Martin Magal

In memoriam Martin Magal

ArbCEE is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Martin Magal, head of A&O Shearman’s dispute resolution practice for Central and Eastern Europe and one of the founding members of ArbCEE.

A dedicated professional, Martin played a pivotal role in shaping arbitration practices across Central and Eastern Europe, most notably in Slovakia. His extensive career spanned more than two decades at Allen & Overy, which recently merged with Shearman & Sterling. As the managing partner in Slovakia, he made significant contributions to the firm’s disputes practice and served as a mentor to numerous colleagues.

A member of several prominent arbitration institutions, Martin played an integral part in drafting amendments to Slovakia’s Arbitration Act in 2015 and was a fervent advocate for improving the legal framework within the region. In Slovakia, he was a dedicated leader of the Rule of Law Initiative at AmCham Slovakia, and for 9 years he served as a member of the Presidium of the Arbitration Court of the Slovak Advocacy Bar. In regional and global terms, Martin was known as a co-editor of GAR’s Guide to Evidence in International Arbitration and as a passionate practitioner and promoter of the ICC, VIAC and LCIA arbitration rules in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.

His passion for strengthening arbitration was equally evident in his support for ArbCEE. Martin was a founding member of ArbCEE and even co-created the “ArbCEE” name together with Lucia Raimanova, a fellow arbitration partner at A&O Shearman in Bratislava. He was also a vocal advocate for bolstering the region’s arbitration framework, aiming to elevate the visibility of Central and Eastern Europe as a venue for dispute resolution and arbitration. His vision and dedication to the project have left a lasting imprint on the development of arbitration in the region, inspiring countless professionals and leaving behind a legacy that will continue to shape the field.

Lucia Raimanova says “Martin was a titan in the Slovak legal market and beyond. ArbCEE was fortunate to have him amongst its founding members, and its successful launch event would not have been possible without him. He will be sorely missed.”

Roman Prekop, partner at Barger & Prekop Attorneys in Bratislava, says: “Martin was a formidable narrator, with a unique, bright sense of humor, whether in English, German or Slovak. He was an eloquent and assertive advocate and his arguments were clear in both academic and lay terms. He was a skilled observer of cultures and characters. This unique combination of skills made him a first-choice arbitrator in our region and a distinctive leader of his devoted, ever-growing disputes team.”

Our community has lost a bright lawyer, a wise man, and a dear friend.  ArbCEE extends its heartfelt condolences to Martin’s family and colleagues during this difficult time. Dear Martin, you are and will be in our hearts.

The ArbCEE Founding Members

Cristina Alexe, Ramūnas Audzevičius, Piotr Bytnerowicz, Ondřej Čech, René Cienciala, Paulius Docka, Miroslav Dubovský, Maria Hauser-Morel, Iuliana Iancu, Veronika Korom, Tamara Manasijević, Rostislav Pekař, Olena Perepelynska, Mária Poláková, Luminița Popa, Matej Pustay, Lucia Raimanová, Peter Rižnik, Roman Prekop, Patrizia Sangalli, Małgorzata Surdek-Janicka, Marie Talašová, Dalibor Valinčić, Cosmin Vasile and Galina Zukova.