Firms To Watch: Dispute resolution

Boutique firm Octo Legal was established in January 2022, and its litigation and arbitration team is jointly led by Paweł Latkowski and Piotr Witecki. The group represents clients from the construction, corporate and energy sectors in a range of disputes.
The autumn of 2022 saw the creation of specialist international arbitration boutique SURDEK ARBITRATION, which is led by founder and seasoned arbitrator Małgorzata Surdek-Janicka.

Dispute resolution in Poland

Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.

Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.‘s ‘excellent team’ has witnessed an increase in instructions which are multi-jurisdictional in nature, and the group maintains its strong focus on the financial industry, as well as representing companies in the infrastructure, construction, insurance, and energy spaces. Arbitration remains an active area for the department, and it continues to represent clients in proceedings before the CJEU. Practice head Łukasz Hejmej was promoted to co-managing partner in July 2023 and he specialises in the liability of financial institutions and securities litigation. Other key members of the team include Sebastian Pabian, who focuses on insurance and regulatory disputes, and counsel Sylwia Piotrowska, who is active in the real estate and infrastructure sectors.

Practice head(s):

Łukasz Hejmej


Other key lawyers:

Sebastian Pabian; Paweł Samborski; Sylwia Piotrowska; Alicja Szczęśniak; Oskar Marszałek


Testimonials

‘An excellent team.’

‘Complex services. They are able to advise on all facets and aspects of the most complicated disputes.’

‘Out-of-the-box thinking. Finding new approaches towards the goal.’

Key clients

mBank S.A.


Getin Noble Bank S.A.


PKO Bank Polski S.A.


Raiffeisen Bank Polska S.A.


Deutsche Bank Polska S.A.


BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A.


Polish Bank Association


GI Group


TUiR Allianz Polska S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing mBank, Getin Noble Bank, PKO Bank Polski, Raiffeisen Bank Polska, Deutsche Bank Polska, and BNP Paribas Bank Polska, as well as the Polish Bank Association, in a series of disputes regarding mortgage loans indexed to the Swiss Franc or other foreign currencies.
  • Representing GI Group, a major global player in the HR industry, in ICC arbitration proceedings against Tomasz Misiak, a shareholder of Work Service S.A.
  • Representing TUiR Allianz Polska S.A. in a dispute realting to a D&O insurance policy issued by Allianz to Optigis S.A.

Clifford Chance

The ‘great litigation team’ at Clifford Chance boasts a broad offering, encompassing representation in arbitration proceedings, commercial litigation before state courts, and support with public procurement cases. The group also handles construction, healthcare, and insurance disputes, as well as class actions, and it noted a recent rise in post-M&A and shareholder disputes. Its client bases includes private equity houses, financial institutions, and corporations. Bartosz Krużewski sits at the helm of the practice with expertise in both domestic and international litigation. Marcin Ciemiński is a name of note for regulatory mandates, while ‘outstanding advisor’ Adelina Prokop specialises in investment arbitration proceedings. Counsel Michał Drwal is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Bartosz Krużewski


Other key lawyers:

Marcin Ciemiński; Adelina Prokop; Michał Drwal; Robert Moj; Monika Diehl; Michał Magdziak; Łukasz Piergies


Testimonials

‘Clifford Chance’s dispute resolution practice is a team of very professional, supportive and responsive lawyers that provide the client with good quality work and are capable of working under pressure to deliver.’

‘We work a lot with Łukasz Piergies, who demonstrates a high level of engagement, responsiveness and professionalism. He is a young and very enthusiastic lawyer, but pragmatic and knowledgeable, with a user-friendly way of communication.

‘The cooperation with the team is smooth, quick and very professional.’

‘Great litigation team, with an understanding of client needs and strategy formulation.’

‘Adelina Prokop is an outstanding advisor.’

‘The Clifford Chance Poland team has been incredibly dedicated and helpful in our cooperation and the value they brought to the table has done full justice to the formidable reputation of this world-class law firm. In our interactions, they showed nothing but respect and a genuine openness to collaboration and achieving results in the best interests of the client with a full understanding of their objectives and circumstances.’

‘I would point out our work with Monika Diehl, who has demonstrated a fantastic sense for fruitful cooperation with us, a keen sense for the client’s needs and objectives and a thorough experience of related matters. It was a true pleasure to work with her.’

‘Marcin Ciemiński and Łukasz Piergies are unique in Poland, characterised by outstanding competences and deep knowledge of the law, especially its practical application in resolving court disputes.’

Key clients

Gülermak


Gemini Polska


Huawei


General Electric


Bank BPH S.A.


Raiffeisen Bank International AG


Abener Energia S.A


HSBC Bank plc


Royal Unibrew A/S


Rexnord GmbH


Abris Capital Partners


Emitel S.A.


Dragados S.A.


VIAS y Construcciones


Polaqua


Dragados


Electren


Karmar S.A.


Allegro


Mostostal Zabrze SA


Discovery, Inc


Work highlights


  • Representing Mostostal Zabrze SA in an arbitration with Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions concerning the construction of the AEGIS Ashore system base in Redzikowo.
  • Representing Bank BPH in proceedings before the CJEU relating to a preliminary ruling referred by a Polish court concerning consumer mortgage loans indexed to CHF.
  • Representing Raiffeisen in proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and the administrative courts concerning the penalties of PLN55m imposed in mid-September 2018 on the client in its capacity as the depositary of four closed-end investment funds.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k.

The ‘unbeatable team’ at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k. has notably strong expertise in representing clients from the construction and financial services industries, and is well versed in handling large class actions on their behalf. The department also has experience appearing before the CJEU. Anna Cudna-Wagner chairs the department with the support of Arkadiusz Korzeniewski, who heads up the white- collar crime team. Rafał Morek was appointed lead of the arbitration practice following his arrival alongside Jan Markiewicz from DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k in May 2023; both are praised as ‘top construction dispute practitioners’. Counsel Adam Jodkowski is another key name for handling construction, infrastructure and financial services disputes, as well as insurance claims.

Practice head(s):

Anna Cudna-Wagner


Other key lawyers:

Rafał Morek; Arkadiusz Korzeniewski; Adam Jodkowski; Marcin Zbytniewski; Maciej Kópczyński; Julia Dyras; Jan Markiewicz; Bartosz Miąskiewicz; Mariusz Minkiewicz; Mateusz Gerlach; Aleksander Woźniak


Testimonials

‘An excellent dispute resolution team. Extremely dedicated, paying attention to details but at the same time understanding the whole picture and business aspects.’

‘Rafał Morek and Jan Markiewicz are top construction dispute practitioners in Poland – which is why we chose them. They have outstanding practical experience in such matters as ours and a very good understanding of the market. They have a hands-on approach, are always available for us and give us the comfort we need.’

‘Adam Jodkowski and Marcin Zbytniewski – an excellent team specialising in construction cases; prudent, efficient, responsive, and friendly.’

‘Jan Markiewicz has been great at developing legal argumentation and a convincing narrative for our cases. He is always available to talk and discuss all issues as well as to help us whenever a problem pops up. He is very good at case management too – handling evidence and submissions in multiple simultaneous proceedings.’

‘Rafał Morek is a brilliant strategist and a person whose judgement we fully trust. His experience gives us confidence that the agreed strategy is the best one possible.’

‘Rafał Morek, supported by Jan Markiewicz, create an unbeatable team. Rafał combines thorough knowledge and experience with a unique personality. It’s great and rewarding for me as an in-house lawyer to work together.’

‘Julia Dyras is an exceptional lawyer; very client focused with a problem-solver attitude. Highly recommended in complex cases with international elements, in particular arbitrations.’

‘Aleksander Woźniak is a great lawyer who combines legal knowledge with a business-oriented mindset.’

Key clients

Arcadis


Andros


Bank Millennium


Bank Ochrony Środowiska


BODAC


Bank BPH


Karcher


Mammoet Europe


mBank


mBank Hipoteczny


Mostostal Warszawa


Nationale-Nederlanden Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie S.A.


PKO BP


Schuler Poland Service


Warbud


Związek Banków Polskich


Work highlights


  • Representing mBank and Bank Millennium in nine proceedings before the CJEU concerning the validity of a significant part of a credit portfolio concluded with consumers.
  • Representing mBank in five private enforcement disputes and Bank Millennium in two private enforcement disputes initiated by five different claimants.
  • Representing mBank SA, Bank Millennium SA, BPH SA, and PKO BP SA in a class action brought against these banks by their retail clients.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka

The dispute resolution team at Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka boasts ‘extensive knowledge‘ when it comes to representing clients from a wide range of industries in their commercial disputes; these span the construction, infrastructure, finance, insurance, energy, and media sectors, amongst others. Transport and education are also two key areas of interest for the firm, and it regularly represents hospitals and local government units. Paweł Lewandowski, who is noted for his skill in alternative dispute resolution methodsheads up the team alongside Józef Palinka, who has significant experience handling arbitration proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Józef Palinka; Paweł Lewandowski


Other key lawyers:

Pawel Paradowski; Lukasz Wojdalski; Maciej Orkusz; Jacek Stokłosa; Bartosz Karolczyk; Anna Ciepla; Krzysztof Stecyk


Testimonials

‘The DZP litigation team, led by Paweł Lewandowski, is a group of very skilled attorneys who have a very diligent and business-oriented approach to legal work. They are capable of proposing an accurate litigation strategy for a client.’

‘Paweł Lewandowski is an experienced legal professional whose advice is always to the point and takes into account the client’s interests.’

‘Quick help and extensive knowledge.’

‘Great commitment to matters, friendly cooperation, quick responses, very good communication.’

‘DZP has a great team! They are open minded, well organised, and professional.’

‘Paweł Lewandowski and Bartosz Karolczyk are always professional, well prepared and good lawyers, with high experience and quality.’

‘Very good cooperation between team members in order to get good advice.’

‘Very good quality of advice and efficiency in court cases.’

Key clients

PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.


PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A.


ING Bank Śląski S.A.


LC Corp Group


Bauer Publishing Company


Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A Ş


Stellantis Gliwice Sp. z o.o.


Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A.


Mota Engil Central Europe S.A.


Canal+ Polska S.A.


Mosty Łódź S.A.


City of Wrocław


Top Farms Group


The Reformed Catholic Church in Poland


Ryszard Brejza, President of Inowrocław city


Work highlights


  • Acted for Polish bank ING Bank Śląski S.A. in several court proceedings concerning Swiss franc bank loan agreements and in cases concerning the invalidation of WIBOR-based interest rates in housing loan agreements.
  • Acted for a 142-strong group of shareholders in a class action regarding losses resulting from an unfair squeeze-out from a listed joint-stock company in the telecoms sector.
  • Representing PGE Polska in a dispute involving claims for damage allegedly suffered due to a consolidation in a major energy group in Europe.

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k‘s dispute resolution offering includes representation in complex arbitration and court proceedings, both domestically and internationally. The team handles investment, commercial, and sports arbitration matters, construction litigation, and post-transaction disputes. ‘Smart strategist’ Maciej Jamka heads the practice and is ably supported by counsel Ewelina Wętrys, who is praised for her ‘great ability to provide consistently excellent advice’. Another core member of the team is Maciej Antoniak, who chairs the dedicated white-collar crime practice. Rafał Morek and Jan Markiewicz joined CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k. in the middle of 2023, while Jakub Kutyła arrived in January 2024.

Practice head(s):

Maciej Jamka


Other key lawyers:

Maciej Antoniak; Ewelina Wętrys; Łukasz Gorek; Michał Szumbarski; Łukasz Gembiś; Jakub Kutyła


Testimonials

‘The team operates very smoothly and is well coordinated. The various members of the team have been up-to-date on all relevant matters. This testifies to a solid internal structuring of a bigger case.’

‘Maciej Jamka is a smart strategist and Ewelina Wętrys has a great knowledge of the facts and law, also in particularly voluminous cases. This is a rare combination and makes her a great counsel, and dangerous opponent.’

‘From our perspective, DWF’s team is built correctly and satisfies our legal needs. Whenever we ask them about something, we will quickly get feedback. There are quite a lot of lawyers specialised in particular cases.’

Key clients

Centrum Krokus sp. z o.o.


Centrum Serenada sp. z o.o.


Syndyk Masy Upadłości IDS-BUD S.A.


Vias y Construcciones S.A.


ORLEN S.A.


Enter Air Sp. z o.o.


Orange Polska S.A.


Lotos Kolej S.A.


Multikino S.A.


Przedsiębiorstwo Usług Technicznych Intercor Sp. z o.o.


Electren S.A.


Mostostal Warszawa S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing Syndyk Masy Upadłości IDS-BUD S.A. in three construction-related disputes collectively valued at over PLN450m.
  • Representing ORLEN S.A. in a dispute regarding the construction of a new power plant by a consortium consisting of General Electric Inc and SNC Lavalin Polska.
  • Representing Orange Polska S.A. and its subsidiary TP Teltech Sp. z o.o. in disputes related to multifold contractual arrangements with two public employers.

Linklaters

Linklaters is praised for its ‘versatile expertise’, and often represents clients in cross-border disputes. Large corporates and financial institutions benefit from the global expertise of the wider firm and its variety of practices, including M&A, competition, banking, and energy. It is also skilled in domestic and international arbitration proceedings. Practice head Cezary Wiśniewski is ‘a very experienced expert in court and arbitration processes’, and he has experience handling bilateral investment treaty disputes. Counsel Zbigniew Kruczkowski is another notable name, with expertise in shareholder disputes. Of counsel Tomasz Manicki specialises in white-collar crime cases.

Practice head(s):

Cezary Wiśniewski


Other key lawyers:

Zbigniew Kruczkowski; Tomasz Manicki; Marta Szrajer; Paula Czyż


Testimonials

‘Stability of the team which builds a thorough understanding of the case and gives a sense of continuation. Versatile expertise of the team members building a more robust and multifaceted approach to dealing with issues.’

‘Cezary Wiśniewski is always keen to get involved and provide the wider context to the issues in question, and Tomasz Manicki is always at the heart of the matter, combining information from a variety of sources to come up with the best possible advice.’

‘Extraordinary commitment and professionalism of the entire team.’

‘Directness and openness to understanding the industry. Zbigniew Kruczkowski is a litigator who communicates well with businesses in an accessible way.’

‘The Linklaters team has proven to understand the client’s business needs and is very efficient and professional in its operations.’

‘I would particularly recommend Cezary Wiśniewski as a very experienced expert in court and arbitration processes, who has experience not only in representing clients, but also as an arbitrator. I would also recommend Marta Szrajer, who is distinguished by her strong commitment to the benefit of the client.’

‘Young, dynamic team with very senior, heavyweight leadership. Cezary Wiśniewski combines experience, academic credibility and commercial understanding of legal issues in a way that is rare on the market. This places the team in a unique position to advise on some of the most complex and sensitive matters for businesses.’

‘The team is known for their experience in high-profile international arbitrations.’

Key clients

Abris Capital Partners


Orange Polska S.A.


PZU S.A.


Bank Millennium S.A.


Santander Bank Polska S.A.


DnB Bank Polska S.A.


BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A.


mBank S.A.


Kronospan Mielec sp. z o.o. and Kronospan Polska sp. z o.o.


Eolos Polska sp. z o.o.


Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A.


ING Bank Śląski S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing Orange Polska S.A. in two cases involving claims filed by P4 sp. z o.o. against Orange Polska S.A. and Polkomtel sp. z o.o. for compensation in connection with accusations made against Orange Polska S.A. and Polkomtel sp. z o.o. concerning abuse of their collective dominant position.
  • Representing Bank Millennium S.A., Santander Bank Polska S.A. and DNB Bank Polska S.A. in a number of disputes regarding mortgage loans indexed to CHF and EUR and UNWW issues.
  • Representing Kronospan Mielec sp. z o.o. and Kronospan Polska sp. z o.o., international producers of forestry products, in appeal proceedings before the Court for the Protection of Competition and Consumers against a decision by the Polish Competition Authority on allegedly restrictive horizontal agreements.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak boasts a team of the ‘best litigators in the market’ who are highly experienced in large-scale, complex, and precedent-setting cases. The practice is well versed in representing clients before domestic and international arbitration tribunals, as well as European and local courts. Investment treaty disputes are a core area of expertise for the department, in addition to infrastructure and construction disputes, and post-M&A and shareholder disputes. ‘Very intelligent and experienced partner’ Rafał Waszkiewicz heads up the department, and co-founding partner Stanisław Sołtysiński is a key arbitrator in the team. Katarzyna Paczuska-Tokarska is another active member, particularly in terms of infrastructure disputes concerning state-owned companies and construction disputes governed by FIDIC rules. Anna Grzywczak-Kubiak is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Rafał Waszkiewicz


Other key lawyers:

Stanisław Sołtysiński; Anna Grzywczak-Kubiak; Andrzej Szlęzak; Jacek Siński; Katarzyna Paczuska-Tokarska; Jakub Urbanowicz; Mateusz Irmiński


Testimonials

‘Great forensic experience, very responsive, and good in litigation in state courts.’

‘Very strong team of associates and partners. Every interaction is seamless and easy. Excellent client service.’

‘Rafał Waszkiewicz is a very intelligent and experienced partner. He is a great leader who has always advised us wisely.’

‘Anna Grzywczak-Kubiak is a brilliant lawyer who is meticulous and hardworking.’

‘SK&S lawyers are highly qualified and experienced in dispute resolution, including arbitration and corporate disputes. They are very responsive, business-oriented and proactive. They are capable of handling the most complicated disputes and are some of the best litigators in Poland.’

‘I work with Jacek Siński, Jakub Urbanowicz, and Mateusz Irmiński. I do appreciate their exceptional knowledge and experience in dispute resolution, their business-oriented and proactive approach, engagement and responsiveness.’

‘Best litigators in the market.’

‘Anna Grzywczak-Kubiak is exceptional. Consistently excellent and thoughtful advice. Continually impressed by how our complex and large cases are managed to such a high standard.’

Key clients

MasterCard Europe S.A.


Nokia


Mariusz Świtalski and the Sowiniec Group


Instritut Straumann


Compax Software Development GmbH


Wechta Inwestycje sp. z o.o.


Goodyear Group – Firma Oponiarska Dębica S.A.


Zalando Logistics Operations Polska


MOSTOSTAL WARSZAWA


Jeronimo Martins Polska S.A.


Cyfrowy Polsat S.A.


TVN S.A.


Work highlights


  • Defended Mastercard in a number of private enforcement cases.
  • Represented Zalando Logistics Operations Polska sp. z o.o. in a dispute with Werta sp. z o.o. concerning mutual claims of the parties regarding the performance of a construction works contract concluded between Zalando, as the investor, and Werta, as the contractor.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k.‘s dispute resolution lawyers are notable for ‘their track record of success and their unwavering ethical standards’, which makes them ‘trusted advocates for those seeking legal solutions’. Its offering is broad ranging and encompasses representation in banking, corporate and commercial litigation, product liability cases, and arbitration proceedings. The practice is jointly led by Krystyna Szczepanowska-Kozłowska, who is in charge of the commercial litigation and arbitration side, and Bartosz Merczyński, who leads the banking litigation team. Michał Gajdus joined DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k. in October 2023, while Adam Kowalczyk and counsel Grzegorz Kostrzewa arrived from Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. in the same month.

Practice head(s):

Krystyna Szczepanowska-Kozłowska; Bartosz Merczyński


Other key lawyers:

Justyna Ostrowska; Monika Murawska; Marek Neumann; Karolina Wais; Adam Kowalczyk; Grzegorz Kostrzewa


Testimonials

‘There is never the feeling that the team push for litigation to boost fees, but rather they look after the best interest of their clients to achieve the optimal results for the client.’

‘Marek Neumann and Karolina Wais have worked with our company and are both excellent. This is because they really understand not only the legal aspects of the deal but also have an insight into the commercial issues involved, which is rare. They are exceedingly professional in their dealings.’

‘Allen & Overy is a high-quality law firm operating on the Polish market.’

Key clients

Yetico


Work highlights


  • Represented Yetico, a Polish manufacturer of polystyryne foam boards, before the Supreme Court in a case brought by the Polish Competition Authority regarding the alleged violation of collective consumer interests.
  • Representing a French international banking group in a civil dispute against public entities.

Dentons

In April 2023, Dentons saw the appointment of Anna Pukszto to co-managing partner; she also oversees the general commercial disputes practice with a specialism in restructuring and financial litigation. The dispute resolution group is further divided into sub-teams: arbitration is overseen by Michał Jochemczak; construction disputes are headed up by Agnieszka Wojciechowska; and white-collar crime cases are led by Agnieszka Wardak. Its client base consists of major players from highly regulated industries, including the finance, energy, life sciences and healthcare, media, telecoms, and real estate sectors. Wojciech Kozłowski  and Katarzyna Bilewska  left the firm to establish BLSK in June 2023.

Practice head(s):

Anna Pukszto


Other key lawyers:

Michał Jochemczak; Patrick Radzimierski; Agnieszka Wojciechowska; Agnieszka Wardak; Marta Cichomska


Testimonials

‘Michał Jochemczak and his team are creating a very comfortable atmosphere which is ideal for complex cases. They are very direct in their strategic approach and fast to understand the arguments.’

‘Definitely Michał Jochemczak is a very good manager and he has a great relationship with his team. Their coordination is very good and we can see that they support each other. Marta Cichomska amd Agnieszka Wojciechowska are also key members of the team and their capacity to circle issues and create essential arguments has a significant impact on the good flow of the process.’

‘The whole team was very professional and they learned all aspects of the case in detail, predicted various behaviours of the opposing party, openly presented all risks and opportunities, and perfectly combined various areas of law and applied them to the case.’

‘Michał Jochemczak, Agnieszka Wojciechowski and Marta Cichomska were very engaged throughout the process. They all have great knowledge and experience in this field. They cooperated wonderfully with each other. Michał showed great abilities in managing the team and achieving very good results.’

‘In my view, the team is truly unique. Not only are they exceptional lawyers and skilful litigators, but their command of technical issues, especially those presented in cases where I was involved, is unmatched. They have also demonstrated a profound understanding of the construction and energy industry. I have not encountered another team as capable in resolving construction disputes.’

‘Agnieszka Wojciechowska is truly special. She is the full package, combining top level written and oral advocacy skills, with an excellent command of engineering issues; a strategist and sharp mind. In short, she is an outstanding litigator who thrives in construction disputes.’

‘Michał Jochemczak is an excellent litigator, having a very impressive track record of won cases. He is very good in dealings with courts and arbitral tribunals.’

‘Very professional and involved team, reliable, focused on details but with a comprehensive view of the case.’

Key clients

DWS


Edison Next Poland


GreenFuture Energy


Cavatina Holding


Deloitte


Doosan Enerbility


Doosan Lentjes


Ghelamco


GlaxoSmithKleine


INGKA Group


ING Bank Śląski


Morgan Stanley


Open Life TUŻ


Pinggao Group


Premium Distillers


Constructiones Rubau


Rover Infraestructuras


Rubau Polska


Santander Bank


Santander TFI


Shanghai Electric Power Construction


Syntaxis


Tarantoga Capital


Creative Development


Techint


WPD Europe


Work highlights


  • Representing members of the board of GreenFuture Energy in a dispute with a company providing services relating to wind park development with which the clients had previously cooperated.
  • Representing Stadler in a dispute with the buyer of its vehicles, which concerns the need to completely redefine the rules of cooperation established for a period of four years under the framework agreement.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k.

Sectors of strength for the litigation and regulatory group at DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k. include energy, construction, infrastructure and real estate, as well as insurance, rail, defence, aviation, life sciences and TMT. The group is also well versed in handling claims against the State Treasury and state-owned entities, in addition to corporate and post-M&A disputes, and construction disputes. Co-managing partner Krzysztof Kycia sits at the helm of the department, and Monika Leszko is an ‘experienced energy lawyer’ in the group. Michał Gajdus and senior associate Jakub Zabraniak joined the team from Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. in October 2023.

Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Kycia


Other key lawyers:

Piotr Olkowski; Anna Kopania; Monika Leszko; Szymon Sakowski; Mikołaj Strojnowski; Michał Gajdus; Jakub Zabraniak; Paweł Bartosiewicz


Testimonials

‘Monika Leszko is an experienced and business-oriented legal counsel in the energy sector.’

‘The team is highly reliable and very transparent in their actions and communication. They also have a unique talent in advising on the best strategy available, not only legal but also business oriented. They have high analytical and strategic talents.’

‘Krzysztof Kycia and Paweł Bartosiewicz particulary stand out in our co-operation in a very strategic arbitration process where a lot of money is at stake. We feel taken care of and are sure that in this vital process for our company we are in the best hands.’

‘In my experience, the DLA team is really good at what they do and also easy to work with – responsive, fast, and communicative.’

‘They have great knowledge of the construction sector and make an effort to understand the business side of our issues. They are also open to listening to other opinions and gathering feedback, for example from my team and technical experts, which gives me confidence that any advice or strategy that they propose will be effective, and will ultimately help us achieve our objectives.’

‘Krzysztof Kycia is my main contact. I have worked with Krzysztof for many years and I value his opinion a lot – he is very skilled, committed, and creative when it comes to preparing a strategy. He has a lot of experience in the field of construction and infrastructure disputes. He never escalates when there is a chance to settle.’

‘Paweł Bartosiewicz and Mikołaj Strojnowski should be mentioned; they are very thorough and knowledgeable.’

Key clients

Airbus DS Airborne Solutions


Allegro.pl


ASM Global


Bank Ochrony Środowiska


EDP Renewables


DEME


DHL


Generali


Metro Properties


Mota-Engil


Mott MacDonald


OX2


Paramount Enterprise International


Polnord


PORR


Respect Energy


Revetas Capital Advisors


Saur


Savills Investment Management


SIBS


Stanley Black & Decker


Strabag AG


Trakcja


Van Oord


Velvet Care


Verizon Technologies


WeWork


Work highlights


  • Representing PGE Energetyka Kolejowa in disputes over compensation for damage caused by the state regulation of electricity prices supplied to end users in 2019.
  • Representing PORR in claims for the increase of remuneration for construction works concerning three residential projects in the context of an extraordinary change of circumstances caused by the war in Ukraine.
  • Representing Hyundai Engineering in claims relating to the increase of the contract price of the construction of the Polimery Police.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k

Paweł Pietkiewicz sits at the helm of the litigation and arbitration practice at Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k, which works alongside the firm’s corporate and M&A, real estate, capital markets, tax and employment teams to provide clients with a multi-disciplinary contentious offering. The department offers clients representation before the entire gamut of Polish courts, and it also boasts international arbitration expertise. Antoni Libiszowski regularly represents clients in international arbitration proceedings and disputes before state and administrative courts, while Andrzej Wysokiński is especially skilled in commercial litigation.

Practice head(s):

Paweł Pietkiewicz


Other key lawyers:

Andrzej Wysokiński; Robert Lis; Antoni Libiszowski; Izabela Szponar


Key clients

Citi Handlowy


PZU S.A.


Assa Abbloy Mercor Doors sp. z o.o.


Logicor Europe Limited


CI Games S.A.


Empik sp. z o.o.


Capitea S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing Bank Handlowy w Warszawie in proceedings before the state court in its dispute with a former commercial partner, Rigall Arteria Management.
  • Representing PZU in proceedings related to the claims of minority shareholders, Manchester Securities Ltd and Wspólna Reprezentacja S.A., in connection with the 2007 and 2012 AGM resolutions relating to compensation for the alleged non-payment of a dividend in 2007.
  • Represented a major airline in administrative proceedings initiated by the Polish Border Guard in connection with the PNR obligations arising out of Polish law.

JDP Drapala & Partners

JDP Drapala & Partners has ‘exceptional knowledge and competence in the construction sector’ in particular, and is also noted for its knowledge of the infrastructure industry. The team frequently handles litigation and arbitration proceedings before domestic and international courts and institutions. Its client base includes publicly-listed companies, manufacturers, and technology suppliers. Przemysław Drapała and Andrzej Sokołowski co-lead the disputes department, as well as the infrastructure group. Wojciech Bazan is praised as a ‘very skilful, pragmatic and effective attorney’ and he has expertise in disputes surrounding the termination of agreements.

Practice head(s):

Przemysław Drapała; Andrzej Sokołowski


Other key lawyers:

Wojciech Bazan; Jakub Majewski


Testimonials

‘The litigation team of JDP has a very good tactical and strategic approach to conducting disputes. They are using all formal instruments in an extremely effective way. They are very pragmatic in the assessment of the cases. They cooperate smoothly with our company during the case.’

‘Wojciech Bazan is a very skilful, pragmatic and effective attorney. He has a very good tactical and strategic approach.’

‘Exceptional knowledge and competence in the construction sector.’

‘Przemysław Drapała’s unique experience in the construction sector, as well as his business approach to disputes, makes cooperation very effective.’

‘The dispute resolution practice at JDP Drapala & Partners is distinguished by an extraordinary ability to apply the possibilities and tools to non-standard and difficult cases.’

‘When we approach JDP with a problem, we are sure that we will be offered a solution that will protect the company from a legal perspective and at the same time will take into account business needs. What sets JDP’s lawyers apart is their understanding of the issues facing the construction industry and their ability to tailor litigation and non-litigation solutions to the specifics of the industry.’ 

‘Przemysław Drapała and Wojciech Bazan are key individuals handling our cases. They stand out not only with extraordinary legal knowledge, but also with extensive experience, thanks to which they perfectly understand the market and know the practical problems it faces.’

‘Wojciech Bazan supports us not only in court but also in mediation proceedings. In one case, thanks to his experience of what is important in settlements for public entities and the involvement of our company’s team, in six months we managed to negotiate a settlement in a dispute that could have taken several years.’

Key clients

IMPEL S.A. and its subsidiaries


Impresa Pizzarotti & C. S.p.A.


WeBuild S.p.A.


Magna Nowoczesne Technologie Produkcji


Budimex


PORR


Pojazdy Szynowe PESA


Bilfinger Engineering & Technologies GmbH


Babcock Borsig Steinmuller GmbH


Bilfinger Piping Technologies GmbH


Bilfinger MCE Berlin GmbH


Babcock Noell GmbH


Torpol


Swietelsky Rail Polska


Work highlights


  • Representing Impresa Pizzarotti & C. S.p.A. in dozens of cases against the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways arising from four different projects.
  • Representing the claimants, PORR S.A., PEBEKA S.A. and PNiUIK Sp. z o.o., a consortium consisting of a member of the PORR Group and a member of the KGHM Group, against PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., the Polish national operator of railways, in a case concerning the construction of a railway tunnel to Chopin Airport.
  • Representing WeBuild in court proceedings concerning a road investment in Poland performed for GDDKiA.

Kochanski & Partners

Kochanski & Partners is highly adept at handling international disputes, commercial disputes, civil and media litigation, and disputes involving financial institutions. ‘Excellent strategic thinker’ Marek Jeżewski chairs the department with experience in investor-state disputes, while Dominika Durchowska boasts skills in international disputes, as does Markiyan Malskyy. Michal König leads the commercial arbitration and litigation team, while Mateusz Ostrowski heads up the media litigation group. Andrzej Pałys and  Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa co-chair the financial institutions arm. Agnieszka Chrzanowska left the firm in April 2023 to set up her own practice.

Practice head(s):

Marek Jeżewski; Dominika Durchowska; Michał König; Andrzej Pałys; Mateusz Ostrowski; Markiyan Malskyy


Other key lawyers:

Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa; Jakub Jach


Testimonials

‘Excellent ability to understand complex technical issues and apply the legal requirements to them.’

‘Marek Jeżewski, Dominika Durchowska and Michał König are recommended.’

‘A focused and strategic team.’

‘Marek Jeżewski is an excellent strategic thinker, and Michal König excels as an advocate.’

‘Strong engagement of each team member.’

‘Markiyan Malskyy is client oriented, practical and highly appreciated for his swift responsiveness to the client’s challenges.’

‘The firm is easy to work with. Many of the lawyers have trained outside Poland and are fluent in English. Because of foreign work experience, the firm has been amazingly responsive to questions from clients and has been proactive in anticipating and addressing the client’s needs. I was impressed with the quality of the work and the speed with which it was generated.’

‘Michał König is extremely service oriented. He is responsive to questions and issues. He is able to translate Polish law issues into a framework that is easy to understand. He writes clearly and effectively and is timely. Few counsel provide the level of service that he regularly offers.’

Key clients

Forteam Investment Limited


Honwood Services Ltd.


PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.


Green Investment S.A.


Aasted ApS


CMI Maciej Uhl


LOT Polish Airlines


Ringier Axel Springer Poland


Savills


Bank BPH S.A.


Bank Millennium S.A.


Bank PKO BP


Greń sp.j.


LS Airport Services


Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A.


Perfect Gym Solutions S.A.


Bei-Trans LLC


Work highlights


  • Representing Ringier Axel Springer Poland in a case.
  • Representing Forteam Investment Limited in a €85m dispute concerning an investment made in a major retail chain company.
  • Representing Bei-Trans LLC, a Ukrainian international logistics company, in proceedings before Polish courts for enforcement and execution of an arbitration award issued by the International Commercial Arbitration Court in Kiev.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta

The beginning of 2023 saw the merger of Rymarz Zdort and Maruta Wachta to form Rymarz Zdort Maruta. Its offering includes representation in a variety of commercial disputes, including those surrounding M&A transactions, construction work, and complex commercial contracts. It has appeared before the entire gamut of Polish courts, from first instance to administrative and appellate proceedings, as well as domestic and international arbitration institutions.  Defence against hostile takeovers is another area of expertise for the group. Krzysztof Sajchta, Karina Aust-NiewiadomskaŁukasz Żak and Damian Gudel are the key senior contacts.

Practice head(s):

Karina Aust-Niewiadomska; Damian Gudel; Krzysztof Sajchta; Łukasz Żak


Other key lawyers:

Michal Milewski


Testimonials

‘Top performance in all respects – briefs clear and concise, and very good cross-examination and oral presentations.’

‘Krzysztof Sajchta is a strategic thinker, very clear and prepared.’

‘Highly professional team with a great understanding of the challenges of the IT industry.’

‘Comprehensive approach to the case is definitely a strength of the team, which distinguishes the team from other law firms. The solutions recommended by the team headed by Krzysztof Sajchta took into account not only the company’s interests in a particular case, but also its leading policy and market position. Communication with the team was at the highest level, all information was provided promptly in a clear and understandable form. We highly recommend the team for all litigation cases.’

‘I appreciate Rymarz Zdort Maruta for not only knowing the law inside and out, but also for finding ways to work within the law to make things happen. The quality of the services provided by them is very high in my opinion, and their timeliness in delivering assistance should not go unmentioned.’

‘Rymarz Zdort Maruta’s dispute resolution lawyers are renowned specialists in their area of law and have a keen ability to seek out and formulate solutions to extremely complex legal issues. They have shown a high degree of commitment and great professionalism in their approach to all matters covered by their engagement.’

‘I cooperated with Krzysztof Sajchta and I am very satisfied with the work, from explaining the problem and potential consequences to looking for solutions in various areas. He has both standard solutions but also many ideas for additional and less obvious solutions. Krzysztof’s extensive knowledge and, above all, practical and procedural experience allowed me to feel safer.’

Key clients

Orlen S.A.


Bank Millenium S.A.


Baldero Investments sp. z o.o.


EuRoPol Gaz S.A.


Erbud S.A.


Malpka S.A.


Polenergia Group


ProService Finteco sp. z o.o.


Mediafinancial sp. z o.o.


Dom Maklerski BOS S.A.


Vectra S.A.


Fundusz Wczasow Pracowniczych sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Representing Orlen S.A. in a series of arbitrations against Gazprom PJSC and Gazprom export LLC, relating to price revision claims, claims over halted gas supplies and interest on overpayments for gas supplied over a six-year period.
  • Representing EuRoPol Gaz S.A. in a $1.5bn arbitral dispute against Gazprom export LLC regarding claims for transmission services and damages.
  • Representing Erbud S.A., the general contractor for the construction of a runway at Warsaw-Modlin Airport, in a dispute concerning the performance of construction work.

Rö Radwan-Röhrenschef Petruczenko

The ‘strong and knowledgeable team’ at Rö Radwan-Röhrenschef Petruczenko is co-led by Marcin Radwan-Röhrenschef, who ‘has been active in international litigation for many years’, and co-founding partner Katarzyna Petruczenko. Its offering includes representation in litigation, arbitration, and mediation proceedings. Complex commercial litigation is a core focus for the group, and it has recently been active in disputes surrounding insurance, real estate, construction, banking, cybersecurity, media, and aviation. Its client roster includes household names, private, public, and state-owned companies, and NGOs.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Radwan-Röhrenschef; Katarzyna Petruczenko


Other key lawyers:

Marina Skarbek-Kozietulska; Sylwia Zielezińska; Dominika Leszczyńska; Jakub Adamski; Mateusz Kotowicz; Małgorzata Rojek


Testimonials

‘The team is very responsive and flexible in its approach. It handles the case comprehensively while acting in a prompt manner. Great knowledge and business-resulted orientation.’

‘Marcin Radwan-Röhrenschef is very astute, a pleasure to work with, and can tackle even the thorniest issues of Polish law.’

‘The collaboration was excellent as we required their expert advice in relation to complex areas of Polish law. We were particularly impressed with their responsiveness and collaboration when working to tight court deadlines.’

‘Mateusz Kotowicz has been extremely helpful and responsive.’

‘Marcin Radwan-Röhrenschef has been active in international litigation for many years. Over the years, he has developed a solid understanding of complex litigation issues. For me, he is a go-to litigation lawyer. ’

‘Sylwia Zielezińska possesses unique expertise in construction law and a robust focus on business.’

‘Strong and knowledgeable team which exhibits responsiveness and professionalism. They are solid disputes lawyers.’

‘We have mainly worked with Katarzyna Petruczenko. She is very knowledgeable, responsive and professional and it is our pleasure to work with her.’

Key clients

Coucal Ltd


Volkswagen AG


Dual Corporate Risks Ltd.


Erbud S.A.


BLOCK a.s.


ClientEarth


Ryvu Therapeutics S.A.


Europejski Property sp. z o.o.


Fundacja Nasza Warszawa


Work highlights


  • Represented Coucal Ltd before the High Court of Ireland in a successful prevention of an attempt to evade enforcement of a claim.
  • Represented VW AG against a group action brought in the Polish Court by Diesel car owners requesting compensation for software modifying the NOx emission tests.
  • Representing Ryvu Therapeutics in a dispute under a construction contract based on FIDIC rules with a general contractor.

Wardynski & Partners

Wardynski & Partners‘s offering covers the entire gamut of commercial disputes, with the team providing representation in securities, shareholder, competition, and banking and finance disputes, as well as acting in contentious mandates with a nexus to the real estate and sports industries. Founding partner and skilled arbitrator Tomasz Wardynski is involved in some of the firm’s largest and most complex cases. Other key senior names include Jan Ciećwierz, who has expertise in construction-related disputes; Monika Hartung, who has extensive experience in representing clients in post-M&A disputes; managing partner of the firm’s Krakow office Paweł Mazur; and head of the dispute resolution team in Poznań, Marcin LemkowskiStanisław Drozd is a key name in the arbitration and mediation space.

Other key lawyers:

Tomasz Wardynski; Jan Ciećwierz; Monika Hartung; Paweł Mazur; Marcin Lemkowski; Stanisław Drozd; Łukasz Lasek; Maciej Kiełbowski; Piotr Golędzinowski


Testimonials

‘The Wardynski & Partners team is very well organised; they can work on hundreds of pages of documents and draw correct conclusions, and they clearly formulate their thoughts and write good pleadings to the court.’

‘Maciej Kiełbowski is calm and hard-working, and he never gives up on a matter. In addition, he is always at my disposal and provides advice whenever I need it.’

‘Strong organisational skills. Good communication. Sound and practical legal assessment of potential cases.’

Key clients

AmRest


ArcelorMittal Poland


AV Hallera sp. z o.o.


CRH – Cement Ożarów S.A.


Digitics S.A.


Elavon Financial Services


ELIN


Freyssinet Polska


Gardenvision International NV


Ghelamco Poland


Impel


Karmar


Kaufland


Krosglass S.A.


LOTTE Wedel`


Louvre Hotels Group


Marvipol


MJET GmbH


Mostostal


Motion Picture Association


Polenergia SA


SBB Energy


Sherman Sp. z o.o.


Społeczna Inicjatywa Narkopolityki


Sempertrans Bełchatów


Systra S.A., Systra-Sotecni S.P.A.


Wyborowa


Work highlights


  • Representing a company providing specialised solutions to the energy sector in an SCC arbitration concerning the termination of a contract for a major infrastructure project.
  • Representing a bank in a dispute with a multinational software house concerning a failed project for development, implementation, and subsequent maintenance of a comprehensive IT system for the bank’s new mortgage business.
  • Representing a group of foreign IP holders in their legal action to obtain a web-blocking injunction against Polish internet service providers.

White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k.

White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k.‘s enviable client roster includes top financial institutions, major corporations, sovereign governments, executives, and directors, and the team is well equipped to represent them before a wide range of trial, appellate, regulatory and alternative dispute resolution authorities. The team also boasts ‘an unrivalled global network and is able to draw on vast international experience’ to provide domestic and international support to clients in their contentious mandates. Practice head Michał Subocz is praised as ‘one of the best litigation lawyers in Poland’, and he is ably supported by Jakub Wołkowicz, who has expertise in arbitration cases surrounding infrastructure projects and M&A transactions. Karolina Brzeska is notable for her expertise in the energy sector.

Practice head(s):

Michał Subocz


Other key lawyers:

Jakub Wołkowicz; Aleksandra Oziemska; Karolina Brzeska; Jakub Żelazny


Testimonials

‘Well-organised specialists in their fields. Excellent cooperation with the client.’

‘Very reliable approach to the subject. The W&C team handles our disputes comprehensively, and each lawsuit, written or oral, is a separate project that is very solidly planned.’

‘Jakub Wołkowicz performs his role in an exemplary manner. The entire commissioned tasks are always on time, and prepared at the highest level. In discussions regarding planned projects, he always has interesting ideas and is able to reasonably defend the presented recommendations.’

‘We are extremely pleased with the exceptional service provided by White & Case. Their expertise, responsiveness, and dedication to our case were truly outstanding. It’s been a pleasure working with their team, and we highly recommend their legal services.’

‘We are thoroughly impressed with the services provided by White & Case. Their team’s exceptional professionalism, in-depth expertise, and dedication to our case were instrumental in achieving successful outcomes. We extend our sincere gratitude for their outstanding legal support.’

‘We have a relationship with White & Case’s dispute resolution practice in Warsaw. The team has an unrivalled global network and is able to draw on vast international experience. They are very practical and business-oriented, thanks to which they quickly translate the legal framework into the reality of the dispute and the client’s needs. It is smooth and easy to work with them.’

‘Michał Subocz is brilliant and quickly reads in between the lines, thanks to which in no time he gets to the crux of the dispute and offers premium advice. As an effective problem-solver, he takes a load off our minds. He is one of the best litigation lawyers in Poland.’

‘Karolina Brzeska is excellent, extremely sophisticated and knowledgeable. She instantly grasps the business dynamics and its peculiarities, and, therefore, also our needs as a client. With these in mind, she effectively comes up with a genuine dispute strategy that covers all possible solutions and risk descriptions so we can make informed decisions. She is very resourceful and finds tactics to win cases.’

Key clients

Acciona Construcción S.A.


Generali Real Estate


Mostostal Power Development sp. z o.o.


Mostostal Warszawa S.A.


PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A.


WeBuild S.p.A.


Jan De Nul N.V.


Sacyr S.A.


Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented a consortium consisting of Sacyr, S.A. (Spain), Salini Impregilo S.p.A. (Italy), and Jan De Nul N.V. (Belgium) in a dispute with the Panama Canal Authority in connection with the expansion of the Panama Canal at a cost of $5.5bn.
  • Represented MPD, a subsidiary of Mostostal Warszawa S.A., in two disputes against Sarens relating to the PLN11.6bn construction of two power blocks in Brzezie near Opole.
  • Represented PGE GiEK in court proceedings initiated by ClientEarth, who filed a statement of claim against the client, which runs a lignite coal mine and power plant located in Bełchatów.

WKB Lawyers

WKB Lawyers, lauded by a client as ‘one of the best independent firms in Poland’, represents clients in both domestic and international litigation and arbitration proceedings. The group is especially skilled in handling post-M&A, construction, and corporate disputes, as well as contentious mandates in the energy, infrastructure, banking and insurance, FMCG, and transport sectors. Certified arbitrator Bartłomiej Jankowski leads the dispute resolution team. Jordan Zafirow is another key senior contact, with expertise in disputes regarding infrastructure projects. Wiktor Iwański, Natalia Kabacińska and Piotr Gajek were all promoted to counsels at the beginning of 2023. Tomasz Kwieciński retired in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Bartłomiej Jankowski


Other key lawyers:

Jordan Zafirow; Natalia Kabacińska; Wiktor Iwański; Anita Garnuszek; Piotr Gajek; Maciej Gniewosz


Testimonials

‘Great direct contact, very good knowledge of the construction business, transparency in settlements, experience and substantive knowledge – these are the elements that make cooperation with WKB effective and very pleasant.’

‘Jordan Zafirow and Natalia Kabacińska are recommended.’

‘One of the best independent firms in Poland with a large and strong dispute resolution practice. The team is entrepreneurial and more interested in claimant work than many other firms its size.’

Key clients

The State of Ukraine/Quinn Emanuell


Allegro


Allianz


CEZ Skawina


Tauron Dystrybucja


Master Management Group


FORBUILD SA


Webuild


DNB Bank Polska


Ryanair


BNP Paribas Bank Polska


ORBICO d.o.o.


Bilfinger Tebodin Poland


MZK Gorzów Wlkp.


Miejskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja w Bydgoszczy sp. z o.o.


Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.


Ekstraklasa S.A.


Zakład Unieszkodliwiania Odpadów


PUT Intercor


PKO Bank Polski S.A.


PORR S.A.


CEMEX Polska Sp. z o.o.


GE Power Sp. z o.o.


Aldesa Construcciones


Västkustens Skogs AB


Poczta Polska


Jeronimo Martins


GE Power Sp. z o.o.


Aldesa Construcciones


Work highlights


  • Representing the state of Ukraine in a dispute concerning bonds issued by Ukraine for the benefit of a Russian trust.
  • Representing Ryanair in a dispute with a group of companies involved in screen scraping.
  • Representing PORR S.A. in two disputes against the General Director for National Roads and Highways, regarding claims for price adjustment due to an extraordinary increase in prices on the construction market in 2018-2020.

Eversheds Sutherland Poland

Eversheds Sutherland Poland has particular expertise in the aviation space, in addition to the real estate, infrastructure, energy and TMT sectors. Maciej Jóźwiak heads up the practice ‘with business sensitivity’, and he has appeared before a wide range of courts, including the Supreme Court of Poland and the CJEU, as well as regularly representing clients in arbitration proceedings before the Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris and the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw.

Practice head(s):

Maciej Jóźwiak


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Adamczyk


Testimonials

‘Good communication skills and quick responses.’

‘The Eversheds Sutherland team provides unique advice with a business perspective. Not only high responsiveness and extensive legal experience, but also full support both taking the dispute and dispute avoidance approach.’

‘Maciej Jóźwiak leads the team with business sensitivity, advising on how to effectively conduct a dispute, but also how to conduct business to avoid one. In anxious situations, he shows great composure and he is a leader for his team as much as he brings calm to the client’s side.’

Key clients

State Treasury of the Republic of Poland – General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways


Ryanair


Turkish Airlines


Vueling


DHL


Air France


International Air Transport Association


KLM Airline


Nokia


Avis Budget Group


Emerson


P-D Refractories


Pomorska Investments


Tauron Dystrybucja


Rainbow Tours


Eaton


Polskie Sieci Energetyczne


Norwegian Air


Parker Hannifin Sales CEE


Johnson Controls International


Korean Air


GdziePoLek


PPG


Saxo Bank


Edison Next


HaskoningDHV Polska


White Olive Hotels


Cummins Limited


West Rock


ADAMED


Work highlights


  • Representing the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways in a court dispute against Alpine Bau GmbH, the general contractor for a toll road investment in Poland.
  • Representing Emerson Process Management, as a sub-contractor, in two disputes against the investor due to restructuring of the general constructor.
  • Representing HaskoningDHV in a number of disputes concerning infrastructural investments against State Water Company Wody Polskie and Strabag.

GESSEL Attorneys at Law

At GESSEL Attorneys at Law, founding partner Beata Gessel-Kalinowska vel Kalisz and Joanna Kisielińska-Garncarek, who was promoted to the partnership at the beginning of 2023, jointly lead the arbitration practice, while Piotr Schramm heads up the litigation department. Commercial disputes, post-M&A disputes, and corporate-related cases all fall within the capabilities of the teams, and the arbitration department also has a keen interest in environmental mandates. Anna Ziewalicz is singled out by clients as ‘a diligent and creative lawyer’. 

Practice head(s):

Beata Gessel-Kalinowska vel Kalisz; Piotr Schramm; Joanna Kisielińska-Garncarek


Other key lawyers:

Maria Dudzińska; Maja Frontczak; Paweł Kwiatkowski; Anna Ziewalicz


Testimonials

‘Lawyers from GESSEL’s dispute resolution practice find effective, often unconventional solutions to our legal problems. They know our business very well, so when a difficult legal problem arises, they suggest a carefully-chosen solution tailored to our business needs. Moreover, they are not afraid to think outside the box, approaching problems from new angles and developing novel solutions.’

‘Piotr Schramm’s understanding of our industry enables him to provide well-suited, often unconventional solutions to every challenge we encounter. His support is invaluable in crisis situations, in which he approaches every problem in a calm, balanced manner, working immediately to present us with its solution.’

‘Anna Ziewalicz is an important member of our team at GESSEL, preparing complex litigation strategy in our cases and overseeing its consistent implementation by the team. She is a diligent and creative lawyer, exhibiting above-average legal expertise and commitment to all the cases she handles.’

Key clients

Client Earth Foundation


Lekarze Nadziei Association


BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A.


Łukasiewicz – Industrial Chemistry Institute


PBKM sp. z o.o.


Sygnity S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented Client Earth Foundation who were acting on behalf of five Polish citizens in a dispute against the State Treasury.
  • Represented the Warsaw branch of an association in a corporate dispute with its headquarters, as a result of which the client faced the termination of its business.

Gide Loyrette Nouel

Gide Loyrette Nouel‘s Warsaw-based dispute resolution practice sits within the firm’s international offering, and thus it expertly handles cross-border litigation and arbitration proceedings in the commercial, energy, banking and finance, infrastructure, real estate, and employment industries. The group has represented both domestic and international clients before the Polish and European arbitration courts, common courts, and the Polish Supreme Court, in addition to administrative authorities. Infrastructure expert Piotr Sadownik and ‘first-class litigator’ Krzysztof Ciepliński jointly lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Piotr Sadownik; Krzysztof Ciepliński


Other key lawyers:

Piotr Brzeziński; Michał Kacperczyk; Marta Wojtkowiak


Testimonials

‘Professional, with great knowledge and experience, the possibility to work in foreign languages, good practice, well organised, high-quality work.’

‘Piotr Sadownik and Krzysztof Ciepliński are very professional with a nice approach to business.’

‘Gide’s dispute resolution practice offers reliable advice and a strategic approach aimed at promoting the client’s interests in the most effective manner.’

‘Krzysztof Ciepliński is a first-class litigator with a transactional background. Krzysztof has got a broad understanding of clients’ needs and expectations. I would summarise that he is a brilliant lawyer.’

‘Each member of the team has a business-oriented approach that allows the clients to feel their needs are fully perceived and accomplished also in a very technical way.’

‘Krzysztof Ciepliński is one of the smartest professionals I have worked with. He goes strictly to the point and manages to find proper and innovative solutions, also in connection with highly elaborate matters.’

‘There is a myriad of specialists within the firm and they bring aboard the team the required specialist based on the current needs. This method allows us to have a single fixed point of contact but also take full advantage of the available expertise without incurring high fees.’

‘Dedicated, detailed, precise but very time-conscious and efficient. They are open to discussion and listen to us to better understand our corporate needs. We are involved in the process and that also helps us manage our corporate requirements.’

Key clients

Compañía Española de Seguros de Crédito a La Exportación, S.A.


Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polska S.A.


Babinek sp. z o.o.


Agencja Konsultant sp. z o.o.


Telewizja Polska S.A.


Mindspace Poland S.A.


Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.


Louis Vuitton Polska sp. z o.o.


Kosmepol sp. z o.o.


L’Oreal Polska sp. z o.o.


Nałęczów Zdrój S.A.


OKAM Capital sp. z o.o.


MAK Ubezpieczenia sp. z o.o.


WARBUD S.A.


General Director for National Roads and Motorways


BPI Real Estate Poland sp. z o.o.


B&B Hotels Polska sp. z o.o.


Willis Towers Watson Polska sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Defending a Polish TV broadcaster in proceedings seeking court authorisation for the enforcement of a foreign court award ordering the client to pay statutory damages to a former distributor due to alleged copyright infringements.
  • Advising Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski S.A. on the implementation of a settlement scheme to be used with foreign currency borrowers in relation to the invalidation of a loan agreement due to allegedly unfair terms contained in those instruments.
  • Representing Karmar S.A., part of the Bouygues Construction Group, in a dispute against a subcontractor, seeking payment of contractual penalties and compensation for a contractual breach.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP boasts a ‘a very strong litigation team providing exceptional services’ in the financial, manufacturing, construction, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Its offering encompasses representation in commercial and corporate disputes, antitrust litigation, and product liability cases. Praised as an ‘excellent lawyer’, Wojciech Marchwicki leads the team and was promoted to the partnership at the beginning of 2023. Maryna Bakal is another notable member of the team with expertise in handling commercial disputes before Polish state courts and arbitration tribunals.

Practice head(s):

Wojciech Marchwicki


Other key lawyers:

Maryna Bakal; Aleksandra Połatyńska


Testimonials

‘The firm has great experience in my sector. I am fully convinced that they give their best attention to the cases referred to them. They analyse the referred cases in detail and suggest the most efficient solutions.’

‘All the individuals I have worked with are 100% professionals. They provide great expertise and are characterised by high communication skills, both in Polish and English.’

‘The team at Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP are ready take on any issue, no matter the complexity. Even the most complicated cases they seem to approach with braveness, intelligence and smart strategy. They are also ready to be innovative in solving unique and complex cases. They are diligent and always ready to learn and explore new legal avenues in defending their clients.’

‘Wojciech Marchwicki and Aleksandra Połatyńska, as well as their colleagues, are not only top-notch lawyers, but they also dedicate their time to the vulnerable and unrepresented and use law as a force for good.’

‘It is in general a very strong litigation team providing exceptional services.’

‘I work with Wojciech Marchwicki, head of the litigation department. He is a very good professional and very responsive, with profound knowledge. He shows a lot of creativity in coming up with solutions to any issues that come up during litigation.’

‘Wojciech Marchwicki is an excellent lawyer who very quickly understands complex issues and provides practical advice. He is smart on paper and on his feet, and he maintains great credibility in and outside the courtroom.’

‘Wojciech Marchwicki is a solution-oriented lawyer, negotiating the best possible deal for his clients.’

Key clients

Alstom


Hochtief


Guivisa


M&G Investments


mBank


BNP Paribas


CACI Life and CACI Non-Life


Jones Lang Lasalle


Veolia


‘Never Again’ Association


PZU


Societe Generale


Boston Scientific


Masimo


Freedom for Eurasia


Amazon


Work highlights


  • Represented a private client in a case which is a follow-up dispute relating to a historic case, and secured a favourable ruling before the Warsaw Court of Appeal.
  • Representing Guivisa, a steel parts manufacturer, in a court dispute resulting from a major construction contract for Stadion Śląski in Chorzów.
  • Representing BNP Paribas in proceedings initiated by PKN Orlen.

Laszczuk & Partners

Boutique firm Laszczuk & Partners represents clients in infrastructure and construction disputes, contentious mandates surrounding M&A deals and commercial contracts, and investment arbitrations. The team has appeared before a wide range of courts and tribunals, including the ICC, VIAC and Polish Chamber of Commerce. Justyna Szpara, a ‘very experienced litigator’, and Maciej Łaszczuk, ‘one of the best arbitration experts in Poland’, jointly lead the department. Managing partner Marek Korcz leads the new technologies and privacy protection group, and is consequently adept at handling disputes in those fields, as well as in the aviation sphere.

Practice head(s):

Justyna Szpara; Maciej Łaszczuk


Other key lawyers:

Marek Korcz; Jan Rysiński; Krzysztof Riedl; Andrzej Maciejewski; Katyarzyna Bukalska


Testimonials

‘The dispute resolution team at Laszczuk & Partners has absolutely unique experience and competencies and is particularly active and proficient in advising Polish and international businesses in arbitral proceedings and disputes across a wide variety of industries. Maciej Łaszczuk is a key specialist heading the team.’

‘Maciej Łaszczuk, who has been an active lawyer for over 30 years, is still very much active, and widely recognised as one of Poland’s legendary trial lawyers and most seasoned litigators advising on a broad range of disputes across multiple sectors. Maciej is a great strategist whom I would recommend to even the most demanding of clients.’

‘Justyna Szpara is a very experienced litigator, advising domestic and international clients in M&A, real estate and investment project disputes. Very well equipped to take on the most challenging of cases, she is excellent in arbitral proceedings.’

‘I have known the team for many years. What sets them apart in the market is their experience and knowledge. They specialise in arbitration cases.’

‘Maciej Łaszczuk is a very experienced dispute resolution practitioner. He is one of the best arbitration experts in Poland and often sits on arbitration tribunals, not only domestically but also abroad.’

‘Justyna Szpara is a recognised litigator and attorney in court and arbitration cases. She is very committed to the cases she handles and clients feel comfortable with her.’

‘Laszczuk & Partners have been our Polish lawyers for many years. Not only do we have a fantastic team of attorneys, but over the years they have gotten to know our business and business ethics intimately. That way, they are able to render holistic advice.’

‘The partners and associates that I work with are all highly qualified and strive to deliver the highest quality of advice, on time and in the correct commercial context.’

Key clients

Safran Vectronix AG


Deutsche Lufthansa AG


VKR Holding / VELUX


Emirates Airlines


Unibep SA


CEDROB S.A.


Mostostal Puławy S.A.


Austrian Arlines


Swiss


Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A


Work highlights


  • Defending seven airlines against passenger claims.

PwC Legal Żelaźnicki sp.k.

Sectors of activity for the commercial and regulatory litigation team at PwC Legal Zelaznicki sp.k. include telecoms, construction, infrastructure and real estate, as well as energy, transport, agriculture, and banking, to name a few. Stanisław Żemojtel sits at the helm of the department with expertise in representing clients in court, administrative, and arbitration proceedings. Artur Gątowski acts for clients in both civil and commercial disputes. Since publication, Kamil Kozlowski has joined from Rymarz Zdort Maruta as head of regulatory and administrative disputes.

Practice head(s):

Stanisław Żemojtel


Other key lawyers:

Maria Strojna; Sebastian Wieczorek; Artur Gątowski; Kamil Kozlowski


Key clients

ORLEN Projekt S.A.


Impel Facility Services s|p. z o.o.


Federacja Przedsiębiorców Polskich


Wechta Inwestycje sp. z o.o.


Trakcja S.A.


ORLEN S.A.


Rabot Dutilleul Construction SAS


Feel Free Investments sp. z o.o.


Bezgluten sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Representing ORLEN Projekt S.A. in five civil court proceedings regarding a construction agreement for a petrochemical installation with a total value of approximately PLN216.5m.
  • Representing Impel Facility Services Sp. z o.o. and Federacja Przedsiębiorców Polskich in a dispute concerning a remuneration increase due to extraordinary changes of circumstance.
  • Representing Wechta Inwestycje Sp. z o.o. in six court proceedings related to investment agreements concluded by its legal predecessor.

RKKW – Kwasnicki, Wrobel & Partners

The handling of corporate disputes is a speciality of the dispute resolution team at RKKW – Kwasnicki, Wrobel & Partners, and its offering includes representation in shareholder disputes, corporate fraud claims, and cases relating to the liability of management boards. The group is also active in energy-related disputes, as well as contentious mandates in the construction, real estate and investment arenas. Dariusz Kulgawczuk leads the team, and he is ably supported by managing partner Karol Szymański and Aneta Pankowska.

Practice head(s):

Dariusz Kulgawczuk


Other key lawyers:

Aneta Pankowska; Karol Szymański; Maria Czaińska; Kornelia Łuczejko; Dagmara Błaszkiewicz; Katarzyna Półtorak


Testimonials

‘In the area of dispute resolution, I worked with Dariusz Kulgawczuk. I very much appreciate working with him, because of his great knowledge and experience, which he used successfully in litigation, and later at the stage of working out and executing a settlement, which ended all my legal proceedings.’

‘Their knowledge of commercial and business law gave them an advantage over my opponent’s attorneys. In addition, they helped me gather important evidence that resulted in a positive outcome in one of the key cases before the district court in Warsaw. The attorneys stayed in constant contact with me, including late at night, they are very committed, and I have absolute trust in them.’

‘The RKKW team consists of the greatest professionals with whom our company has had the pleasure of working. The topics and matters on which RKKW advises us are difficult, complicated and require very specialised knowledge. The RKKW team demonstrates an unconventional approach to cases, precision in action and effective achievement of goals that are unattainable for many lawyers. Huge recommendation and the greatest specialists in Poland in corporate disputes and dispute resolution.’

Key clients

Park Café Konstancin


Renata Brzozowska


Wyspa Solna sp. z o.o.


Gremi Media S.A.


DP Survey Group NV


Luma Holding Limited


Góralska Park sp. z o.o.


Napiferyn Biotech sp. z o.o.


INWE sp. z o.o.


Zakłady Magnezytowe Ropczyce S.A.


FAM sp. z o.o.


GI Group Poland S.A.


“AQUA” S.A.


Avallon MBO II SARL


Agio Wierzytelności Plus Niestandaryzowany Sekurytyzacyjny Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamknięty


ASM GROUP S.A.


Maciej Nowak


ORLEN S.A.


Screen Network S.A.


Forbuild S.A.


City of Bielsko-Biała


Hollywood S.A.


FIXMAP sp. z o.o.


Omega Pilzno


Drutex S.A.


Radpol S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented Park Café Konstancin in a dispute regarding the possession of a property which was forcibly taken away from the client.
  • Representing Renata Brzozowska in a dispute concerning deprivation of rights to conduct affairs.
  • Represented Wyspa Solna sp. z o.o. in proceedings which have led, among other things, to a court prohibiting the opponent from initiating enforcement against the client’s assets for PLN50m.

SSW

While continuing to be active in litigation proceedings, SSW also boasts a separate arbitration practice that handles domestic and international arbitration proceedings, especially in terms of cases surrounding the energy and natural resources sectors. Founding partner Janusz Mazurek jointly leads the team alongside Marcin Asłanowicz. They are ably supported by Filip Balcerzak, whose ‘knowledge of arbitration and energy disputes is exceptional’, and Łukasz Wołk and Hubert Wysoczański, who are both active in some of the firm’s key mandates.

Practice head(s):

Janusz Mazurek; Marcin Asłanowicz


Other key lawyers:

Łukasz Wołk; Hubert Wysoczański; Filip Balcerzak; Łukasz Cudny; Tomasz Arabski; Katarzyna Cybulska; Ewa Załęska


Testimonials

‘The SSW team has excellent knowledge about arbitration and the local market.’

‘I have had the pleasure of working with Filip Balcerzak. His knowledge of arbitration and energy disputes is exceptional. He performs his duties conscientiously and with great dedication, and is also involved in non-profit projects.’

‘Bench strength and quality of advocates in the disputes practice.’

Key clients

RADA


GRAMMER


Polski Gaz


PGNiG


Cinkciarz.pl/Conotoxia


VOX Group


Budizol


Immofinanz


Waimea Holdings


Climbex


Erbud


Master Pharm


WPO Alba


PKN Orlen S.A.


BNP Paribas


Citibank


Bank Ochrony Środowiska


PGE


CPI


Work highlights


  • Represented Cinkciarz.pl/Conotoxia in a case against a competitor who used the client’s name as a keyword in the Google AdWord system.
  • Represented Erbud in a dispute with Bank Millennium S.A. concerning losses incurred by the client as a result of concluding currency option transactions.
  • Representing PKN ORLEN SA in infrastructure litigation.

B2R Law Jankowski Stroinski Zieba

B2R Law Jankowski Stroinski Zieba represents Polish and international companies across a variety of contentious mandates, including corporate and commercial litigations, human rights cases, arbitration proceedings, and investigations. Founding partner Bartłomiej Jankowski sits at the helm of the department. Other key members of the group include Roman Iwański, who leads the commercial law practice as well as the arbitration practice, and ‘experienced litigation lawyer’ Edyta Zalewska.

Practice head(s):

Bartłomiej Jankowski


Other key lawyers:

Roman Iwański; Edyta Zalewska; Paulina Milewska-Mróz


Testimonials

‘B2R Law has been taking care of my case pro bono. They have been extremely thorough and make me feel safe.’

‘For the last three years I have been working with Roman Iwański and Paulina Milewska-Mróz. They form an outstanding crew of lawyers – very communicative, attentive, patient and generous with their time and energy. They are always there for me, responding with urgency and care. They are fighting for me, and the good cause at the same time.’

‘Their deep knowledge and ability to conduct legal services. I’m always impressed with the way they are dealing with difficult and complex cases. At the same time they have super soft skills and are easy-going lawyers.’

‘Bartłomiej Jankowski has great charisma and shines with knowledge and experience, even though he has a humble approach.’

‘Edyta Zalewska is a sharp, well experienced person that knows how to act to succeed.’

‘The team at B2R think out of the box when resolving complex matters. They provide detailed analysis of entrusted tasks and deliver client-tailored advice, taking into account the client’s expectations.’

‘Edyta Zalewska is an experienced litigation lawyer who can lead the client efficiently through the twists and turns of the litigation proceedings. Definitely a person to rely on.’

‘Extremely helpful and efficient. Positive outcome.’

Key clients

Dantex Sp. z o.o. Wilcza Sp. K.


Work highlights


  • Representing human rights activist Elżbieta Podleśna in a number of criminal cases instigated against her by the Prosecutor’s Office.
  • Representing a non-binary individual, who is a citizen of both the United States and Poland, and was present at an LGBT protest in August 2022.
  • Representing the former publishing director of Gazeta Wyborcza in an employment dispute with his former employer Agora S.A.

Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k.

The dispute resolution practice at Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. has a client base that consists predominately of large international or Polish conglomerates, and they represent them in litigation and arbitration proceedings alike. Sectors of strength for the group include the construction, automotive, energy, chemicals, and food and beverage industries. Bartłomiej Niewczas is the sole head of the dispute resolution practice since former co-head Adam Kowalczyk joined Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. in October 2023 alongside Grzegorz Kostrzewa.

Practice head(s):

Bartłomiej Niewczas


Other key lawyers:

Dominik Hincz


Testimonials

‘I have never experienced such incredible diligence on the one hand, but to-the-point advice on the other hand as with Bird & Bird Poland. They guide you through the jungle of legal proceedings in front of Polish courts without overlooking any detail which can be of relevance.’

‘Dominik Hincz is a very experienced lawyer you can call at any time and he has all the details of any case ready. He is very dedicated to complex cases and based on his well-structured way of work and his profound legal knowledge, you never have to worry.’

‘Bartłomiej Niewczas’ team offers a very individual approach to a client and a high standard of services.’

‘Bartłomiej Niewczas has unique knowledge and experience in relation to disputes strategy and construction businesses.’

‘Dominik Hincz has diligence and care about the service and right application of chosen solutions.’

‘Exceptionally high professionalism and quality of service, very high responsiveness, business oriented, know the sector, reliable and trustworthy.’

‘Very good in all aspects.’

‘Quick availability, very good knowledge of procedures, excellent legal language and logical thinking.’

Key clients

Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o.


Hill International Sp. z o.o.


Kautex Textron GmbH & Co KG


Nokia Solutions and Networks Sp. z o.o.


Superior Industries Production Poland Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Representing a sub-contractor in a dispute against the general contractor and investor regarding remuneration for construction works, services and deliveries.
  • Representing a general contractor in a dispute against a sub-contractor regarding contractual penalties and damages arising from improper performance of the contract.
  • Representing a company from the automotive components manufacturing industry in a dispute with an electricity and natural gas trader.

BLSK

Katarzyna Bilewska, ‘a leader in corporate dispute matters’, and Wojciech Kozłowski, former Dentons litigators, established BLSK in mid 2023, and clients are already lauding the litigation team as ‘one of the best on the market’. The team is especially skilled at representing clients from a range of highly regulated sectors, such as energy, life sciences, financial services, media, telecoms, and real estate. It possesses litigation and arbitration expertise, and cross-border disputes are also within the strong capabilities of the team.

Practice head(s):

Katarzyna Bilewska; Wojciech Kozłowski


Other key lawyers:

Wojciech Łysek; Krzysztof Korwin-Kossakowski


Testimonials

‘One of the most focused teams on the Polish market. Well structured and always prepared to act.’

‘Wojciech Kozłowski is great minded and an open-thinking lawyer. No matter or problem is impossible to solve for him.’

‘Katarzyna Bilewska is a leader in corporate dispute matters.’

‘A highly motivated team, focused on the client and the complexity of their challenges. Very open to cooperation.’

‘Katarzyna Bilewska has world-class professionalism and full cooperation.’

‘What I like the most about the team is their individual approach to the client. The team is always well prepared and their knowledge is exceptional. BLSK explained the strategy for my case thoroughly. They answered all of my questions. I highly recommend the BLSK team.’

‘On a daily basis I have contact with Katarzyna Bilewska who is also the lead attorney for my case. Our collaboration is flawless and based on mutual trust. I can tell that she is committed to the case. Her strategy is excellent and what is most important, it works perfectly.’

‘BLSK’s litigation team is one of the best on the market. They have many years of experience in handling complex, multi-threaded client cases and managing disputes. They are able to support the client in the most difficult cases, and offer non-obvious but effective solutions.’

Key clients

LIVEO Meble


INBAP


Tarantoga Capital


Cordia


Polnord


Loxeco


Gamecafe PTE


Bamboom Digital Media


Alpha Group


PGF


Pelion


Work highlights


  • Represented LOXECO in a dispute regarding an investment in a new office building in Warsaw.
  • Represented INBAP in a shareholder dispute.
  • Represented CORDIA and its subsidiaries in a set of real estate disputes associated with claims for damages, expropriation and access to infrastructure.

BSJP bnt Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Zamorska Sp.k.

Following the merger of BSJP and bnt at the beginning of 2023, resulting in the establishment of BSJP bnt Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Zamorska Sp.k., Daniel Gößling and Michał Brach were added to the dispute resolution team's bench. The team represents Polish and international clients before common and arbitration courts of all instances, and disputes surrounding infrastructure projects are a staple of the practice. Krzysztof Kowalczyk continues to head up the department, and he has expertise in representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings concerning FIDIC contracts, real estate and infrastructure projects.

Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Kowalczyk


Other key lawyers:

Daniel Gößling; Michał Brach


Key clients

Access Europe


Alarm.com, Inc.


Apcoa Parking Polska


Berger Bau


Brand Hatchers


Credit Agricole


DHV Royal Haskoning


Dragados


Dyckerhoff


Ergo Hestia


Fadesa


Hauraton


Hyundai


Imperia


Johann Bunte


JSK Architekci


Leiber Poland


Lufthansa Group


Metsa Group


Nissan Group


Polaqua


Prime Trading


Rail Cargo Austria


Sabowind


Saint Gobain


Schenker


Schnee Polska


Trimble


Wipasz


Work highlights


  • Represented Dyckerhoff Polska in a case for infringement of competition law centred around a cement cartel.
  • Represented Polaqua in a €25m dispute over the implementation of a high-pressure gas pipeline.
  • Represented Hauraton Polska in patent litigation concerning key linear drainage systems offered by the client.

Kieszkowska Rutkowska Kolasinski Kancelaria Prawna sp. j.

Kieszkowska Rutkowska Kolasinski Kancelaria Prawna sp. j. frequently represents clients in disputes with their competitors, customers and administrative authorities before civil and administrative courts. A strong area for the group is defending corporates in product liability claims, as well as contractual disputes. Ewa Rutkowska is the practice head and her expertise extends across product liability claims and disputes in the pharmaceutical sector, and she regularly appears in both arbitration and litigation proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Ewa Rutkowska


Other key lawyers:

Ewa Auleytner; Mateusz Winczura; Julia Żychlińska


Testimonials

‘My experience with the firm has primarily involved complex litigation involving pharmaceutical product liability. The team has superb knowledge of the law and the relevant science, works strategically to get the client the best results possible, and collaborates very well as a multi-national team.’

‘Ewa Rutkowska and Mateusz Winczura are a pleasure to work with, and in addition to being extremely smart and knowledgeable about the relevant issues, they are extremely thorough, careful, and responsive.’

‘Great experience, skills and commercial awareness.’

Work highlights


  • Representing a global pharmaceutical company producing Covid-19 vaccines before the court in several claims brought by patients who had taken vaccines and suffered an alleged adverse reaction.
  • Representing a Polish beverage manufacturer in a claim pursued against another beverage manufacturer over an unfair competition practice, as well as in trade mark and copyright infringement claims.
  • Representating a major Polish healthcare provider against the National Health Fund in a court dispute regarding wrongfully withdrawn reimbursement for medical services.

Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsel

Representation in a wide range of litigation and arbitration proceedings falls within the strong capabilities of the team at Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsel. It has a notable local client base, but often handles cases with international elements, and its offering covers unfair competition, corporate, and commercial disputes. Anna Krysiak leads the department, and she is ably supported by Mariusz Rypina, who is praised as ‘an outstanding specialist in his field’. Managing associate Stanisław Radowicki is another key team member.

Practice head(s):

Anna Krysiak


Other key lawyers:

Mariusz Rypina; Stanisław Radowicki; Jakub Żelazek; Marek Wierzbowski; Joanna Rewkowska


Testimonials

‘Mariusz Rypina is an outstanding specialist in his field. An extremely experienced lawyer who perfectly understands the client’s needs, is empathetic and communicates well.’

‘Good value for money considering the level of service.’

‘Attention to detail, good contact in the case of Anna Krysiak and Jakub Żelazek.’

‘Professionalism and good communication.’

Key clients

Akademia Śląska


Uczelnia Medyczna im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie


PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.


Grupa Gemini


Europoles Sp. z o.o.


Holdimex Sp. Z o.o.


Uczelnia Lingwistyczno- Techniczna


Lubelska Szkoła Wyższa


Work highlights


  • Acting for Europoles Sp. z o.o. in litigation involving the client’s German-based parent company.

Penteris

Cross-border litigation and arbitration matters are within the strong capabilities of the dispute resolution team at Penteris, and it frequently represents clients in disputes regarding the new technologies, FMCG, banking, retail, real estate, and construction industries. Marzanna Sobaniec and Daniel Klementewicz jointly chair the department. Andrzej Tokaj has a key focus on arbitration proceedings, but also undertakes contentious mandates regarding transactions in the real estate sector.

Practice head(s):

Marzanna Sobaniec; Daniel Klementewicz


Other key lawyers:

Andrzej Tokaj; Piotr Bobrowski; Jeremiasz Kuśmierz


Key clients

Tosca Group


Galenica


Equal Investment Sàrl


Pameni Polska


Unimo Real Estate Group


Ghelamco


Bel-Invest


Investly Holding


China-Central and Eastern Europe Investment Cooperation Fund


EBP


Ippon Group OÜ


Work highlights


  • Representing a subsidiary of China-Central and Eastern Europe Investment Cooperation Fund in a number of corporate disputes relating to the fund’s investment in Bioton S.A., a Warsaw Stock Exchange-listed biotechnology company.
  • Acting for former members of the management board of a bankrupt Polish joint-stock company in disputes with its business partner, a company listed in Bulgaria.
  • Representing a company belonging to the capital group of Equal Investment with headquarters in Luxembourg, in two co-related court cases over interpretation of an easement pertaining to adjacent land plots developed with newly-built office buildings in Krakow.

Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp. j.

The dispute resolution department at Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp. j. handles litigation and arbitration proceedings before a wide range of courts and institutions, and it benefits from working alongside the firm’s tax, energy, corporate and M&A, and real estate departments, demonstrating ‘excellent synergies in the internal collaboration between different practices’Marcin Boruc leads the team with ‘extraordinary legal imagination and intuition’, and Adam Zwierzyński is praised as ‘a great litigation lawyer’.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Boruc


Other key lawyers:

Adam Zwierzyński; Sylwester Pieckowski


Testimonials

‘The team is very competent, has good intuition, high communication skills with the client, and they anticipate legal issues, which helps us to be prepared for every circumstance. I highly appreciate the negotiation, mediation and litigation skills.’

‘Marcin Boruc has extraordinary legal imagination and intuition and is able to use it when handling cases.’

‘The practice is incredibly engaged and operates at an impressively high pace. Always there to walk the extra mile! They are very competent and approachable – I could rely on them throughout the entire process. In the end, we managed to achieve quite a lot despite very unfavourable circumstances.’

Key clients

Stoen Operator Sp. z o.o.


Spectro-Lab


Hydrobudowa Polska S.A. w upadłości likwidacyjnej


e.on Polska S.A.


Cementownia Odra S.A.


Suwalskie Kopalnie Surowców Mineralnych Sp. z o.o.


Pinao Sp. z o.o.


Park Wiatrowy Gaworzyce Sp. z o.o.


Arima Holding S.A.


ORLEN S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing Pinao Sp. z o.o. in a case regarding compensation for unlawful contamination of a property in Warsaw with 30,000 cubic metres of waste material during the construction of Warsaw’s second metro line.
  • Representing Stoen Operator Sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of e.on, as the defendant in a case brought by the State Treasury regarding reimbursement of the costs of energy infrastructure reconstruction.
  • Representing Suwalskie Kopalnie Surowców Mineralnych Sp. z o.o. , a mineral resources mine, in four related disputes with its electric power supplier.

act BSWW legal & tax

act BSWW legal & tax handles litigation and arbitration matters, and is also well versed in alternative dispute resolution methods. The group has a particular focus on the residential, retail, office, and construction sectors, and it also possess strong capabilities in the energy, employment, and aviation industries. Marek Miszkiel sits at the helm of the team, and he is ably supported by managing partner Jacek Bieniak.

Practice head(s):

Marek Miszkiel


Other key lawyers:

Jacek Bieniak; Piotr Pośnik; Giuseppe La Rosa; Dominika Michalska; Piotr Giżyński


Testimonials

‘Very good Polish team with good experience and quality.’

‘Marek Miszkiel and Piotr Giżyński are both professional, with good experience.’

‘The team is always professional, and members of the team have comprehensive knowledge. Collaboration is easy and a pleasure.’

Key clients

The National Institute for Museums and Public Collections


PD Inwestycje


TAG Residential Real Estates sp. z o. o.


Kraków City Park sp. z o.o.


Natural Person operating in the Oil & Gas sector


Project Pruszków Sp. z o.o.


Curtis Health Caps


Impexmetal S.A.


Xender S.A.


Ultra Charters Limited Liability Company


Work highlights


  • Advising The National Institute for Museums and Public Collections on the implementation of an investment project, including evaluating claims raised by the contractors for the performance of additional or replacement works.
  • Representing PD Inwestycje in a dispute with a cooperative regarding an alleged invalid acquisition of property by the client, to which the cooperative now claims its ownership rights.
  • Representing TAG Residential Real Estates sp. z o. o. in a dispute with the general contractor of a project.

Andersen in Poland

FKA merged with Andersen in Poland in January 2023, and the strengthened team now represents clients in a wide range of international arbitrations and cross-border litigation proceedings, including in shareholder disputes, commercial and contractual disputes, real estate-related disputes, and financial disputes. Key senior names to note include managing partner and tax advisor Marcin Matyka; head of litigation and arbitration across Europe Tomasz SrokoszJarosław Kołkowski, who has extensive expertise representing publicly listed companies; commercial litigation expert Katarzyna Komulainen; and Leszek Rydzewski, who is noted for his expertise in debt restructuring proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Matyka; Tomasz Srokosz; Jarosław Kołkowski; Katarzyna Komulainen; Leszek Rydzewski


Other key lawyers:

Mariusz Aleksandrowicz; Agnieszka Skrok; Milena Wieczorek-Waszewska


Testimonials

‘The team, led by Jarosław Kołkowski, shows excellent understanding of the client’s needs with an ability to propose solutions perfectly suiting the problem. The team is business oriented and focused on the goal, not conducting prolonged legal battles.’

‘Jarosław Kołkowski is one of very few people within the legal market with thorough business knowledge and awareness of constantly changing market conditions. Always three steps ahead of his competitors, creative, positively aggressive, with exceptional attention to detail.’

‘Jarosław Kołkowski brings solutions, not just descriptions of ways to solve the problem.’

Key clients

Grupa Azoty


Mercuria Energy Group


Rockbridge TFI


Polfarmex


XTB X-Trade Brokers


Jarczyński Art Group


WPM Mosty


Hili Ventures


Ferrum


ACH Port Płaszów


mBank S.A.


Bank Millennium S.A.


BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented Mercuria Energy Group in international arbitration proceedings in front of The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration against the Republic of Poland.
  • Representing Polskie Konsorcjum Chemiczne, a company from Grupa Azoty, in international arbitration proceedings in front of The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration, against the Estonian company Elering AS, an electricity and gas system operator.
  • Representing Ferrum, a major producer of steel pipes for gas transportation in Europe, in a court dispute initiated by Termetal.

DeBenedetti Majewski Szczesniak Kancelaria Prawnicza Sp. K.

Dariusz Szcześniak and Wojciech Barański jointly lead the litigation practice at DeBenedetti Majewski Szczesniak Kancelaria Prawnicza Sp. K., which represents clients throughout the entire lifecycle of contentious mandates and before a wide range of courts, including the Supreme Court. Its offering includes representation in civil and business disputes, especially those between capital and financial market entities. Counsel Piotr Frelak joined the team from RKKW – Kwasnicki, Wrobel & Partners in May 2023, alongside counsel Justyna Karsz from Drzewiecki, Tomaszek i Wspólnicy sp.j..

Practice head(s):

Dariusz Szcześniak; Wojciech Barański


Other key lawyers:

Marek Matysiak; Mateusz Leźnicki; Piotr Frelak; Justyna Karsz


Testimonials

‘This practice has a very professional approach towards their clients. They are able to skilfully go beyond just their specialisation. Their clients feel relevant with this firm’s personalised service.’

‘Our collaboration provided a great sense of comfort and trust. Dariusz Szcześniak’s engagement, availability and his interesting solutions were on point. His knowledge, experience and diligence were priceless. All deadlines were kept well.’

‘Having simultaneously conducted more than a dozen proceedings in different areas, even very nuanced ones, where the opposing sides of the dispute are the same, the argumentation of DMS lawyers is consistent and clear.’

‘Dariusz Szcześniak is distinguished by his strategic discernment, comfortable in the courtroom, where he is very flexible and adapts to the current situation. On top of that, he is characterised by a high culture of warmth and a cordial relationship with his clients combined with high professionalism.’

‘In my opinion, this is one of the best law companies in Poland. A team of specialists in many areas of law guarantees comprehensive representation of each client. The law firm engages in various types of proceedings, but treats each case individually.’

‘Dariusz Szcześniak is a specialist in commercial, civil and corporate law. It is difficult to find a person with more experience in this field supported by reliable knowledge and many years of practice than Dariusz.’

‘Dariusz Szcześniak is highly focused on ongoing projects and is in constant contact with clients. At every stage, he seeks alternative solutions going beyond litigation.’

‘The legal advice from DMS was structured and organised in such a way that made me feel calm and confident that things were in proper hands.’

Key clients

Fundacja Instytut Edukacji Społecznej i Religijnej im. Ks. Piotra Skargi w Krakowie


Elliot Management Corp.


Nationale Nederlanden Life and Pensions Poland


Vienna Insurance Group


Bioagra


BZK Group


Long Victory Incorporation


Fidera Group


FORUM XVII closed-end fund


Dom Development S.A.


Retail World


Stellarium Sp. z o.o.


Stellarium International Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Represented Manchester Securities Corp. in proceedings seeking compensation for unlawful deprivation of a minority shareholder of a dividend by a major Polish publicly listed insurance company.
  • Represented an Austrian investment fund in a €10m litigation funding case.
  • Representing a religious organisation in a set of more than 20 civil cases concerning compensation, corporate issues, copyrights and databases, employment issues, and protection of personal data.

Doktór Jerszynski Pietras Adwokaci i Radcowie Prawni Spólka

Disputes arising from agency agreements, fraudulent asset conveyance, and investments in financial instruments all form key parts of the team’s expertise at Doktór Jerszynski Pietras Adwokaci i Radcowie Prawni Spólka, and it is consequently especially active in representing Polish banks. Head of the corporate and M&A group Łukasz Doktor, and head of the TMT department Gracjan Pietras, jointly lead the practice. Agata Durczyńska is another key name.

Practice head(s):

Gracjan Pietras; Łukasz Doktór


Other key lawyers:

Agata Durczyńska; Maciej Rzepka; Marcin Liszka; Katarzyna Jaworska


Testimonials

‘Best litigation team in town! Always provide the best advice and outstanding results.’

‘Gracjan Pietras, Łukasz Doktór, and Maciej Rzepka – this team is definitely ahead of the competition in terms of quality of service. They conduct disputes very actively, always with the best strategy for the client.’

‘Excellent knowledge of regulations and understanding of the court’s perspective. Simply the best.’

Work highlights


  • Representing a major Polish bank in various cases involving the bank’s agents regarding commission disputes and statutory compensation.
  • Representing a major Polish bank in a dispute against a logistics and transportation services provider.
  • Representing a bank in a diverse range of cases involving the bank’s former agents.

GP Partners Gawroński, Biernatowski Sp.K.

GP Partners Gawroński, Biernatowski Sp.K.‘s dispute resolution team, which is ‘distinguished by its versatility’, is well equipped to handle a range of disputes, including corporate and contractual disputes in the construction and technology sectors, as well as those with white-collar crime elements. Maciej Gawroński and ‘standout' Piotr Biernatowski jointly chair the practice.

Practice head(s):

Maciej Gawroński; Piotr Biernatowski


Other key lawyers:

Mateusz Jabłoński; Łukasz Dudek


Testimonials

‘What is unique about working with Gawronski & Partners S.K.A., especially with Piotr Biernatowski, who was our key point of contact and the lawyer handling our case, is the concrete, logical, and extremely effective performance. You get the feeling that the solution is already formulated in his mind, which provides immense comfort to have him around.’

‘Piotr Biernatowski is a standout attorney within the Gawronski & Partners S.K.A. team. His specialisation in internet issues and technology-related legal matters sets him apart. Piotr’s concrete and logical thinking, proactive problem-solving approach, and effective communication skills make him an invaluable asset. He demonstrates a client-centric mindset, tailoring strategies to meet specific needs and consistently delivering outstanding results.’

‘The dispute resolution team is distinguished by its versatility. The core team includes experienced lawyers in the area of dispute resolution, however the dispute resolution team also uses the knowledge resources of other teams, which facilitates a multi-dimensional approach.’

Key clients

Crypto Sp. z o.o.


Partia polityczna Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość


Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji Jarocin


Gąsior Family


Heli Service


Aff44 sp. z o.o.


ORM Trade


Par L’amour


PHZ Baltona S.A.


Richard Keen


Work highlights


  • Representing Crypto sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of a Panama-licensed payment institution providing money transfers between investors and cryptocurrency exchanges, in a dispute with iFinex over allegedly misappropriated funds of €400m.
  • Represented Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość and obtaining a preliminary injunction for de-blocking and de-shadow banning against Meta.
  • Acting for PWiK Jarocin in a series of construction and technology disputes arising from a €60m contract under the public procurement regime to modernise a sewage treatment plant.

KKLW Legal Kurzynski Wierzbicki sp.k.

The dispute resolution team at KKLW Legal Kurzynski Wierzbicki sp.k. is well equipped to handle corporate, M&A and manufacturing-related contentious mandates. It is active in representing clients from the construction and infrastructure sectors, and financial institutions. Przemysław Wierzbicki leads the team, and both he and Marta Ewiak-Kawecka are praised as ‘bright people who find answers to various problems and cases’.

Practice head(s):

Przemysław Wierzbicki


Other key lawyers:

Marta Ewiak-Kawecka; Dariusz Mielewczyk


Testimonials

‘I cooperate mainly with Przemysław Wierzbicki and Marta Ewiak-Kawecka, and the contact is great.’

‘The KKLW law firm is comprehensive in its operations. The case that KKLW conducts for our company requires a high level of knowledge in terms of both economic, administrative and tax law – and I encounter this level of knowledge at KKLW. The solutions offered by KKLW are well-thought-out, provide a full picture of the situation and are proven on many legal levels.’

‘The person I have the most frequent contact with is Marta Ewiak-Kawecka. The level of legal knowledge and commitment is very high. I receive a specific, complete answer to every question I ask. I also had the opportunity to meet Przemysław Wierzbicki, and his level of knowledge and personal culture are at a very high level.’

Key clients

Gmina Miedźno


PKP Cargo S.A.


Bank Millennium S.A.


PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.


Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.


Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski S.A.


Pekao Bank Hipoteczny S.A.


Spravia Sp. z o.o.


Robyg Young City 2 Sp. z o.o.


Robyg Jabłoniowa Sp. z o.o.


DNB Bank Polska S.A.


UNIQA Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń S.A.


Wiener Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń S.A. Vienna Insurance Group


InterRisk Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń S.A. Vienna Insurance Group


Work highlights


  • Representing Bank Millennium S.A in more than 4,000 claims concerning agreements of credits indexed to CHF.
  • Representing PKP Cargo S.A in a court case with a total value of PLN30m.
  • Representing PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. in a dispute brought by a public procurement contractor.

Kocur & Partners

Kocur & Partners is active in real estate, construction, financial services, trade, and consumer disputes. Michał Kocur, who ‘stands out as an extremely good arbitrator’, leads the team. Agata Liput and Tomasz Waszewski are experienced in litigation proceedings; the former is skilled in those involving corporate, commercial and construction matters, while the latter has strengths in the finance, real estate and energy sectors.

Practice head(s):

Michał Kocur


Other key lawyers:

Agata Liput; Tomasz Waszewski; Romana Piskuła


Testimonials

‘Michał Kocur stands out as an extremely good arbitrator. He is well prepared and quickly grasps the most complex cases. He is certainly one of the best arbitration practitioners in Poland and very good to work with.’

‘Kocur & Partners are relatively small, which means they are nimble and responsive. A legal boutique with a strong focus on arbitration.’

‘Michał Kocur is a very diligent, knowledgeable and experienced arbitrator.’

Key clients

Tricon


Lpp s.a.


Abbott


Kubas Kos Galkowski

Kubas Kos Gałkowski represents foreign and domestic corporations and financial institutions, as well as governments and public authorities, in both litigation and arbitration proceedigns. Its offering includes support with M&A, real estate, banking and finance, restructuring, and energy-related disputes. Some key senior figures in the team include Andrzej KubasRafał KosKamil ZawickiDominik Gałkowski, and Barbara Jelonek-Jarco.

Other key lawyers:

Andrzej Kubas; Rafał Kos; Kamil Zawicki; Dominik Gałkowski; Barbara Jelonek-Jarco


Key clients

Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy


PKN ORLEN S.A.


Veles sp. z o.o.


PKO Bank Hipoteczny S.A.


Noble Securities S.A.


Tauron Group


Bank Pekao S.A.


Canpack S.A.


Nest Bank S.A.


Svenska Handelsbanken AB SA


Work highlights


  • Representing Toyota Motor Poland Company Limited sp. z o.o. before the Supreme Court in a case concerning an arbitration award.
  • Representing PKO BP S.A. in over 900 disputes concerning the invalidity of mortgage loan agreements.
  • Representing flood victims from Sandomierz in a class action against public entities.

Olesinski & Wspolnicy

Olesinski & Wspolnicy represents clients before courts of all instances, as well as various tribunals, and its expertise spans a range of sectors, including IT, e-commerce, state aid, intellectual property, construction, and real estate. Contract enforcement disputes are a core strength of the practice. Anna Chrobot  in Wrocław jointly leads the team alongside Warsaw-based Wojciech Jarosiński. Mateusz Kisiela and Paweł Bury are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Anna Chrobot; Wojciech Jarosiński


Other key lawyers:

Mateusz Kisiela; Paweł Bury; Michał Grodziewicz; Ewa Podogrodzka-Maruszkin; Józef Pordes


Testimonials

‘Most of the professionals have dual qualifications and are members of different law associations. Good international networking. I noted their competence and skill in different jurisdictions.’

‘They have exceptional legal knowledge and strong business knowledge. All the work is always provided with high quality and in a timely manner.’

‘Wojciech Jarosiński is a great lawyer with perfect understanding of the business environment. Always available, thus providing good communication.’

‘Józef Pordes has a great legal background and is a nice business support with unconventional ideas.’

‘A modern and dynamic law firm that provides comprehensive legal care at the highest level. They employ a competent team of lawyers who are experts in areas of law related to business such as civil law, labour law or tax law. Thanks to their specialisations and extensive experience, they always stand up to the task they face.’

‘Anna Chrobot presents the client with its ‘status’ in a straightforward manner and proposes a concrete and factual way to approach the problem. On the one hand, full professionalism and on the other hand, customisation of the service to the needs of clients.’

‘Mateusz Kisiela is a competent lawyer, professional in every way, with a very high level of legal knowledge. Mateusz is distinguished above all by a genuine interest in the client’s problem and how to solve it. He is one of those few attorneys who remain in constant contact with his clients, devoting the optimum amount of time to them.’

‘Paweł Bury takes a very thorough and professional approach. He is conscientious in what he does. He is always ready to answer even the most difficult questions. He has extensive knowledge of civil law and court proceedings.’

Key clients

Kaczmarski Inkasso Małgorzata Kaczmarski


Osadkowski S.A.


Lubawa S.A.


GKN Driveline Polska Sp. z o.o.


Garant -Filter GmbH


AKS Precision Ball Polska sp. z o.o.


Diamentum Office Sp. z o.o.


Atlas Ward Polska Sp. z o.o.


Selena S.A.


Maco Productions Polonia Sp. z o.o.


Tristone Flowtech Poland Sp. z o.o.


GBT Polska Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Representing Garant- Filter GmbH in a number of construction disputes relating to its withdrawal from the construction contract of a combined heat and power plant.
  • Advised a Polish public fund on verification and recovery of portions of funds distributed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Represented a real estate developer in an ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL rules with a claim value exceeding €5m.

Queritius

Queritius, ‘a young firm filled with high-profile litigators’, is a boutique specialising solely in international dispute resolution. It has been operating since 2020 and handles both high-value litigation and arbitration proceedings. Practice head Wojciech Sadowski is praised by one client as ‘the best litigator in Poland’. Of counsel Alicja Zielińska-Eisen is another core member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Wojciech Sadowski


Other key lawyers:

Alicja Zielińska-Eisen; Marcin Menkes; Karolina Czarnecka


Testimonials

‘Queritius is a young firm filled with high-profile litigators.’

‘Wojciech Sadowski was recommended to us as the best litigator in Poland and I have to confirm that this is true: he is very smart, hard-working, quick on his feet, available, he knows the details of the case by heart and on top of all this, he is a great guy.’

‘Niche litigation firm across the CEE region with strong links to global law firms.’

Key clients

PESA


Mirosław Cieluszecki


Sword


Work highlights


  • Representing a Polish manufacturing company in a €220m dispute with a customer arising from a supply contract.
  • Representing a Polish manufacturing company in a $45m New York-based arbitration against a major global beverage producer arising from a services contract.

RESIST Law Firm

RESIST Law Firm is a litigation, restructuring and insolvency boutique with cross-border capabilities and sector-competencies which span a wide range of industries, from banking and finance, construction and retail, to aviation, healthcare and natural resources. Founding partners of the firm Oskar Sitek and Piotr Rezanko co-head the team, and other key senior names include contract and property law expert Tomasz Romanowski and restructuring specialist Piotr Kieloch.

Practice head(s):

Oskar Sitek; Piotr Rezanko; Tomasz Romanowski; Piotr Kieloch


Other key lawyers:

Agata Duda-Bieniek; Magdalena Zdanowska; Agnieszka Lewandowska


Testimonials

‘The efficiency is at 100%, communication at 100%, knowledge at 100%, and huge experience in sector disputes.’

‘Oskar Sitek provides top quality work and is a state of the art lawyer. Piotr Rezanko is another practitioner worth noting due to his large court experience and communication skills.’

‘Piotr Kieloch prepares the best financial and legal analysis for competitive advantage in courts, and Tomasz Romanowski has great knowledge in the real estate and construction sectors. Agnieszka Lewandowska is a great practitioner with deep knowledge of real estate matters.’

Key clients

SKOK Wołomin


Ursus


Open Finance


Elektrix


Peac Finance


Came Poland


Pacific Cars


France Automobile


Work highlights


  • Representing SKOK Wołomin in over 1,000 court disputes worth €422m relating to mortgage secured debts.
  • Representing SKOK Wołomin in over 1,500 court disputes worth €631m relating to blank promissory note secured debts.
  • Representing Open Finance in 443 court disputes worth €2.5m relating to financial products offered on the Polish market by the company.

Tatarczak & Partners

Boutique firm Tatarczak & Partners handles both domestic and international litigation matters surrounding M&A mandates, real estate deals, and corporate and consumer finance transactions. Founding and managing partner Paweł Tatarczak sits at the helm of the department, and he is praised as an ‘exceptional lawyer’ whose ‘knowledge, approach and way of working really set him apart in the market’. Paweł Jadczak is another core member of the team, and he has particular expertise in construction litigation.

Practice head(s):

Paweł Tatarczak


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Jadczak


Testimonials

‘Open-minded team of professionals.’

‘Extremely knowledgeable and proactive founder of the firm, Paweł Tatarczak.’

‘Tatarczak & Partners excels in  litigation. The teams are composed of excellent lawyers with in-depth knowledge of the sector and provide precise and high-level legal advice.’

‘Paweł Tatarczak is an exceptional lawyer. His knowledge, approach and way of working really set him apart in the market. His commitment and support is exceptional. Perfectly understands the needs of his business partners.’

‘Real involvement of the team and partners in the case.’

‘Out-of-the box thinking and trying to find a solution by mediation and negotiation.’

‘Excellent focus with business approach to adapt the client’s needs to legal frames.’

‘Paweł Tatarczak stands out. Very hard working and meticulous and puts clients’ interests first.’

Work highlights


  • Representing one of the three major stakeholders in a multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning control over Mennica Legacy Tower, an iconic office skyscraper in downtown Warsaw serving as the headquarters of a major Polish bank.
  • Representing a major Polish company in a €10m warranty dispute against a turbine manufacturer.
  • Advising a publicly listed international paper manufacturer on potential international investment law claims worth over €22m, to be raised against one of the European Union members states in connection with changes in its renewable energy support scheme.

Viroux & Partners Sp. k.

Viroux & Partners Sp. k. handles both litigation and arbitration proceedings, as well as enforcement proceedings, in a domestic setting and internationally. The group is active across the construction, infrastructure, energy, pharmaceutical, and real estate industries. Elżbieta Viroux-Benmansour and Laura Mazur jointly lead the team; according to one client, they ‘truly know the electrical and energy sector‘.

Practice head(s):

Elżbieta Viroux-Benmansour; Laura Mazur


Other key lawyers:

Mariusz Tomaszuk


Testimonials

‘I have been working with Elżbieta Viroux-Benmansour and Laura Mazur for about 10 years. Through this time they have gathered around 15 people, and all of them are incredibly fast in the work, and at the same meticulous. For every sector of law we needed assistance, they were there for us.’

‘I value the most that they do not speak to me in ‘lawyer language’, but always in business language. It makes it much easier to cooperate and to understand each other.’

‘Elżbieta Viroux-Benmansour and Laura Mazur truly know the electrical and energy sector. I know they will worry about the details and always recommend a good path to solve our issues at hand.’

Key clients

Syndyk Masy Upadłości Elektrobudowa S.A.


Elektrobudowa S.A.


Budren


G&M sp. z o.o.


Dentalook sp. z o.o spk.


Lifemed sp. z o.o.


SUEZ


CQURE


Europtima


Inst-Sanit Sp. z o.o.


IBI Holdings Trust|Sp. z o.o.


IBI Polska Secured Funding spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością z siedzibą w Warszawie


Dominanta Praska Sp. z o.o.


OLEOCHEMIA Sp. z o.o. Sp.k.


Przedsiębiorstwo Robót Drogowo-Mostowych „Ostrada” Sp. z o.o.


Remak-Energomontaż S.A. z siedzibą w Warszawie


AGAT S.A.


Budownictwo Drogowe Jarpol S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented Elektrobudowa in arbitration proceedings against PKN ORLEN S.A. concerning the settlement of disputes in a contract for the design, delivery, and construction by Elektrobudowa of a metathesis installation at PKN Orlen’s production plant in central Poland.
  • Representing Oleochemia in a case relating to alleged non-delivery of a contract against its former Dutch contractor, Marvesa, before the NOFOTA Arbitration Court.
  • Represented G&M sp. z o.o. in  a dispute over proper performance of a construction contract.

Wolf Theiss

The dispute resolution team at Wolf Theiss is well equipped to handle domestic and international commercial and investment litigation and arbitration proceedings. Co-managing partner Peter Daszkowski sits at the helm of the department with expertise in construction, corporate, commercial, and unfair competition cases. Restructuring and insolvency disputes are a key area of focus for Joanna Gąsowski, in addition to disputes in the construction sector. Marcin Rudnik is recommended as ‘an arbitration lawyer to anyone seeking outstanding legal representation’.

Practice head(s):

Peter Daszkowski


Other key lawyers:

Joanna Gąsowski; Arkadiusz Matusiak; Marcin Rudnik; Olga Gerlich


Testimonials

‘Wolf Theiss lawyers have extensive experience in navigating intricate and sensitive issues, coupled with a strategic approach. They are professionals at handling arbitration proceedings.’

‘The firm provides technological innovations that facilitate communication and navigation through legal matters.’

‘I can wholeheartedly recommend Marcin Rudnik as an arbitration lawyer to anyone seeking outstanding legal representation. What stood out the most was his unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for our case.’

‘Very proactive team suggesting solutions in advance.’

‘Availability and clear correspondence. Explaining in a non-legal language while also getting straight to the point.’

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k.

The disputes department at Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k. co-operates closely with the firm’s tax department to provide clients with wide-ranging support. The group specialises in injunction proceedings, as well as disputes in the real estate sector, specifically in terms of hospitality assets. Marek Gizicki and Patrycja Bolimowska are the key senior contacts in the team.

Practice head(s):

Marek Gizicki; Patrycja Bolimowska


Other key lawyers:

Łukasz Strankowski


Testimonials

‘Deloitte always managed to maintain permanence throughout my case with perfect knowledge of all the issues. There was no lost time.’

‘All members of the team, senior or junior, play their part and have a very good knowledge of the case. They all speak and write in very good English which is very important for me.’

Key clients

Seaside Park sp. z o.o.


PVCF I B.V.


Immobilière Corsaire SARL


BMW Financial Services Polska sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Representing a portfolio company of an investment fund in court proceedings aimed at cancelling the management contract of a Polish seaside hotel.
  • Representing a French company operating in the real estate industry in several injunction, civil, criminal, and enforcement proceedings arising out of a loan granted by the client.
  • Representing a client in a case relating to expiry of lease agreements due to sanctions imposed on the client’s counterparty due to the war in Ukraine.

Dubois i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Adwokacko-Radcowska sp. J.

The dispute resolution team at Dubois i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Adwokacko-Radcowska sp. J. has a strong focus on handling pro bono work, including cases regarding defence of the judiciary, fundamental freedoms, and human and civil rights. Key senior members of the team include co-founding partner and criminal law specialist Jacek Dubois; civil procedure expert Elżbieta Kosińska-Kozak; Elżbieta Buczek, who represents clients from the gambling, fuel, construction and hotel industries; and company law expert Szymon Chmielewski.

Practice head(s):

Jacek Dubois; Elżbieta Kosińska-Kozak; Elżbieta Buczek; Szymon Chmielewski


Other key lawyers:

Marcin Bąk; Agata Plichta-Trzonkowska


Testimonials

‘They have a wide range of expertise and highly qualified specialists in various branches of law. The contact is easy, and they are also available when you need to go to another court in another city.’

‘Technologically efficient, they use modern equipment. They are within the market prices for legal services, which is important from the client’s point of view. They are courageous.’

‘They have dealt with complicated cases. They are willingly paving the way in precedent-setting cases.’

Key clients

Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy


Hayflex Limited


Vervis sp. z o.o.


Mostostal S.A.


Polski Związek Wędkarski


Wigry Projekt sp. z o.o. w upadłości


Klinika Ambroziak sp. z o.o.


Tacit Development sp. z o. o. sp. k.


TASBUD S.A.


Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa


Wydawnictwo Zwierciadło Sp. z o. o.


Work highlights


  • Representing a private individual in a case claiming compensation for the unlawful actions of public authorities.
  • Representing Mostostal SA in commercial and administrative disputes regarding trade mark rights.
  • Represented a former Minister of Foreign Affairs successfully in a court trial initiated by Ordo Iuris regarding matters of freedom of speech.

Kacprzak

The multilingual team at Kacprzak boasts a ‘track record of success’ in dispute resolution matters, particularly domestic and international corporate litigation. Regarding sector coverage, the group most commonly represents clients from the shipbuilding, construction, transportation, insurance, healthcare, and energy industries. Marek Kacprzak heads the department with expertise in large infrastructure projects.

Practice head(s):

Marek Kacprzak


Other key lawyers:

Sylwia Kacprzak; Malwina Rychter-Walczak


Testimonials

‘Good expertise, permanent and constant follow-ups with regular updates provided.’

‘This law firm is unique due to its specialised expertise in dispute resolution cases, track record of success when it comes to our cases, and client-centred approach, as well as the team’s multilingual capabilities. The quality of the delivered work definitely stands out among other legal practices in Poland.’

‘The individuals we work with, including Marek Kacprzak, possess a combination of skills, qualities, and knowledge that make them effective in providing legal services. They have a deep understanding of the law, including relevant statutes, regulations, precedents, and case law in their area of practice.’

‘They continuously update their legal knowledge to stay current with changes in the law. They are also skilled negotiators, as well as analytical minds. It is a very pleasant cooperation.’

Key clients

Flexopack Polska Sp. z o.o.


Flexopack SA


Europrojekt Gdańsk S.A.


Kravag-Logistic Versicherungs-AG


HDI Global SE


Felbermayr Deutschland GmbH


Zollner Verwaltung GmbH


CT Logistics GmbH


Solor Bioenergy Polska S.A.


Allianz Versicherungs AG


Legacy S.R.O.


Work highlights


  • Representing Europrojekt Gdańsk S.A. in litigation commenced by the State of Poland against all members of the trust regarding contractual penalties.
  • Representing Amsterdam-based BigLift Shipping B.V. in claims against Polish company Vistal Gdynia S.A. resulting from the breach of a charterparty.
  • Representing COPERNICUS Podmiot Lecznicy Sp. z o.o. in a dispute with a consortium of companies which, following a public tender, entered into a contract for the cleaning and disinfection of premises and other related services at the client’s sites.

MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj i Partnerzy – Adwokaci i Radcowie Prawni sp. p.

MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj i Partnerzy – Adwokaci i Radcowie Prawni sp. p. specialises in complex commercial proceedings, including construction, corporate, and damages disputes. Other sectors of activity for the practice include technology, retail and financial services, and it offers representation in both litigation and arbitration proceedings. M&A expert Paweł Moskwa and Krzysztof Haładyj, who has a focus on corporate finance law, jointly lead the team.

Practice head(s):

Paweł Moskwa; Krzysztof Haładyj


Other key lawyers:

Katarzyna Czech; Adam Gąsiorowski


Testimonials

‘Good, pragmatic value for money in the Warsaw market.’

‘Paweł Moskwa and Adam Gąsiorowski are my top picks when it comes to commercial disputes, commercial frauds and litigation. They are agile, pragmatic, business minded and smart. And they are not afraid to take on challenging tasks against large players and institutions with questionable practices and conduct.’

‘The uniqueness of cooperation with MJH is based primarily on their huge experience in the area of corporate and commercial law and full understanding of the client’s situation.’

‘The strong point of the MJH firm is undoubtedly its qualified, eloquent practitioners who not only make decisions quickly and accurately, but also patiently approach each client, analysing their case from many aspects, so that the client feels that their affairs are safe.’

‘I appreciate them for their involvement in every, even small, case, for innovative solutions, using the latest court decisions, as well as for their honesty in estimating the chances and costs of the procedure.’

‘MJH’s litigation team is highly supportive, fast, pragmatic and knowledgeable. The team is always very responsive, committed and understands the business perspectives of the client.’

‘When it comes to the litigation practice of MJH, Adam Gąsiorowski is a key contact person. Adam is an out-of-the-box thinker who is able to deliver great results.’

‘Adam Gąsiorowski continues to deliver a high quality of work both in terms of merit and case management and he always shows great dedication to the needs of the case.’

Key clients

GI Group Poland S.A.


The Capital City of Warsaw – Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa


Grupa Flukar S.A.


Empik S.A.


e-Muzyka S.A.


Dr Gerard sp. z o.o.


Durnont Enterprises Limited


Polmed S.A.


Trakcja S.A.


Work highlights


  • Represented the Capital City of Warsaw, as a co-respondent, in a dispute between a contractor and an investor regarding the construction of an express road.
  • Represented a public company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, GI Group Poland S.A., in four disputes between the company and its minority shareholders.
  • Represented Durnont Enterprises Limited in a multi-jurisdictional €100m fraud claim raised before the High Court in England and Wales, in respect of claims governed by Polish law.

Sadkowski I Wspólnicy

Sadkowski I Wspólnicy expertly handles disputes surrounding capital markets, real estate projects, and commercial contracts, and it represents clients in both litigation and arbitration proceedings. Mariusz Kowolik leads the practice, and he ‘deserves special recognition as an expert with extensive experience’. Damian Wasik is another notable name, and he specialises in representing entrepreneurs.

Practice head(s):

Mariusz Kowolik


Other key lawyers:

Damian Wasik; Paulina Zalcman


Testimonials

‘Diversity and collaboration. They have many departments which can cooperate efficiently.’

‘Individual approach to each case, exceptional involvement of practitioners in client matters. As long-time clients, we are very pleased with the cooperation.’

‘The high level of services provided by the law firm allows me to recommend the firm as a highly commendable partner for cooperation in dispute resolution. On behalf of the entire company, I express our appreciation for the individual approach. Sadkowski I Wspólnicy focused on our needs and incorporated them into all their actions.’

Key clients

Kanwood Wiesław Tarczyński


UNIMOT S.A.


UNIMOT Energia i Gaz Sp. z o.o.


Collegium Humanum


SOLVACHEM Sp. z o.o.


Agmet Sp. z o.o.


FIEGE Sp. z o.o.


SILINGEN Polska Sp. z o.o.


Stoelzle Częstochowa sp. z o.o.


IPAK sp. z o.o.


CIRIL Polska


UNI-Bitumen Sp. z o.o.


Węglokoks S.A.


Stan – Szkło Sp. z o.o.


Cognor S.A.


Alides Polska Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Represented Kanwood Wiesław Tarczyński in a dispute that arose over the alleged culpable delay of the client in the performance of construction work.

SMM Legal

SMM Legal regularly represents clients from the energy, manufacturing, telecoms, financial and public sectors in a range of disputes, including contractual, competition and IP cases. Poznań-based managing partners Przemysław Maciak and Aleksander Czech lead the team. Rafał Sikorski and Damian Michalski are also core members of the group.

Practice head(s):

Przemysław Maciak; Aleksander Czech


Other key lawyers:

Rafał Sikorski; Damian Michalski


Testimonials

‘The SMM Legal team played a key role in bringing about an amicable settlement of the dispute. Resolving the dispute required coordination of work between three interested parties. SMM Legal demonstrated goal orientation and great flexibility in this respect, and sought solutions that would be acceptable to all parties.’

‘The SMM Legal team demonstrated extensive knowledge in the field of civil law, copyright and public procurement law.’

‘Rafał Sikorski demonstrated outstanding knowledge of civil law and copyright law.’

Key clients

Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie sp. z o.o.


SGB-Bank S.A.


Work highlights


  • Representing Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie sp. z o.o. and FM Aldentro sp. z o.o. in a case against Polska Agencja Inwestycji i Handlu Spółka Akcyjna for the payment of renumeration for services provided by the clients in relation to the construction and maintenance of the Polish Pavilion for the purposes of the World Exhibition EXPO 2020 held in Dubai.
  • Representing SGB-Bank in a dispute with Cinkciarz.pl, which accuses the client of disseminating untrue information, inciting Spółdzielcza Grupa Bankowa to boycott Cinkciarz.pl and resulting in the disparagement of Cinkciarz.pl’s good name.

Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k.

The dispute resolution practice at Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. is active in representing clients in the energy and TMT sectors in particularl, with the insurance, corporate, real estate, and financial services industries also being areas of focus. Experienced litigator Eligiusz Krześniak and managing partner Elżbieta Żemojtel jointly lead the team. Paweł Bukiel is a key name to note in the arbitration space.

Practice head(s):

Eligiusz Krześniak; Elżbieta Żemojtel


Other key lawyers:

Justyna Dereszyńska; Paweł Bukiel


Testimonials

‘Dedicated person to each task.’

‘Elżbieta Żemojtel focuses on clients’ needs even if it’s against the short-term interest of the law firm.’

‘I want to highlight that the team is very professional. I always had open discussions during our meetings. In general, a very collaborative approach.’

‘Elżbieta Żemojtel is distinguished by the precision of capturing details and creating an image that perfectly captures the essence of the matter. She is very good in personal contact, removing any barrier and building trust on a high level.’

Key clients

Dalekovod


ACCIONA Energy


Mosty Capital Group


Generali


Republic of Ecuador


Work highlights


  • Representing ACCIONA Energy Poland in a dispute with a major Polish state-controlled energy operator regarding its attempt to terminate a long-term energy off-take agreement and compensation for the off-taker’s failure to perform.
  • Representing Dalekovod, a Croatian electrical engineering company, in a dispute with major electricity providers in Poland concerning the realisation of infrastructure investments on the energy network, including issues relating to contractual penalties and contract termination effectiveness.
  • Representing Generali, as an insurer of a major European manufacturer of certain food and beverage types, in a product safety case against one of its ingredients providers.

Taylor Wessing Poland

Alternative dispute resolution is a core area of focus for the team at Taylor Wessing Poland, as is demonstrated by managing partner and practice head Ewelina Stobiecka‘s role as co-founder of the International Mediation Centre; she is praised for her ‘deep and experiential understanding of dispute resolution’. Intellectual property disputes are an area of strength for the group.

Practice head(s):

Ewelina Stobiecka


Other key lawyers:

Krystian Stanasiuk; Sebastian Morgała


Testimonials

‘We have been using TW Poland’s services for more than two years now on a various array of engagements and they have proved to be a trusted partner, with quick turnaround times, good quality of lawyers engaged on the matters raised by us, and an overall great collaboration.’

‘What stands out and what I always value when working with outside counsels is availability and quick response times; quality of the advice provided; and the ability to think creatively when standard solutions are not enough. I have only positive things to say about the individuals from the TW Poland office.’

‘Client care. Fast response time. A team of experts always matched to the specificity of the problem.’

‘Definitely recommend Ewelina Stobiecka; high level of professionalism and competence.’

‘Taylor Wessing’s team has carved out a niche for itself in providing unrivalled legal solutions. What sets it apart is its holistic approach to dispute resolution. Rather than simply navigating the stormy waters of litigation, they strive to understand the unique needs of each client and, where possible, implement alternative dispute resolution methods.’

‘Ewelina Stobiecka embodies a unique blend of attributes that set her apart in the legal arena. Her deep and experiential understanding of dispute resolution ensures that she knows both the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ behind complex legal processes and decisions. Her proactive and innovative approach is evident not only in her role as a certified commercial mediator, but also as a co-founder and coordinator of the International Mediation Centre in Poland.’

‘The Taylor Wessing team stands out in the market for its expertise in alternative dispute resolution, and in particular for its advocacy of mediation as a powerful tool for resolving business disputes.’

‘Ewelina Stobiecka immerses herself in each case, using her legal acumen, extensive knowledge and a range of essential soft skills that are critical to business dispute resolution. She demonstrates an unwavering commitment to promoting standards of business dispute resolution based on dialogue and mutual understanding.’

Key clients

Illustratus Sàrl


Villeroy & Boch


Bystronic


Rabo Trading Germany GmbH


Work highlights


  • Representing cartoonist and graphic artist Grzegorz Rosiński in a copyright infringement case.
  • Representing a client which has become the victim of fraud in the food market.
  • Represented a client which became the victim of a business email compromise scam.

Tomczykowski Tomczykowska Sp. z o.o.

For the dispute resolution team at Tomczykowski Tomczykowska Sp. z o.o., the banking sector is an area of noticeable activity. The group also frequently advises clients from the energy, pharmaceutical, automotive, IT, and real estate sectors. M&A-related disputes are a core strength of the firm. Michał Skrzypek sits at the helm of the department, and he is ably supported by M&A expert Karol Sowa.

Practice head(s):

Michał Skrzypek


Other key lawyers:

Karol Sowa


Key clients

Vulgaris S.á.r.l.


Polski Bank Spółdzielczy w Poznaniu


Tirsped sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Vulgaris S.á.r.l., a special purpose vehicle of a private equity fund, on the unlawful assumption of control over an investment.
  • Representing Polski Bank Spółdzielczy w Poznaniu, a co-operative bank, in proceedings concerning the effectiveness of the termination of its shareholding in light of the provisions of the European Regulations on prudential requirements for credit institutions.