H&P Magazine I/2025

Interview

Architects of Family Wealth

Protecting and Growing Assets

In family office, we focus on protecting assets and diversifying investments abroad, said Jaroslav Havel, founder and managing partner of the law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS and the Czech-Slovak family office with an international reach, ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

Changes in VAT. What you should know

The year 2025 brings the most significant changes to value added tax for businesses in recent years. The changes not only affect VAT payers, but also companies that are yet to become VAT payers. We have put together a list of tax news you should not miss.

David Krch, Petr Tušakovský a Kristýna Šlehoferová · 13 January 2025

Foreword I/2025

The year 2024 was a watershed year for our law firm in many ways and we are grateful to have been able to close it with exceptionally successful results.

Jaroslav Havel · 13 January 2025

World management literature supported by HAVEL & PARTNERS in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

At HAVEL & PARTNERS and ONE FAMILY OFFICE, we believe that continuous learning and development is key. We have long supported the publication of world-leading works on economics, management, and marketing – publications that serve as an inspiration for us.

Interview

International direction. What challenges do Czech and Slovak companies face in acquisitions?

Do mergers and acquisitions serve as a means for Czech and Slovak companies to expand into international markets? Is entering foreign markets complicated for these firms? What is the Family Management Buy-Out model and why is it becoming increasing popular? In an interview, Jan Koval, a partner at HAVEL & PARTNERS, and Václav Strýhal, the managing partner at NEXIA One Corporate Finance, provide their answers.

Jan Koval · 13 January 2025

Pro bono I/2025

A mosaic of pro bono and CSR activities in issue I/2025 — CZK 200,000 and free legal aid after the September floods, EUR 4,000 for four Slovak non-profits, charity breakfasts in Prague and Brno raising CZK 180,000, and Christmas boxes for seniors from the Bratislava office.

The real estate market in Czechia and Slovakia

Challenges, trends, and opportunities

What is the development of the real estate market in Czechia and its South Moravian region? What are the challenges that are shaping the future of real estate in Slovakia? A report from the October Real Estate Forum in Brno and the second edition of the Slovak Real Estate Vision & Trends conference in Bratislava.

Transaction overview

Overview of selected transactions involving HAVEL & PARTNERS I/2025

Over the past 18 years, we have been involved in 870 transactions with a total value of CZK 850 billion. Here is an overview of the most significant ones in the recent period.

The German economy stagnates

An opportunity and time to expand?

Stagnation in Germany means the availability of a large number of distressed assets and companies that can be increasingly made use of by foreign investors, including Czech entrepreneurs. The generational turnover among the owners of German “Mittelstand” companies brings many acquisition opportunities. How to use this potential from the perspective of a Czech entrepreneur?

Philip Smitka a Martin Peckl · 13 January 2025

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.