest law firms in Slovakia, compiled by SME daily and The Slovak Spectator, the firm’s Slovak office won the Competition category and thus became the most successful law firm in this area in Slovakia.
The Health Law category is new to the ranking in Slovakia since 2022, but our firm has been specialising in the pharmaceutical and healthcare (Life Sciences) sector and its legal regulation since 2009. “The firm’s experts have unique know-how, practical experience and a detailed overview of market standards. The team also works closely with the firm’s other specialist groups, which enables more efficient and faster delivery of top legal services in all other areas of law, always taking into account the specifics of the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors,” explained Václav Audes, partner at the firm. “The quality of our services is evidenced by the award in the prestigious Law Firm of the Year competition in the Czech Republic, where the team won the Health Law category in 2021,” he added.
Law Firm of the Year is a prestigious specialist competition evaluating the legal services of law firms active in the Czech and Slovak Republics, organized by the publishing house EPRAVO Group, s.r.o. It was first announced in the Czech Republic in 2008, and since 2013 it has also been held in Slovakia in cooperation with the TREND weekly. Find out more about the competition here.
