All articles

Play it safe: Endowment funds and trusts as a tool for the generation of leaders

How can one safeguard against fragmentation of their assets due to family disputes or failed marriages? How can accumulated wealth be passed on to future generations? Or how can one secure a lifetime annuity? The most effective solution is an endowment fund.

David Neveselý, Miroslav Vozáb a Štěpán Štarha · 13 January 2025

Building Your Dream Home. A Step-by-Step Guide to the Building Permit Procedure

In July 2024, the Czech Republic implemented a new Building Act, heralded as a revolution that would streamline the permitting process and reduce bureaucratic red tape. However, the transition to this new system has been anything but smooth, plagued by significant complications. So what is the current state of applying for a building permit? We will explore this using the example of a family house.

František Korbel, Jiří Buryan a Filip Miler · 13 January 2025

Child custody battles

Where do parental rights end and the child’s interests begin?

When family relationships come under strain, a child can often become the focal point of disputes. When might the child end up in the custody of someone other than their parents? And in such cases, is the child’s opinion decisive? There can often be a fine line between the child’s wishes and their actual best interests.

Veronika Bočanová a Marta Fantová Argalášová · 13 January 2025

Safely and according to the rules

Cybersecurity obligations expand to a broader range of companies

Companies face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that can jeopardize their daily operations, customer trust, partnerships, and even the very existence of their business not only in Slovakia. In response, the EU has introduced the NIS II Directive. How should they prepare for these changes?

Štěpán Štarha, Róbert Gašparovič a Miriama Podskubová · 13 January 2025

What’s New I/2025

An overview of the firm’s news — for the fifth time in a row the best domestic and clients’ choice law firm in the Law Firm of the Year competition, a group value of over CZK 3.3 billion, a place in the Czech Elite ranking, and the January and July promotions.

To inherit? No, thanks

When to consider alienating inheritance

Disputes within the family, protracted probate proceedings with an uncertain end or an unfavourable share of the real estate – these are situations you will commonly encounter when inheriting. Their solution can be quite simple – it’s called alienation of inheritance. It comes in handy when you don’t wish to inherit, but you don’t want to walk away empty-handed either. How to transfer the heir’s share?

Jiří Kunášek a Marta Fantová Argalášová · 12 January 2025

From cottage to town or neighbour to neighbour. Get ready to share electricity

An Energy Act amendment, the so-called ‘Lex RES II’, is to introduce community energy in the Czech Republic from July 2024. What will this change entail? The possibility of sharing electricity, for example, with family, neighbours or even within the municipality that can send electricity to schools or other municipal buildings. How to do it practically?

Jan Koval, Robert Porubský a Ivo Skolil · 8 January 2024

With whom we are connected through success

Part of HAVEL & PARTNERS’ corporate philosophy is to co-invest with clients and to continue to support their projects. We present four funds in which the partners of our law firm invest through ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

Commentary

The way to better understand our clients

Providing legal and tax services at the highest level requires not only excellent knowledge of the law, but also detailed knowledge and understanding of our clients' respective industry sectors.

Štěpán Štarha · 8 January 2024

Foreword I/2024

We are both motivated and committed to constantly moving forward, innovating, and improving. Now, 23 years after our law firm was established, we are the first law firm from the CEE region to open a direct representation office in Frankfurt.

Jaroslav Havel · 8 January 2024

Opportunity or trap? There are bonds, and there are bonds

In recent years, corporate bonds have become a popular investment choice, largely because of their appealing annual yields of between 6% and 12%. This raises the question: If financial advisors recommend including bonds in conservative portfolios, why are corporate bonds also considered high-risk investments?

Pro bono I/2024

A charity cheque for ProFem, runs for Světluška and the Memory of the Nation, charity breakfasts in Prague, Brno and Bratislava and the Forbes Top Covers auction — an overview of the firm’s pro bono activities.