The Legal 500

Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak entered the Polish market in May 2012, when it recruited its team from the now-defunct Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K.. The firm draws its clients from the media and telecoms, energy and mining, private equity, healthcare, and insurance sectors, and acts for names such as Spartan Capital Holdings and Blackstone. Managing partner Jarosław Grzesiak heads the corporate team and senior partner Lejb Fogelman heads the M&A practice. Under the Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. banner, Jarosław Grzesiak acted as Polish counsel to Quadra FNX Mining during its acquisition by KGHM Polska Miedź.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ market-leading team ‘knows its business’. Key highlights included advising ITI Media Group and its subsidiary TVN on an agreement to combine Polish pay-TV operations with Vivendi. The team also advised ITI on the sale of a 40% stake in TVN to Canal+. Other clients include Bank Zachodni WBK, Netia and Tauron Polska Energia. The firm continues to be well known for hostile takeovers and Paweł Zdort is well regarded in the market. The ‘excellent’ Paweł Rymarz is ‘very calm in tough spots’.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. is advising Kredyt Bank, a subsidiary of KCB Bank NV, on its proposed merger with BZ WBK, Santander’s polish subsidiary. Other clients include Rabobank, TVN and KBC Group. Jacek Michalski and Jarosław Iwanicki are recommended. Marta Sendrowicz was promoted to the partnership in May 2012, and senior associate Justyna Michalik joined the firm in September 2011 from her position as a director at the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

Marcin Gmaj and Tomasz Krzyżowski head the five-partner team at Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.. In 2012, highlights included advising G4S plc on the sale of its business in Poland and assisting Fedex with its acquisition of Opek, a Polish courier company.

Clifford Chance’s team of ‘strong professionals’ is appreciated for its ‘technical skills’ and understanding of clients’ needs. It is advising Kraft Foods Polska on a multi-jurisdictional corporate restructuring project and advised Ringier Axel Springer on its acquisition of a 75% stake in Grupa Onet, a subsidiary of TVN. PKO BP is a new client. Agnieszka Janicka heads the practice, which includes senior associate Wojciech Polz, who is ‘a key lawyer’.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. is ‘first pick’ for M&A transactions and provides ‘timely responses’. In 2012, Krzysztof Wiater’s team advised Banco Santander on its investment agreement with KBC Bank NV to combine their Polish banking subsidiaries, and the associated due diligence. The firm has clients in the food sector, as well as the energy, manufacturing, logistics, construction, defence and aviation sectors. Marta Frąckowiak was promoted to the partnership in May 2012.

Dentons’ practice co-head Tomasz Dąbrowski is leading advice to Groupe Canal+ on its investment in TVN. Piotr Dulewicz advised Agros Nova on its acquisition of an 80% stake in Fruktus Kowalczyk. Other clients include Vivendi, Accor, CBRE Global Investors, and Monsanto.

Krzysztof Zakrzewski heads Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka’s practice, which acts for clients in the energy, chemicals, construction, transportation, and FMCG sectors. Recent highlights include advising the shareholders of a retailer on the restructuring of companies in Poland and other countries.

Władek Rzycki’s team at K&L Gates LLP is valued for its ‘knowledge of the market’, and provides ‘commercially focused, solution-driven advice which demonstrates a real understanding of international trends’. In November 2011, the firm advised Vodafone during the sale of its stake in Polkomtel to Spartan Capital Holdings. Other clients include Smithfield Foods and Interparking. Of counsel Dominika Mizielińska is ‘a very strong, reliable and trusted member of the team’.

Linklaters’ ‘top-notch team’ is valued for its ‘well co-ordinated and seamless support’, and is ‘excellent across the board’. Senior partner Cezary Wiśniewski recently advised Talanx International and Meji Yasuda on the acquisition of 100% of TU Europa’s share capital in a public to private transaction. Other clients include BNP Paribas, Santander and Mid Europa Partners. Tomasz Zorawski provides ‘top-quality advice’ and managing associate Marta Błeszyńska is also recommended. Jolanta Tropaczyñska left the firm for an in-house position in July 2012.

Piotr Strawa heads the ten-lawyer team at Norton Rose Piotr Strawa and Partners LP, which handled due diligence and gave regulatory advice to Vattenfall AB on the sale of 99.98% of the shares in Gornoslaski Zaklad Elektroenergetyczny and the sale of Vattenfall Heat Poland. Key clients include Nestlé, ACE Limited and Gras Savoye. Paweł Bajno joined the firm from the now-defunct Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K..

Marcin Studniarek heads the corporate and M&A department at White & Case P. Pietkiewicz, M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy – Kancelaria Prawna sp.k., which advised Zlomrex on the sale of the Polish assets of its subsidiary Cognor and acted for Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownicto S.A. on its acquisition of 99.8% of the shares in Vattenfall Heat Poland. Witold Danilowicz left the firm in August 2012.

CMS’ team is ‘responsive and practical’. Marek Sawicki led advice to V4C Advisers regarding the acquisition of a majority stake in home.pl. Senior associate Zuzanna Zakrzewska is ‘a standout name’, and practice head Dariusz Greszta is ‘intelligent’ and ‘pragmatic’.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is ‘responsive’, ‘creative’ and has ‘a business-oriented approach’. The firm advised KGHM Polska Miedź on the sale of its shares in Telefonia Dialog as well as on its purchase of 100% of the shares in the Canadian mining firm, Quadra FNX Mining. Paweł Grześkowiak is ‘one of the best M&A lawyers in the market’, and practice co-heads Dariusz Tokarczuk and Rafał Dziedzic are also recommended.

Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsellors acts for clients in the energy, transport, defence, retail, and new media sectors. Highlights included advising Bumar on corporate reorganisation and representing Gottan on the sale and negotiation of shares in WILGA Publishing, including advising the client on the establishment of an SPV. Sławomir Jakszuk is currently leading advice to the Polish state treasury on the restructuring of the Polish Press Agency in preparation for its privatisation. Jakszuk and Marek Wierzbowski are the practice co-heads.

Wardynski & Partners gives ‘professional and reliable’ advice, and has acted for a number of buyers on acquisitions. Clients include Makro Cash & Carry, Bridgestone and ArcelorMittal Poland. Weronika Pelc, the ‘knowledgeable’ Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek and practice head Paweł Ciećwierz are recommended.

Biedecki is valued for its ‘high level’ of service and ‘client-oriented approach’. The firm advised Dr n. med. Teresa Fryda Laboratorium Medyczne on the sale of 100% of its shares to Mid Europa Partners and provides day-to-day advice to clients such as GSK Services and Emitel. Ludomir Biedecki is recommended.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP acts for clients in sectors including pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, heavy chemicals, and energy. Department head Włodzimierz Radzikowski led advice to PGNiG regarding a shale gas exploration and production agreement with four other major Polish energy suppliers.

FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz provides ‘extremely good’ service, and is praised for its ‘international quality combined with legal knowledge’. Recent highlights include advising Kvadrat Soft Cells on establishing a presence in Poland. Managing partner Tadeusz Komosa is ‘one of the best’. Former practice head Michał Mieciński has left the firm.

Gessel Attorneys at Law advised the family-owned firm Opek. on its sale to FedEx. Other clients include Enterprise Investors and Resource Partners. Ewa Szlachetka joined the firm as a partner from CMS. Marcin Macieszczak heads the practice.

Recent highlights for Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP include advising Actavis Group PTC on a joint venture agreement with Bioton, and assisting NFI Empik Media & Fashion with its purchase of Gandalf Księgarnia Internetowa. Practice head Marek Wroniak advised the Honeywell Group on its sale of Gazomet.

Magnusson – Kancelaria Prawnicza’s ‘professional’ practice regularly advises Octava NFI and Apollo Rida Group, while significant new clients include Facebook and Bank of China. Andrzej Tokaj advised Facebook on establishing an office in Poland. Daniel Jastrun is recommended, and Patryk Laskorzyński joined the firm from DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. in January 2012.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s corporate department is the largest in the firm, and its recent instructions include restructuring, share transactions and advice on acquisitions. Andrzej Kawecki and Tomasz Kański are the key figures.

Corporate work is a key strength of WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr, which has particular expertise in renewable energy. Highlights included advising Avallon PE Fund on a leveraged management buy-in transaction. Jakub Jedrzejak is highly regarded, and practice head Andrzej Wiercinski is also recommended. Ben Davey joined the firm following a career break.

Judith Gliniecki heads the practice at Wierzbowski Eversheds, which mainly acts on the buyers’ side of transactions, and routinely acts for manufacturing, engineering and technology sector clients. The team is currently advising Heinz on a corporate restructuring. Of counsel Krzysztof Feluch focuses on private M&A and Krzysztof Haladyj concentrates on public M&A.

Bird & Bird’s ‘energetic’ and ‘dedicated’ team provides ‘top-quality legal advice’ and ‘practical solutions’. Senior European consultant Patryk Galicki is ‘a skilled professional’ and heads the practice, which recently acted for a transport and logistics company regarding a management buyout transaction covering Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

DeBenedetti Majewski Szczesniak Kancelaria Prawnicza Sp. K. provides ‘excellent advice with pragmatic solutions’, and is noted for its expertise in the insurance sector and recently advised an insurance company on a merger. Managing partner Dariusz Szcześniak gives ‘quick and accurate’ responses.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna has experience in joint venture agreements and advises foreign clients on Polish acquisitions.

Tomasz Maliński heads GWW Wozny i Wspolnicy Sp. K.’s ‘cost-effective’ team, which has substantial M&A experience. Clients include Arlig Capital, Philip Morris Polska, Polsat Cyfrowy and Netia. Krystian Szostak is recommended.

Kochanski Zieba Rapala & Partners is advising new client Ikea on the structuring of a greenfield investment and the construction of a hardboard factory in Poland. Rafal Rapala heads the practice, which also acts for Griffin Investments and Siodemka.

Managing partner Olgierd Świerzewski is the key contact at Lukowicz Swierzewski & Partners, which gave day-to-day advice to Retail 2 Go Coffee on its entry into the Polish market. Other clients include Cemex Polska, GfK Polonia and Dell.

Following a transitional period at Schoenherr, the firm has expanded its Polish practice and is valued for combining ‘local knowledge with strong international experience and thinking’. Clients include Vector Capital, UNIQA Group and Sun Chemical Group. Katarzyna Terlecka led advice to Österreichische Post AG regarding its acquisition of a mail delivery business. Paweł Halwa is ‘focused, engaged and highly effective’.

Squire Sanders Swieçicki Krzesniak sp. k. advised Taiga Inversiones Eolicas on its acquisition of a stake in a wind farm company. Other clients include Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Acciona Energia and Euronet. Eligiusz Krześniak, Marcin Wnukowski, Małgorzata Grzelak, and senior associate Jacek Wiśniewski are the key figures.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law was formed as a result of the merger between ENWC and Taylor Wessing. The firm provides general corporate advice to the GEA Group, among other clients. Saab Technologies Poland is also a key client. Ewelina Stobiecka heads the practice.

Wrocław-based Wiewiórski Law Firm has a strong local presence and is valued for its ‘strong commercial awareness and advice’. The firm recently advised the Work Service Group on its acquisition of a majority stake in IT Kontrakt. Managing partner Marek Maciej Wiewiórski is ‘extremely proactive’.