At HAVEL & PARTNERS, tax consulting is about far more than numbers – it is about truly understanding a client’s business and the people who drive it. Over the past seven years, our tax team has grown from a small group of specialists into a respected advisory practice that combines deep tax expertise with legal insight and strategic perspective. The result? Tailored, practical advice that enables companies and individuals to make the right decisions at the right time.

For virtually every private or corporate transaction, investment, or business decision, clients now expect not only legal counsel but also top-tier tax advice.

Recognising this need, the firm expanded into a full-service tax practice in 2019. Over the past seven years, the team has grown steadily to 25 tax advisors and attorneys-at-law, including three tax partners – David Krch, Josef Žaloudek and Petr Tušakovský. Today, tax advisory is one of the fastest-growing service lines within the Group.

Businesses currently face an environment of unprecedented uncertainty in the tax sphere. Each year brings new legislation, administrative methodologies and requirements from the tax authorities – often introduced without sufficient advance notice or a transition period. Added to this is the growing pressure to make rapid decisions – whether on investments, transactions or corporate restructuring – coupled with the concern that a single misstep could have tax consequences for years to come. “Many entrepreneurs tell us that what they really want is certainty: confidence that their tax decisions are correct, compliant and aligned with their business objectives,” said David Krch, who established HAVEL & PARTNERS’ tax practice several years ago. “And that is precisely our role - to monitor developments for our clients, anticipate risks and allow them to focus on what truly matters: running their business.”

“With the combination of our expertise, broad coverage and close integration with the largest law firm in central Europe, we are now able to address all tax-related matters and client needs at the highest professional level,” added David Krch.

For virtually every private or corporate transaction, investment, or business decision, clients now expect not only legal counsel but also top-tier tax advice. Drawing on many years of experience of experts from Big Four firms and the judiciary, as well as colleagues with unique know-how from senior tax authorities (the General Financial Directorate and the Appellate Financial Directorate), the HAVEL & PARTNERS team covers everything from transaction and investment structuring to tax compliance, excise duties and tax due diligence.

“In the case of corporate clients, our service is truly comprehensive – from preparing corporate income tax returns and reviewing supplier and customer contracts, to structuring investments, addressing international tax issues and preventing double taxation,” David Krch explained. “Investment incentives, R&D tax deductions or the set-up of ESOP schemes in companies are a chapter of their own… Our strength lies in this level of completeness. Law and taxation work together – not side by side. Clients receive a seamless, one-stop solution,” he added.

The team also handles the most complex issues and projects in the field of VAT – one of the most demanding areas of taxation, given the EU’s harmonised tax framework and the extensive judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Taxes for individuals

In the area of personal taxation, our team also supports private clients of the firm and the partners of ONE FAMILY OFFICE, including some of the most prominent Czech and Slovak families as well as individuals such as successful entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, artists and lawyers. For these clients, our work often involves asset structuring, managing family investments, preparing tax returns, and providing comprehensive long-term, personalised advisory services.

Our experienced tax advisors – each with many years of practice – ensure full compliance services and the preparation of income tax returns for both individuals and companies. “There is no need for clients to struggle with complex forms – we handle the entire process from start to finish. We prepare all supporting documentation for each tax return to ensure everything is correct, including in the event of a tax audit,” David Krch explained.

Thanks to the team’s strong capacity, we are able to adapt fully to each client’s needs and preferences. Importantly, clients always receive personal attention – partners are directly involved in the preparation of tax returns, not merely approving the final outcome. And if it turns out that the situation requires legal support, we can immediately bring in colleagues from HAVEL & PARTNERS so that everything can be resolved quickly, efficiently and in one place,” added David Krch.

The team of tax advisors is supported by an in-house accounting department consisting of ten accountants and two tax advisors, providing a complete range of services from tax assessments to full bookkeeping. This ensures that clients have everything handled seamlessly and without worry.

The integration of tax, accounting and legal services remains one of HAVEL & PARTNERS’ strongest advantages. Close cooperation among lawyers, tax advisors and accounting professionals enables a truly multidisciplinary approach, allowing projects to be managed efficiently and without the need for external consultants. This synergy is especially valuable in transactions, investment structures and tax disputes – areas where law and taxation are most deeply intertwined.

Having your back in disputes

In recent years, we have also significantly strengthened our dedicated tax litigation team, which represents clients in dozens of complex cases and helps them succeed even in the earliest stages of tax proceedings.

Our specialised tax litigation and dispute resolution group now brings together more than 15 attorneys-at-law and tax advisors, each with 10 to 20 years of experience and a strong track record representing international corporations and leading global players in these areas. Led by Martin Pecha, Hana Erbsová and Alice Zemánková, the team successfully handles dozens of cases every year.

"If you are facing a dispute with the tax authority, we are ready to represent you from the very beginning, including during administrative or even criminal proceedings. We will handle all communication with the tax authority, prepare every necessary filing, and ensure that your position is supported by strong legal and tax arguments,” said David Krch.

The strength of our team, and the key to successfully resolving disputes, lies in our unique combination of experience from both the judiciary and the tax administration. At HAVEL & PARTNERS, we are able to assess a dispute from every angle – from detailed substantive tax arguments to broader defences grounded in general legal principles and constitutional law.

"A tax dispute has the best chance of success when it is addressed early. We strongly recommend that clients contact us as soon as an audit begins, as the outcome is often determined at that stage,” Krch added.

7 years of growth

In just seven years, the HAVEL & PARTNERS tax practice has established itself as a strong alternative to the largest international advisory firms – and continues to grow successfully. Today, we represent dozens of renowned brands, regularly take part in tenders alongside global leaders, and the number of clients placing their trust in our tax team keeps increasing. All this while maintaining a highly personal approach and the philosophy that every collaboration must bring real added value – certainty, trust, and long-term purpose.

“Tax is about expertise, but success in tax is built on trust. We listen to our clients, understand their business, and always seek solutions that give them a solid foundation for making the right decisions – fully in line with our motto Connected Through Success,” David Krch concluded.