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Michaela Stessl

Partner
Country Managing Partner, Slovakia
Michaela is talented, driven and strategic in her approach. She stands out in legal expertise and economic thinking and goes the extra mile for her clients.
Client, Chambers Europe 2022
About

Focussing on space and defence industry, and aviation regulatory. 

Delivering legal expertise and innovation in complex cross border space and defence matters in the CEE and globally.

Member of DLA Piper's Global Space Explorations and Innovation Group and Co-Leader of DLA Piper's CEE Aerospace & Defence working group

Over 20 years’ experience of helping Slovak and international clients of all commercial backgrounds with complex high profile transactions and other commercial local and international investment in Slovakia.

Outstanding reputation in corporate and M&A, but also in-depth experience in the practice areas finance, banking and real estate. 

In recent years, Michaela has taken on a more global strategic advisory role, due to her broad knowledge of the particularities of the CEE region. She has increasingly been involved as Project Lead Partner in noteworthy global cross-border projects in the region. 

She has acted in the past as pre-siding arbitrator at the ICC Court of Arbitration in Paris and at VIAC in Vienna.

With her strong presence in the local market, Michaela plays for her global clients a pivotal role in global CEE cross-border matters.

Professional QualificationsAdvokátka admitted with Slovenská Advokátska Komora

Highlights

EXPERIENCE

  • Assisting a low Earth orbit satellite constellation for satellite phone and low-speed data communications in the complex matter of obtaining regulatory licenses and approvals in Slovakia to provide mobile satellite services as well as ancillary terrestrial services in its S-band spectrum (2.4 GHz band).
  • Representing United States Steel Corporation, the largest integrated steel producer in Central Europe, in several very complex commercial law disputes.
  • Advising Michelin Polska Sp. Z O.O. on the acquisition of a 100% share in the Slovak company ČEMAT, s.r.o., a sales-focused company that provides accessories for handling equipment and construction machinery on the Czech and Slovak markets.
  • Providing an Israel-based international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world (operating e.g. in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, unmanned aircraft systems) with a comprehensive regulatory advice with respect to an asset deal with a Slovak defense materials producer.
  • Advising a leading global defense supplier selected by the Slovak government to manufacture, deliver and maintain more than 200 infantry fighting vehicles to Slovak army on a due diligence and related acquisition aspects of the Slovak branch of the seller´s Czech subsidiary.
  • Advising Wipro, a leading, India-based global IT, consulting, and business process services company on its acquisition of Capco, a global management and technology consultancy, including post-completion actions implemented in Slovakia.
  • Advising Gebauer & Griller on the spin-off of its elevator division as part of the strategic consolidation of GG Group.
  • Advising a leading innovator of precision radiation therapy solutions on the complete reorganization of its business structure in the Slovak Republic.
  • Acting as a long term Slovakian legal opinion counsel for ICMA/ISLA on certain aspects of the derivative agreements concluded with its counterparties.
     
Languages
  • Slovak
  • Czech
  • English
  • German
Education
  • University of Vienna, Faculty of Law, Masters of Law, 1994
  • University of Vienna, Faculty of Law, Doctor iuris, 1999
  • Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Master of Laws (2000)
  • Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Doctor juris (2002)

Awards and Recognitions

  • Leading Partner, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Slovakia, The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
  • Leading Partner, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Slovakia, The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
  • Ranked lawyer, Corporate/M&A, Slovakia, Chambers Europe 2024
  • "Michaela Stessl is ‘responsive and knowledgeable, with a commercially oriented approach’" - Legal 500

Seminars

  • Spaceport_SK Webinar (October 2024) – Legal workshop delivery
  • Future Forces Forum: Aerospace and Defence Conference (Prague, Czechia, November 2024) - Keynote delivery / Panel Moderator / Participant
  • Enhancing Slovak Armed Forces Through Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): Needs and Insights (Kosice, Slovakia, December 2024) – Panel speaker

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Slovak Bar Association – Attorney at Law, fully licensed member

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