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