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CMS announces new CEE Real Estate Head

3 October 2019

International law firm CMS is pleased to announce that partner Lukas Hejduk has been appointed Head of the CMS CEE Real Estate group*, replacing Wojciech Koczara after a five-year term.

Dora Petranyi, CEE CMNO Managing Director* comments: “Lukas is a well-known international real estate lawyer and will bring dynamic leadership and deep sector knowledge to the role. CEE is playing an increasingly bigger role in Europe’s property investment market – last year investment volumes into Europe fell by 15% but they increased by 5% in CEE, which had another record year. Our real estate team in CEE has the resource and expertise our clients need to respond to this fast-paced market. I look forward to working closely with Lukas and the team, and to ensure we continue to provide decisive, pragmatic solutions allowing clients to react quickly to seize opportunities in the region, and beyond.

“I would also like to thank Wojciech for his leadership of the group for the last five years. His guidance and drive have contributed greatly to the success of our real estate team in CEE. Wojciech will remain a key member of the regional team and will continue to play an active role in many of our key initiatives.”

Under Koczara’s leadership, the CMS CEE Real Estate Group has significantly strengthened its position across the region. Over the last years, the team has advised many of the region’s leading players including Allianz Real Estate, Amundi, REICO, NEPI Rockcastle, Deka Immobilien, Prologis and Panattoni on some of the landmark deals to have taken place in CEE. These include advising Allianz Real Estate on acquisition of 19 logistics halls in Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany, Deka Immobillien on acquisition of EUR 460 million logistics portfolio in the Czech Republic and Reico on the acquisition of office buildings in Warsaw and Prague.

Hejduk comments: “I am honoured to have been appointed to this role at what is an exciting and prosperous time for the real estate sector across CEE. Wojciech has developed our practice into a market leader, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation and working closely with my fellow partners and colleagues to further develop opportunities for clients across the region.”

Hejduk is a partner based in the CMS Prague office where he has led the real estate practice for five years. He advises on a broad range of real estate related projects and transactions, including real estate M&A, construction projects, development, leasing, sale and lease-back transactions and greenfield investments. He specialises in complex property transactions and has extensive experience of acting for international funds, private investors, developers, insurance providers and banks. Hejduk co-heads the CEE Hotel & Leisure practice and advises on sector specific matters such as hotel management agreements. As such, he has been involved in mandates in the Czech Republic, CEE, UK and Africa.

Hejduk is described by market commentators in the international legal directories as “a ‘reliable and sensible’ property practitioner, who focuses on transactional mandates involving international clients. He has a growing reputation as a ‘well-rounded and smart’ lawyer, with tremendous experience and a calm nature. He is able to take on vast and complex information, make sense of it and provide valuable advice.”

*CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang offices