Education as a pillar

At a time when legislation is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and business faces new regulatory and technological challenges, education matters more than ever. That’s why we offer HAVEL & PARTNERS ACADEMY – a truly unique educational platform in the legal and advisory services market, delivering added value to our clients and business partners.

Founded twelve years ago, HAVEL & PARTNERS ACADEMY was created to deliver highly specialised know-how from our legal and tax practice directly to our clients and partners – through specialised seminars, workshops, and consultations that bridge theory with the realities of everyday business.

Over more than a decade, the Academy has organized over 300 professional seminars attended by more than 10,000 participants and featuring 140 lecturers, including in-house experts, academics, and representatives of public administration.

“We believe that quality education is an integral part of responsible business,” said František Korbel, firm partner and one of the Academy’s founders. “Our seminars aren’t just about interpreting legal provisions. We aim to create dialogue between lawyers, entrepreneurs, managers, and public administration officials. The goal is for participants to leave with something they can apply immediately in practice.”

The HAVEL & PARTNERS ACADEMY team consists of seasoned professionals who not only drive the firm’s legal practice but also contribute to the creation of new legislation, perform professional academic activities, and represent clients in major litigation matters.

“Our lecturers aren’t theorists detached from practice – most are actively involved in daily legal processes, negotiations, and legislative changes,” František Korbel said. “That’s why they can offer participants not just knowledge of the law, but also experience in how to apply it in practice.”

The Academy covers virtually all areas of law and taxation, including digitalization, public procurement, competition law, regulatory issues, ICT, and family law. At the same time, it responds to current legislative updates and business trends.

In addition to regular seminars, available both in-person and online, the Academy offers individual training, expert opinions, and consultations for clients in both the private and public sectors. František Korbel added: “We want the law to be a pillar of growth, not an obstacle. The Academy is our way of contributing to that.”

Three pillars of education at ONE FAMILY OFFICE

Education is also a priority for ONE FAMILY OFFICE, which created ONE FAMILY OFFICE ACADEMY – an educational platform that fulfils a long-term vision to connect investment, talent development, and social responsibility. Its mission is to create an environment where experience, knowledge, and inspiration come together – from renowned investors to the next generation.

The first pillar of ONE FAMILY OFFICE ACADEMY is sharing know-how among the most successful investors. The family office organises exclusive investment meetings and conferences, offering partners a unique opportunity to exchange insights, engage in open discussions, and build new connections. Each event brings together influential figures from the financial world and related sectors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and abroad – sharing their strategies, perspectives, and personal stories.

At last year’s ONE FAMILY OFFICE event in Prague, for example, a representative of Bain Capital, one of the world’s largest private equity managers, appeared. Thanks to the family office’s global network, the representatives of legendary fund Accel also made their first-ever appearance in the Czech Republic. Accel is the investor behind more than 100 unicorns and investments in global giants such as Facebook, Spotify, Dropbox, and Scale AI.

The family office’s Academy’s second key pillar is Next Generation, focused on developing children and young people from the families of our partners and investors. “We help them discover their potential, build critical thinking, digital skills, creativity, and financial responsibility, i.e. competencies essential for success in today’s fast-changing world,” explained Veronika Dvořáková, sponsor of the Academy.

The third pillar is improving financial literacy in society. “Through our pro bono activities, we strive to ensure that people in the Czech Republic and Slovakia understand money, manage it responsibly, and are resilient against reckless investments or fraud. We believe education is the best investment – into individuals, families, and society as a whole,” Veronika Dvořáková added.

HAVEL & PARTNERS key contacts:

Veronika Dvořáková

partner

in H&P

František Korbel

partner

in H&P

Where we find inspiration

To remain a top-level manager and successfully face new challenges, you need continuous learning, self-improvement, and inspiration from leaders. That’s the principle we follow at HAVEL & PARTNERS and ONE FAMILY OFFICE.

We carefully select the best global titles in business, management, leadership, economics, strategy, marketing, and psychology – and support their publication and reprints in the Czech market so that not only we, but also others, can benefit from them. Over the past decade, we have brought more than 20 international bestsellers to the Czech market. Explore a selection of books personally recommended by our colleagues:

Jaroslav Havel | Managing partner

Lessons from Private Equity Any Company Can Use

Did you know that investments by top private equity leaders typically deliver outstanding profits after three to five years of ownership? If you understand how they achieve this, you can apply the same principles to any company and increase its value. That’s one of the key ideas in Lessons from Private Equity Any Company Can Use, a favourite in my library. Authors Orit Gadiesh and Hugh MacArthur share their experience from management at Bain & Company. The book offers six practical lessons from private equity and reminds me that success requires changes and a certain level of risk. Many people settle for certainty, which often means mediocrity… And this book shows how to break out of that mediocrity.

Ondřej Florián | partner

The Dilemmas of Family Wealth

The book The Dilemmas of Family Wealth offers a deeply human yet practical perspective on succession and maintaining cohesion in family businesses. Judy Martel skilfully connects the legal, economic, and emotional aspects of this complex process. It’s a publication I return to often for inspiration when working with family businesses – each is specific, but many face similar challenges to address. This book is an invaluable guide for anyone dealing with succession or inheritance issues in a firm. It clearly shows that long-term success in family business depends not only on legal and financial planning but also on open communication and shared values.

Kateřina Slavíková | partner

Great by Choice

Do you believe success depends on external circumstances – like good luck or bad luck? This book, based on an extensive study by authors of successful and unsuccessful companies, will convince you otherwise, just as it did me. What matters far more is what we do, not what happens to us. Excellence is a matter of conscious choice and discipline! For me, Great by Choice meaningfully combines hard data with the human factor and shows that courage and humility are the keys to success. And that applies not only in business but also in personal life.

Veronika Dvořáková | partner

Dare to Be Different and Grow Rich: Secrets of Self-Made People

The world’s top entrepreneurs, artists, athletes… Each is different, yet they share something in common. Rainer Zitelmann explores their life stories in Dare to Be Different and Grow Rich, weaving in data and practical advice. The book demonstrates that success is neither luck nor magic – it’s the sum of persistence, determination, and habits that I too can develop. And I believe it can inspire others too – perhaps starting as soon as tomorrow.

Štěpán Štarha | partner

Good to Great

Are you a hedgehog or a fox? What is the hedgehog concept? Should you decide first where the bus is going or who’s on board? These and many other striking analogies immediately come to my mind when I hear the book title Good to Great. Jim Collins, drawing on data and case studies of the world’s most successful companies, clearly identifies the factors that separate great firms from those that are merely “good”. Above all, it comes down to disciplined people, disciplined thinking, and disciplined action. This book always reminds me how crucial clear focus on a specific goal and perseverance are. I recommend it to anyone who wants to lead a company thoughtfully while maintaining the energy to grow.