Adrián Barger focuses his practice on a variety of real estate matters, such as acquisitions and sales including title due diligence; leasing of office, retail or industrial properties; construction permitting; site development including general contractor agreements; title insurance matters; restitutions; residential conveyance; establishment, acquisition and sale of SPVs for real property investments; and joint-ventures. Mr. Barger has also represented numerous clients in corporate matters, such as M&A or privatization deals, financing, economic regulation (antitrust and state aid) and employment. He was listed as “up and coming” by Chambers Global 2009 for corporate and merger and acquisition matters in the Slovak Republic. He was also recommended for real estate by PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2009.

Mr. Barger is a regular speaker at major conferences organized in Bratislava and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe focusing on real estate development, real estate financing and construction law.

Mr. Barger is a co-author of the Slovak Republic chapter on the security interest regime in International Secured Transactions published by Oxford University Press. He also authored a chapter on Slovak Republic competition and antitrust law in European Competition Laws published by LexisNexis.

Mr. Barger is registered as an advocate with the Slovak Advocacy Bar.

Mr. Barger is affiliated with Squire Sanders s.r.o.

Representative Experience

• Representing a crude oil production company in the sale of 49 percent of the shares in a Slovak Republic crude oil pipeline operator to the government of the Slovak Republic.
• Representing the Slovak Republic government in the privatization of 49 percent of the shares and transfer of management control in a state-owned electricity distribution company to a major Germany-based multi-utility investor.
• Representing the largest foreign retail chain investor in the Slovak Republic in a number of greenfield and brownfield freehold and leasehold acquisitions for retail and warehousing purposes including preparation of agency agreements or pre-lease/lease agreements with local developers, drafting of model acquisition documentation, including purchase agreements, land swap agreements, construction lease agreements or easement agreements, title due diligence, resolution of defect title issues, construction agreements, zoning and construction permitting, and infrastructure network development.
• Representing a Czech Republic-based real estate investment subsidiary of a global financial institution in connection with leasing a shopping center in central Slovakia.
• Assisting a Czech Republic-based private equity group with a joint venture project related to development, permitting and construction of a multi-use project in downtown Žilina including title due diligence, drafting of joint venture and related financing documents and acquisition of land and buildings required for the project.
• Representing a major Slovak Republic-based commercial bank in connection with the refinancing of the original acquisition loan and development financing of a major extension of the hotel, office and retail portion of a four star hotel complex in the historical center of Bratislava. The total amount of the loan facility was €130 million.
• Counseling a major Slovak Republic-based commercial bank in connection with a project finance loan and security documentation concerning a prime residential project in Bratislava. The total amount of the loan facility was approximately €50 million.
• Representing a UK real estate fund in acquisition financing for a light industrial park in the Western Slovak Republic including complex security documentation.
• Representing a well-established developer backed by UK-based real estate funds in the preparation of model lease documentation for lease of office and retail space in a class “A” business center in downtown Bratislava including negotiations and enforcement of the lease agreements with individual tenants as well as in connection with the construction/investment financing documentation.
• Representing the leading Slovak Republic-based bank in the assessment and notification to the European Commission of state aid provided during the restructuring and privatization of the Slovak banking sector.
• Representing a dominant power generating company in the restructuring of a €550 million loan portfolio including issuance of €200 million notes listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
• Representing a dominant power generating company in the notification of state aid provided to it by the Slovak Republic prior to the country’s accession to the European Union.
• Representing a Netherlands-based private equity fund in connection with the purchase of multiple office and residential projects in Bratislava and Žilina.
• Representing a Greece-based private real estate fund in connection with the development of a luxury residential project in downtown Bratislava including assistance with acquisition and project financing, zoning and construction permitting process, and project management and general contractor agreements