25. Nov 2023 at 14:55 I
Advice on loan refinancing dominates Banking and Finance category.
The preparation of transaction documentation for the issue of bank bonds, loan refinancing, and credit financing of large projects appeared among the references provided by the largest law firms in Slovakia.
For years, the largest firms in this segment have been Allen & Overy and Dentons Europe CS LLP. These two spots remained unchanged in the current edition of the Largest Law Firms ranking in the Banking and Finance category, prepared by The Slovak Spectator newspaper and the Sme daily.
Banking & Finance: 10 largest law firms
- Allen & Overy
- Dentons Europe CS LLP
- WOLF THEISS
- BBH
- Kinstellar
- SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA
- Škubla & Partneri
- Hillbridges
- Advokátska kancelária RELEVANS
- CMS Slovakia
Ranking created based on the following criteria (values for 2022): number of B&F deals with regard to reward law firm received for them (70% weight); sales revenues (10% weight); points for number of lawyers (20% weight). The ranking reflects also the proportion of each firm’s hours spent on this category.
Each of the 10 largest law firms provided one referential deal which they consider most important.
Issuing green bonds
The Allen & Overy law firm provided legal advice to Slovenská Sporiteľňa, the largest commercial bank in the country, on the inaugural green covered bond benchmark issuance of €500 million.
The green covered bonds were purchased mostly by investors from Germany and Austria – banks, central banks and portfolio managers. The bonds are used to support environmentally responsible projects, such as the insulation of buildings and energy production from renewable energy sources.
The issue had the highest possible bond rating, Aaa level, from Moody’s rating agency, offering investors a yield of 3.5 percent per year with a maturity of 5.5 years.