Category: Slovakia

Dentons has promoted Patricia Gossanyiova to Partner and appointed her Head of the firm’s Banking and Finance practice in Slovakia.

Gossanyiova joined Dentons as a Counsel in 2017 and was appointed Co-Head of the firm’s Banking and Finance practice in 2021 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 25, 2021), working together with former Dentons Partner Stanislava Valientova. Before joining Dentons, Gossanyiova spent five years in-house with Komercni Banka, three years as a Partner with Krivak & Co, over six years as an Associate with Allen & Overy, and a further three years in-house at Bank Austria Creditanstalt Slovakia.

Gossanyiova has over 20 years of experience in advising on a range of financing issues, including syndicated lending transactions, debt instruments, debt restructuring, private equity, and derivatives/treasury transactions. According to Dentons, “she also has a strong track record in financial regulatory matters, including advising on mergers of financial institutions and the first-ever EU-passported Slovak branch of an EU bank (2005).”

“I have had the privilege of contributing to the success of our incredibly talented and strong Banking and Finance team in Bratislava, together with Peter Kubina and Stanislava Valientova, for almost 5 years,” Gossanyiova commented. “I am very proud of our team and accept the leadership role with great respect.”

“Dentons continues to solidify its position as one of the top law firms on the Slovak market and Patricia’s appointment to Partner is an important step in our strategy,” commented Dentons’ Bratislava Managing Partner Peter Kubina. “I admire Patricia’s strategic thinking, passion, and team-oriented energy. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, she will lead the team with confidence and distinction.”

MCL has advised Slovakian Fun Media Group on the acquisition of Corporate Legal which owns a broadcasting license for Radio Vlna. The HKV Law Firm reportedly advised the seller.

Fun Media Group’s portfolio includes Fun Radio. According to MCL, with the newest acquisition of Radio Vlna, the company’s weekly number of listeners has reached 1.8 million.

The MCL team was led by Partner Matej Firicky and included Senior Associate Kamila Turcanova and Junior Associate Nikola Pavlikova.

Editor’s Note: After this article was published, HKV confirmed its involvement in the deal. The firm’s team was led by Partner Martin Kluch and included Partner Lukas Michalik, Senior Associate Martin Kosa, Associates Jana Trangelova and Vladimir Gadus, and Junior Associate Simon Hora.

Allen & Overy has advised a club of banks led by Tatra Banka on a EUR 177 million financing for Swan and Swan Mobile.

According to Allen & Overy, “the loan to Swan was for refinancing of existing bank debt of Swan, which was originally used for the acquisition of Benstra, and the loan to Swan Mobile was for the financing of the acquisition of shares in Swan from Sandberg Capital.”

Swan is a Slovak telecommunications service provider, with more than ten years’ experience on the market.

Allen & Overy’s team included Partner Renatus Kollar, Counsel Matus Kudlak, Lawyer David Mikus, and Associate Petra Dzubakova.

Dentons Managing Counsel Martin Mendel has been appointed Co-Head of the firm’s Real Estate practice in Slovakia. He will lead the real estate team together with Partner Jiri Strzinek.

Mendel joined Dentons legacy firm Salans in 2005 as an Associate, was promoted to Senior Associate in 2009, to Counsel in 2016, and then to Managing Counsel in 2019. According to the firm, “Mendel has extensive experience in real estate transactions, mainly assisting clients in the negotiation of transaction documents, preparation of legal due diligence, and completion of post-closing matters. … He also advises companies in connection with the protection of their rights in administrative and court proceedings, as well as in arbitrations in the Slovak Republic.”

“I feel grateful for the trust and opportunity to co-lead our Real Estate group in Bratislava alongside Jiri,” commented Mendel. “For more than two decades, Dentons has been the leading Real Estate practice in Slovakia. We have a very talented team and I am looking forward to working with them to strengthen our offering and help our clients make the most of the opportunities offered by the Slovak market.”

“I am very pleased to welcome Martin as the new co-head of our Bratislava practice. A consummate professional and natural leader, I have no doubt that with Martin as part of the leadership team, we will continue to build on the team’s significant success and deliver top-notch legal services to our clients,” added Strzinek.

Allen & Overy has advised arrangers J&T IB and Capital Markets on the establishment and recent 2021 update of JTRE’s EUR 85 million bond program.

The firm also advised on drawdowns for the development of Eurovea 2’s retail and office spaces. J&T Banka was the lead manager for the program.

A&O’s team included Partner Renatus Kollar, Counsel Peter Jedinak, Senior Associate Jan Deset, and Junior Associate Marek Bojkovsky.

Dentons has provided pro bono advice to non-profit organization Spolocnost Jaromira Krejcara to protect the cultural heritage site of the former Machnac spa house in Trencianske Teplice, Slovakia.

According to Dentons, the building is one of the most important examples of functionalist architecture in Slovakia and a unique building of European significance. “The national cultural monument is in a state of disrepair after being neglected by its owners for almost 20 years. Dentons successfully represented the Slovak Ministry of Culture in petitioning the District Court in Trencin to stop the owner from disposing of the property. The court complied with the request, and in November 2020, issued an interim measure prohibiting the owner from disposing of the property in any way.” 

According to the firm, in an effort to prevent further damage to Machnac, “SJK decided to take care of this monument and take responsibility for its restoration. It approached the current owner several times in an effort to agree on the purchase of the building with the intention of its restoration, to no avail. Therefore, in the interest of protection, restoration, and preservation of this piece of Slovak cultural heritage, on September 3, 2021, the SJK filed a motion for expropriation of Machnac with the District Office in Trencin.”

Dentons’ team included Counsel Miroslava Jesikova and Associate Jan Dulovic.

As of September 1, 2021, Hugh Owen joined PwC as Of Counsel, M&A.

Owen was previously a Partner with Allen & Overy, having joined the magic circle firm in 1994. He was the Head of the SEE Desk and, since early 2016, head of the Ukraine Desk. He set up A&O’s Slovak office in 2000 and established A&O’s associated office in Romania in 2008. At the end of 2018, Owen established his own consulting firm, called Go2Law. An interview with him on it is available here.

“I will continue to be based in Bratislava and will have a role primarily for PwC in SEE and Slovakia, but also I will be available for PwC in the wider CEE region,” Owen said. “I will work on English law M&A, as well as general M&A support. I will also assist in PwC client-facing training through the PwC Academy, as well as providing internal M&A training to PwC C&SEE M&A team members (Legal and Translations).”

“I am very excited indeed to embark on this new journey,” Owen added. “I have many long-term friends and colleagues all over the region at PwC, and their warm welcome will ensure that the transition is smooth and successful. I look forward to working with PwC and indeed many of my LinkedIn friends on many transactions in the future.”

Go2 Law Training will continue separately as before for non-PwC subscribers.

MCL has advised Pavol Jakubec on the acquisition of the remaining 50% of shares in I.D.C. Holding from Kassay Invest. Dentons advised Slovenska Sporitelna on financing the deal.

According to MCL, Slovakian long-life pastries and sweets producer I.D.C. Holding is now under full control of Pavol Jakubec who previously held 50% of the shareholding in the company.

MCL’s team included Partners Vojtech Palinkas, Matej Firicky, and Martin Jurecko and Associates Simona Rapava, Martin Micak, and Kamila Turcanova.

Dentons’ team included Senior Associate Petra Strbova and Associate Bianca Bohmova.

MCL has advised MiddleCap on a joint venture partnership with Czech development company CPI Property Group to acquire three development sites in Berlin for EUR 30.6 million. Clement Konrad advised Middlecap and Dentons advised CPI on Luxembourg law, while Deloitte Legal advised both on German law.

The properties encompass 150,000 square feet of residential and office space. MiddleCap is a private equity, venture capital, and real estate group active in Slovakia and CEE.

MCL’s team included Partner Vojtech Palinkas, Senior Associate Kamila Turcanova, and Junior Associate Dominika Parsova.

MCL has advised Bistro.sk founder and minority shareholder Milan Dubec on the sale of the company to Dutch Just Eat Takeaway.com for EUR 50 million. PRK Partners advised Ringier Axel Springer as the other selling shareholder. Cechova & Partners advised the buyer.

Bistro.sk is a food delivery service provider in Slovakia. Ringier Axel Springer Media is a Zurich-based media company with operations in Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Baltics. Just Eat Takeaway.com is an online food delivery marketplace operating in 24 countries with headquarters in Amsterdam. 

MCL’s team included Partner Vojtech Palinkas and Senior Associate Kamila Turcanova.

PRK Partners’ team was led by Partner Martin Kriz and Attorney Marian Baus. 

Cechova & Partners’ team included Partners Katarina Cechova and Lenka Subenikova and Associate Zuzana Zolakova.