There must be chemistry and mutual trust among the team members
A native of Trenčín, he was given the opportunity to work on several significant cases at the SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA law firm. Not long after he had joined the firm, he found himself feeling “at home” in the team of awesome people, wishing to develop his professional career there.
As of December 2023, he will become a new partner of the firm.
„Good outcome of difficult cases is always a teamwork result,“ says Mgr. Lukáš Štefánik, LL.M. in the interview.
You joined the SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA team back in November 2014 – nine years have passed since then. Looking at the opportunities that you had at the company with the benefit of hindsight, what was your journey like?
It was an eventful and interesting journey. Sometimes demanding both physically and mentally, but everyday entertaining, too. If not for the calendar, I would definitely not have been able to say that it has already been nine years. Thanks to my excellent colleagues, whom I was lucky to have and who have had patience with me, as well as the rich agenda we have been working on, time goes by relatively quickly. From the start, I could poke in the most interesting cases that have always been a challenge to me.
You specialize in contentious cases and arbitration proceedings, business law and negotiations, and since 2018, you have headed the contentious cases and arbitration proceedings desk. Successful client defense in cases involving millions of euros is likely not the work of a single lawyer.
Good result of difficult lawsuits is always a results of teamwork. Therefore, in my opinion, chemistry that should be among team members is crucial, and so is mutual trust. Such environment then forms an outstanding base for creative thinking and the drive that helps successfully resolve even complicated challenges.
You have worked on several significant cases in which the SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA law firm represented Slovak companies and state departments before courts and the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Which of them were, in your opinion, not just your personal major success but also those of your law firm?
I see the following as the major success cases of our team that I personally had a chance to contribute to:
– successful defense of our client VODOHOSPODÁRSKA VÝSTAVBA, ŠTÁTNY PODNIK /WATEREWORKS DEVELOPMENT, A STATE ENTERPRISE/ in the lawsuit concerning invalidity of contract on operation of Gabčíkovo hydro power plant and legal support provided to the client upon it took over the operation of that plant,
– successful defense of the Department of the Environment of the Slovak Republic before the first-instance and appellate courts in the trial contesting its alleged legal successor Interblue that sought payment of more than EUR 34 million on the basis of a contract known as the so-called emissions case.
– successful defense of the Department of Transport of the Slovak Republic in international arbitration proceedings conducted against the contractor which built the Bratislava bypass
– and also a very practical success everyone will feel in sickness: our colleagues succeeded in drafting and passing an amendment to the Act on Drugs for our client, which distributes medicines through an online application. Thanks to that amendment, medicines may be ordered over the phone from the comfort of one’s home without spreading viruses in pharmacies during one’s illness.
Starting December 1, 2023, you will become a partner in the largest law firm in Slovakia. How do you perceive your promotion, and what did you feel when you learned about it?
To be honest, when I started at SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA, I did not imagine myself becoming a partner there. I have, however, quickly started to feel that there is an exceptional environment in our firm, a product of a unique team of outstanding people. Those that I can, without exaggeration, call friends after all those years. I am convinced that in this field, and especially in such a fast-paced work environment as is the provision of legal consulting, this is unique. Already back then I became convinced that in that law firm “I felt at home” and that I wanted to connect my professional career with that company.
When I was invited to an interview by the company partners and offered to become one of them, on the one hand, I felt a great sense of satisfaction and understanding that there is a rapport in the company, and that I was apparently doing a good job, too. On the other hand, I realized this meant new responsibility—for my colleagues and our law firm as a whole—that I was to share with the other partners. There should be seven of us by December 2023. I am convinced that the Seven Brave Ones will move the largest Slovak law firm up a gear.
Which areas will you, as the law firm’s partner, apply yourself to? What is it that you want to focus on?
I would like to focus on foreign clients. I would also like to help my colleagues manage our headquarters in Bratislava. My objective is to do my best to make each colleague feel as good in our firm as I have felt here since the beginning.
Besides practicing law, you are also a lecturer and currently a post-graduate student of international business arbitration. Why is it necessary for a successful lawyer to study further?
I have been regularly giving lectures at events and working meetings organized by SARIO and ISA since 2015. A few years ago, my colleagues and I organized a successful three-day workshop for Uzbek and Kyrgyz arbitrators and mediators, which was held in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, and that received great feedback.
Law is a dynamic discipline (which also suits my restless personality). One has, therefore, to continuously critically assess and develop his own knowledge. This year I am honored to compete for complementing my education in a prestigious program organized by CIArb – Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a prominent world professional organization supporting dispute resolution through arbitration proceedings, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution forms, co-organized with the University of Oxford.
