ESG in Practice: How to Integrate Sustainable Strategies into Your Business
With the amendment to the Accounting Act effective from June 1, 2024, EU Directive 2022/2464 introduces new obligations for companies regarding the disclosure of sustainability information, known as ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance. A key requirement is for businesses to include individual sustainability disclosures as part of their annual reports in the form of a “Sustainability Report.” Starting in 2024, certain large companies are required to prepare these reports. Over the next few years, ESG and sustainability reporting will extend to almost every business. Naďa Řoštek's article outlines what the Sustainability Report should include and where to find ESG principles in everyday operations.
Stable high ranking in IFLR1000
We are pleased with the results of the most recent ranking of IFLR1000, as they have confirmed our office's leading position in the Slovak legal market. We stably maintain the highest ranking in Project development as well as high positions in other areas. Similarly, the personal rankings of our colleagues remain at their high levels.
ESG as a competitive advantage: Why it is important to act now
In the next 3 years, ESG (enviromental, social, governance) considerations will impact virtually every business and entrepreneur. It will be essential for companies to retain existing clients and will also create opportunities for attracting new ones, gaining investors, and enhancing their reputation. To understand why it's important to start focusing on ESG today and the benefits it can bring to your company, you can read the article by Naďa Řoštek.
We welcome new Equity Partners, Peter Ružička and Peter Bartoš
We are excited to announce that our team of equity partners has expanded with the addition of Peter Ružička and Peter Bartoš, who have accepted the offer to become equity partners after many years of dedicated service.
Get ready for changes effective from July 1, 2024
The new law on consumer protection will bring several significant changes in relations with consumers effective from July 1, 2024. The changes will affect not only retailers.
We supported the Ruky spoja ruky event again
The 12th annual benefit concert "Ruky spoja ruky" (Hands Join Hands) took place at the National Rehabilitation Center in Kováčová on April 24, 2023. The event was intended for physically disabled individuals from the facilities in Kováčová, as well as mentally and physically disabled children and adults. Our law firm supported the event again this year.
We are №1 in Public Procurement and Logistics and construction
The EPRAVO Group publishing house, in cooperation with the weekly TREND, announced the winners of the 12th Law Firm of the Year 2024 competition. Our law firm won the Public Procurement category for the twelfth time, having defended its first place in the previous eleven years. In addition, we also won in the Logistics and construction category.
Naďa Roštek, a new addition to our team!
As of 1 April, our colleague, Naďa Roštek, has expanded the ranks of our partners, returning to us after an eight-year "break" in the corporate and private sectors. She joins us as a senior partner in the areas of competition and compliance law. In addition, she will be a key contributor to the new, fast-growing Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) area.
The Legal 500´s Easter Surprise!
In this year´s ranking of the renowned The Legal 500, which was released just before the Easter holidays, our Law Firm once again received excellent ratings. When compared with recent years, we see an improving trend, which makes us even more pleased.
We received ranking in all practice areas rated on the Slovak legal market, which is an achievement in itself. We have traditionally defended our top Tier 1 position in Projects and energy and Real estate and construction. Our Partner, Ján Azud, also defended his Leading Individual position in Projects, and in addition, he received the same personal ranking also in Real Estate. Peter Bartoš, another of our Partners, was ranked among the Next Generation Partners for the first time this year.
We have a stable position in Tier 2 Dispute resolution. Similarly, in Commercial, corporate and M&A and also in Employment we remain in Tier 3. The rankings conclude with Banking, finance and capital markets in Tier 4. A number of our colleagues are ranked as Recommended Lawyers.
We have maintained a great ranking in Chambers Europe
We are pleased to announce that we have maintained an excellent ranking in the Chambers Europe 2024 guide. We have achieved outstanding positions in key areas of legal practice. According to Chambers and Partners, we are one of the top 5 law firms in Slovakia in the Real Estate category with a brilliant Band 2 ranking. We have also been placed in Band 3 for Dispute Resolution, Competition/Antitrust, and Restructuring/Insolvency. Our Corporate/M&A category has received a Band 4 ranking. Additionally, our managing partner, Jaroslav Ružička, has been awarded the highest personal ranking in Corporate/M&A for 18 consecutive years.
Excellent ranking in Dispute Resolution
In the current ranking of Chambers Global Guide 2024 by the renowned legal directory Chambers and Partners, our firm reached the Band 3 ranking in the practice area of Dispute Resolution. When we realize how extreme the competition is, especially in dispute resolution in Slovakia and consider that only 4 law firms, including ours, have been ranked for this area, we unequivocally rate this third place as a great success, which motivates us to further high-quality work.
Merry Christmas and Successful New Year
Dear friends, thank you for all the pleasant moments we have spent together during this ending year. We wish you happiness, well-being, and rest during the upcoming Christmas holidays. We also wish you many positive impulses in your work or business, so that the coming year 2024 will be as successful for you as you wish.
We supported the Snepeda Civic Association
This year we were happy to support Snepeda OZ, which is dedicated to activities for the hearing impaired. We were the main partner of the event Together With You, Together With Us II, which took place on 9 December. The event also included the release of the book Mosaic of Silence. Santa Claus also came to visit and gave gifts to children, who enjoyed themselves.
Helping children with serious illnesses
Again this year, in the time before Christmas, we supported the Agape Charity in their long-standing efforts to help children with serious, difficult-to-treat illnesses and their families, for whom it is extremely demanding to provide the care they need. We are happy to have been able to do our part.
We are the 3rd largest law firm in the number of attorneys in Slovakia
In the current ranking of the 10 Largest Law Firms in Slovakia, prepared annually by The Slovak Spectator and Denník SME, we won excellent positions in several categories again. Considering the great competition of 73 evaluated firms, these results really please us. In the main category in the Number of attorneys parameter, we are the 3rd largest in Slovakia! We placed 7th in the overall ranking and defended the 4th place in the chart of domestic offices. We have also obtained positions in the TOP 10 in several rankings according to legal practice areas and sectors of the economy.
Changes to the Public Procurement Law – Take Six
Since 2018, we have been publishing an annual update on amendments to the public procurement rules and system of remedies under Slovak procurement law. What are the most significant changes in public procurement coming in the next few months? Find them summarized by our partner and public procurement expert Jan Azud.
Steadily improving ranking in IFLR1000
In the current IFLR1000 ranking, we confirmed our leading position on the Slovak legal market this year as well. We have consistently maintained a high ranking in all relevant areas. We have even recorded a significant success in the personal rankings of lawyers. Our partner, Ján Azud, advanced to the highest ranking level of a Market leader in the field of Project development! In Project Development, our firm has defended our top Tier 1 ranking. In M&A and Banking and Finance, we maintain our Tier 3 ranking.
ATTENTION! New company details as of 01.06.2023
Have your company been registered originally in the Commercial Register of District Court Bratislava I or District Court Košice I? If so, you have most likely received a message in your data mailbox informing you of the change of the respective register court. We want to remind you and add that starting 01. 06. 2023, your contracts, business letters, orders, invoices, or any other business documents should have quoted the name of the court maintaining the commercial register, where your company is incorporated. What changes need to be made to your documents you will find in the article by Peter Ružička.
Helping the Government with Major Investments: After Volvo Comes Winkelmann
After last year’s successful boost to the economy in the form of a massive investment by Volvo in eastern Slovakia, we had another opportunity to assist the Slovak Economy Ministry in securing another significant investment. This time, it was the German Winkelmann Group – a leader in metal forming technologies for a wide range of industry sectors. Our law firm’s team, led by Ján Azud, has lent its support to the Economy Ministry in drafting and negotiating the investment contract.
A warm welcome to our newest partner, Ján Broniš
Previously working as a counsel at our law firm, Ján was made partner on 1 May.
Law Firm of the Year for the eighth time
The publishing house EPRAVO Group in cooperation with the weekly TREND, announced for the eleventh time the winners of the prestigious annual industry ranking Law Firm of the Year 2023. For the eighth time, RUŽIČKA AND PARTNERS has secured a win in the main category National Law Firm. At the same time, the firm was first in the category of Public Procurement, defending its position for the eleventh year in a row. The firm has cemented its last year's top achievements in M&A and won in Energy.
Another great ranking by The Legal 500!
We have reaffirmed our strong position in the Slovak legal services market. Our law firm has again ranked in all the evaluated categories of The Legal 500 EMEA 2023.
As usual, we have defended our top position in Tier 1 in Projects and energy and Real estate and construction. In Dispute resolution, we ranked in Tier 2. In addition, we have maintained our strong foothold, Commercial, corporate and M&A, and Employment in Tier 3. And last but not least, in Banking, finance and capital markets, we are in Tier 4.
Our partner Ján Azud has defended his top position as Leading Individual in Projects and energy.
Great ranking in Chambers Europe again
We are proud to announce that we have maintained our position as a Leading Firm in all key areas of legal practice in Chambers Europe 2023 guide, recently published by the renowned Chambers and Partners legal directory. Our Managing Partner Jaroslav Ružička has been keeping his highest personal ranking in Corporate/M&A already for 17 years. We see this as further international recognition of the solid position of our law firm in the Slovak legal market.
State to tighten control over foreign investments
Starting from March 1st, a new law on the screening of foreign investments has taken effect, focusing primarily on the country's security and protection of critical infrastructure. The state may prohibit investments and impose fines in the millions. Details are explained in the article by Ján Azud, František Mark Molnár and Matej Škultéty.
Another amendment to the Labour Code – new changes to salary allowances
On 7 December 2022, the Slovak National Council passed a new act to amend and expand the provisions of the Labour Code. The recent amendment was published on 4 January 2023 in the Collection of Acts as Act No. 1/2023 Z. z. and comes into effect on 1 June 2023.
This piece of legislation changes some provisions of the Labour Code. The minimum allowances payable to employees for being on-call, working on Saturday, Sunday, at night, working under difficult conditions, and working based on an agreement to perform work on public holidays will change.
Merry Christmas and 30 more successful years
Dear friends, this year marks the celebration of the 30th anniversary of our law firm's presence on the Slovak legal market. A thirty years' tradition is far from a short one. However, we believe that the year 2023 will be a good beginning of another thirty years' run, at least as successful as the first one.
We wish you, our clients and partners, that 2023 will be the beginning of a new successful period for you as well. Thank you for spending 2022 together. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023.
