KŠB named Czech Republic’s leading law firm in 2006 Who’s Who Legal Awards

Prague, April 19, 2006 – Kocián Šolc Balaštík was named Czech Republic's leadinglaw firm in Who's Who Legal - The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers2006. London publishing group Law Business Research Ltd, which providesindependent assessments of law firms and publishes Who's Who Legal, is regardedas one of the most reputable sources of information on legal services in morethan 100 countries around the world.

Who's Who Legal managing editor Callum Campbell stated “Kocián ŠolcBalaštík is a worthy winner of Czech Republic's Who's Who Legal Firm of theYear, with outstanding individual talent and breadth of expertise. This is thefirst time we have singled out an individual firm nationally for such an honour,and Kocián Šolc Balaštík can truly be said to be Czech Republic's leadingfirm.” He added “In determining a leading law firm in ajurisdiction, we consider a range of factors including number of partners listedin our publications, number of practice areas in which the firm is featured,past performance based on our research and aggregate total of weighted votescast in favour of lawyers at the firm relative to those of other firms in thejurisdiction.”

Kocián Šolc Balaštík's managing partner Martin Šolc commented, “We do not usually placeimportance on such awards, but in this case we are really pleased by the Who'sWho Legal Award. This is because, on the one hand, it comes from a publishinggroup whose research is truly independent and, on the other hand, because bothclients and other attorneys--that is, our competitors--are an important sourcefor the assessment. Their appraising words are a double pleasure for us.”

Campbell also noted “It is impossible to buy entry into our publication.Financial considerations play no part in the selection process and only lawyerswho have met independent international research criteria are listed. This bookrepresents an accurate and impartial picture of the global private practicemarketplace.”

On Kocián Šolc Balaštík

Kocián Šolc Balaštík (www.ksb.cz) is currently the largest law firm in the CzechRepublic. In addition to headquarters in Prague, the law firm has branches inKarlovy Vary and Brussels. Kocián Šolc Balaštík's team consists of almost fiftyattorneys and lawyers who, in close cooperation with tax advisors, offer legaland tax advice in a number of significant areas for entrepreneurial entities,including complex transaction consultancy.

For further information, contact:

Klára Lorencová
Marketing Manager, Prague
Tel. +420 728 334 378
klorencova@ksb.cz