DUNOVSKÁ & PARTNERS

DUNOVSKÁ & PARTNERS LLC is ranked as a recommended firm in all editions of The Legal 500 since 2012. The firm is described as a “banking and finance boutique, though its expertise covers many areas and disciplines".

DUNOVSKÁ & PARTNERS LLC provide complex legal services encompassing the main branches of law with a special focus on Commercial law especially M&A, Corporate, Banking & Financial law and Insolvency law. The firm has long-term working relationships (over 25 years) with most of the important banks and financial institutions and a prime reputation in finance, work-out, restructuring, insolvency and bank litigation. The firm’s extensive expertise, combined with a deep knowledge of the law, enable solutions to be found for the client’s business practice as well as enforcing these solutions in front of local courts. Experience with resolving problematic and complicated cases and the ability to grasp the core of the problem enables the most effective solution to be achieved.

The firm’s highly specialized and experienced lawyers offer an individual, active and innovative approach, resulting in a distinctive quality of work which, when coupled with the close involvement of a partner for each case, distinguishes DUNOVSKÁ & PARTNERS LLC from its competitors.

Areas of practice
Banking and finance:

Long-term practical experience in all types of banking operations, financial transactions and legal relations between a bank and clients. Model and tailor-made documentation for financing needs (operational, acquisition, structured) as well as products such as factoring, forfaiting and leasing including providing model and tailor-made factoring documentation. Due diligence reports and capacity opinions for bank acquisition finance.

Main long-term clients are the most reputable banking institutions on the Czech market such as Československá obchodní banka of KBC Group (ČSOB), ČSOB Factoring (ČSOBF), HSBC Continental Europe, Czech Republic (HSBC), Česká spořitelna of Erste Group (ČS), Raiffeisenbank, Allianz Trade/EULER HERMES SA, organizational unit (Allianz Trade), Max Banka a.s. (previously Expobank CZ).

In the past 12 months, the value of cases exceeded CZK  32,5 billion (GBP 1,2 billion) in aggregate.  Largest cases are: representing the investment company Odyssey 44 in provision of finance in hundreds of millions Czech Crowns  to acquire an interest in the leading logistic company Zásilkovna, advising HSBC in case of a new financing exceeding CZK 1 billion (GBP 36,2 million) together with security provided by a Czech company, representing the leading retailer of sporting goods  in the negotiation and drafting of new loan and security documentation over CZK 3 billion (GBP 108,7 million) provided by a club of 5 banks.

Since 2016 main legal advisor to ČSOB in acquisition finance projects in the SME and corporate sector. Main external legal advisor to Allianz Trade since January 2020 in all legal matters.

Restructuring and insolvency:

Long term experience in cases of large and complex financial and corporate restructuring in both stand-alone and multi-creditor situations applying non-standard and innovative solutions. Experience in high-profile insolvency proceedings where the firm represents large creditors including ČSOB, ČS, HSBC and other banks. Recent advice to and representation of  ČS on protection of the bank’s risks related to an M&A project of the bank’s client in value of CZK 300 million (GBP 10,9 million), advice on the recovery of loan receivables in excess of CZK 170 million (GBP 5,8 million) from traditional manufacture of textile, the bank´s claims were fully satisfied, representing a group of important local banks  in restructuring of loan receivables including preparation and negotiation of the Standstill Agreement, comprehensive legal services for ČSOB regarding the sector of corporate and SME non-performing loas. Expertise in insolvency proceedings is assured since the partners are licensed insolvency receivers.

Banking and financial regulation:

Support of banks and financial institutions in banking regulations and in negotiation with the Central Bank in respect of banking supervision, payment systems and electronic money.

M&A:

Advice on acquisitions, mergers, sales of businesses and enterprises, corporate restructuring. Long term representation of Aricoma a.s. and Autocont a.s. (the largest Czech IT service providers) in their investment activities. Recent representation includes the acquisition of SABRIS Group, an innovative IT company, certified SAP partner). Long term representation of investment company Odyssey 44 a.s.  – assistance in the acquisition and later sale of Direct Pojištovna CZK 1 billion (GBP 33,9 million), advising Escatec Sweden AB in different M&A transactions and corporate matters). Continuing representation of ČSOB in acquisition finance in SME and corporate sectors transactions.

Litigation:

Advice and representation in litigation, tax and customs proceedings, dispute resolution, local and international arbitration. Litigation includes representation at courts of all levels. Successful representation of ČSOB in a long-term dispute against Ministry of Finance in the value over CZK 480 million (GBP 16,3 million).  Success rate of 100% in all international arbitrations at ICC Paris for CSOB against the Czech State, the largest amounting to almost CZK 26,7billion (GBP 905 million). Representation of major Czech Bank in a complex lawsuit in respect of its client, a major electricity producer. Successful defense of a leading local bank against negative consequences of the collapse of Icelandic banks during the financial crisis.

Corporate law, business contracts, labor law:

Advice and support in corporate issues and all aspects of everyday business relationships (all business contracts) together with support of management. Advice to foreign companies in their start-up of business in the Czech Republic.

Real estate:

Advice in large real estate transactions financed by banks, development and construction projects (providing construction and engineering contracts), lease agreements, transaction documentation and also due diligence of real estate. The most important project was complex legal representation in multibillion acquisition of a real estate portfolio by investment company Odyssey 44 a.s., Advice to ČSOB in a real-estate acquisition project in value of hundreds of millions CZK in a case of financing for an important logistic holding group, advice to Raiffeisenbank in an important agricultural land acquisition project.