Eva Svobodová

Partner, Prague

Biography

“an outstanding lawyer demonstrating expertise in high-value IPOs, green bond issuances and EMTN programmes”
Chambers Europe, Capital Markets, Czech Republic, 2023

Overview

Eva Svobodová, a partner and co-head of the firm's Prague Capital Markets practice, focuses on capital markets transactions, including both debt and equity, and also has significant experience in regulatory matters and investment funds. She is qualified as an attorney in the Czech Republic and the US. 

Eva's experience includes representation of both underwriters and issuers (including corporates, banks and sovereigns) on a range of domestic and international capital markets transactions. She also regularly advises clients on regulatory matters, including takeovers, as well as cross-border provision of investment services, trading, licensing and reporting obligations. Eva's practice also includes fund formation and structuring.

She has been ranked as a leading lawyer by independent publications consistently since 2014. As one of the most experienced capital markets lawyers on the market, she has been involved in structuring and execution of some of the most complex transactions, including a number of first-ever ones.

Bars and Courts
Czech Bar Association
New York State Bar
Education
LLM
New York University School of Law
NY, USA
Master's Degree (Mgr)
Charles University, Faculty of Law
Prague, Czech Republic
Languages
Czech
English
Slovak
German
French

Experience

Representation of Avast, a leading global cybersecurity provider, on its USD 816.6 million (GBP 602 million) IPO, the biggest ever software IPO on the London Stock Exchange.

Representation of CTP Group, a leading CEE logistics parks owner and developer, as issuer in connection with its initial public offering and listing of its shares on Euronext Amsterdam, the largest real estate IPO in Europe since 2014. 

Representation of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, Numis and UBS as underwriters on the GBP 186 million initial public offering of Eurowag, a leading pan-European integrated payments and mobility platform focused on the commercial road transportation industry, and admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange.

Representation of CTP Group as issuer in connection with the establishment and update of its EUR 4 billion EMTN programme, as well as subsequent green bond issuances thereunder. The programme includes a green bond framework and CTP is only second issuer on the Czech market issuing a green bond on international capital markets.

Representation of Raiffeisen Bank International, as Arranger, in connection with the establishment of two programmes by Raiffeisenbak Czech Republic, with one of the programmes consisting in transition from an English law governed covered bond programme to a German law governed covered bond programme, in each case for issuing Czech covered bonds, and the second programme being the first-ever international programme of a Czech issuer for issuance of “regulatory” notes (subordinated, eligible notes). The size of each of the programmes is EUR 5 billion.

Representation of Raiffeisen Bank International, Barclays Bank Ireland, Crédit Agricole and HYPO NOE on a EUR 350 million Green bond issued by Raiffeisenbank a.s. The MREL eligible green notes have a seven-year term, a 1.000%. fixed to floating rate coupon and were admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. This was the first ever issue of international regulatory capital notes by a Czech issuer; at the same time, the notes were issued as green bonds.

Representation of Energo-Pro, a leading electricity distribution and hydropower generation company in the Black Sea region, on the offering of USD 435 million 8.500%. Guaranteed Notes due 2027 and the related tender offer in respect of its EUR 370 million 4.00%. Guaranteed Notes due 2022.

Representation of P3 Group, a leading European owner, developer and manager of prime logistics and industrial real estate, as issuer on the establishment of its EUR 5 billion EMTN Programme and on the inaugural issue of EUR 500 million 0.875 per cent. Green Notes due 2026 and EUR 500 million 1.625 per cent. Green Notes due 2029 under the programme, which were admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Representation of ČEZ Group, the largest electricity generation and distribution company in the Czech Republic and one of the ten largest energy companies in Europe, on its offers to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding USD 700 million 4.250 per cent. notes due 2022 and its outstanding EUR 750 million 5.000% notes due October 2021 and EUR 500 million 0.875% notes due November 2022. The transaction represents one of the very few liability management transactions on the Czech market.

Representation of České dráhy (Czech Railways), the Czech state-owned railway transport company, as issuer, in connection with all its Eurobond issues that has been admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Awards and Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Debt Capital Markets (EMEA Women in Business Law Awards 2022)

Ranked as "Band 1" in Capital Markets (Chambers Global and Europe, 2023)

Ranked as "Highly regarded" in Capital Markets (IFLR 1000, 2022)

Ranked as a leading lawyer in the Czech Republic (IFLR1000 Women Leaders, 2022)

Ranked as one of 131 inspiring women in finance in the Czech Republic (#FinŽeny, 2022)

"an outstanding lawyer demonstrating expertise in high-value IPOs, green bond issuances and EMTN programmes"
(Chambers Europe, Capital Markets, Czech Republic, 2023)

"I had a really positive experience with her. She is great and very well educated."
(Client for Chambers Europe, Capital Markets, Czech Republic, 2023)

"Eva Svobodová demonstrates expertise in high-value ECM matters and EMTN programmes. She draws praise for her ability to support clients in complex transactions and her good relationship with market regulators."
(Chambers Europe, Capital Markets, Czech Republic, 2022)

"She did a great job guiding us through a difficult process."
(Client for Chambers Europe, Capital Markets, Czech Republic, 2022)