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Helen Rodwell

Managing Partner
CMS Bratislava and Prague

Portrait ofHelen Rodwell

Helen Rodwell

Managing Partner
CMS Bratislava and Prague

Contact
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, advokáti, v.o.s.
Palladium, Na Poříčí 1079/3a
110 00 Prague 1
Czech Republic
Languages English

Helen Rodwell is the Managing Partner of CMS in Prague and Bratislava.

Under her leadership CMS continues to be one of the busiest M&A legal advisors in CEE. Helen has extensive experience of leading large teams on complex transactions and ensuring clients receive excellent, commercially orientated advice.

She is ranked as a Band 1 corporate lawyer both for the Czech Republic and the entire CEE region by Chambers and has advised on M&A transactions across a number of sectors, including financial services, private equity, energy, consumer products and manufacturing industries.

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Relevant experience

  • A group of investors, led by Partech and including EBRD, Quadrille Capital and J&T Bank, on a EUR 190m fundraising for Rohlik.cz, one of Europe’s leading online grocery businesses. 
  • Zentiva, an Advent International portfolio company, on its acquisition of the CEE business of global generic and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals manufacturer Alvogen. 
  • TPG on the acquisition of the Vector Parks Logistics Centres in Slovakia and Czech Republic from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). 
  • Cube Infrastructure on the investment into a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), open-access networks for residential, business and public administration in selected areas of the Czech Republic currently under-served by high speed internet networks.
  • The shareholders in Kiwi.com, one of the most rapidly growing technology companies worldwide, on the sale of a majority stake in the company to General Atlantic.
  • PPF, the Czech-based financial group, on the acquisition, together with Sabanci Holding, of the Turkish bus manufacturer Temsa from True Value Capital Partners.
  • Advent International on the EUR 1.9bn acquisition of Zentiva, a leading pharmaceutical company in CEE. 
  • Mid Europa Partners on the sale of AeskuLab and Alpha Medical businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Unilabs. 
  • Arkance on the acquisition of CAD Studio, a provider of technical support services for autodesk software, from KKCG.
  • Erste Bank in over ten separate M&A transactions in the region since 1999, including: 
    • EUR 3.75bn acquisition of a majority shareholding in Banca Comerciala Romana, Romania's largest bank.
    • Successful bid and subsequent USD 517m acquisition of Česká spořitelna, a.s., the Czech savings bank  (privatisation process), including advising on the re-structuring of the loan portfolio.
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 400m acquisition of Postabank Rt. from the Hungarian State, including a public takeover bid made for the shares of Postabank Rt.
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 160m acquisition of Rijecka banka d.d in Croatia from the Croatian State Agency for Bank Rehabilitation.
    • Acquisition of Slovenská sporiťelňa a.s., the Slovak savings bank (privatisation process).
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 149.6m acquisition of 100% of shares in Diners Club Adriatic d.d. in Croatia, one of the leading Croatian credit card companies.
    • Acquisition 100% of Bank Prestige in Ukraine.
    • Acquisition of Novosadska Banka in Serbia (privatisation process).
    • Proposed bid to acquire DSK Bank AD in Bulgaria.
    • Proposed bid to acquire Nova Ljubljanska banka, Slovenia.
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Memberships & Roles

  • Member, Victorian Bar Association, Australia
  • Member, Czech Chamber of Advocates
more less

Education

  • 1991 - Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • 1989 - Bachelor of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
more less

Helen Rodwell is the Managing Partner of CMS in Prague and Bratislava.

Under her leadership CMS continues to be one of the busiest M&A legal advisors in CEE. Helen has extensive experience of leading large teams on complex transactions and ensuring clients receive excellent, commercially orientated advice.

She is ranked as a Band 1 corporate lawyer both for the Czech Republic and the entire CEE region by Chambers and has advised on M&A transactions across a number of sectors, including financial services, private equity, energy, consumer products and manufacturing industries.

more less

Relevant experience

  • A group of investors, led by Partech and including EBRD, Quadrille Capital and J&T Bank, on a EUR 190m fundraising for Rohlik.cz, one of Europe’s leading online grocery businesses. 
  • Zentiva, an Advent International portfolio company, on its acquisition of the CEE business of global generic and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals manufacturer Alvogen. 
  • TPG on the acquisition of the Vector Parks Logistics Centres in Slovakia and Czech Republic from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). 
  • Cube Infrastructure on the investment into a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), open-access networks for residential, business and public administration in selected areas of the Czech Republic currently under-served by high speed internet networks.
  • The shareholders in Kiwi.com, one of the most rapidly growing technology companies worldwide, on the sale of a majority stake in the company to General Atlantic.
  • PPF, the Czech-based financial group, on the acquisition, together with Sabanci Holding, of the Turkish bus manufacturer Temsa from True Value Capital Partners.
  • Advent International on the EUR 1.9bn acquisition of Zentiva, a leading pharmaceutical company in CEE. 
  • Mid Europa Partners on the sale of AeskuLab and Alpha Medical businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Unilabs. 
  • Arkance on the acquisition of CAD Studio, a provider of technical support services for autodesk software, from KKCG.
  • Erste Bank in over ten separate M&A transactions in the region since 1999, including: 
    • EUR 3.75bn acquisition of a majority shareholding in Banca Comerciala Romana, Romania's largest bank.
    • Successful bid and subsequent USD 517m acquisition of Česká spořitelna, a.s., the Czech savings bank  (privatisation process), including advising on the re-structuring of the loan portfolio.
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 400m acquisition of Postabank Rt. from the Hungarian State, including a public takeover bid made for the shares of Postabank Rt.
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 160m acquisition of Rijecka banka d.d in Croatia from the Croatian State Agency for Bank Rehabilitation.
    • Acquisition of Slovenská sporiťelňa a.s., the Slovak savings bank (privatisation process).
    • Successful bid and subsequent EUR 149.6m acquisition of 100% of shares in Diners Club Adriatic d.d. in Croatia, one of the leading Croatian credit card companies.
    • Acquisition 100% of Bank Prestige in Ukraine.
    • Acquisition of Novosadska Banka in Serbia (privatisation process).
    • Proposed bid to acquire DSK Bank AD in Bulgaria.
    • Proposed bid to acquire Nova Ljubljanska banka, Slovenia.
more less

Memberships & Roles

  • Member, Victorian Bar Association, Australia
  • Member, Czech Chamber of Advocates
more less

Education

  • 1991 - Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • 1989 - Bachelor of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
more less

Expertise

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26/01/2024
CMS Expert Guide to Mastering OECD's Pillar Two in Czech Republic
1. Has there been a formal indication of the intention to implement Pillar Two/GloBE rules? Yes. 2. What is the implementation status of Pillar Two/GloBE rules? Pillar Two/GloBE rules were implemented...
Expert Guide
Comparable
05/01/2024
Private placement rules and law in the Czech Republic
1. Summary of private placement provisions for fund interests (if applicable) Czech law distinguishes between private and public placements. In general, private placement provisions apply to funds of...
Expert Guide
05/01/2024
AIFM passporting in the Czech Republic
1. EEA AIFM NonCzech AIFMs authorised in their EEA home State may exercise passport rights for management of AIFs in the Czech Republic on a services and / or branch basis. To obtain a passport, the EEA...
Expert Guide
29/12/2023
UCITS passporting in the Czech Republic
1. EEA UCITS Scheme  EEA Management Companies may exercise passporting rights for the marketing of an EEA UCITS Scheme in the Czech Republic provided that the requirements of Act No. 240 / 2013 Coll...
Expert Guide
13/09/2023
Turning the Corner? CMS European M&A Outlook 2024
We are pleased to share with you the 2024 edition of the European M&A Outlook, published by CMS in association with Mergermarket.
Publication
05/04/2023
CEE Greenfield Guide 2023
CEE countries have attracted significant foreign direct investment in greenfield operations in recent years. Indeed, many manufacturing businesses have focused on expanding capacity in CEE countries...
Guide
29/09/2022
Boom & Gloom? CMS European M&A Outlook 2023
We are pleased to share with you the 2023 edition of the European M&A Outlook published by CMS in association with Mergermarket.
Publication
06/04/2022
CMS Albania has advised 4IG on the acquisition of One Tele­com­mu­nic­a­tions...
CMS has assisted 4iG on the indirect acquisition of One Tele­com­mu­nic­a­tions, upon acquiring all the shares in the Bulgarian company Albania Telecom Invest. One Tele­com­mu­nic­a­tions is a major tele­com­mu­nic­a­tion...
News
03/01/2022
The transparency register in the 4th AML directive in Slovakia
1. What is the current legal basis of the Transparency Register? To what extent has the Directive been implemented? The Directive has not been fully transposed yet; some aspects are still subject to...
Expert Guide Corporate/M&A
Comparable
09/09/2021
CEE Merger Clearance Matrix 2021
Cross border M&A transactions that require merger control approvals in several jurisdictions have become commonplace. To reduce time delays and keep costs down, it is essential to identify at the early...
Publication
02/06/2021
Czech Republic introduces new legal framework for UBO Register
New regulation regarding ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) has come into effect in the Czech Republic. The new rules define who will be considered the UBO of a legal entity, provides that key information...
Law-Now
30/04/2021
Czech authorities to screen future foreign investments from 1 May
With effect from 1 May 2021, a new law will enable the Czech authorities to screen future foreign direct investments in the Czech Republic (FDIs). Foreign investors will now have to consider the implications...
Law-Now
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