Jaroslav Baier, a lawyer with long-term experience in venture capital and private equity, has joined HAVEL & PARTNERS as a counsel and will significantly strengthen the team of the largest Czech-Slovak law firm focused on these areas. Jaroslav specialises in investments in start-ups and (bio)technological companies, as well as acquisitions (including distressed assets), joint-venture structures, and the transformation and restructuring of companies and businesses.

“Jaroslav brings his exceptional know-how from the private equity and venture capital market to our office. Not only has he been focusing on this area as a lawyer for many years, but he is also the founder of a start-up. Our private equity and venture capital team, which is the largest on the Czech and Slovak market, is thus particularly strengthening its focus on advising start-ups. Jaroslav fully understands their needs. He is able to combine his exceptional legal knowledge and business and management experience to help start-ups achieve their goals,” said Jaroslav Havel, the managing partner.

Jaroslav Baier also has extensive experience in drafting incentive schemes for top management and key employees of start-ups (ESOPs), creating holding structures abroad and advising on the expansion of Czech companies abroad. Currently, he manages the expansion of two Czech start-ups into the EU and further into the world. He is actively involved in the local venture capital community – he regularly speaks to start-ups and their investors, writes a blog and participates in various industry events.

He also engages in the acquisition and sale of distressed assets. In the past, for example, he participated in the restructuring of one of the most important engineering groups in the Czech Republic and the pre-acquisition restructuring and subsequent sale of a leading Czech aircraft manufacturer.

Jaroslav Baier has twelve-years of experience in the field. Prior to joining HAVEL & PARTNERS, he worked for a Czech boutique law firm focused on M&A and provided transaction advice to Penta Group, among others. He also worked in the Czech office of the international law firm Allen & Overy for 6 years.