The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Clifford Chance’s recent highlights include advising a bank syndicate, including the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners, on a PLN2bn loan to Telekomunikacja Polska. Grzegorz Namiotkiewicz and Jan Zdzienicki jointly head the team, in which counsels Andrzej Stosio and Rafal Zakrzewski are also key contacts. There was significant turnaround in the team as Nicholas Coddington and Tomasz Ostrowski joined White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K; Pawel Turek become a senior associate at DLA Piper Wiater sp.k.; Agnieszka Kozikowska joined Salans; and Tomasz Jedwabny went to CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Within Competition/antitrust, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a first tier firm,

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa advised Poland’s largest insurer in its appeal against a fine for alleged abuse of dominant position. Team head Malgorzata Urbanska is ‘very experienced’.

Within Corporate and M&A, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a third tier firm,

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa’s corporate practice covers M&A, corporate restructuring, and corporate governance, and is well regarded for life sciences, healthcare and TMT work. The practice also represents major private equity houses and venture capital funds in transactions in Poland and CEE, with a significant part of its work focusing on public-to-private projects. Dariusz Greszta heads the group. Marek Sawicki has extensive experience in leading cross-border deals.

Within Dispute resolution, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance represented the Polish government in arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty, marking the third-largest claim ever launched against Poland by an investor. Counsel Marcin Ciemiński is noted for regulatory investigations, fraud, and healthcare and life sciences disputes. Ciemiński’s ‘knowledge of Polish law is deeply impressive’. Head of litigation Bartosz Kruzewski ‘provides clear, effective advice’. Joanna Mlot joined CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Within Employment, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a first tier firm,

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa recently advised Stanley Black & Decker on employment issues resulting from the integration of two businesses. Katarzyna Dulewicz is Warsaw employment team head and labour practice co-ordinator for CEE.

Within Energy and natural resources, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a second tier firm,

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa endured Marek Durski leaving to become a board member of Ki Energy, as well as Kamila Tarnacka joining Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.. The practice continued to advise Électricité de France on a new coal-fired power plant in Rybnik. Karolina Siedlik is the new practice head.

Within Intellectual property, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k. manages Unilever’s 800-plus Polish trade mark portfolio. The ‘smart and creative’ Marek Rosinski is a TMT expert, Paulina Kieszkowska-Knapik has expertise in pharmaceuticals, and the ‘commendable’ Ewa Rutkowska is noted for pharmaceuticals advertising disputes. Tomasz Koryzma rejoined CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Within Legal market overview,

Notable developments in the legal market included CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa’s disputes head Pawel Pietkiewicz leaving with several lawyers to join White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K, which also recruited banking and finance practitioners Nicholas Coddington and Tomasz Ostrowski from Clifford Chance. Meanwhile, CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa recruited Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.’s Tomasz Koryzma to lead the newly merged IP/TMT practice.

Within Real estate, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a second tier firm,

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.

Within TMT, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.’s Marek Rosinski has advised on some of Poland’s largest IT and outsourcing transactions, and Radoslaw Nozykowski is an expert in technology law and outsourcing. Former partner Tomasz Koryzma joined CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa.

Within Tax, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is a third tier firm,

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.