The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Gruszczynski & Partners Attorneys at Law LP expanded when Ewa Rutkowska and her team joined from Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP. Highlights included representing Cadbury Wedel in developing a strategy to regain the exclusive right to the brand of a key chocolate product existing on the Polish market since the 1920s. The practice also assists Adobe Systems with its customs IP protection programme. Marek Rosinski and Tomasz Koryzma are recommended.

Wardynski & Partners experienced an increase in patent matters, enforcement actions in the chemistry, biotechnology and mechanics sectors, advertising law and domain names. Recently, the practice concluded lengthy copyright proceedings for a major international toy manufacturer. Wlodzimierz Szoszuk and Anna Pompe are key contacts.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna successfully represented Philip Morris, Levis and Honda in criminal cases, resulting in counterfeit goods being removed from the market and destroyed. Andrzej Tomaszek, Anna Golebiowska and Olga Sztejnert are recommended.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s esteemed Stanislaw Soltysinski retains an excellent name for IP work. Ryszard Skubisz is noted for industrial property advice and Aurelia Nowicka is recommended for copyright and software protection and licensing. The team’s work is coordinated by Szymon Gogulski, who specializes in industrial property and domain name disputes, together with Ewa Skrzydlo-Tefelska, a patent, pharmaceutical and advertising law expert. In a landmark case, the practice convinced the Patent Office to rule in favour of its client on the novel basis of secondary distinguishing capacity.

At Kraków-based firm Traple Konarski Podrecki Kancelaria Prawna Sp. j., intellectual property law is a principal area of specialisation. The range of advice comprises copyright and related rights, in addition to litigation. Typical experience includes assisting cultural institutions in the drafting of framework agreements for exhibitions, concerts and music festivals.

Although Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka undertakes transactional support work, the firm has a standalone IP practice covering patent litigation, the management and filing of large trade mark portfolios, and contentious and non-contentious advice on patents, trade marks, copyright and design rights. The practice advised Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries in a court action concerning complex pharmaceutical patents. Team head Janina Ligner-Zeromska and Aleksandra Auleytner are recommended.

Grynhoff Wozny Wspólnicy’s IP team is led by Grzegorz Antonowicz. Highlights included representing Interkobo, the largest Polish operator on the toy market, in proceedings relating to the protection of copyright and trade marks.

K&L Gates LLP’s IP practice comprises that of former Hogan & Hartson Jamka sp.k. The team saw an intensification in trade mark work and moved into new areas such as motion picture production. The practice remains busy in copyright matters and anti-piracy. Copyright specialist Oskar Tulodziecki is well respected.

Lesnodorski, Slusarek & Partners is rated by peers for personal rights protection. Managing partner Maciej Slusarek has represented clients in litigation concerning the enforcement of rights and the seeking of damages for infringement of copyright.

Wierzbowski Eversheds recently assisted eBay in IP matters, including counterfeiting issues, and acted for REAL on trade mark protection matters. The practice has a strong client base of internet companies. Magdalena Orzelska-Bratkowska and Tomasz Zalewski are principal contacts.

Bird & Bird Maciej Gawronski sp.k’s experience includes advising in revocation proceedings before the Polish Patent Office in relation to a pharmaceutical patent. Jacek Wedrowski, ex-global head of legal at RJR/JTInternational in Geneva and regional head for Baxter in Zurich, is a key figure. Piotr Dynowski heads the team.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa advises numerous pharmaceutical multinationals in patent matters and recently acted in several trade mark cases. Daniel Hasik ‘provides good value for money and is very proactive’.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. recently welcomed ex-Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP’s IP head Krystyna Szczepanowska – Kozlowska to lead its team. She is known for copyright matters, new technology and data protection. The practice is already known for its experience as an adviser to the healthcare sector.

Gide Loyrette Nouel has wide experience in trade marks, counteracting copyright infringements and neighbouring rights. The practice is well known for its representation of luxury goods manufacturing clients from the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Piotr Sadownik is recommended.

Jakubowski Pluta i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Sp. P. frequently represents clients in contentious matters concerning copyrights matters, publishing and advertising law, as well as image protection.

Kochanski Zieba Rapala & Partners recently advised Axel Springer in a domain name dispute. Piotr Kochanski and Rafal Zieba are recommended.

Peers rate IP boutique LDS Lazewski Depo & Partners, particularly in relation to patent and trade mark litigation. Marek Lazewski is recommended. Sadly, name partner Berenika Depo passed away.

Headed by Anna Lasocka, Laszczuk & Partners covers the law of copyright, trade marks, patents, personal data protection, media and advertising.

Linklaters stands out for its cross-border IP European law team. Recent experience involves internet piracy and the acquisition of valuable IP assets. Ewa Kurowska-Tober is a principal contact.

Markiewicz & Sroczynski GP is focused on copyright and neighbouring rights, as well as the protection of databases.

Known for its media and publishing house client base, WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr acted for the Polish Book Institute in relation to the copyright surrounding the works of famous Polish author, Janusz Korczak.