René Cienciala

Partner, Attorney-at-law

Specialisation:

  • Litigation and arbitration

  • International arbitration and investment protection

  • Sports law

  • Law of obligations

About René:

René is a partner responsible for the international desk at Urban & Hejduk with nearly 10 years of experience in a top Czech law firm. He provides comprehensive legal advice to Czech and foreign clients in all phases of court proceedings and commercial arbitration in the Czech Republic (the Czech Arbitration Court) and abroad (ICC, LCIA, VIAC, and UNCITRAL). René has been involved in representing clients in dozens of complicated cases. He assists clients in preparing structured arbitration clauses, in proceedings on the annulment of arbitration awards, or in recognising and enforcing foreign judgments and arbitration awards in the Czech Republic.

In addition, he specialises in sports law and has extensive experience with international sports arbitration (CAS), international disciplinary proceedings (UEFA), or as an arbitrator for the Czech Football Association. Last but not least,  René focuses on the protection of foreign investments and has experience with representing investors vis-à-vis the state in investment arbitration relating to damages (ICSID). He also is active as an arbitrator in various professional associations. René graduated from the prestigious University of Geneva LL.M. programme in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS).

Membership in professional associations: 

  • Czech Bar Association

  • Arbitration Court attached to the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic and Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic

  • ICC Czech Republic (Commission on International Arbitration)

  • Board of Arbitrators of the Czech Football Association

  • YCAP - Young Czech Arbitration Professionals

  • ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (ICC YAF)

  • Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG)

  • Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration (Young ICCA)

Education:

  • Université de Genève, Faculty of Law & Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Switzerland), LL.M. (Master in International Dispute Settlement – MIDS), 2018

  • Charles University, Faculty of Law (Prague), JUDr., 2017

  • Charles University, Faculty of Law (Prague), Mgr., 2013

  • McGill University, Faculty of Law (Canada), study visit, 2013

  • British Law Centre/University of Cambridge (Slovakia/UK), Diploma in English and European Union Law, 2012

Languages:

  • Czech

  • English