The Legal 500

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. has a ‘deep knowledge of the financial and banking sector’. The team advised a consortium of seven banks on the PLN1.30bn financing of major Polish chemicals producer, Ciech. Clients praise Arkadiusz Pedzich’s ‘knowledge and managerial strengths’.

Clifford Chance continues to house a ‘first-class’ banking and finance department. Office managing partner Grzegorz Namiotkiewicz has vast experience in the finance sector and Jan Zdzienicki represents banks and borrowers in property, acquisition and aircraft finance. Zdzienicki also acts in regulatory and consumer banking matters as well as loan restructuring projects. The team advised European Investment Bank in relation to a PPP project consisting of the financing, construction and operation of the Stryków-Pyrzowice 180km section of the A1 toll motorway in Poland.

Linklaters saw growing numbers of instructions on restructurings and bank regulatory advice, while maintaining its expertise in leveraged buyout financings, asset, project and property finance. The practice advised the structuring banks as joint-counsel on the project bond financing for the construction and operation of an LNG re-gasification terminal in Swinoujscie, being the first LNG re-gasification terminal built in Poland. The ‘creative’ Jaroslaw Miller has ‘excellent negotiation and communication skills and understands banking requirements’.

White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K has particular strengths in infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and acquisition finance, as well as regulatory matters and restructuring projects. Recent highlights include advising on the voluntary liquidation of a bank, acting for the EBRD in a €50m credit facility agreement and representing a leading private equity fund on the acquisition financing for HTL-Strefa, being the world’s leading manufacturer of safety and personal lancets for capillary blood sampling. New team head Piotr Galuszynski is recommended. Jacek Czabanski focuses on structured finance projects and banking and foreign exchange regulations.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP welcomed back CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa’s former banking and finance head Marek Król. The practice advised a consortium of banks in the financing of a sustainable energy project and acted for Erste Bank on a number of restructurings of real property and development investment loans. Zbigniew Skórczynski is also a key figure.

Offering ‘the highest level of expertise’, Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP is especially focused on real estate and infrastructure financings. Highlights included assisting Westdeutsche Immobilienbank and Deutsche Genossenschafts-Hypothekenbank on the financing of two shopping centres. In projects, the team acted for the city of Wroclaw in the financing of the construction of a football stadium in Wroclaw. Piotr Zawislak is recommended.

‘Value for money’ Norton Rose Piotr Strawa and Partners LP advised Bank Zachodni, Kredyt Bank and Bank Polska Kasa Opieki with regard to the PLN114m loan facility for Hoop Polska and assisted the sponsors, Invenergy, on the financing of the Darlowo project, comprising a portfolio of wind farms. Grzegorz Dyczkowski is a key practitioner.

In cooperation with Pinsent Masons LLP, with which it is now formally allied, the ‘excellent and on time’ Salans advised HSBC Bank and Rabobank International on debt refinancing loans granted to Gerber Emig group. The practice also acted for Bank Polska Kasa Opieki in the negotiation and preparation of documentation with respect to a €57m long-term financing granted to a Czech company. Wojciech Zielinski is recommended.

Wardynski & Partners recently acted for a leading Polish bank on the financing of an office development in Warsaw. Lukasz Szegda, Ewa Butkiewicz and Jan Nowicki are key contacts.

Baker & McKenzie Gruszczynski & Partners Attorneys at Law LP recently acted for Raiffeisen Bank Polska, DNB Nord Bank Polska, Bank Zachodni WBK and PKO BP in the financing for the development of a 34MW wind farm in Lukaszów, marking one of the largest renewable energy projects in Poland in 2010. The team also acted in the financial restructuring of the GST/ITG indebtedness. Ireneusz Stolarski is a key contact.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa recently lost its banking and finance head, Marek Król, to Chadbourne & Parke LLP. The practice remains experienced in the financing of infrastructure assignments and PPP projects, as well as the drafting of documentation for various banking products. Additionally, the team acts in regulatory issues and represents them in proceedings before the Polish regulatory authorities. Malgorzata Chrusciak is ‘very client-focused and responsive’. Chrusciak has extensive experience of investment project financing, syndicated loans and the development of optimum forms of securing loan repayment.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. represented Pfleiderer AG in a collateral package and intercreditor agreement with a group of lenders in connection with the international financial restructuring of the Pfleiderer Group. The team also advised Syntaxis Capital in the mezzanine financing provided to Etos. Andrzej Wysokinski and Kazimierz Jelensk are well known.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka has been active in insolvency and restructuring matters on behalf of banks. Getin Noble Bank was advised on the acquisition of GMAC Bank Polska from GMAC. Lead partner Magdalena Skowronsk and financial institutions specialist Andrzej Foltyn are recommended. Senior associate Maksymilian Sieklicki is noted for his advice to German-speaking clients.

Gide Loyrette Nouel strengthened the team through the recruitment of four new associates, led by Pawel Grzeskowiak,. The practice advised Bank Zachodni WBK in relation to its IPO-related financing of Harper Hygienics and acted for Energa in relation to a credit facility granted by the European Bank for Restructuring and Development. It also assisted Commerzbank AG and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg in connection with financing granted to companies from the Continental group.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s practice encompasses project financing, risk-reduction transactions, debt restructuring and banking law advice. Marcin Olechowski is recommended.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is experienced in acquisition and property financing, NPL portfolio acquisitions, finance restructuring and project finance transactions. The practice advised TVN in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Neovision Holding. Team head Artur Zawadowski, Pawel Rymarz and counsel Zofia Frydrychowicz are recommended.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. provides expertise in regulatory work, project finance, property finance and global loans. The practice advised in €50m-plus financings transactions in the real estate, energy and infrastructure sectors. Krzysztof Wiater is the primary contact following the departures of Michal Zieniewski and Pawel Grzejszczak in 2010.

Clients appreciate FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz’s ‘more personalised approach’. The practice is especially known for its banking advisory expertise. Bank Millennium was assisted with the introduction of an automated trading platform for foreign exchange transactions. Financial institutions and restructuring head Leszek Rydzewski has ‘excellent knowledge of the Polish legal system and finance industry expertise’.

The ex-Hogan & Hartson Jamka sp.k team is now at K&L Gates LLP, led by Grazyna Postepska. Highlights included acting for Landesbank Berlin/Berlin-Hannoversche Hypothekenbank in the financing of the acquisition of shares in Harmony Office Center by Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft.

Magnusson – Kancelaria Prawnicza advises banks and real estate investors in property financing projects relating to office, retail and warehousing. Apollo Rida is a client.

Squire Sanders Swieçicki Krzesniak sp. k. is known for the strength of its projects team. The practice represented Autostrada Wielkopolska II on the project financing of Section II of the A2 toll motorway, marking the largest loan ever made by the EIB in Poland.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr provides ongoing legal assistance to BGK Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and acted for a mezzanine fund in negotiating the finance documentation for an acquisition of a majority stake in a leading food processing company in Poland.

Wierzbowski Eversheds’ projects-focused team advised Warsaw Water and Sewage Company in connection with the financing of its major long-term investment programme. Marek Czarny is recommended.