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Allen & Overy named Best Law Firm in Banking and Finance at Czech Law Firm of the Year 2012

Allen & Overy has won the "Banking and Finance" category at the fifth Czech Law Firm of the Year awards organized by EPRAVO.CZ. The winners were announced on Monday 12 November 2012 at the Intercontinental hotel in Prague.

The annual Law Firm of the Year competition, is organized under the auspices of Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Pavel Blažek, Minister of Justice of the Czech Republic, and the Czech Bar Association. The winners list was put together by an independent group of judges from corporations and institutions, including 250 leading personalities from the judiciary, business, and EPRAVO.CZ, an independent company monitoring the activities of lawyers in the Czech Republic.
 
Václav Valvoda, Partner and Head of the Finance Practice at Allen & Overy in Prague, commented on the award: "We are honoured to have won the Banking and Finance category. For us, to receive such an award is a great success and proof that our clients are satisfied with our services. I would like to thank them for their trust and thank our lawyers and other employees for the excellent cooperation without which we would not have been able to represent parties in the complex and often innovative transactions of this year."
 
Allen & Overy has advised on many important transactions in the Czech Republic. Our excellence in the field of banking and finance is due to the combination of our strong domestic/regional roots and our worldwide client relationships. Recently we have advised, among others, Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna and ČSOB in relation to the CZK2bn refinancing of the purchase of SAZKA, the largest lottery company in the Czech Republic, by PPF and KKCG; and the Czech Export Bank in relation to setting up the EUR400mn short-term eurobonds programme.
 
In the last 12 months, Allen & Overy has also provided advice to Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Erste Group Bank AG, ING Bank N.V. and Société Générale as joint lead managers of the EUR750mn issue of ČEZ bonds due in 2025 and subsequently to the joint dealer-managers regarding the buyback and exchange of ČEZ bonds for new bonds worth EUR250mn due in 2020. We also advised the Czech Banking Association on the validity and enforceability of local derivatives documentation, the Czech master agreement. Allen & Overy also acted for Komerční banka and Česká spořitelna in relation to the refinancing of the CZK982mn buyback of the remaining shares in HOPI, a Czech family business that has become one of the leading logistics companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
 
Since its founding in 1992, Allen & Overy has become a leading provider of legal services in the Czech Republic. Our strength is the international experience of our lawyers combined with their in-depth knowledge of the Czech legal and regulatory environment.
 
In addition to the Banking and Finance awards, Allen & Overy was ranked as a 'Very Commended' Law Firm in the Corporate and Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) categories.
 
For further information, please contact Jana Kloudová, jana.kloudova@allenovery.com, on +420 222 107 117.