The Legal 500

Clifford Chance ‘adds value to the negotiation process through out-of-the-box thinking’. It advised PKN Orlen on selling its shares in Polkomtel, and Advent International on the acquisition of a 34% stake in American Heart of Poland, a provider of cardiovascular medical services. The practice also assisted Poland-based private equity fund Innova Capital on co-investing with Montagu into TP Emitel, Poland’s terrestrial radio and TV broadcasting infrastructure operator. Corporate head Agnieszka Janicka is ‘not only a competent lawyer but provides highly commercial and practical advice’. Nick Fletcher is ‘good at articulating the important points around issues and highlighting the more relevant commercial aspects’. Counsels Marcin Bartnicki and the hardworking Tomasz Derda are also recommended.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. has substantial experience of privatisations and restructurings, as well as takeovers of public companies. Highlights included advising Cyfrowy Polsat on the acquisition of Telewizja Polsat to create Poland’s largest television group. The team also advised Raiffeisen Bank International on its acquisition of a 70% share in Polbank, the Polish banking business of EFG Eurobank Ergasias, and represented Spartan Capital Holdings in the PLN18.1bn acquisition of Polkomtel, Poland’s second-largest mobile network operator, notable as Poland’s largest acquisition deal to date. Senior partner Lejb Fogelman, managing partner Jaroslaw Grzesiak and Pawel Bajno are recommended.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges advised Kamis and its shareholders on the sale of 100% of Kamis, and acted for Bank Zachodni WBK on the PLN15.9bn sale of a majority stake in the client, which was the largest M&A deal in Poland’s banking sector in 2011. Managing partner Pawel Rymarz, Piotr Tomaszewski, Rafal Zwierz, and Pawel Zdort are well regarded.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. advised PGE on the sale of its stake in Polkomtel; and assisted Montagu Private Equity with the acquisition of TP Emitel, which was Poland’s largest ever private equity transaction. Jaroslaw Iwanicki and Jacek Michalski are recommended.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k., which provides ‘good service and response times’, advised McCormick & Company on the acquisition of Kamis and acted for Penta Investments on the sale of Polish convenience store business Zabka Polska. Marcin Gmaj is managing partner, and Tomasz Krzyzowski is ‘business-driven, seeking solutions to problems rather than the problems themselves’.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka advised Noble Bank on acquiring shares in Allianz Bank Polska, and Trakcja Polska on buying stakes in Tiltra Group AB and AB Kaubo Tiltai. Practice head Krzysztof Zakrzewski, Piotr Andrzejczak and Marek Swiatkowski are experienced lawyers.

Linklaters’ ‘diligent and accurate’ group advised the Polish state treasury on Deutsche Telekom’s acquisition of the remaining stake in PTC, and assisted Mid Europa Partners on its divestment of Polish cable TV company Aster. Corporate head Jolanta Tropaczynska is ‘skilled and responsive’, Cezary Wisniewski is ‘a great professional’, and Tomasz Zorawski is also recommended. Managing associate Dariusz Harbaty, who joined from Clifford Chance, shows ‘adaptability, drive and commitment’.

Norton Rose Piotr Strawa and Partners LP advised Vattenfall on the PLN4.6bn sale of 99.98% of shares in Górnoslaski Zaklad Elektroenergetyczny to Tauron Polska Energia and the PLN3bn sale of Vattenfall Heat Poland to Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo. The team advised Deutsche Bank, Crédit Agricole, PKO Bank Polski, Sociéte Générale and RBS on the M&A aspects of the €4.6bn leveraged buyout of Polkomtel. Piotr Strawa is recommended.

White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K advised Polish telecoms service provider TP on its €426m sale of a subsidiary, and represented steel manufacturer and distributor Zlomrex in disposing of Cognor’s assets in Poland and shares in Cognor Stahlhander. Practice heads Marcin Studniarek and Aneta Maria Hajska, who also runs the private equity group, are recommended, as are Beata Kiedrowicz and the ‘superb’ Witold Danilowicz.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa’s corporate practice covers M&A, corporate restructuring, and corporate governance, and is well regarded for life sciences, healthcare and TMT work. The practice also represents major private equity houses and venture capital funds in transactions in Poland and CEE, with a significant part of its work focusing on public-to-private projects. Dariusz Greszta heads the group. Marek Sawicki has extensive experience in leading cross-border deals.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP represented Veolia Voda in the acquisition of a 33% stake in Aqua, a company operating water supply and wastewater treatment services for Bielsko-Biala and surrounding districts in southern Poland. Wlodzimierz Radzikowski heads the practice, which also includes of counsel Gabriel Wujek and international partner Dariusz Michalski.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. ‘provides not just general legal advice that simply indicates risks, but also complementary assistance offering a range of legal solutions’. The practice advised Poland’s largest energy group, PGE, on the potential acquisition of Energa, one of the four largest power holdings in Poland, including due diligence on the target and its 16 subsidiaries. Country managing partner Krzysztof Wiater is ‘a very good team leader’. Senior associates Marta Frackowiak (‘accurate and hands-on’), Jacek Gizinski (‘adds value’) and Anna Wietrzynska (‘diligent’) are also recommended.

K&L Gates LLP advised Amedes Holding on the acquisition of certain healthcare companies in Poland, and represented Vodafone in the sale of its Polkomtel shares to Spartan Capital Holdings. Team head Wladek Rzycki is ‘a great negotiator with strong legal and cross-cultural communication skills’. Of counsel Piotr Sitarski joined from Garrigues.

‘Exceptional law firm’ Salans is ‘open-minded, determined and successful for its clients’. The team advised Vivendi in a sale of PTC shares to Deutsche Telekom as part of the settlement of an 11-year dispute, and acted on the sale and takeover of Elstar Oils. The practice also advised IK Investment Partners on its acquisition by LBO of Agros Nova. Practice head Piotr Dulewicz is ‘very professional and commercial’; Tomasz Dabrowski co-chairs the global corporate practice group; and Krzysztof Sajewski, who ‘always has a solution to problems’, heads the German and Ukrainian desks, as well as co-heading the recently launched Chinese desk. Pawel Grabowski specialises in private equity, M&A and corporate restructurings. Pawel Halwa joined Schoenherr.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak advises on privatisation transactions, corporate aspects of greenfield investments and private sector transactions. It has acted on several banking sector projects in close cooperation with foreign banks, particularly the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It has also been busy with restructuring, particularly in the liquid fuels and mining industries, and the financial services sector.

Wardynski & Partners’ ‘response times are kept to a minimum’. The firm advises Makro Cash&Carry Poland and other Polish affiliates of Metro Group on corporate matters, including mergers, de-mergers and winding-up procedures. The practice advised US client Avantor Performance Materials on the 100% share acquisition of Poch. Krzysztof Libiszewski and Jacek Bondarewski co-head the corporate law, corporate restructuring and trade contracts team. Pawel Ciecwierz leads on M&A.

FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz is ‘cheaper than the big names, yet comparable in terms of its willingness to provide service both day and night’. This team of ‘hardworking, results-oriented lawyers’ advised Polkomtel during its sale by shareholders, and acted for AstraZeneca on the Polish elements of its multi-jurisdictional disposal of Astra Tech. Corporate head Michal Miecinski and managing partner Tadeusz Komosa are recommended. Edyta Jusiel, who was recently promoted to partner, and senior associates Monika Durka-Gajda and the impressive Jolanta Zarzecka-Sawicka are also experienced lawyers.

Gessel Attorneys at Law’s corporate law contacts are Aldona Pietrzak and Piotr Schramm, while Marcin Macieszczak heads the M&A team. The practice is known for its strength in private equity and venture capital transactions.

Gide Loyrette Nouel advised KGHM Polska Miedz on the sale of Polkomtel, and Dalkia Polska on the acquisition of 85% of Stoleczne Przedsiebiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej from the City of Warsaw, which was Warsaw’s largest ever privatisation deal. Dariusz Tokarczuk, Rafal Dziedzic and Pawel Grzeskowiak are recommended.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP has a ‘proactive and pro-business approach based on knowledge and experience’. It advised BRE Bank and BRE Holding on reorganising their factoring business in Poland. Marek Wroniak heads the team, in which counsel Tomasz Zak is also a key contact. Financial institutions group head Beata Balas-Noszczyk is experienced in commercial, insurance, banking, and investment fund and pension fund law.

Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsellors represented Ipopema 3 Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamkniety Aktywów Niepublicznych on the merger of Iglotex with Iglokrak to create Poland’s largest frozen foods business. Marcin Marczuk, Milka Kuznicka, and Sebastian Rudnicki form the core of the M&A team.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr advised Ciech on the sale of shares in its subsidiary. Michal Badowski, Jakub Jedrzejak and senior partner Andrzej Wiercinski are experienced practitioners.

Wierzbowski Eversheds advised Chesapeake on its PLN100m-plus acquisition of a Polish printing company. Judith Gliniecki is the key contact.

Biedecki Biedecki Olejnik advised on the merger of ArchiDoc and Call One with three NEO BPO group companies. Radoslaw Biedecki and Ludomir Biedecki are recommended.

Bird & Bird’s ‘creative team’ recently advised NAG Wind on its acquisition of a wind farm. Senior European consultant Patryk Galicki heads the practice and is well regarded. Zdzislaw Wieckowski recently left the firm.

Chajec, Don-Siemion & Zyto Legal Advisors’ practice head Andrzej Chajec, Ewa Don-Siemion, Maciej Kotlicki and Szymon Skiendzielewski are busy members of the practice. The team advised Telewizja Polsat and its owner on the purchase of Polkomtel and acted for NFI Midas on the acquisition of Mobyland.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna is ‘always on time and has an excellent sense for business’. The practice advised on the merger of seven state-owned real estate companies. Tomasz Ludwik Krawczyk is recommended.

Grynhoff Wozny & Partners is known for its strength in the TMT sector, and acted for a media client on an acquisition. It also advised Atlas Estates Group on acquiring a business. Tomasz Malinski. Krystian Szostak and Ewa Frieze are the key figures.

Kochanski Zieba Rapala & Partners’ Rafal Rapala leads the M&A and corporate department, which acted for Bridge Properties in the takeover of an investment fund that owns six real estate projects in Poland. The team also advised the founders of Nasza Klasa on restructuring.

Lukowicz Swierzewski & Partners’ main contact is managing partner Olgierd świerzewskí. Clients include Dell and Dell Products (Polska), as well as Iglotex; it advised the latter on a share purchase deal.

Magnusson – Kancelaria Prawnicza’s ‘competent and reliable’ managing partner Andrzej Tokaj has been extensively advising Octava, and is also responsible for Apollo Rida’s corporate matters in Poland. The pragmatic Daniel Jastrun heads the IT team within the corporate practice, and advised Oresa Ventures on an acquisition. The firm has represented Sun Microsystems (now Oracle) in Poland for a decade.

Squire Sanders Swieçicki Krzesniak sp. k. represented PTC ERA in negotiations concerning its radio access network sharing arrangement with PTK Centertel and in establishing the Everything Everywhere joint venture to pool the two operators’ infrastructure assets. Eligiusz Krześniak, Malgorzata Grzelak, and senior associate Marcin Wnukowski are the principal contacts.