Why have I been practicing corporate law for fifteen years? The question should rather be "why on earth not?" Corporate law contains everything a lawyer can wish for. From the contractual agenda in the form of drafting shareholder agreements to the contentious agenda in litigating shareholder disputes in court or hostile shareholder meetings. From the clear-cut rules of mergers, demergers or changes of legal form (yes, I like rules) to the routine (and sometimes reassuring) small-corporate officialdom of changes of directors, headquarters or trading companies. If you add to this the largest and most importantly the best (!) corporate law team in Central Europe, you will understand why I have been with HAVEL & PARNERS since college. Oh, and I also play tennis, hockey, run, cycle and spend most of my time on the golf course looking for golf balls.
My path to law school is perhaps a little unusual, as I was looking for a way to combine my interests in a wide range of disciplines. During my studies, I began to explore my possible career choices and became interested in commercial law. This dynamic, complex and diverse field, full of constant challenges, original solutions and creative use of existing legal institutions, interested me more and more. After graduating, I had a clear idea that corporate law would be my first choice for my future career.
Modesty, honesty, punctuality and perseverance are the qualities I try to improve the most as a cyclist. As an attorney, I know quite well that these are the qualities my clients require of me. So whether I am in a cycling jersey on a mountain ridge or in a suit in a conference room, I always try to build on that. As an athlete, I know that it's not the race that has a finish line – the goal is the race itself. Oh, and by the way, I'm quite involved in corporate and tax law, trust and foundation law, family law and inheritance law, which I even write or say something about from time to time.
I am the co-founder and managing partner of HAVEL & PARTNERS, which provides the most comprehensive legal and tax services on the market to more than 3,000 clients. With over 320 lawyers and tax advisors, and offices in Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Plzeň, Olomouc and Ostrava, the firm is the largest independent law firm in Central Europe and the most successful Czech-Slovak law firm. I focus on developing relationships with the firm's most important clients, strategic business partners and leading international law firms. I provide strategic legal advice and lead the firm's team in the most important, complex or sensitive client matters, from transactions to major litigation, in administrative proceedings and criminal matters. My services are sought by top Czech and Slovak entrepreneurs, investors and managers thanks to my extensive experience, reputation and exceptional work commitment, including unique contacts in the legal and business circles in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I provide comprehensive advice to owners and members of top management of the most important Czech and Slovak private companies. In more than 20 years of legal practice, I have gained extensive experience through a number of high-profile Czech and Slovak legal cases, particularly in the areas of banking, finance and capital markets, M&A and joint ventures, private equity and venture capital; this experience also includes engineering, energy, transport, media and healthcare.
The legal world is rife with diverse perspectives, as captured by my favourite saying “two lawyers make three legal opinions”. This aptly describes the diverse, fluid, ever-changing nature of the law, which demands constant preparedness to tackle new challenges, continuously learn, and remain vigilant. As part of the corporate team, I navigate the complex and multifaceted realm of corporate law. While it may appear formal on the surface, the field is marked by a captivating complexity and diversity that I find deeply engaging.
Josef Žaloudek specialises in corporate tax law, international taxation, restructuring, and related aspects of civil and commercial law. He has provided advice for important international and local companies working in information technology, the automobile industry, engineering, the food industry, etc.
