Martin Magal
Partner
Bratislava
Martin Magal
Partner
Bratislava
Contact details
Martin is recognised as one of Slovakia’s most accomplished private-practice lawyers. He advises clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and restructurings. At the same time, Martin heads the firm’s dispute resolution practice in Slovakia and in the wider CEE region.
He has acted on many landmark M&A transactions involving Slovak target companies and investors across many sectors and industries, including financial institutions, media, telecoms, energy, technology and construction. He has litigated cases at all levels of the Slovak judiciary (including acting before the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court), in civil, administrative, anti-trust and arbitration-related litigations. Martin is also one of Slovakia’s leading arbitration practitioners. He acts as counsel and arbitrator in international commercial arbitration cases under various arbitration rules, including ICC, UNCITRAL, DIS, VIAC, Swiss Rules and the rules of the Czech Agricultural and Industrial Chamber. Martin’s arbitration expertise is widely recognised through his numerous appointments, including as the principal drafter of an extensive amendment to the Slovak Arbitration Act, as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the International Advisory Board of the Vienna International Arbitration Centre and a board member of the Permanent Arbitration Court of the Slovak Bar Association.
Sources describe Martin as “pleasant to work with and efficient,” adding that he is “very responsive in getting what we needed.” Chambers Europe, 2018
Martin is appreciated by his clients, who highlight him as “an outstanding lawyer.” Chambers Europe, 2017
Market commentators consider Martin Magal a leading corporate lawyer in Slovakia, with a “deep understanding of European and Slovak law.” Chambers Europe, 2016
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
Mgr, Law, Comenius University in Bratislava, 1998
LLM, University of Cambridge, 1999
Course, European Law, European University Institute, 1994
Course, Private International Law, 1997
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Publications: 08 September 2021
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Experience highlights
Advising ENEL on the sale of its 66% stake in Slovenské elektrárne to EPH in two phases, the first of which involved creating a temporary joint venture between ENEL and EPH.
Advising Slovak Telekom on the initial public offering of stakes and global depository receipts in the amount of EUR850m.
Advising Slovenské elektrárne in international arbitration before the Vienna International Arbitration Centre regarding a EUR588m claim against the Ministry of the Economy and various state entities regarding the termination of the client’s long-term management agreement for the Gabčíkovo Hydro Power Plant.
Advising VÚB (Intesa Sanpaolo) on the acquisition of consumer finance group Quatro/Triangel, leasing company BOF, and also financial intermediary Fincentrum (aborted).
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
Mgr, Law, Comenius University in Bratislava, 1998
LLM, University of Cambridge, 1999
Course, European Law, European University Institute, 1994
Course, Private International Law, 1997
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- Západoslovenská energetika on the acquisition of the Malženice combined heat and power plant from E.ON SE.
- Fortuna Entertainment Group on the acquisition of the Hattrick Sports Group Limited, operating betting companies in Croatia, Romania and Spain.
- Asahi on the acquisition of five former SABMiller businesses in Central and Eastern Europe, which was the largest acquisition of a foreign beer operation by a Japanese brewer.
- Smurfit Kappa Group on the restructuring and subsequent sale of its Slovak subsidiaries Smurfit Kappa Štúrovo and Smurfit Kappa Obaly.
- Eco-Investment on its cross-border corporate restructuring and the acquisition of a number of targets in the CEE region, including Paloma Tissue (Slovenia).
- SZRB Asset Management on the first venture capital investment in to GA Drilling, a company that developed an innovative way of well drilling using plasma thermal effects.
- Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on the acquisition of a 30% stake in EP Infrastructure, a holding company for a portfolio of regulated infrastructure assets in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, from EPH.
- Infracapital, the infrastructure investment arm of M&G Investments and one of the largest European infrastructure investment funds, on the acquisition of the Slovak utility group GGE, a producer and supplier of heat, electricity and gas.
- AeroMobil, an innovative start-up company creating a flying car, and its founders on changes to its corporate and holding structure and negotiations with potential investors.
- A global healthcare company on the acquisition of the toothpaste and cosmetics business of de Miclén, a.s.
- Slovenské elektrárne as plaintiff on a EUR 94 million damages claim against the Slovak Republic (represented by the Ministry of Economy) caused by unlawful electricity price regulation.
- U.S. Steel Košice as respondent in a high-profile and long-lasting litigation before Slovak courts.
- An international arbitral institution as defendant in a EUR 1.5 billion claim for damages initiated by a Slovak company before Slovak courts.
- An international financial institution in a warranty claim under the SPA for the purchase of a majority of shares in a Slovak bank.
- Telefónica/O2 in administrative litigation relating to the validity of their mobile network licence.
- Numerous listed and private companies on shareholder lawsuits, including disputes about the validity of general meetings, appointment of directors, exercise of put and call options and minority shareholder squeeze-outs.
Published work
- “Slovakia – Overview of Arbitration Legislation”, Global Arbitration Review, The European, Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review, 2016, p. 117 – 121, co-authored with Juraj Gyárfáš and Martina Kasemová
- “Slovakia: New legislation for Central European tiger”, Global Arbitration Review, 2015, Volume 10 – Issue 1, co-authored with Juraj Gyárfáš and Michal Porubský
- “Has Arbitration Taken a Turn for the Better?” in Global Arbitration Review, European, Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review 2015, p. 137-141, co-authored with Juraj Gyárfáš and Martina Kasemová
- “Slovakia: One Jump Forward, Three Steps Back” in Global Arbitration Review, The European, Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review 2014, p. 128 – 132, co-authored with Juraj Gyárfáš
- “Slovakia: Court expands power of review” in Global Arbitration Review, 6, 2011, p. 33 – 34, co-authored with Juraj Gyárfáš
Recognition
Good negotiator who is reasonable, knowledgeable, smooth and very well-known and respected in the market.
Chambers 2020
He is a stable, excellent name in the market.
Chambers 2019
He always gives added value as icing on the cake, which makes him different.
Chambers 2019
