Allen & Overy announced today that Otakar Hájek has joined its international arbitration team in Central and Eastern Europe. Otakar returns to Prague after two years in the Hong Kong office of A&O, where he closely worked with Judith Gill QC, Matthew Gearing QC, Matthew Hodgson and other leading world experts from A&O’s renowned team of experts on investment treaty arbitration and commercial arbitration.
During his career, Otakar has gained experience representing states and private investors in ICSID investment treaty arbitrations in the sectors of infrastructure, financial services and mining. His successes in this field include representing the Belgian DEME group in the first investment dispute won under ICSID rules against the Republic of the Philippines. He also advised investors on investment structuring and exercising rights on investment protection against host states. Otakar also led negotiations with various states on the settlement of investment disputes. One of the negotiations ended with a successful settlement by the investor with the Czech Republic. Otakar has also represented clients in commercial arbitrations, in particular under ICC, HKIAC, VIAC and other rules.
Prokop Verner, managing partner of A&O’s Prague office, commented: “I am glad that Otakar has returned to Prague. Only a few law firms in this region have such an experienced expert on international arbitration, which, in combination with Otakar’s knowledge of the domestic legal environment, will surely be a big benefit for our clients.”
Otakar is rejoining A&O’s CEE team of arbitration experts, which includes partner Martin Magál, Lucia Raimanová, Marek Neumann and Michal Stanek.
Otakar is a member of the Commission on International Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce for the Czech Republic.