The Legal 500

Clifford Chance represented the Polish government in arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty, marking the third-largest claim ever launched against Poland by an investor. Counsel Marcin Ciemiński is noted for regulatory investigations, fraud, and healthcare and life sciences disputes. Ciemiński’s ‘knowledge of Polish law is deeply impressive’. Head of litigation Bartosz Kruzewski ‘provides clear, effective advice’. Joanna Mlot joined CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Wardynski & Partners ‘more than satisfies clients’ expectations’, and has been representing a chemicals company in a pending €450m litigation for losses suffered due to allegedly defective crop protection products. Monika Hartung ‘distinguishes herself with her professionalism and attitude’, and Jan Ciecwierz, Pawel Ciecwierz and Tomasz Wardynski are also recommended.

White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K recruited new department head Pawel Pietkiewicz from CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa, together with a large team of lawyers, including five new local partners: Lukasz Hejmej; the ‘client-oriented and impressive’ Tomasz Manicki; Sebastian Pabian; Pawel Samborski; and ‘can-do practitioner’ Michal Subocz. Recent highlights include representing BRE Bank in Poland’s first class action, comprising over 800 customers, concerning claims of improper interest rate modifications applied to mortgage loans during the financial crisis.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka fields a 15-strong team, which represented the City of Warsaw in arbitration against an ING group company in relation to the city’s obligation to acquire shares in a shopping centre. Józef Palinka, Grzegorz Domanski and Pawel Lewandowski are recommended.

Salans ‘understands what clients need’. It represented Chinese construction company Covec in subcontractor disputes, and assisted Vivendi in its 11-year dispute regarding ownership of the controlling shares in PTC. Global co-head of litigation Wojciech Kozlowski is ‘a creative litigator’; Patrick Radzimierski heads the Warsaw litigation practice; Agnieszka Wardak leads the criminal litigation team; and Anna Maria Pukszto is ‘a knowledgeable insolvency specialist’. Piotr Nowaczyk is another key contact.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s litigation department, headed by ‘impressive lawyer’ Dariusz Skuza, has represented the Polish government in international arbitration disputes and has had noteworthy success in administrative proceedings.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.’s Marcin Aslanowicz is a team player whose recent experience includes acting for an international vehicle manufacturer in personal injury claims for injuries suffered in accidents allegedly caused by design defects. Andrzej Tynel’s main focus is on arbitration.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa endured its team head Pawel Pietkiewicz and partners Michal Subocz, Lukasz Hejmej and Tomasz Manicki leaving to join White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K, together with a large team of lawyers. The process of replacing the losses saw Malgorzata Surdek appointed as the new practice head; Joanna Mlot join from Clifford Chance; and Arkadiusz Korzeniewski and of counsel Grzegorz Kuderski recruited from White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K. Highlights for the firm included representing a major Polish energy holding company, and its two subsidiaries, in public procurement disputes with IT service providers. The group also advised RBS in Poland’s first cash-pool dispute.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP’s team head Sylwester Pieckowski is ‘an outstanding lawyer’. The practice successfully represented power plant Zespól Elektrowni Patnów-Adamów-Konin before the Supreme Court in a lawsuit against a Polish lignite mining company regarding its supply agreement.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. acted alongside White & Case LLP’s London office to represent PKN Orlen in proceedings against Yukos International before the ICC Court of Arbitration in a case relating to the largest foreign investment ever made by a Polish company. Andrzej Wysokinski heads the team. Robert Lis and Maciej Zalewski are both well known for their litigation and arbitration work.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna advised on the preparation of class action suits against a Polish bank in relation to unfair clauses in loan agreements. Marcin Szymanski is well respected.

FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz ‘acts in a professional, timely and effective way’. It advised BRE Bank and its subsidiaries in precedent-setting proceedings concerning a company formation and subsequent share sale contract that was declared ineffective. Competition and banking law expert Anna Cudna-Wagner and arbitration specialist Marek Furtek jointly head the litigation department.

K&L Gates LLP’s Wojciech Sadowski and Wojciech Wasowicz are well regarded litigators. The practice represented a major Polish construction company in an arbitration arising from the construction contract for a large shopping mall. Maciej Jamka heads the team.

Kubas Kos Gaertner – Adwokaci spólka partnerska represents clients at all levels and acts as proxies for clients before arbitration courts. The practice also co-operates with foreign law firms in cross-border arbitrations. Andrzej Kubas is recommended for arbitrations.

Laszczuk & Partners was co-counsel to Vivendi in a series of post-arbitration litigations against T-Mobile, regarding the ownership of shares in Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa. Maciej Laszczuk is ‘talented and effective’.

Lesnodorski, Slusarek & Partners recently acted in a high-profile construction dispute. Maciej Ślusarek is recommended.

Linklaters ‘meets the highest professional standards’. It advised BRE Bank in litigation over claims for damages, based on alleged negligence in providing banking services to a forex trading company. Team head Zbigniew Kruczkowski is ‘well prepared and involved in a case’. Warsaw co-managing partner Cezary Wisniewski has significant experience in international arbitration.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr represented a construction company in proceedings regarding currency option compensation. Bartlomiej Jankowski and senior partner Tomasz Kwiecinski are recommended.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges acted for Poland’s state-owned railway company in a PLN3bn-valued dispute over a lease agreement for a plot of land in Warsaw. Team head Andrzej Miklas is ‘sharp and creative’. Maciej Tomaszewski, Jaroslaw Kolkowski and counsel Lukasz Zak are also well regarded.

Wierzbowski Eversheds represented hundreds of claimants in a precedent-setting class action against one of Poland’s leading banks. Henryk Romanczuk and Malgorzata Modzelewska de Raad are well regarded.

Chajec, Don-Siemion & Zyto Legal Advisors won a lawsuit requiring payment of the bond issue price plus interest in the amount of PLN50m after the contracted buyer questioned its obligation to purchase. Head of litigation Krzysztof Zyto is an ‘excellent practitioner’.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. ‘always delivers on time’. It advised a Polish hotel chain on a possible investment dispute with a municipality. Department head Krzysztof Kycia is ‘a very reassuring and creative practitioner’. The team was joined by senior associate Konrad Piech, who joined from CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Gide Loyrette Nouel handles cases across commercial law, real estate, intellectual property, unfair competition, tax law, and criminal and fiscal proceedings. Piotr Sadownik and Robert Jedrzejczyk head the team.

Magnusson – Kancelaria Prawnicza acted for Legnicka Development in several construction claims against a general contractor, and successfully represented Projekt Alfa before the Supreme Court in a precedent-setting case concerning protection of a mortgage creditor’s rights. Managing partner Andrzej Tokaj is ‘reliable and effective’.

Led by managing partner Marek Musiol, Musiol & Partners’ six-strong team has recently acted in significant construction and banking sector disputes, and is well regarded for its insolvency-related litigation expertise.

Röhrenschef was founded in 2010 by the ‘excellent strategist’ Marcin Radwan-Röhrenschef, who was formerly head of disputes at Wardynski & Partners. The team handles commercial disputes, including matters with criminal, administrative or bankruptcy elements.