The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.’s ‘excellent’ four-partner practice is led by Marek Rosiński. The firm is currently advising UEFA in a case against a Polish tour operator concerning unfair competition and trade mark infringement, and Marcin Fijałkowski is representing Liberty Mutual in trade mark litigation. Other clients include Seco/Warwick Group and LG Electronics.

Szymon Gogulski and Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska co-head Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s team, which has advised a number of FMCG clients in 2012. The practice advised BSA members on copyright enforcement relating to software piracy and advised Nike on an advertising campaign prior to the Euro 2012 football tournament.

Wardynski & Partners has ‘astute industry knowledge and IP expertise’, and is ‘first choice’ for clients. It advised Lego on IP infringements and other clients include adidas, Nokia and The Scotch Whisky Association. Włodzimierz Szoszuk and Anna Pompe are ‘excellent lawyers and reliable, practical counsellors’, and ‘a valuable resource’.

Bird & Bird’s ‘responsive’ team is ‘clear and precise’. It represented new client Monster Energy in trade mark infringement and counterfeiting cases, and also advised it on IP relating to competitions held on social networks. Other clients include Gedeon Richter, BBDO Warszawa and Media Direction. ‘Very good’ senior associate Emilia Stępień co-heads the team with senior associate Piotr Dynowski.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna recently represented clients in litigation concerning the revocation or determination of the expiry of exclusive rights. Andrzej Tomaszek is recommended.

K&L Gates LLP’s ‘excellent’ team is ‘co-operative, prompt, responsive, and helpful’. Its clients include audiovisual producers, publishers, broadcasters, artists, and brand owners. Department head Oskar Tułodziecki has ‘excellent business judgement, common sense and people skills which put him a class above many lawyers’.

CMS ‘combines IP knowledge, litigation experience and a business-oriented approach’. The firm is advising a client in enforcement actions against the importers and manufacturers of counterfeit goods. Senior associate Eric Rheims, who joined the team from Wardynski & Partners in January 2012, gives ‘excellent advice’. Practice head Tomasz Koryzma is also recommended.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. ‘employs highly skilled experts with a professional approach’, and its eight-lawyer team is led by IP expert Krystyna Szczepanowska-Kozłowska. The firm acted in a domain name dispute and various patent infringement cases during 2012.

Aleksandra Auleytner heads Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka’s practice, which is representing Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries in a patent case, and provides day-to-day advice to Media Markt on advertising campaigns. Senior associate Marlena Wach joined the firm from Bird & Bird.

Kochanski Zieba Rapala & Partners is currently advising Teva and Procter & Gamble on launching various brands in the Polish market. Other clients include Reckitt Benckiser, Pandora Jewelry CEE and Ringier Axel Springer. Piotr Niezgodka is ‘an excellent lawyer with vast legal knowledge and an understanding of the mechanisms of business’. Practice head Karolina Marciniszyn is also recommended.

LDS Lazewski Depo & Partners is an IP boutique with a comprehensive practice. Marek Łazewski advises on patent, trade mark and design prosecution and litigation, Michal Siciarek specialises in trade mark enforcement and litigation, and ‘very skilled IP litigator’ Justyna Rasiewicz is noted for her expertise in patent litigation.

Lesnodorski, Slusarek & Partners advises clients such as authors, artists, publishers, set designers, photographic agencies and scriptwriters on copyright matters. The firm also acts on patent and trade mark filing. Maciej Ślusarek is recommended.

IP law is the main focus of Traple Konarski Podrecki Kancelaria Prawna Sp. j.’s practice. The firm represents clients in litigation as well as the drafting and negotiation of IP agreements. Clients include advertising agencies, press publishers, organisers of cultural events, and website and online portal operators. Elżbieta Traple is well regarded.

Czyzewscy Kancelaria Adwokacka’s ‘young, professional and open-minded team’ acts for a number of clients in the media, film and pharmaceuticals industries. The firm recently advised a music and entertainment company in litigation concerning copyright infringement and unfair competition issues. Krzysztof Czyżewski has ‘impressive knowledge of intellectual property rights in the print media’, and Katarzyna Czyżewska has ‘a professional approach to clients’.

Dentons maintains ‘a high standard of professionalism and knowledge’. Clients include Nike and The Coca-Cola Company. Małgorzata Darowska is recommended.

Karol Kuch’s team at GWW Wozny i Wspolnicy Sp. K. is advising C.H. Beck on drafting contracts with authors and editors, and is also advising Simba Toys on copyright and trade mark law. Other clients include UPC Polska, Zelmer, Cyfrowy Polsat, and Netia.

Piotr Sadownik heads the team at Gide Loyrette Nouel, which recently represented a client in an unfair competition case, advising on trade mark infringements, and negotiating contracts.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP is valued for its ‘quick responses’. It is representing Car-Freshner Corporation in proceedings before the courts and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland concerning infringements of trade marks and designs. Counsel Ewa Kacperek is recommended.

Laszczuk & Partners is recommended for its ‘quick responses’ and ‘commercial advice’ on copyright, trade mark, patent and unfair competition matters for clients including construction companies and publishing houses. Jan Grygo has ‘good analytical skills’, and Anna Lasocka is also recommended.

Managing associate Ewa Kurowska-Tober heads Linklaters’ team, which represents clients such as MegaBrands and Metro Group. The firm is also advising Mid Europa Partners on IP rights relating to the sale of its Lux Med medical business, including brand protection, trade marks and client privacy issues, and advice on refreshing key brands.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr has been retained by the Polish Books Association and is representing the client in a copyright case against a hosting portal.

Tomasz Zalewski heads Wierzbowski Eversheds’ team of seven fee-earners, which is currently representing Burda in proceedings before the Press Publishers Chamber against Phoenix Media. Other clients include Adamed, Gtech Poland and eBay.