Mr. Pánek specializes in M&A, corporate and commercial legal matters, privatization projects and corporate reorganizations.

Mr. Pánek represented international investors in numerous significant M&A projects within the Czech and Slovak Republics, conducted and acted as associate in charge of legal due diligence investigations; negotiated and drafted documentation in connection with stock purchases or asset deals and their financing, including privatizations of principal state enterprises. In the area of mergers and acquisitions, the clients and/or targets were active in the following industries: telecommunications, beverages, pharmaceuticals, insurance, banking utility trading, public water management, logistics and transportation.

Mr. Pánek frequently advised on regulatory issues concerning the operation of major public utility companies and repeatedly advised on the restructuring of major industrial enterprises operating independent energy centers.

Mr. Pánek has also represented clients in high stakes settlement negotiations and before the Courts of Appeals.

In his recent M&A practice, Mr. Pánek represented Honeywell in its acquisition of OLYMPO Controls s.r.o., Masonite Corporation, a leading global producer of doors, in its acquisition of Kronodoor CZ spol. s r.o., VOESTALPINE AG, a leading steel parts supplier, in its bid for Nedcon Bohemia, s.r.o., the Riverside Company, a U.S.-based leading private equity fund, in its divestment of Carborundum Electrite a.s., and HDI International Holding AG, a leading German industrial insurer, in its due diligence of Česká podnikatelská pojišťovna, a.s., among others.

In the area of corporate restructuring, Mr. Pánek has recently acted as primary counsel to the Intercontinental Hotels Group in a complex restructuring of its Czech Operations, involving transfers of hundreds of employees and the full contractual setup of new operations, as well as Metso Paper, Inc., the world’s largest paper making line supplier, in its outsourcing project with Frantschach Pulp and Paper, a.s., whereby Metso Paper, Inc. took over the complete maintenance of the Frantschach Pulp and Paper, a.s. industrial facility in the Czech Republic.

Mr. Pánek has also assisted Česká spořitelna, a.s., a leading Czech bank owned by the Erste Group, in the structuring and setup of real estate investment funds for the purposes of investment in the area of Central and Eastern Europe, with the initial combined level of commitment approaching EUR 150 million, including legal advice on related corporate issues and negotiation of contractual documentation with investment advisors.

Prior to joining White & Case in September 2003, Mr. Pánek worked for the law offices of Glatzová & Co. in Prague and Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer in Washington, DC.