There are few people who have not experienced a situation where a builder implements a project that complies with the spatial planning documentation, but is highly incongruous with the prevailing character of the area in which the structure is to be built. Specifically, construction of buildings in the 1990s and early 21st century, which belong to the pseudo-style called “entrepreneurial baroque”, is evidence of grossly insensitive location of buildings, ignoring the character and nature of the existing neighbourhood. Nonetheless, the trend in Czech building legislation over the last decade and a half has been an increasing emphasis on the aesthetic features of new developments and their integration into the urban and architectural environment, whereas individual interests of the builder and his oftentimes wild ideas about the appearance of the structure tend to be sidelined. The key here is the concept of “urban and architectural values in the area”.
Czech Republic: New Investment Incentives Rules Aim to Support Technological Start-ups
The government of the Czech Republic has approved a new decree concerning investment incentives. The new rules should bring significant changes not only for large investors, but also for small and medium-sized technology companies, which will now also be able to access direct financial support. The new rules will take effect as of 1 January 2022.
White & Case Appoints New Prague Executive Partner and New SEE Country Practice Head
Partner and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure practice Vit Stehlik has been promoted to Executive Partner at White & Case in Prague, as of January 1, 2021, replacing Partner and Head of the firm's CEE Real Estate practice Petr Panek. Panek will be in charge of developing White & Case’s operations in eleven SEE countries as the firm's new SEE Country Practice Head.
Don't Copy My Graffiti: Copyright Protection of Works on the Verge of Illegality under the Law of England and Wales (Part I – Graffiti)
Copyright is a bundle of exclusive rights falling under the umbrella of Intellectual Property (IP) law. The purpose of copyright is to protect creative effort carried out by a natural person (author) expressed in a tangible form and which amounts to one of the categories of "work" as defined by the statute, some of which also require the work to be "original". The aim of this article is to draw attention to the issue of copyrightability of works that have been created illegally or that are on the verge of illegality. As this topic and the related issues are quite extensive, this article offers only a brief introduction to the subject and is by no means exhaustive.
Czech Republic: New Opinions on Cookies and Telemarketing
In the run-up to Christmas, two interesting opinions were issued by public authorities that address some controversial matters frequently encountered in practice regarding cookies and telemarketing.
Lenka Droscova Makes Partner at Act Randa Havel Legal
Lenka Droscova has become a Partner at Act Randa Havel Legal. She focuses on labor law and is also a member of the State Bar of California.
Cola is the Same Everywhere, Right?
A cola drink bought in the Czech Republic should be the same as one bought in Germany, right? Well from May 2021, this is required by an amendment to the Food Act which has codified a ban on dual quality food into the Czech legal system.
Tomas Sequens Makes Partner at Kocian Solc Balastik
Former Counsel Tomas Sequens has been promoted to Partner at Kocian Solc Balastik.
Deal 5: AI Startup Incubator Business Development Director Angelo Burgarello on OpenRefactory Investment
On October 7, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Kocian Solc Balastik had advised Czech technology accelerator AI Startup Incubator on its investment in US-Bangladeshi OpenRefactory. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Angelo Burgarello, Business Development Director at AI Startup Incubator, to learn more about the investment.
Partner Appointments at Havel & Partners
Havel & Partners' Veronika Dvorakova and Ivan Rames have become Equity Partners, while Lenka Stikova Gachova, Michal Smrcek, and Josef Zaloudek have been promoted to Partner.
Real Estate Laws and Regulations in Czech Republic
Contributed by PRK Partners.
The Buzz in the Czech Republic: Interview with Miroslav Dudek of BPV Braun Partners
While real estate in the country is still going strong, according to BPV Braun Partners Partner Miroslav Dudek, bankruptcy disputes and the financial problems of tenants from industries hit by COVID-19 restrictions are on the rise in the Czech Republic.
New Competition Policy in the Czech Republic?
At the end of 2020, the Chairman of the Czech Competition Authority (CCA) was replaced. Petr Rafaj, who had been in the position for more than 11 years and who had been linked to several controversial cases, resigned. The government, through a tender procedure, selected his successor: Petr Mlsna. The aim of the 42-year-old lawyer, who has extensive experience working in senior government positions, is to return the good reputation of the CCA. Mlsna emphasizes strengthening the importance of competition law as part of the CCA’s competencies.
Jan Holasek Joins Forces with HKDW Legal to Form HKDW Holasek
Jan Holasek, a Czech Senator and founder of Havel, Holasek & Partners – now Havel & Partners – has joined forces with HKDW Legal to form a new law firm under the name HKDW Holasek.
White & Case Appoints New Local Partners in Warsaw, Istanbul, and Prague
White & Case has completed a new round of firm-wide promotions, appointing 28 Local Partners and 40 Counsels. Among these were new Local Partners Jakub Gubanski, Aleksandra Oziemska, Bartosz Smardzewski, and Pawel Zagorski in Warsaw, Gokce Uluc in Istanbul, and Marianna Galusova in Prague.
Pavel Bogusky Joins Dentons as Partner in Prague
Former Clifford Chance Senior Associate Pavel Bogusky has joined the Restructuring, Insolvency, and Bankruptcy practice of Dentons’ Prague office as a Partner.
The Buzz in the Czech Republic: Interview with Janka Brezaniova of Taylor Wessing
Despite the ongoing political events, the Czech Republic is keeping up with the global trend of a record-breaking number of yearly M&A transactions, according to Taylor Wessing Partner Janka Brezaniova.
Bernhard Hager Leads Eversheds Sutherland Czech and Slovak Offices. Radek Matous Makes Partner
Eversheds Sutherland's Head of the Bratislava Office Bernhard Hager has been appointed Managing Partner for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Principal Associate and Head of the Labour Law team Radek Matous was promoted to Partner in Prague.