Martin Šolc was the winner of the Market Maker award for the Czech Republic at the 2017 General Counsel Summit in Warsaw for his significant contribution to the Czech legal market. In addition to receiving this first-ever award from CEE Legal Matters, Martin - a founding partner of Kocián Šolc Balaštík (KŠB) - is also the first representative from Central and Eastern Europe to lead the International Bar Association (IBA), the largest worldwide organization of lawyers.

KŠB represented the contractor of a North Bohemian powerplant in a dispute with the customer over payment of the contractor’s fee. The dispute also involved the customer’s claim for a contractual fine and fee under an alleged contract for work and executive personnel. KŠB won the dispute and defended the client against the other party’s claims both before the first instance regional court and the high appellate court. 

Kocián Šolc Balaštík (KŠB) was named Law Firm of the Year in the Czech Republic for a fourth time by renowned British legal rating agency Chambers & Partners in London last Friday. 

Two attorneys and one junior lawyer join the ranks at Kocián Šolc Balaštík (KŠB) today: German lawyer Rainer Frank as a counsel, Pavla Veselková as an associate, and Petra Dosoudilová as a junior lawyer. 

KŠB has been once again nominated for a Chambers Europe Award in the category of best law firm in the Czech Republic. This prestigious award is announced annually by the renowned British ratings agency Chambers and Partners.

KSB has achieved a significant success in the management of non-pecuniary damages for the excessive length of proceedings on granting a license to do business in waste management, which was respectively decided by the Ministry and Environment Minister, administrative courts and (repeatedly) administrative bodies.

Law firm KSB providing assistance to the real estate development company Moravian construction - INVEST in a recent issue of discounted bonds.

KSB has provided legal services to the CERCL Green group in connection with the sale of Green Gas International, a major European operator of clean energy projects that focuses on converting harmful methane emissions produced during the extraction of mining and landfill gas to energy benefit. 

The International Bar Association (IBA) has issued a press release regarding the presidency of Martin Šolc. The press release is available here: IBA press release

Sylvie Sobolová and Christian Blatchford were newly appointed partners at Kocián Šolc Balaštík (KŠB) effective 1 January 2017. Sylvie and Christian have been with KŠB many years and their appointment expresses KŠB’s appreciation of the many contributions they have made to the firm. In addition, associates Jan Lasák, Vlastimil Pihera and Tomáš Sequens were appointed counsels.

For the fifth year in a row, the Contract Competition, an annual contest for law students, organized by the law firm KSB has taken place. The competition again attracted talented students, who for a brief interval were transported from lecture halls to a hypothetical business environment, in order to have a chance to demonstrate their knowledge in practical situations. The best were competing head to head in the final round, which was held in early December at the Faculty of Law of Charles University.

KSB assisted during the emission of discounted certificates in the value of approximately CZK 1.4 billion. The issuer of the certificates is a Cypriot company GRAMEXO PLC., which is the 100% owner of the company Rustonka Development s.r.o. Rustonka is a company established for the construction of a complex of several office buildings with a total area of approximately 37,000 square meters on land formerly occupied by the Rustonka factory in Prague-Karlin.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of our clients, business partners and friends who attended and supported the 22nd Annual Charity Concert of Goodwill on Sunday, 4 December 2016 at Bethlehem Chapel in Prague to raise money for the Olga Havel Foundation. The contributions raised this year will be used for individual projects chosen by the donors themselves. 

In his column in Lidové noviny, KŠB Partner Martin Šolc ponders why some voices interpreting the new private law continue to emphasize that some things are just not possible.

KSB has participated as a conference partner in two major autumn conferences.

KŠB advised Emerging Europe Properties Fund on the share-sale of WOTEG GWG-Group, owner of the Centro-Ostrava shopping park located approximately 6 from the capital of the Moravia-Silesia Region.

KŠB would like to cordially invite you to this year’s Concert of Good Will to support one of the most respected foundations in the Czech Republic. The concert promises an outstanding musical experience even on the sad 20th anniversary of founder and former First Lady Olga Havlová’s passing.

KŠB Partner Pavel Dejl and his colleagues won an invalid immediate employment termination case for a major agricultural client before the Czech Supreme Court. 

Martin Šolc, the founding partner of leading Czech law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík (KSB), has achieved unprecedented success in the field of global advocacy. In Washington, he has been elected President of the International Bar Association (IBA), and with effect from 1 January 2017 will be the first ever representative of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, to stand at the forefront of the world's largest organization of lawyers.

Law firm KSB successfully represented the company  Carthamus, its long term client, an operator of energy sources working on the basis of biofuel burning, in administrative proceedings initiated by the State Energy Inspectorate  (SEI) concerning an alleged breach of the act on supported energy sources, which was alleged to comprise incorrect declarations of the origin and type of burnt biomass fuel.

KŠB provided its client, the major energy company ENERGO-PRO, with comprehensive legal advice concerning the financing of the construction of a hydro power plant in Karakurt, Turkey.

KSB has provided legal advice to airlines Air Canada and China Eastern Airlines in connection with their entry into the Czech aviation market.

KŠB advised Lumitrix, a video mapping software and hardware start-up developer and producer, on a joint-venture with Y Soft Ventures. 

L2bAviation is an international network of lawyers spread over all continents who advise on aviation law. Chambers Global rate the network as the best in aviation law.

KSB has been representing Czech Radio in a long running dispute of many years with the Board of the Financial Directorate on the issue of the right to deduct VAT. An important point of contention was whether license fees are in fact a payment for public service broadcasting. Now KSB has achieved another success in the case. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), on the initiative of the Supreme Administrative Court, expressed the view in its decision that license fees are not deemed to be consideration paid for public broadcasting, and therefore fall outside the scope of the directive on VAT.

In recent days, Fundlift, the first domestic platform focused on equity crowdfunding has launched its operations. It is a joint venture of the financial group Roklen and the investment group Rockaway.

KSB has been representing Agrofert since 2011 in an ongoing dispute against a Luxembourg company European United Bakeries (EUB).  The Municipal Court in Prague has now delivered a first instance decision in favour of Agrofert.

The NYSBA event will take place on 7 – 9 April 2016 and focus on international arbitration/litigation, cross-border contracts, cross-border personal data transfers in the light of the Schrems case, FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), and legal issues surrounding the restitution of property to the victims of communism.

KŠB has been once again nominated for a Chambers Europe Award for Excellence, in the category of best law firm in the Czech Republic. This prestigious award is announced annually by the renowned British ratings agency Chambers and Partners.

Law firm KSB supported this year's 10th annual benefit project for Leontinka Golf, which is designed to help visually impaired children and students. The Foundation's mission is to facilitate the integration of these children into society, to help them get an education and to enable participation in mainstream social, sporting and leisure activities.

The Czech Constitutional Court issued a decision on the inspection of the office space of DELTA Bakery, by the staff of the Office for Protection of Competition (UOHS). It agreed with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which assessed the case in the autumn of 2014 and which concluded that the aforementioned unannounced inspection (ie.-Dawn raid) by the Office without effective judicial control was illegal.

KŠB provided full legal advice to Karlovarské minerální vody (KMV) on its acquisition of Selecta companies operating in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

KŠB Partner Jiří Horník will take part at the IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) 2016 Legal Symposium to be held in Barcelona on 17 through 19 February.

A team of KŠB attorneys advised North Bohemia Medical Holding in selling its 100% shareholding in Louny hospital to Agel, a member of the Agel group. 

KŠB has advised on the squeeze-out of minority shareholders from Česká telekomunikační infrastruktura (CETIN) which the company’s board decided on in December 2015 and which took place in January 2016.

KŠB advised and successfully represented the company in administrative proceedings in which the imposition of the donation tax regarding allocation of emission allowances in 2011 – 2012 was challenged.

KŠB advised and successfully represented Alpiq Generation (CZ) (“AG CZ”), the operator of power plants in Kladno and Zlín, in administrative proceedings in which the imposition of the donation tax regarding allocation of emission allowances in 2011 – 2012 was challenged.

The spin-off of O2 Czech Republic, which took place last June and in which KŠB played a role, was shortlisted for the TMT Finance World Award 2015, which proves that IT, technology and media experts who were in charge of the shortlist appreciated the complexity, extent and special nature of the unique deal.

KŠB advised New York-based Tiger Global Management group on a minority stake transfer deal in which the target company Seznam.cz, a leading Czech online player, acquired shares in itself from Tiger Holding Four and Mirua International.

KŠB advised one of the leading Czech private banks on two issues of subordinated unsecured perpetual bonds, one in Czech crowns and the other in euros. The bonds were accepted for trading on the Prague Stock Exchange. 

In his column in Lidové noviny, KŠB Partner Martin Šolc ponders why some voices interpreting the new private law continue to emphasize that some things are just not possible.

The fourth annual IBA European Corporate and Private M&A Conference, at which Dagmar Dubecká is to speak, will be held on 11 – 12 February 2016 in Paris.

The Employment Law Alliance has issued a summary of European privacy laws which is designed primarily as a handbook for global employers.

KSB advised Dioscorides Global Holdings, LLC (DGH) in negotiating, concluding and implementing an Investment Agreement regarding a joint-venture investment into Konomed s.r.o. The commercial purpose of the investment was to finance and commercially participate in a project involving the founding of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoid Institute in Prague.

We would like to invite you to view some pictures taken during the Charity Concert of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation, which was well received and greatly enjoyed at the concert hall in the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude in Prague’s Old Town on Sunday, 29 November 2015.

KŠB and law student association ELSA recently held the 4th Annual Contract Competition for law school students. Delivery agreements were the topic of this year’s contest.

This year’s conference, once again held by publisher Economia, will focus on changes, threats and opportunities, which new cashless payment innovations may have for financial institutions, the transport and business sector, and state and regional government.

The new Commentary includes chapters written by KŠB partner Pavel Dejl and senior associate Radka Felgrová on proceedings involving legal entities and trusts and certain special types of proceedings (involving capital markets and the ban on exercising the rights attached to beneficial securities).

KŠB helped a client win a lawsuit against the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, which had imposed a penalty on the client, an electric device manufacturer, for failure to abide by the Electric Waste Act. The penalty, which the Ministry of Environment confirmed, was rescinded by the Municipal Court in Prague due to being unlawful. 

You can help KŠB support one of the most respected charities in the Czech Republic by joining us to experience the artistic potential of the next generation of Czech opera singers and conductors at the 21st Annual Charity Concert of Good Will, which will take place at the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude in Prague’s Old Town on Sunday, 29 November 2015 at 19:00.

Jiří Horník, KSB partner and aviation law specialist, will participate in a panel discussion themed “Airport 2015 – How to make airports a successful business venture?” at the prestigious economic meeting in the Polish town Krynica Zdrój. 

Jiří Horník, KSB partner and aviation law specialist, will participate in a panel discussion themed “Airport 2015 – How to make airports a successful business venture?” at the prestigious economic meeting in the Polish town Krynica Zdrój. 

KSB attorneys advise client on unique real estate transaction. 

Wolters Kluwer has just published a new comprehensive summary of the most important case-law rulings related to business corporations which apply following the re-enactment of Czech private law. The book was authored by a team of KŠB lawyers led by professor Jan Dědič, a company law specialist.

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KŠB has advised O2 Czech Republic a.s. (“O2”) on a spin-off which involved full-scale cooperation with O2 from the initial analysis of relevant legal aspects, drafting the spin-off plan and associated documentation, preparing and convening the general meeting to subsequent steps including registration in the Companies Register.

E-Book VAT Dispute; Supplier’s Financial Condition to Be Considered; Insufficiently Documented Difference between Standard Prices and Transfer Price for Tax Purposes; Employment-Related Financial Benefits