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Maria Polakova
Partner
Mária Poláková's primary practice focus is investor-state and commercial international and domestic litigation cases. Her experience includes drafting substantive and procedural submissions in arbitration proceedings under UNCITRAL and ICSID rules, and work on assessments of prospective claims and representing clients at international arbitration hearings.
Mária served as a co-chair of Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration (Young ICCA) in 2013 and 2014 and subsequently served as a member of the organization's advisory board for two years. Young ICCA is a worldwide arbitration knowledge network for young arbitration practitioners that functions under the auspices of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).
Mária is also involved in the project Guide to Arbitration Places under the auspices of Delos, a new innovative arbitration institution established in Paris in 2014. She also serves as a member of the leadership committee of Delos-Y, a platform within Delos dedicated to networking and career mentoring for younger arbitration practitioners and professionals interested in arbitration.
- ACP Axos Capital GmbH v. Republic of Kosovo, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/22, Award, 3 May 2018 – The international tribunal, after a full hearing on jurisdiction, merits, and damages, dismissed claimant’s €380 million claim in its entirety and awarded Kosovo all of its costs and legal fees.
- Advising the Czech Republic in an investment arbitration case brought by the German investor ECE concerning alleged interference with a real estate development project. The client prevailed in all claims and was awarded the majority of costs.
- Advising the Czech Republic in a series of investment arbitration cases brought by investors in the sector of renewable energy.
- Advising the Slovak Republic in the ICSID arbitration brought by EuroGas (US) and Belmont Resources (Canada) in the mining sector. The Slovak Republic prevailed on jurisdictional grounds and investors' claims for over €239.7 million were dismissed.
- Advising the Slovak Republic in its second UNCITRAL investment arbitration against the Dutch health insurance company Achmea. The arbitral tribunal dismissed all claims at the jurisdictional stage and awarded the Slovak Republic most of its legal costs.
- Advising an Eastern European gas company in an ICC arbitration against its major gas supplier.
- A series of arbitration and court cases regarding a complex dispute between a US-based real estate investor and a former tenant.
- Advising an EU-based company in an international arbitration based on a supply contract.
- Assessing prospective claims of investors under the Energy Charter Treaty and bilateral investment treaties.
Education
- University of Cambridge, LL.M., 2009
- Charles University in Prague, LL.M., summa cum laude,, 2008
Admissions
- Czech Republic, 2013
Languages
- Slovak
- Czech
- English
- French
- Recognized in The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2019 for Czech Republic – Dispute Resolution as Next Generation Lawyer
- Recommended in The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2016 in dispute resolution, Czech Republic
- Recommended in The Legal 500 EMEA 2016 Edition