Litigation and compensation · Czechia and Slovakia
Arbitration
Arbitration can resolve a commercial dispute in a fraction of the time taken by an ordinary court, but only with a sound clause and a good choice of arbitrators. We assess what your business partner asks you to sign, prepare a clause that does not disadvantage you and represent you in arbitration from the claim to enforcement of the award. In both Slovakia and Czechia.
- Lawyer registered with the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations
- Clauses and dispute representation
- Prices agreed in advance
What we'll do for you
Arbitration is not automatically better than court proceedings. It is fast and private, but usually has only one instance. We explain frankly when it is worthwhile and when court proceedings are safer for you.
Select an item to see the details.
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Assessment of the clause and jurisdiction
We check whether the clause is valid, whether the dispute can be arbitrated at all and whether the chosen arbitration court is structured in the other party's favour.
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Tailored arbitration clause
When drafting contracts, we propose a clause specifying a trustworthy institution, clear rules and the language of proceedings — suitable for cross-border relationships too.
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Conducting the proceedings
The claim or defence, evidence, hearings and procedural tactics tailored to the rules of the specific arbitration court.
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Enforcement of the award
A final arbitral award is an enforceable title — we arrange enforcement in Slovakia or Czechia and can also enforce it abroad.
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Challenging the award
Where the proceedings were defective, we assess an action in court to set aside the arbitral award and halt its enforcement.
Deliverableassessment of the clause and strategy, full representation in arbitration and enforcement of the arbitral award
How it works
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- Assessmentday 0
We review the clause and dispute documents, explain your prospects and risks, and estimate duration and costs.
- Strategy
We choose an approach — negotiation, arbitration or defence against it — and prepare the submissions.
- Proceedings
We represent you before the arbitrators, including evidence and hearings.
- Outcome and enforcement
We turn the award into performance — voluntarily or through enforcement.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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What clients ask
Didn’t find your question? Ask us directly →
Which disputes can be resolved through arbitration?
In Slovakia, arbitration may determine all disputes concerning legal relationships that can be settled by agreement — including disputes seeking a declaration as to whether a right or legal relationship exists. The law expressly excludes disputes over the creation, change or termination of ownership and other rights in rem in immovable property, personal status disputes, disputes relating to compulsory enforcement of decisions and disputes arising during bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings (§ 1(2) and (3) of Act No. 244/2002 Coll.). The exclusion of disputes relating to compulsory enforcement matters for debt recovery: arbitration determines the claim, not enforcement. Consumer contracts have a separate regime (§ 1(4)). We assess at the outset whether your dispute is arbitrable.
Our contract has an arbitration clause. Must we arbitrate?
A valid clause generally excludes proceedings before an ordinary court — if you sue in court, the other party can invoke it to insist on arbitration. Clauses can, however, be invalid or disadvantageously drafted; we assess what actually binds you and what options you have.
How is arbitration better or worse than court proceedings?
Advantages: speed, privacy, arbitrator expertise and easier cross-border enforcement. Disadvantages: usually a single instance without appeal, fees payable in advance, and quality that depends on the choice of arbitration institution. It pays to make an informed decision when signing the contract, rather than waiting until a dispute arises.
Can an arbitral award be set aside?
Only on limited, mainly procedural grounds — for example, an invalid clause or denial of an opportunity to present your case. This is not an appeal: the substantive correctness of the decision is not reconsidered. If we identify a procedural defect, we prepare an action to set aside the award within the statutory time limit.
Can you enforce an arbitral award in the other country?
Yes — arbitral awards are recognised between states under international conventions, and Czech–Slovak enforcement is smooth in practice. As a firm active in both countries, we file for enforcement where the debtor has assets.
How much does arbitration cost?
In addition to our fee, which we confirm in advance, you should allow for the arbitration court's fees under its schedule — usually a percentage of the amount in dispute. We calculate the overall costs before you decide whether to arbitrate.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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We signed an agreement with an arbitration clause. Can the dispute still be brought before an ordinary court?
In a business-to-business relationship, lack of jurisdiction must be raised promptly during the arbitration. If the tribunal makes a preliminary ruling confirming jurisdiction, an application to the court must be filed within 30 days after delivery of that ruling; an action to set aside the award generally has a 60-day period from delivery and is limited to statutory grounds. Enforcement review is narrower and does not replace a missed objection that the arbitration agreement is invalid or non-existent. An application to stop enforcement filed within 15 days after notice has suspensive effect, but it must rely on a permissible enforcement ground.
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Someone filed agreements transferring our properties with the land register, but we did not sign them. What should we do?
Act immediately, before the district office decides on registration. Approval becomes final on the day it is issued, and the Act expressly excludes appeal, reopening and review outside appeal proceedings. While the proceedings remain pending, it is possible to secure their suspension and a notice in the register. After approval, the only remaining route is a court claim and litigation that can last years.
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We are being sued for a contractual penalty for each day of delay. Can the court reduce it?
It can, but not automatically. In commercial relationships, Section 301 of the Commercial Code allows a court to reduce an excessively high contractual penalty, but this is an exceptional intervention in freedom of contract. Where a daily rate is agreed, a high accumulated total does not itself mean the penalty is excessive: the rate and circumstances when the obligation was breached are decisive. The defence therefore rests on specific assertions and evidence, rather than an impression of the final amount.
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