Czech Company Lawyers Association

The Czech Company Lawyers Association (Unie podnikových právníků ČR z. s., UPP ČR) is an independent, voluntary professional association representing in-house corporate lawyers in the Czech Republic. It was established at a founding assembly held on 24 February 1990 at the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague, making it one of the earliest professional bodies of its kind in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe. Its stated mission is to provide corporate lawyers with the best conditions for personal professional development and a space for sharing opinions and ideas, primarily through educational events and other meetings covering a wide range of legal topics. The association is governed by a Sněm (Assembly) as its supreme body, a Rada (Council) that directs activities between assemblies and oversees compliance with the Ethical Code, an Executive Committee comprising a president, two to five vice-presidents and a treasurer elected from the Council, and auditors who supervise finances. Individual members may join specialised sections focusing on particular areas of law. As of 2022, the association maintains six professional sections for individual members: Civil Law, Compliance, Energy, IT and Innovation, Labour Law, and Public Procurement and Competition Law. A seventh section, Corporate Legal Office (Podniková právní kancelář), serves heads of legal teams of collective members. UPP ČR offers its members discounted or free access to up to 50 educational events per year, participation in conferences and other significant events, and opportunities to share experience and communicate with other members. Since 2012 it has organised the annual Podnikový právník (Corporate Lawyer) Award, decided by an expert jury based on nominations from members, employers and the professional public. In 2021 the association held more than 50 educational events and announced the tenth anniversary edition of the award. It also organises the annual Právnický podzim (Legal Autumn) conference, which reached its 22nd edition in 2026. Internationally, UPP ČR became a member of the European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA) on 9 July 1999, as the fourteenth member state and the first country from Central and Eastern Europe. The association has been led by JUDr. Marie Brejchová, LL.M., since April 2007, when she was elected president and the IX Assembly approved a substantial revision of the statutes replacing the former Committee with the Council and Executive Committee. The association continues to operate from Prague and remains active in education, professional discussion, legal awareness and oversight of ethics in corporate legal practice.

The Czech Company Lawyers Association (Unie podnikových právníků ČR z. s., UPP ČR) was founded at a constituent assembly held on 24 February 1990 at the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague, where its statutes and programme declaration were approved. It emerged as an independent and voluntary professional organisation for corporate lawyers — employees of legal entities or self-employed persons who perform legal agendas for them. Its activities consist of educating corporate lawyers, providing a space for professional legal discussion, spreading legal awareness, and overseeing ethics in corporate legal practice. The association's governance evolved over time. At its III Assembly on 3 January 1999, UPP ČR adopted new statutes and an ethical code, and alongside individual membership it introduced the possibility of collective membership for legal entities employing corporate lawyers. On 9 July 1999, the Union became a member of the European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA), as the fourteenth member state and the first country from Central and Eastern Europe. In April 2007, JUDr. Marie Brejchová, LL.M., was elected to lead the association, and the IX Assembly approved a significant revision of the statutes. The former Committee was replaced by two new governing bodies: the Council (Rada) and the Executive Committee (Výkonný výbor). In September 2007, a new section called Corporate Legal Office (Podniková právní kancelář) began operating within the Union, intended for collective members. At the XII Assembly in April 2011, a modernisation of the 1999 Ethical Code was approved. Since 2012, UPP ČR has organised the Podnikový právník (Corporate Lawyer) Award, granted in accordance with the decision of an expert jury based on nominations received from UPP ČR members, employers and the professional public. In 2021, the Union organised more than 50 educational events and announced the jubilee 10th edition of the Podnikový právník Award. From January 2022, two sections — Information Technology Law and Innovation — were merged into one, and the Construction Law section was abolished. The Union thus has a total of six professional sections for individual members: Civil Law, Compliance, Energy, IT and Innovation, Labour Law, and Public Procurement and Competition Law. A seventh section, Corporate Legal Office, is for heads of legal teams of collective members. The association's presidents have included JUDr. Michal Račok (1990–1991), JUDr. Vratislav Vinš (1991–2000), Mgr. Ing. Petr Šmelhaus (2000–2006), and JUDr. Marie Brejchová, LL.M. (2007–present). The association continues to operate from Prague, organising educational events, conferences such as Právnický podzim, and the annual Podnikový právník Award.

• 2026

  Podnikový právník 2026 awards presented, including one extraordinary award.

• 2026

  22nd annual Právnický podzim conference held.

• 2022

  Sections Information Technology Law and Innovation merged; Construction Law section abolished; six professional sections remain for individual members.

• 2021

  Union organises more than 50 educational events and announces the 10th edition of the Podnikový právník Award.

• 2012

  UPP ČR begins organising the annual Podnikový právník (Corporate Lawyer) Award.

• 2011

  XII Assembly approves modernisation of the 1999 Ethical Code.

• 2007

  JUDr. Marie Brejchová, LL.M., elected president; IX Assembly approves major revision of statutes, replacing the Committee with the Council and Executive Committee.

• 2007

  New section Podniková právní kancelář (Corporate Legal Office) begins operating for collective members.

• 1999

  III Assembly adopts new statutes and ethical code; collective membership introduced for legal entities employing corporate lawyers.

• 1999

  UPP ČR becomes a member of the European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA), the 14th member state and first from Central and Eastern Europe.

• 1990

  Constituent assembly of corporate lawyers held at the Faculty of Law of Charles University; statutes and programme declaration approved.

Independent professional association for in-house corporate lawyers in the Czech Republic, focused on education, professional discussion, legal awareness and ethics.

• Individual membership

  Membership for corporate lawyers, including access to educational events, conferences and specialised sections.

• Collective membership

  Membership for legal entities employing corporate lawyers, introduced in 1999.

• Specialised legal sections

  Six sections for individual members (Civil Law, Compliance, Energy, IT and Innovation, Labour Law, Public Procurement and Competition Law) and one for collective members (Corporate Legal Office).

• Podnikový právník Award

  Annual award since 2012, decided by an expert jury based on nominations.

• Právnický podzim conference

  Annual conference; the 22nd edition is scheduled for 22 October 2026.

1. 1Úvodní stránka | Unie podnikových právníků ČR z.s.uppcr.cz
2. 2Unie podnikových právníků ČR – Wikipediecs.wikipedia.org
3. 3Czech Company Lawyers Association – Wikidatawikidata.org