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Commercial law

Commercial law in practice

Running a business raises legal questions at every stage. Entrepreneurs come to us when they set up a Slovak limited company (s.r.o.) or a joint stock company, replace a managing director, move the registered office, sell a share, sign a framework contract with a major customer or fall out with a fellow shareholder. We also hear from companies whose customers will not pay, that want to buy another business and need it checked, or that have to wind a company up.

Every matter starts with the documents: the articles, the entry in the Slovak Commercial Register and the contracts with partners. We draft or review contracts, prepare filings for the registry court and, since 17 August 2026, authorise them as lawyers where the law requires it. Before an acquisition we carry out legal due diligence on the target. In a dispute between shareholders we look for an agreement first, such as a buyout of the share, and go to court only when that fails.

We work for sole traders, start-ups, family firms and established companies, including foreign-owned ones. Our office is in Žilina and we handle commercial matters throughout Slovakia. Most of the work can be done electronically and you can join meetings online in Slovak, Czech or English. Some steps, such as forming an s.r.o., require one personal visit to our Žilina office with two identity documents.

What we help with

  • Forming limited companies, joint stock companies and partnerships
  • Changing the managing director, registered office, name or share capital
  • Share transfers and the sale of a business
  • Sale, work, mandate and commission contracts
  • Software licences, SaaS agreements and e-shop terms
  • Legal due diligence before an acquisition or investment
  • Shareholder disputes: invalid general meeting resolutions, expulsion of a shareholder
  • Dissolution and liquidation of a company
  • Filing claims in insolvency and representing creditors
  • Recovering unpaid invoices between businesses

How we work

  1. First conversation

    We find out what you need to achieve and by when. Fixed-price services follow our price list, for example forming an s.r.o. costs €300 excluding VAT plus a €220 court fee. For other matters we agree the fee in advance.

  2. Review and drafts

    We go through the articles, the Commercial Register extract and the relevant contracts. We prepare draft documents and explain what each clause means for you.

  3. Signing, registration or dispute

    We arrange signing in the required form, file with the registry court electronically and deal with the court. In a dispute we represent you in court or in arbitration.

  4. Handover and invoice

    You receive the signed documents and confirmation of registration. We invoice the agreed price and, for recurring work, can move you to a monthly retainer.

Worth knowing

Authorisation by a lawyer since 17 August 2026

The founding documents of an s.r.o. and a share transfer agreement must take the form of a notarial deed or a document authorised by a lawyer (Sections 57 and 115(4) of the Slovak Commercial Code). Officially certified signatures are no longer enough.

Share capital

The minimum share capital is €5,000 for an s.r.o. and €25,000 for a joint stock company. A shareholder in an s.r.o. is liable for the company's debts only up to their unpaid contribution.

Insolvency filing within 30 days

If a company is insolvent, its statutory body must file for bankruptcy within 30 days of becoming aware of it (Act No 7/2005 on Bankruptcy and Restructuring). A director who fails to do so may be liable to creditors for the resulting loss.

Related specialisations

Common questions

  • Preparing the agreement and related documents usually takes a few working days. Registering the change in the Commercial Register typically takes 2 working days after an electronic filing, so the whole process tends to take one to two weeks.

  • When the shareholders or a court dissolve it and it has assets that need to be settled (Section 68 of the Commercial Code). It can be dissolved without liquidation only if its assets pass to a legal successor, for example in a merger.

  • In bankruptcy the debtor's assets are sold, creditors are paid proportionally from the proceeds and the company then ceases to exist. Restructuring lets the business keep trading under an approved plan, provided its operations can realistically be preserved.

  • Yes: terms and conditions, a complaints procedure, a privacy policy and cookie consent. We prepare them under Slovak Consumer Protection Act No 108/2024 and the GDPR. Compliance is checked by the Slovak Trade Inspection and the Slovak data protection authority.

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In a consultation we assess your situation, suggest a way forward and tell you what costs to expect.

€90 incl. VAT, 30 minutes, in person or online

This page is for general information, reflects Slovak law at the time of writing and is not a substitute for advice on your particular matter.