The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k. assisted Pepsi Cola General Bottlers Poland with the recovery of VAT, including related court litigation. Department head Slawomir Boruc and Piotr Wysocki are recommended, along with ‘excellent practitioner’ Jerzy Martini.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP is noted for its strength in tax litigation, and clients praise the group’s ‘in-depth legal knowledge and involvement’. ‘Tax expert’ Dorota Szubielska heads the team, and recently won a VAT case for colleague Piotr Karwat, the case having significant implications for legal advisers and advocates practising in Poland.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. mainly focuses on corporate tax and tax litigation. Highlights included advising Spartan Capital Holdings on the tax issues relating to the €3bn financing for the Polkomtel LBO. Practice heads Tomasz Kacymirow and Marek Kozaczuk are recommended.

Salans’ tax head Karina Furga-Dabrowska is noted for her expertise representing the pharmaceuticals, real estate and energy sectors. Recent mandates included advising the City of Sopot on tax aspects of a city centre regeneration project. Cezary Przygodzki specialises in corporate taxes for telecoms, energy and infrastructure clients. Senior associate Dariusz Stolarek advises on tax on foreign investments in Polish real estate. The firm launched a new independent tax litigation service headed by Rafał Mikulski, who joined from MDDP Michalik Dluska Dziedzic i Partnerzy.

Wardynski & Partners ‘speaks a language that non-legal people can understand’. The practice advised a leading global financial institution on the direct, indirect and transactional tax treatment of trade in modern types of securities originating in various jurisdictions. ‘Respected tax adviser’ Dariusz Wasylkowski leads the group.

White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K advised European insurance group Eureko on the Polish tax aspects of its settlement with the Polish government concerning an investment in PZU and subsequent divestment. Janusz Fiszer heads the practice, and is recommended along with senior counsels Marcin Panek and Grzegorz Jukiel.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa provides complete tax planning, compliance and consulting services, as well as knowledge of corporate and personal income tax, VAT, excise duty, property taxes and international taxation. Arkadiusz Michaliszyn is recommended.

Wojciech Dmoch and Tomasz Szymura are Clifford Chance’s principal tax contacts. Ghelamco Poland was assisted on tax aspects of its acquisition of a majority stake in publishing house Bellona.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k.’s tax practice of five licensed tax advisers and a qualified advocate specialises in tax disputes and white-collar crime. Marcin Matyka heads the team, which recently acted in a CIT recovery case.

FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz assisted Polkomtel’s management board with the tax side of the sale of Polkomtel’s shares, and successfully represented PKN Orlen in litigation relating to the refund of excise duty. Mariusz Aleksandrowicz heads the team, and Marta Ignasiak is also a key contact.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP advised BBI Development NFI on tax structuring and optimisation issues relating to one of Warsaw’s largest real estate developments. Andrzej Debiec heads the practice, which also includes counsel Dorota Walerjan and senior associate Zbigniew Marczyk.

Managing associate Mikolaj Bieniasz heads Linklaters’ Polish tax department, and has ‘deep knowledge of tax regulations’. The team advised Telenor on tax aspects of a proposed acquisition. Pawel Chodzinski ‘demonstrates high levels of professionalism’. Marek Jaroszewski is another key contact.

MDDP Sobonska Olkiewicz i Wspólnicy houses a large number of experts in VAT, customs duties, excise tax, income taxes, international taxes, as well as administrative and court litigation. Malgorzata Sobonska and Tomasz Olkiewicz are recommended.

Ozog & Partners Tax Consultancy provides tax advisory services and is licensedfor both litigation and accounting services. Recent instructions include a headline win before the Constitutional Tribunal in three simultaneous cases pertaining to interest accrued on overpaid tax. Pawel Tomczykowski heads the tax optimisation and tax planning division, and Ireneusz Krawczyk leads the litigation side.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ Robert Krasnodebski is ‘a reliable and impressive lawyer who gives solid advice’. The practice advised the managers, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and UBS, on the tax aspects of the Warsaw Stock Exchange’s IPO.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka acts on the tax side of corporate, finance and real estate deals, and also has a significant tax litigation practice. Furthermore, its standalone consultancy practice advises on various issues including tax planning, the tax treatment of swap transactions and fiscal criminal liability of management board members, tax incentives, and transfer pricing. Joanna Wierzejska heads the tax group, and Artur Nowak is a specialist in tax and customs law litigation.

Gide Loyrette Nouel advised food producer Bonduelle Polska on tax optimisation aspects of its acquisition of Inter-Champ Company. Dariusz Tokarczuk is an experienced practitioner.

Grynhoff Wozny & Partners provides ‘outstanding value for money’. Its recent implementation of a tax optimisation scheme for one client saved an estimated PLN100m. Andrzej Ladzinski heads the department, which also includes Miroslaw Barszcz and the ‘competent and knowledgeable’ Artur Cmoch.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s department, headed by Jaroslaw Bieronski, represents clients before the Supreme Administrative Court and government bodies, and advises on tax optimisation, tax audits, and the preparation of transfer pricing documentation.