BUSINESS
A Lawyer
Should Be
the Client’s
Ambassador
We implement our international
legal experience here at home,
and we’ve been active in the
Moravian-Silesian region for
many years already.
Jakub Lichnovský, a partner at attorneys
at law PRK Partners, is a recognized
specialist in industrial development
projects, development and investments,
and in energy projects in general. His
specialization includes quite complex
international and local projects involving
the need to protect resources and
create value and, in partnership with
management, to achieve the requested
objectives. In contrast to the other lawyers,
Jakub’s focus is on development and
growth rather than on dispute resolution,
although litigation and representation
in court is also part of his legal practice,
when needed.
You are a Central European law firm
that also serves Ostrava. What is behind
your substantial interest in the MoravianSilesian region?
PRK Partners is a leading Czech and Slovak
law firm providing business legal advisory
services at an international level. We
opened our Ostrava office in 2008 (the firm
also has offices in Prague and Bratislava).
PRK Partners is a member of Lex Mundi,
the world’s leading network of premier
independent law firms. The firm has more
than 130 legal practitioners across all areas
of law.
We’ve always been aware of the high
concentration of industry in and around
the Moravian-Silesian region, representing
about 35 percent of Czech industrial
production. In addition, I’m a local from
the region, so I realized that if we wanted
to maintain and transform this industrial
heritage, it would be absolutely necessary
to establish a law firm in Ostrava with
international reach. I place the highest
value in people with legal experience and
expertise at the local and international
levels, including language skills and cultural
awareness. A lawyer should act as a sort
of ambassador, who is the best negotiator
on the client’s side while also being on the
team developing the strategy.
The Ostrava office specializes in providing
legal advice on complex projects and
transactions, providing a full range of legal
and consulting services to international
corporations, local entrepreneurs and
important individuals/families.
You work with both local and
international companies. With this kind of
perspective how do you assess the level of
infrastructure and business opportunities
in our region?
The Moravian-Silesian region is unique in
the Czech Republic, and the people here
possess excellent industrial and technical
skills. The local environment has a number
of comparative advantages (infrastructure
capacity, technical skills, the presence
of technical schools, a well-functioning
healthcare system, etc.), and the level of
readiness of the local business environment
is above average for the Czech Republic.
This is also thanks to the efficiency and
readiness of experienced local authorities
with the confidence needed to handle,
authorize and decide on projects – and
we really appreciate their approach. I’d
also like to point out one key issue in this
regard – investors nowadays prefer to
invest in regions that are ready, in terms of
infrastructure. Regions and towns must first
be able to offer a prepared infrastructure
(be it industrial parks, office space or
research centres), and only then will
there be demand. We’ve already assisted
numerous companies in investing several
billion Czech crowns in the MoravianSilesian Region. We’ve taken a slightly
different role and approach than what our
entrepreneurs have generally been used to.
We advise on how to create value, i.e. to
combine the financing, technology, people
and real estate (with all connected utilities);
to obtain the permits and licenses; and to
create a functional unit. We are pleased
that, in addition to international clientele,
we are increasingly assisting Czech
companies and prominent personalities or
families, on a longstanding basis. It’s about
helping our managers and owners become
aware of how to achieve success.
Od přátelství
k byznysu
Thank you very much for the interview.
Editorial of Magazine.
POSITIV 2/2019 ǀ 33
34 ǀ POSITIV 2/2019