Ivan Houfek

Counsel

Email:
ivan.houfek@havelpartners.cz

Practice Areas:

Industry Sectors:

Ivan Houfek specialises in dispute resolution, commercial litigation and arbitration as well as in issues of contracting, real estate, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and media law.

In dispute resolution, Ivan has advised a number of Czech and multinational clients esp. in the field of energy, metallurgy, transportation and media.  He has extensive experience with complex legal proceedings and commercial disputes. As a legal counsel, he has participated in the resolution of disputes worth in total of billions of Czech crowns.

In the field of mergers and acquisitions he has been involved in numerous transactions (advising buyers and sellers alike) in various industries, esp. energy, automotive, transportation and media. Ivan also provided legal advice in connection with public procurement in the area of energy and transportation.

Ivan was awarded in the category The talent of the year within The lawyer of the year 2012.

Prior to joining our law firm, he worked for almost six years in the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Prague) and later for almost six years ran his own law firm. Before his attorney practice, Ivan worked over three years as assistant to the chairman of the appellate judicial panel of Metropolitan court in Prague, where he dealt with cases previously annulled by the Supreme Court and with the unification of judicial decisions in civil matters.

Membership in professional associations

Czech Bar Association

Languages
Czech, English

Education

Charles University, Faculty of Law, Prague (2012), Ph.D. Charles University, Faculty of Law, Prague (2013), JUDr. (Doctor of Laws) University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law - Institute of Continuing Education (2003-2008) Charles University, Faculty of Law, Prague (2006), Mgr. (Master of Laws) University of Limerick, Faculty of Law, (Socrates Erasmus, 2004–2005)

  • advising and representing clients in a number of complex judicial proceedings before courts, including the Supreme Court, the Supreme Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court
  • advising a client in connection with disputes related to the business park development, including the author’s right issues
  • advising on compensation claim in connection with the construction of a dry polder
  • advising a number of well-known persons in connection with disputes related to personality and reputation protection
  • advising railway operator in connection with top management employment disputes
  • advising in relation to the lawsuit against the Czech Republic in connection to damage caused to ship operators by claimed failure to provide specified navigation conditions
  • advising major Czech company in connection with a commercial dispute related to faulty power plant reconstruction
  • advising Czech state in connection with solar power plant disputes
  • advising a client in connection with privatisation loan dispute
  • advising steel producer in connection with commercial dispute as to rights from defects in connection with technology supply
  • advising to the international export insurance company with the preparation of contractual documentation
  • advising a client in connection with media distributor acquisition
  • advising leading aircraft engine producer in connection with a number of contractual issues
  • advising railway infrastructure operator with the transfer of the part of the enterprise consisting of 9,500 employees connected with operating of the railway
  • advising a major Czech company in connection with negotiations with foreign suppliers concerning a complex contract for the provision of strategic services in the energy sector;
  • advising an international leading company in connection with the acquisition of network of filling stations.
  • advising a leading private equity fund in connection with intended acquisition of a dominant used car retailer operating in various CEE market
  • advising a client in connection with acquisition of a railway cargo operator
  • advising major Czech company in connection with coal purchases
  • advising connection with public procurement of 270 mil. litres of fuel oil via electronic auction
  • advising a client with contracts templates in connection with the highway reconstruction