Legal transfer of the year. Chief prosecutor heads to private practice, joins forces with Portos law firm

Not long ago, they stood on opposite sides of criminal proceedings—Igor Stříž as the chief prosecutor and Petr Michal as a lawyer and partner at the Portos law firm. Today, both work in the legal profession and have established a close working relationship. The weekly magazine Euro offers a unique insight into the world of law through the eyes of two prominent figures in the Czech judiciary.

What was the transition to the other side of criminal proceedings like for you? How does a prosecutor become a lawyer?

IS: By transitioning to the legal profession, I resolved my personal situation after leaving the position of Chief Prosecutor. I don't think it's good for a former Chief Prosecutor to remain in the public prosecutor's office. At the same time, I didn't want to completely give up law and legal practice. I will not pretend that I intend to deal with other areas of law in my legal practice and provide broad legal services in all areas. After 38 years of working in the public prosecutor's office, in criminal law, I no longer have the courage to deal with anything else in detail, even though the individual areas of law are related.

Mr. Michal, how did you perceive Igor Stříž in the role of Chief Public Prosecutor?

PM: I followed him and appreciated his unbiased approach. He brings not only professional reliability to our office, but also a certain old-school approach—in the best sense of the word. I see him as a welcome addition to Portos' professional expertise. At the same time, his work symbolically continues the tradition of cooperation with prominent figures in the Czech judiciary.

The full text can be found on the Týdeník Euro website.