The Legal 500

Salans’ highlights included advising one of the sellers of the Jan III Sobieski Hotel. Global real estate group co-chair Eric Rosedale divides his time between London and Warsaw, and Piotr Szafarz heads the Warsaw real estate team. Pawel Debowski, formerly of Clifford Chance, is ‘the best in the business’. Anna Tomowicz focuses on asset management transactions, while ‘calm, considered lawyer’ Tomasz Stasiak advises on project finance investments and CEE projects, with a focus on Ukraine. Maciej Ryniewicz is also well regarded.

Tomasz Kurek heads CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa’s real estate and construction department, which advised RREEF on the purchase of the Grunwaldzki Center, a prime office building in Wroclaw. Wojciech Koczara, Wojciech Szybkowski and head of the German desk Lidia Dziurzyńska-Leipert are recommended.

Clifford Chance advised Manchester Securities on one of the biggest single property disposals in Poland in recent years. Daniel Kopania has ‘a steady hand and works hard at building new relationships’. Counsel Marcin Bejm specialises in infrastructure work, and counsel Bartosz Kaniasty is ‘a good transactional lawyer’. The firm is rebuilding the strength of its practice following the departure of former group head Pawel Debowski and a team to Salans in late 2010.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP’s comprehensive practice ‘provides an excellent service’. It acted for an SPV of PZU’s property fund on the purchase of Warsaw’s LOT office building and on a lease agreement for office premises. Jolanta Nowakowska-Zimoch heads the team, which also includes counsel Piotr Laska, who is a property and construction law expert.

Linklaters’ ‘team works efficiently’. It represented Immobel as the purchaser in a share acquisition transaction involving department stores held by Polish companies, which will be redeveloped to create modern retail space and high-class offices. Team head Artur Kulawski is ‘a smooth operator’, Rafal Zboch is ‘very switched on and controls deals perfectly’, and Weronika Guerquin and Marcin Muszel are also experienced practitioners.

Norton Rose Piotr Strawa and Partners LP ‘responds with great service and superb advice’. It represented Heitman in a complex offshore indirect acquisition through Luxembourg of a 75% interest in Galeria Malta, a 55,000sq m retail gallery in Poznan. David Dixon heads the practice, and his ‘depth and breadth of experience is unmatched’. Agnieszka Stankiewicz is ‘a lawyer we would not want to do without’, say clients.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k. advised ING Real Estate on the development of Thespian, a commercial and residential building in Wroclaw. Hochtief Development Poland is also a client. Malgorzata Pietrzak-Paciorek and Joanna Wojnarowska are recommended.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP’s Mariusz Stawiarczyk has ‘intimate knowledge of the real estate business’. The team advised Caelum Development investment group on a joint venture for the Nova Park retail centre development project in Gorzów Wielkopolski. Marek Król advises on real estate project finance for hotels, offices, and commercial and recreational centres. Dariusz Michalski is also well regarded.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. advised Blackstone Real Estate on the acquisition and financing of three retail centres. Group head Marek Grodek and Bartosz Clemenz are recommended.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka advised SEGRO Poland on the acquisition of real estate in Katowice SEZ with a view to developing a new logistics centre. B&B Hotels Polska is also a client. Agata Demuth and the ‘very thorough’ Lech Zyzylewski are the key contacts.

Wardynski & Partners ‘meets challenging response times’, and provided the legal advice to the British Embassy in Warsaw regarding its acquisition of a new residence for the British Ambassador.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. advised GE Capital Real Estate Europe on the establishment of a real estate fund in Poland, the transfer of a seed portfolio consisting of nine shopping malls in Poland, and a €324m loan facility. Senior associate Radomił Charzyński heads the team, and head of finance Arkadiusz Pędzich is also a key contact.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Wspólnicy Spólka Jawna ‘does an excellent job’. It advised Braaten+Pedersen plus Partners in renegotiating contracts for the construction of Agora Bytom shopping centre.

Andrzej Lulka heads Gide Loyrette Nouel’s real estate department, which advised on the acquisition of the Simon Ivanhoé shopping mall, one of the largest such transactions in recent years. Marcin Jasinski specialises in real estate law and construction permits.

Magnusson – Kancelaria Prawnicza acts for Apollo Rida on its real estate projects in Poland. Andrzej Tokaj, Katarzyna Sawa-Rybaczek and Artur Swirtun are experienced lawyers.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak acts on the acquisition and development of commercial, industrial and residential property. The department also advises on infrastructure projects and the leasing of commercial space.

Squire Sanders Swieçicki Krzesniak sp. k. advised longstanding client Tesco on the acquisition and build-out programme for retail stores in Poland. Wojciech Wachacki is recommended.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ Roman Rewald and counsel Joanna Petersen are recommended. The practice advised Globe Trade Centre and its subsidiaries on the sale of the Topaz and Nefryt buildings.

Jean Rossi heads White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K’s team, which acted for AEW Europe on restructuring its Polish real estate activities, including the Wola Park shopping centre. Jolanta Kalecinska is a well-respected practitioner.

Wierzbowski Eversheds is known for its construction law expertise. The team represented Rolls-Royce Marine Poland in concluding a land lease agreement for the construction of a workshop floor in Port Gdynia. Krzysztof Wierzbowski is the key contact.