Image

Martin Magal

Partner

Email

martin.magal@aoshearman.com

Phone

+421 2 5920 2412

Offices

Bratislava

V-CARD
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.

Experience

Representative matters

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. 

Slovak Telekom on the initial public offering of stakes and global depository receipts in the amount of EUR850m. 

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. 

VÚB (Intesa Sanpaolo) on the acquisition of consumer finance group Quatro/Triangel, leasing company BOF, and also financial intermediary Fincentrum (aborted).

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 

Speaking Engagements

  • Judge, The GAR Live debate, Global Arbitration Review/2nd Annual GAR Live Vienna, 19/10/2018
  • Panel Moderator, How Recent CEE Political Trends and Developments are Likely to Affect Foreign Investment and Law Firm Business, CEE Legal Matters/Dealer’s Choice Conference, 06/06/2018 
  • Guest Speaker, Is the Winning Party in an Arbitration Proceeding Always Entitled to the Reimbursement of Costs?, American Chamber of Commerce/Arbitration Conference, 26/04/2018 
  • Moderator, Arbitration World Café/Vienna Arbitration Days 2017, 25/02/2017 

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Member of the International Advisory Board, Vienna
  • International Arbitral Centre Board member, The Permanent Arbitration Court of the Slovak Bar Association
Recognition
“Martin is truly a top-class lawyer providing an excellent service and, more importantly, support. Martin is very attentive to the client's needs and leaves no stone unturned.”
Chambers and Partners Europe 2023
“He's really good to work with, very efficient, to the point and doesn't lose words. He's focused on finding a solution to problems.”
Chambers and Partners Europe 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as advokat, Slovakia, 2001

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

Languages

Czech, English, Slovak
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.