Firms To Watch: Commercial, corporate and M&A

Strengthened by the recent merger between two established market players, BSJP bnt Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Zamorska Sp.k. is increasingly active in cross-border transactional work. Dag Nilsson , Malgorzata Zamorska and Domnika Wągrodzka are the key names to note.
Elzanowski & Partners is building up a profile for providing strategic corporate and commercial support to clients in the transport and energy sectors, as well as private clients. Founding partner Fabian Elżanowski leads the group, alongside Małgorzata Cur.
In March 2022, Osborne Clarke launched its Warsaw office - offering the gamut of corporate and commercial legal services - by bringing together the former practice of Osborne Clarke with recognised practitioners from various independent firms. Tomasz Olkiewicz and Wiktoria Chwiedosik act as co-chairs.
Early in 2022, former Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k practitioner Paweł Tatarczak founded commercial boutique Tatarczak & Partners. The firm advises on both transactional and regulatory issues, and is particularly noted for its integrated private wealth offering.
Founded in 2019 by Elżbieta Viroux, boutique firm Viroux & Partners Sp. k. is receiving increasing recognition for its corporate and M&A work, which is overseen by Anna Wąsiewska. Contractual issues are a particular area of expertise.

Commercial, corporate and M&A in Poland

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. is known predominantly for assisting with high-value, cross-border M&A deals across the energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, financial services and TMT sectors. A recent highlight which underscores this focus saw the team advising Aramco on its investments into Poland’s refining, wholesale, and jet fuel industries through a number of acquisitions from PKN Orlen. The key contacts at leadership level are Jarosław Iwanick and Marta Sendrowicz. The group also fields an experienced counsel bench, which includes recommended practitioners Marcin Czaprowski and Maciej Skoczyński. Magdalena Nasiłowska was a new arrival in May 2023 from Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.,

Practice head(s):

Jarosław Iwanicki; Marta Sendrowicz; Magdalena Nasiłowska


Other key lawyers:

Marcin Czaprowski; Maciej Skoczyński


Testimonials

‘Exceptional commitment to the client and going over and above to take ownership of the transaction. Appreciate their “commercial” approach to dealing with issues.’

‘Recognised experts in their field. Commercial and risk-oriented approach. Fast to respond. Adjust their advice to the needs of the client.’

Key clients

Saudi Aramco


Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited


Innova Capital


Polski Fundusz Rozwoju


DoorDash, Inc.


Brookfield Business Partners


Eden Springs


OX2 AB


OLX Global B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advised Aramco on its investments into Poland’s refining, wholesale, and jet fuel marketing segments through a number of acquisitions from Polish oil refiner and fuel retailer PKN Orlen following its planned merger with Grupa LOTOS.
  • Advised Cordiant Digital Infrastructure, a specialist investment company focused on investing in digital infrastructure assets in Europe and North America, on its acquisition of Emitel from Alinda Capital Partners.
  • Advised OX2 on the sale of a wind farm and solar farm in Poland by its affiliate to Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group.

Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.

At Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k., a quartet of highly regarded specialists oversees the department: Weronika Achramowicz focuses on cross-border transactional work, and also leads on the commercial side; Tomasz Krzyżowski is particularly active in the oil and gas, retail, energy, and healthcare sectors; and Filip Uziębło, who joined from Rymarz Zdort in July 2022, is a highly regarded restructuring expert. The firm is also widely recognised for its overarching expertise in technology-related mandates. Since publication, Magdalena Nasiłowska left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Tomasz Krzyżowski; Weronika Achramowicz; Filip Uziębło


Other key lawyers:

Łukasz Targoszyński; Piotr Jaśkiewicz


Testimonials

‘Łukasz Targoszyński and his team are truly outstanding.’

‘The team is very knowlegable, flexible and result-oriented, which makes any interaction very pragmatic and with the high probability of best effect.’

‘Tomasz Krzyżowski is a true leader with a great impact on the rest of the team.’

Key clients

PKN ORLEN S.A.


Ecolab


Embracer


Icona Securitization Opportunities Group S.à r.l.


Thales


iFIT


ICU Medical


Snowflake


SPIE


Leggett & Platt


GVM Care & Research


Total Specific Solutions


GSK


Tencent


Dom Development S.A


Zebra Technologies


Iberdrola S.A


Arbonia AG


Marketing Investment Group S.A.


Flügger group


People Can Fly


OT Logistics S.A.


Terg S.A.


Shell


Danx


Stagwell Inc


Specialized


Google


Work highlights


  • Advising PKN Orlen on its $259m acquisition of a network of 185 fuel stations in Hungary and Slovakia from MOL Group.
  • Advised Actona Group on the acquisition of SITS, a manufacturer and supplier of upholstered furniture for the European market, headquartered in Poland.
  • Advised Stagwell Group, a NYSE-listed media group, on the acquisition of Brand New Galaxy.

Clifford Chance

At Clifford Chance, industry experts take the lead on M&A mandates with a nexus to their specialist areas – Marcin Bartnicki acts as the first point of contact for numerous global market players in the technology, e-commerce and gaming sectors; Wojciech Polz focuses on work with a private equity element; and Paweł Puacz oversees transactions in the energy and renewables field. The team also fields a strong bench at counsel level, including Krzysztof Hajdamowicz, who has a proven track record in the TMT space, and English law-qualified Nick FletcherAgnieszka Janicka oversees the entire corporate department.

Practice head(s):

Agnieszka Janicka; Marcin Bartnicki; Wojciech Polz; Paweł Puacz


Other key lawyers:

Tomasz Derda; Krzysztof Hajdamowicz; Nick Fletcher; Iwona Terlecka


Key clients

Allegro


Coca-Cola


Tencent


ING


Carrefour


Softbank


Pollen Street Capital


Cinven


Mid Europa Partners


Cornerstone Investment Management


RTB House


Mitsui & Co.


Waterland


Mondelez


Highlander Partners


Work highlights


  • Advised Allegro, an e-commerce website, on its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Mall Group and WE I DO CZ from the selling shareholders PPF, EC Investments and Rockaway Capital for a total consideration of €881m.
  • Advised Tencent on the acquisition by its affiliate, Proxima Beta Europe, of a majority stake in 1C Entertainment, a significant player in the gaming sector operating in several jurisdictions, including Poland.
  • Advised SVF II Motion Subco, an affiliate of SoftBank Investment Advisers, on the planned acquisition of unsecured convertible bonds of eobuwie.pl, an online footwear and clothing platform in Central and Eastern Europe.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k.‘s client base includes key names from the construction, manufacturing, retail, media, technology, e-commerce, insurance, finance, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, as well as major organisations from the public sector. Practice head Marta Frąckowiak focuses on private M&A, reorganisation and restructuring processes, and commercial contracts. Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz is the name to note for private equity transactions, while Jakub Marcinkowski is recognised for his venture capital work. Counsel Wojciech Kalinowski is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Marta Frąckowiak


Other key lawyers:

Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz; Jakub Marcinkowski; Wojciech Kalinowski; Rafał Kluziak


Testimonials

‘Strengths: people, collaboration, effectiveness and efficiency, trust and reliability, full professionalism.’

‘Close relationship, availability, exceptional experience and know-how, talent to solve problems and gaps, constructive thinking.’

Key clients

Allegro


Arhelan


Copernicus


General Electric Company


GS Engineering & Construction Corp.


Hubert Burda Media


Hyundai Engineering, Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation


Katoen Natie


Life Healthcare Group


MCI.PrivateVentures


Mid Europa Partners


Droma Sunshade-Experts


Polish Enterprise Fund VIII (managed by Enterprise Investors)


PORR


Resource Partners


Top System


Żabka Polska (a portfolio company of CVC Capital Partners)


SoftwareONE


Dura 6C


SIBS International


Sygnity


PGS Software


Edison Energia


Work highlights


  • Advising shareholders of Droma Sunshades-Experts on the sale of 74% of their shares to Hunter Douglas.
  • Advising Cloudflight, a portfolio company of the DBAG Fund VII, on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Divante, a Polish provider of services for the e-commerce sector.
  • Advising SoftwareONE on the acquisition of Predica, a cloud-native provider of Azure cloud professional and managed services in Europe, the Middle East and the US.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k

Under the dual leadership of seasoned specialists Lejb Fogelman and Rafał Baranowski, the 40-strong team at Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński Sp. k continues to advise on the most complex M&A deals, corporate and project financings, and privatisation transactions. Since 2019, the firm has also been developing its venture capital expertise, and now fields a dedicated sub-group, headed up by Aleksander Janiszewski. The department is also well known for its international capabilities; US-qualified shareholder Stephen Horvath is a key name in this space, as are local partners Michał Bobrzyński and Maciej Pietrzak, who are qualified in New York, and England and Wales, respectively, as well as in Poland. Filip Kijowski completes the roster of recommended practitioners.



Practice head(s):

Lejb Fogelman; Rafał Baranowski


Other key lawyers:

Stephen Horvath; Łukasz Pawlak; Michał Bobrzyński; Filip Kijowski; Aleksander Janiszewski; Maciej Pietrzak


Testimonials

‘High quality delivery in unmatched time.’

‘Rafał Baranowski and Filip Kijowski – ability to deliver under extreme time pressure, great advice and guidance provided along the way.’

‘The practice is a clear number one choice in the market for corporate projects.’

‘It’s a one-stop-shop; they operate very efficiently due to their expertise, excellent communication, responsiveness and professionalism – they have exceeded my expectations in this area.’

‘Their broad knowledge and experience is clearly visible in all phases of the transaction and they operated hand-in-hand with my in-house team, which was crucial for the successful execution of the transaction.’

‘Rafał Baranowski has been a pleasure to work with, he is business savvy and due to his experience he is able to get a client out of a tough spot quickly. He not only solves problems, but anticipates them and provides advice on how to avoid them at all.’

‘Michał Bobrzyński – proactive and responsive, with great knowledge. He is always available and keeps the right tempo of the transaction and makes sure we stick to the agreed timeframe.’

Key clients

Agora S.A.


Allianz SE


Abris Capital Partners


Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego


Bricks Acquisitions Limited


CCC Group


Centerbridge


Goldman Sachs Asset Management


HDI International AG


Meji Yasuda Life Insurance Company


New Beginnings Acquisitions Corp.


PAK-Polska Czysta Energia


Polsat Plus Group


Rentokil Plc


Roust Corporation


Stock Spirits Group


Volumetric Building Companies


ZE PAK


Work highlights


  • Advised Allianz on the purchase of Polish life and non-life insurance operations, as well as a pension and asset management business, from Aviva, and on the acquisition of a 51% stake in Aviva’s life and non-life bancassurance joint ventures with Santander, and on the completion of a merger of Allianz Group and Aviva Group in Poland.
  • Advised Bricks Acquisitions on the sale of Robyg to a wholly owned subsidiary of TAG Immobilien.
  • Advised Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego on the sale of its stake in two funds – the Rental Housing Fund (Fundusz Mieszkań na Wynajem) and the Housing Sector Development Fund (Fundusz Mieszkań dla Rozwoju) – to Polski Fundusz Rozwoju.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta

Public M&A and deals involving private equity funds form the cornerstone of the practice at Rymarz Zdort Maruta. The group’s core clientele primarly comprises financial institutions – including banks, brokerage houses, investment funds and insurance companies – as a result of the firm’s established relationship with the KNF. Lukasz Gasiński, who is qualified in both Poland and the US, acts as a key contact for cross-border mandates. Managing partners Paweł Rymarz and Paweł Zdort continue to oversee the department. Following the merger with Maruta Wachta, the firm has also benefitted from the addition of Michał Pękała, who brings a concerted focus on the video game development sector to the team, and is singled out by one client as ‘undoubtedly the best lawyer in the game development field‘.

Practice head(s):

Pawel Rymarz; Pawel Zdort


Other key lawyers:

Lukasz Gasinski; Jakub Zagrajek; Jacek Zawadzki; Marek Maciag; Bartosz Romanowski; Michal Pekala


Testimonials

‘We are convinced that Michał Pękała is undoubtedly the best lawyer in the game development field. It would not be enough to merely say he just knows the industry as, after many years of working closely with video game companies, it is like he has become part of the industry himself. No other lawyer in Poland can combine such uniquely extensive knowledge of the law – particularly of investment processes, VC and M&A transactions – with a deep understanding of the video games sector.’

‘The team is very easy to work with – they are very open and proactive. Always have the bigger picture in mind. They also work well with other law firms, which is not always the case. With their extensive experience in corporate law, M&A and VC transactions as well as other branches of law, working with this team is truly satisfying.’

‘Their negotiation skills as well as their comprehensive support during long-term business processes make you feel that you have placed your business in good hands. In particular, they know exactly how to secure your position in negotiations during the transaction as well as to introduce a proper corporate setup of your business.’

‘Michał Pękała is a person who can quickly gain the trust of the client. What should be highlighted is that I am not aware of a case where he has ever lost them. He knows the gamedev industry like few others in Poland. This is definitely why when anyone in the gamedev industry who is looking for a lawyer – they should contact Michał straight away! For him, nothing is impossible.’

Key clients

Grupa Lotos S.A.


Santander Bank Polska S.A.


APG Investments


CVC Capital Partners


Maspex Group


Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A.


Polski Bank Komórek Macierzystych


Innova Capital


PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.


CEPD N.V.


PGNiG S.A.


Groupe Canal+


Ten Square Games S.A.


Griffin Capital Partners


Polcom Group


Proservice Finteco


MCC Verstraete


Electrum sp. z o.o.


P4 sp. z o.o.


Grupa Netsprint sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Assisted Grupa LOTOS with its implementation of the remedies specified in the conditional decision of the European Commission of 14 July 2020 regarding its consent to a change involving Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN taking control of the client.
  • Advised Santander Bank Polska on the sale of 100% of the shares in all of Aviva’s Polish operations by Aviva and the client to Allianz for approximately €2.5bn.
  • Advised APG Investments on it joint venture agreement with Orange Polska, concerning an investment in a fibre network reaching around 2.4 million households in Poland by 2025.

White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k.

Under the expert guidance of Marcin Studniarek, the offering at White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k. leverages its US, English and Polish law capabilities to advise on some of the most complex cross-border M&A deals in the market, as well as regularly handling the foreign law aspects of domestic transactions. The group is particularly known for its strength in the renewable energy, technology, e-commerce, media, private equity, venture capital, real estate, logistics and manufacturing sectors. Standout practitioners include Aneta Maria Hajska and recently promoted partner Marek Sawicki.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Studniarek


Other key lawyers:

Maciej Zalewski; Aneta Maria Hajska; Marek Sawicki; Małgorzata Paśnik; Rafał Kamiński


Testimonials

‘Great team to work with, always helpful and able to accommodate the client’s request.’

‘Good commercial understanding.’

‘Maciej Zalewski – very well-mannered, measured, and pleasant to work with. I appreciate he’s very respectful to his team.’

Key clients

Synthos S.A.


Liberty Global


PPF Group


Booksy


Predica Consulting Services sp. z o.o.


Octopus Renewables


Polenergia S.A.


Grupa Pracuj S.A.


Aquiline Capital Partners Limited


Legrand S.A.


Invest Line E S.A


Metric Capital Partners LLP


BEKaP Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamknięty


Nets Holding A/S


Dekada S.A.


CTP


Catella


Work highlights


  • Advising Synthos, a player in the global synthetic rubber market, on the acquisition of synthetic rubber operations based in Schkopau, Germany, from Trinseo, a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, for $491m.
  • Advising Liberty Global on the signing of an agreement with Iliad for the sale of 100% of the share capital in Polish cable operator UPC Poland to Iliad’s Polish mobile subsidiary Play for an enterprise value of $1.8bn.
  • Advising Grupa Pracuj on its €118m acquisition of a Germany-based softgarden e-recruiting company.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k.

At CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k., practice head Rafał Zwierz ‘s qualifications in Polish, US and UK law put the group in an advantageous position for conducting international deals. Public M&A work is a particular strength for the group, as is advising investment and venture capital funds. Sławomir Czerwiński‘s broad practice spans the gamut of corporate governance, transactional and commercial issues in the healthcare, financial services and infrastructure sectors. Olga Czyżycka-Szczygieł is particularly noted amongst the team’s counsel.


Practice head(s):

Rafał Zwierz


Other key lawyers:

Sławomir Czerwiński; Błażej Zagórski; Dariusz Greszta; Mateusz Stępień; Olga Czyżycka-Szczygieł; Jarosław Gajda; Marta Osowska-Buba


Testimonials

‘The key strengths are the experience and dedication of the team, as well as their focus on co-operation with other party advisors in order to make the process most efficient for both parties.’

‘Jarosław Gajda – dedicated, experienced and very good lawyer with a positive attitude.’

‘Mateusz Stępień – very experienced M&A lawyer, who contributed very much to making the transaction happen.’

‘From an M&A perspective, you get a full range of services: transactional, competition, tax, employment, cross-border, so it is a true one-stop shop for complex deals.’

‘Very good sense of key business issues and drivers. Focused on finding solutions and bringing both sides of a deal together.’

Key clients

MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc


Medicover Sp. z o.o.


Macquarie’s Green Investment Group


Polish Development Fund S.A. (Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A.)


GrECo International Holding AG


Green Genius (Modus Group)


Sonnedix UK Services Ltd


RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co.


Partner in Pet Food


MidEuropa (former Mid Europa Partners)


Abris Capital Partners


Neuca S.A.


Divante S.A.’ shareholders, including OEX S.A.


Compagnie d’Affrètement et de Transport – CAT SAS (Groupe CAT)


Grupa Azoty Polyolefins S.A.


Hortex


Circap


Alpla Pharmaholding GmbH


Nofar Energy


Work highlights


  • Advised MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas on the $610m acquisition of 100% of the shares in LOTOS Paliwa, a Polish company which owns 417 petrol stations across Poland.
  • Advised Polski Fundusz Rozwoju and closed-end fund Fundusz Inwestycji Infrastrukturalnych – Kapitałowy FIZ managed by Polski Fundusz Rozwoju – on the zł1bn sale of all its shares in Nowe Jaworzno Grupa to Tauron Polska Energia.
  • Advised Medicover, a large healthcare services company in Poland, on its €54m acquisition of 100% of the shares in CDT Medicus Group, a regional provider of medical services operating in South-Western Poland.

Dentons

Public M&A deals and transactions organised as auction sale processes are two key areas of focus for the large team at Dentons. The Warsaw office regularly acts as a hub for significant cross-border M&A work in the CEE region, and is particularly valued for its expertise in the energy, infrastructure, media and technology, real estate and food sectors. Piotr Dulewicz oversees both the M&A and private equity groups, and is consequently well positioned to assist with mandates at the intersection of these two areas. Highly regarded Paweł Grabowski regularly advises clients on all types of share and asset acquisitions. April 2022 saw the strengthening of the offering at partner level, with the promotions of Marceli Kasperkiewicz and Michał Wasiak.


Practice head(s):

Piotr Dulewicz


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Grabowski; Marceli Kasperkiewicz; Michał Wasiak; Marcin Paliwoda


Testimonials

‘Very good knowledge of the market and very good responsiveness.’

Key clients

GEODIS


EPAM Systems


Celanese Corporation


C.H. Robinson


Fortum


Sumitomo Corporation


SPI International


ENGIE


Cornerstone Investment Management


Zhejiang XCC Group


Syntaxis Capital


GTC


Veolia


Echo Investment


Maspex


Redge Technologies


eSky Group


EPP


Redefine


Work highlights


  • Advised the shareholders of SPI International, a global media company, on the sale of a majority stake to Groupe Canal+.
  • Advised Redefine Properties, a South African real estate investment trust, on the establishment of two joint ventures, which will manage a portfolio of 22 retail and three office properties.
  • Advised Zhejiang XCC Group, a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of industrial bearings, on its acquisition of FŁT Polska from Boryszew Group.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka

Leveraging the strength of its 9-partner team, Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka advises on the gamut of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, management take-overs, joint ventures, and restructuring projects. The group is able to provide expert knowledge across a breadth of sectors, but is particularly well regarded for its energy and private client focuses. Managing partner Krzysztof Zakrzewski continues to oversee the department, supported by a strong bench of seasoned practitioners, including M&A specialists Marek Świątkowski and Bartosz Marcinkowski; Julita Zimoch-Tuchołka, who is a go-to advisor for company formation issues; and Damian Szczygielski, who is noted for his commercial law work.


Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Zakrzewski


Other key lawyers:

Marek Świątkowski; Piotr Andrzejczak; Robert Niczyporuk; Damian Szczygielski; Bartosz Marcinkowski; Julita Zimoch-Tuchołka


Testimonials

‘One of the most user-friendly law firms in Poland. DZP has a good multi-disciplnary team that stands out above many of its competitors. Always a pleasure to work with.’

‘Responsive, thoughtful, easy to work with, practical.’

‘Engagement and pragmatic approach stand out.’

‘Highly knowledgeable team with business-minded approach.’

‘Bartosz Marcinkowski is an excellent professional.Goes the extra mile. Excellent availability.’

‘A leading Polish law firm with great lawyers that provide value for money in complex areas of law, often with a cross-border dimension!’

‘Bartosz Marcinkowski is a great lawyer.’

‘We had full confidence in them, feeling absolutely sure about their legal expertise as well as the highest degree of discretion.’

Key clients

LOT Polish Airlines


Canal +


Bauer Media


Getin Holding S.A.


Ringier Axel Springer


Wurth Group


Renomia


Renta


Kliniki Neuroradiochirurgii


ARRA Group


Snap Outdoor


International Paper


Global Pharma


OU Blite


Parasight


Pall-Ex


Agilitas


Sylvamo


Shareholders of JSPV sp. z o.o. (individuals and Grupa Kapitałowa ANDI sp. z o.o.)


Work highlights


  • Advised Infravia Growth on a round of series B financing, in which the start-up Packhelp raised nearly zł190m for further development.
  • Advised Estonian fund OÜ Blite on the sale of 50% of its shares in Incuvo, a specialist in the production of games for virtual reality platforms.
  • Advised on the acquisition of Uprent Group by Renta Group Oy, in a transaction which took place simultaneously in four different countries – namely Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Linklaters

The team based in Linklaters‘ Warsaw office fields a significant number of foreign qualified practitioners – including those with training from the UK, US and Sweden – and is conseqently well placed to advise leading international investors entering Poland, and assist with complex cross-border transactions. Daniel Cousens, whose practice is particularly focused on emerging markets in the CEE region, heads up the offering. ‘Brilliant lawyerMarcin Schulz is another key senior practitioner. The group saw some changes to its associate bench throughout 2021 and 2022; the most recent development was the arrival of Michał Szperzyński, who joined from Travers Smith LLP‘s London office in June 2022.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Cousens


Other key lawyers:

Marcin Schulz; Michał Szperzyński; Christopher Quinn; Szymon Renkiewicz


Testimonials

‘The team provides highly professional and competent advice. All the team is very good technically, efficient, fully dedicated and always available. They all think from the perspective and anticipate all our requests and next steps.’

‘Able to deliver a very complicated transaction in an extremly short timeline.’

‘Marcin Schulz is a brilliant lawyer. Marcin is very practical and at the same time a friendly and bright personality who is easy to speak with. He has a very commercial approach to solving complicated issues.’

Key clients

Alinda Capital Partners


Banca Transilvania


Carrier Global Corporation


Digital Colony Acquisitions LLC


Farfetch UK


ING Bank Śląski S.A.


Infravia Capital


Kronospan


LUX MED Group


Orange Polska


PFR Nieruchomości S.A.


Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A.


Super Slam Limited


Unilever


Work highlights


  • Advised Orange Polska on the establishment of a FiberCo jointly owned with the APG fund.
  • Advised InfraVia Capital Partners on the Polish aspects of the acquisition of 50% of FiberForce, Play Group’s subsidiary, for €378m.
  • Advised Polski Fundusz Rozwoju on the implementation of the government financial support programme aimed at reducing the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Schoenherr Halwa sp.k.

Schoenherr Halwa sp.k.'s 'great team' expertly advises on all substantial issues relating to corporate law and M&A, including transactions in both the public and private spheres, negotiation of documentation, and optimisation of structures. Paweł Halwa heads up the practice, and is often supported on key mandates by senior associate Daria Rutecka, who is carving out a niche in technology-related matters; both are singled out as having 'real customer focus'. In September 2022, the group was further strengthened by the arrival of recognised practitioner Krzysztof Wawrzyniak from WKB Lawyers.

Practice head(s):

Paweł Halwa


Other key lawyers:

Daria Rutecka; Krzysztof Pawlak; Krzysztof Leśniak; Krzysztof Wawrzyniak


Testimonials

‘Great team with real customer focus.’

‘Paweł Halwa and Daria Rutecka have great competences and real customer focus. Great individuals to work with.’

Key clients

IBM International Group B.V.


Novacap Industries III, L.P.


ASSA ABLOY Group


GR. Sarantis S.A.


Eurofins SE


voestAlpine


Engel Holding Gesellschaft m.b.H


UNIQA Real Estate


Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Clients from the most active sectors in Poland- including agriculture, food production, manufacturing, renewables, and FMCG - instruct Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak, finding the firm 'a joy to work with'. Practice head Robert Gawałkiewicz brings contentious, as well as advisory, expertise to his role; his particular areas of expertise are cross-border reorganisations and commercial litigation. Marcin Olechowski is the name to note for transactional work with a link to the financial services industry, while Krzysztof Pawlisz is recommended for M&A mandates.

Practice head(s):

Robert Gawałkiewicz


Other key lawyers:

Krzysztof Pawlisz; Tomasz Kański; Łukasz Berak; Sławomir Uss; Marcin Olechowski


Testimonials

‘The team is always up to date with latest changes in the industry and is therefore a huge support for our activities. It seems that they are looking for market changes on a daily basis and always share them with us, when applicable. This is of huge value for us.’

‘Invoices are always transparent and the communication is reliable and professional.’

‘The whole team from SK&S is a joy to work with.’

Key clients

NN Group


Iliad, Play Communication S.A., P4 sp. z o.o.


The Briand Groupe


Brand New Galaxy (BNG)


The Eurocash Group


The owners of Nesperta


SUNLY LAND AS


Crown Holdings


Diversis Capital


Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC


EQT Private Equity


AniCura


International Paper


The Bunge Group


Club Car / Platinum Equity


The Mohawk/Unilin/IVC group


Work highlights


  • Advised NN Group on an agreement to acquire MetLife’s business in Poland and Greece.
  • Advised Play on the acquisition of shares in UPC Polska.
  • Advised French client Briand Groupe on the Polish aspects of its acquisition of the Astron Group from the Swedish Lindab Group.

Wardynski & Partners

At Wardynski & Partners, the focus is on providing comprehensive M&A advice, which spans the full range of structures and sectors. Since publication, leadership of the department has been taken over by Michał Wons. Other key figures in the team include Kinga Ziemnicka, Paweł Ciećwierz and Konrad Grotowski.

Practice head(s):

Michał Wons


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Ciećwierz; Konrad Grotowski; Jakub Lerner; Adam Pawlisz; Łukasz Śliwiński; Kinga Ziemnicka


Testimonials

‘Committeed, available and keeping us updated during the entire process.’

‘They have been able to address issues in various areas of the law seamlessly.’

‘I most commonly work with Kinga Ziemnicka, and she has been incredibly helpful. She effectively manages a number of other attorneys to the extent needed to address client matters in different subject areas, and she is always responsive to client needs.’

Key clients

Axcel Management A/S


Clausen Engineering ApS and Deichmann Media ApS


EURICOM S.p.A.


GARIA A/S


Gunnebo


Hatteland


Hengrui


Horn & Co. Minerals Recovery GmbH & Co. KG


HTL Stefa S.A.


H+H International and H+H Polska


Lars Larsen Group


Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG


Natsu


Oakley Capital IV,


Orskov Foods S.A.


Ottobock


Pentaco Partners


Ripple


QIAGEN N.V.


Salling Group A/S


SARIA A/S GmbH & Co. KG


Seco/Warwick


Simpson Manufacturing


Swarco


Tensho Electric Industries Co., Ltd.


Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Holdings, LLC


Triple IT Corporate B.V.


Victaulic


Bergs Timber AB (publ)


Beontag


Triton


Faerch A/S


XXXLutz Group


Cinven Partners LLP


Mercy Corps


Work highlights


  • Advised XXXLutz Group on a share acquisition establishing a 50/50 partnership with Black Red White Group.
  • Advised Qiagen on the acquisition of a majority stake in enzyme manufacturer Blirt.
  • Advised Bergs Timber on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usłogowo-Handlowe Pinus Jerzy Smolarczyk Mariusz Smolarczyk.

WKB Lawyers

WKB Lawyers fields a team of ‘capable partners and strong negotiators‘, who are ‘exceptional at running deals from kick-off until closing‘. The firm’s sector-specific approach is exemplified by practitioners such as Agnieszka Wiercińska-Krużewska and Anna Wyrzykowska, who are particularly knowledgeable in the technology and real estate fields, respectively. At leadership level, Jakub Jedrzejak and Andrzej Wierciński  co-chair the M&A group, while Anna Wojciechowska oversees the corporate governance side.

Practice head(s):

Jakub Jędrzejak; Andrzej Wierciński; Anna Wojciechowska


Other key lawyers:

Ben Davey; Grzegorz Godlewski; Agnieszka Wiercińska-Krużewska; Anna Wyrzykowska


Testimonials

‘Exceptional commitment, very good responsiveness and great negotiation skills.

‘Very helpful team with ability to mitigate potential deal-breakers.’

‘Jakub Jędrzejak is a true leader with a hands-on approach and in-depth knowledge of each and every aspect of the deal, entering the talks at key moments to successfully move forward.’

‘Capable partners and strong negotiators. Large team providing detailed knowledge of various legal areas.’

‘The team members we worked with were truly amazing – not only were they great lawyers, they were also great communicators who could evaluate the deal from our perspective and then act accordingly in negotiations. They flagged issues to us in a timely manner to help us address them quickly. Would recommend to anyone!’

‘Extended offering including many areas of expertise. Comprehensive legal solutions based on a unique combination of expertise, skills, and knowledge of various markets.’

‘The team is exceptional at running deals from kick-off until closing.’

‘I work with Anna Wojciechowska, and appreciate in particular her high standard of her work, she is reliable, keeps all deadlines, well organised and very responsive.’

Key clients

AVIVA


Orkla Group


Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A


ENEA S.A.


TAURON Polska Energia S.A.


Avallon


Innova


Ingka


P. Van de Velde Group


Polskie ePłatności


ČEZ a.s.


Specialized Bicycles


Sea Wind Holding AG


Norddeutsche Vermögen Holding GmbH & Co. KG


PZU Group


Gaz-System Group


Energix Group


Ryanair Group


Stock Group


Ministry of State Assets


Work highlights


  • Advising Aviva on the Polish legal aspects of its exit from Poland through the sale of its entire shareholding in Aviva Poland companies to Allianz for a cash consideration of €2.5bn.
  • Advising INGKA Investments on the acquisition of an onshore wind farm, with a total capacity of 63MW, and a photovoltaic farm, with a total capacity of 29MW, from OX2.
  • Advising the Ministry of State Assets (as the leading shareholder) on the merger of three companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange – PKN Orlen, PGNiG and Grupa Lotos.

Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k.

Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. fields a 'very deep bench of lawyers who are all extraordinarily knowledgeable', helmed by Rafał Dziedzic. M&A and joint venture transactions comprise a core part of the workload, as do mandates relating to venture capital and private equity. Additionally, the group provides ongoing corporate advice to a roster of predominantly international clients, including leading names from the energy, life sciences, automotive and construction sectors.

Practice head(s):

Rafał Dziedzic


Other key lawyers:

Artur Stosio


Testimonials

‘The firm has a very deep bench of lawyers who are all extraordinarily knowledgeable regarding Polish law and regulations. In addition, despite the fact that they are a large firm, I have found their rates to be very reasonable.’

‘One particular thing that stands out to me is the prompt responses that I consistently receive from the lawyers with whom I work. Even if they don’t have an answer right away, they respond to inquiries and let me know they’re working on my problem. In addition, I find that they have good attention to detail and provide business-focused advice on areas of law that I am not at all familiar with.’

‘Real knowledge about market practices and a very good pragmatic approach to balance legal risks and business requirements.’

‘Always available with the right expertise and knowledge.’

Key clients

PKN Orlen S.A.


ENERGA S.A.


OBTON A/S


Creandum Advisor Ltd.


Verizon Connect


Avril Specialites Animales SAS


Limagrain Europe


Entain plc


CryoLife Inc. (Artivion)


Rayner


Groupe Avril


Work highlights


  • Advised PKN Orlen on the establishment of a joint venture with Synthos Green Energy to prepare and commercialise the technology of small and medium nuclear reactors in Poland.
  • Advised Entain on the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Totolotek and Ebbene Services from Gauselmann Group.
  • Advised Creandum in a Series A round of financing for Vue Storefront, a company providing e-commerce solutions.

EY Law

For EY Law, growth has been the key focus recently; this has been reflected both in terms of the team, which continued its steady increase in size with the acquisition of Marek Sawicki from DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k. in September 2021, and in terms of the client base, which now comprises a much greater number of leading names from the hospitality sector. Zuzanna Zakrzewska and Magdalena Kasiarz oversee the department. One client singles out the group for its ability to leverage 'initiative and invention resulting from experience'.


Practice head(s):

Zuzanna Zakrzewska; Magdalena Kasiarz


Other key lawyers:

Marek Sawicki; Jakub Organ; Piotr Gogol; Zbigniew Pindel


Testimonials

‘Very competent team demonstrating very good and deep knowledge.’

‘The team demonstrates a very practical approach, effectively and promptly provides high quality support.’

‘Lawyers in this practice area demonstrated exceptional knowledge of relevant laws combined with deep knowledge of local practices. Their advice was always adjusted to clients’ needs and provided in a timely manner.’

‘A very strong commercial and M&A practice in its own right, and given that it is supported by extensive resources of the EY network it is possible for them to cover almost all aspects of an M&A transaction. Thus, they are able to serve as a one-stop shop for the client and by this provide a well structured and managed team that can get the work done with less friction.’

‘Magdalena Kasiarz and Jakub Organ are both very professional and diligent in terms of legal work and also experienced in and sensitive to relevant commercial issues in the transaction. Moreover, there are very agreeable and generally a pleasure to work with.’

‘Versatility and commitment, as well as a multi-faceted approach.’

‘Readiness and availability; use their own initiative and invention resulting from experience.’

‘EY Legal corporate team provides high quality legal services taking into consideration the business needs and economic environment.’

Key clients

Polski Holding Hotelowy sp. z o.o.


Polski Fundusz Rozwoju (PFR – capital group)


The SPAR Group Ltd


Metrans


Alshaya


Nortal AS


Euro-Hel sp. z o.o.


PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.


Vestel


SBM Developpment SAS


Honeywell


Cisco


3M


Manpower Group


Dotykacka Group


Excelya Group


Dohler Group


PESA


Saint-Gobain


Energizer Holdings


Work highlights


  • Advising Polski Holding Hotelowy on the acquisition of hotel assets owned by KGHM Group, PGNiG and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.
  • Advising Euro-Hel on the sale of 100% of its shares, as well as the sale of an enterprise run by the key shareholder and part of another family-owned business, JMP Polska.
  • Advising the Polish International Development Fund managed by PFR TFI on two separate transactions, the aim of which was to support the expansion of Polish companies, Laude Smart Intermodal and Netguru on, respectively, the German and US markets.

GESSEL Attorneys at Law

GESSEL Attorneys at Law's client roster comprises both Polish and international entities, privately held as well as publicly listed, operating across the gamut of sectors. Managing partner Marcin Macieszczak oversees the M&A offering, which also covers private equity and venture capital work; he is particularly well versed in issues which occur at the intersection with real estate. Małgorzata Badowska stands out as a key contact for matters relating to banking and finance.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Macieszczak


Other key lawyers:

Maciej Kożuchowski; Małgorzata Badowska; Michał Bochowicz; Karol Sokół


Key clients

BaseLinker sp. z o.o.


VirtusLab sp. z o.o.


Accession Capital Partners


R22 S.A.


Anwim S.A.


BetaMed S.A.


Avallon Fund


Lode Group


Raya Holding


Work highlights


  • Advising BaseLinker on its financial investment from Kulczyk Investment.
  • Advising VirtusLab on its investment from American private equity fund Aquiline Capital Partners.
  • Advised Anwim on its acquisition of a 90% stake in the Dutch company The Fuel Company Holding.

Gide Loyrette Nouel

Trusted advisorGide Loyrette Nouel utilises an integrated structure, bringing together corporate and M&A specialists – under the guidance of Dariusz Tokarczuk – with practitioners whose core competencies centre around banking and finance, private equity, and venture capital – led by Paweł Grześkowiak. In terms of sector focuses, mining and heavy industries are the standouts. Recently, highlights have included creation and liquidation of comapnies, assistance with registration proceedings, and financing of operations.

Practice head(s):

Dariusz Tokarczuk; Paweł Grześkowiak


Other key lawyers:

Edyta Zalewska; Wojciech Czyżewski


Testimonials

‘Integrated team, acting like one solid organisation.’

‘A trusted advisor.’

‘Great advice, very good matter management and high speed in complex M&A negotiations.’

‘Edyta Zalewska is a very good lawyer with very good negotiation skills.’

Key clients

KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.


KGHM TFI S.A.


Resource Partners


BPI Real Estate Poland


KPS Capital Partners


Grupa MAK


Revive N.V.


Retail Robotics


Walden Group


Tar Heel Capital


Insight Investment


Enterprise Investors sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advising KGHM Polska Miedź, a 55% shareholder in a joint venture company in Chile, on the sale of 45% of the shares in the company by the other shareholder, Japanese Sumitomo Group, to an Australian-listed mining company.
  • Advising KPS Capital Partners on the acquisition of international food, aerosol and promotional packaging businesses from Crown Holding for €2.25bn.
  • Advising Tar Heel Capital on the sale of Rockfin – an engineering company specialising in the design, manufacture, testing and servicing of oil and fuel systems – to a Czech PE fund.

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP

Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP typically advises on high-value, cross-border transactions, most often in the technology, insurance, healthcare and real estate sectors. Counsel Tomasz Żak heads up the practice, and oversees a workload spanning M&A deals, joint ventures, reorganisations, and corporate governance and commercial contracts matters. Managing partner Beata Balas-Noszczyk also provides support to the team, and is noted for her ‘extended understanding of business issues‘.

Practice head(s):

Beata Balas-Noszczyk; Tomasz Żak


Other key lawyers:

Tomasz Grygorczuk; Piotr Kwasiborski; Tomasz Pietrzak


Testimonials

‘Hogan Lovells team offers a high quality of service, including not only appropriate legal advice and in-depth analysis on various legal issues, but also deep industry knowledge. They are appreciated for their excellent drafting skills, ability to stick to a very tight schedule, being professional and approachable in day-to-day contact with the client and other advisors.’

‘Hogan Lovells is flexible in respect of a fee structure in case of unexpected modification of the scope of services agreed.’

‘Beata Balas-Noszczyk represents a high quality legal expertise combined with an extended understanding of business issues. At the same time Beata is a very responsive, communicative person with a positive attitude.’

Key clients

Nutreco


MoneyGram


NN


Saur Polska sp. z o. o.


Interpublic Group (IPG)


Viatris (formerly Mylan)


HR Management Group


Gothaer Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń S.A.


mFinanse S.A. and mBank S.A. (Commerzbank Group)


Kapsch TrafficCom and Axxès


Cinema3D S.A.


FCB Inferno Limited


Union Knopf


Shire plc.


Arcus Infrastructure Partners


Honeywell


Nissan


Mitsubishi


MoneyGram


IBM (International Business Machines Corporation )


Intel


ERGO Group


ABC Technologies


BBI Development


EuroChem


Aviva Group


UNIQA Polska Group


AXA Polska Group


Ingredion Incorporated


Work highlights


  • Advised Mylan on the Polish aspects of its global merger with Upjohn, a Pfizer subsidiary, which resulted in the establishment of Viatris, a NASDAQ-listed company.
  • Advising IBM on the global separation and reorganisation of its managed infrastructure services business across more than 65 jurisdictions worldwide.
  • Advising the Aviva Group on the sale of its 51% stake in Santander Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie (life insurance business) and Santander Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń (non-life insurance business) to the Allianz Group.

Kochanski & Partners

Kochanski & Partners expertly advises strategic investors and business entities on noteworthy local and cross-border transactions, and is particularly well versed in share and asset deals, spin-offs and transformations, restructurings, and joint venture agreements. Pawel Cholewinski oversees the transactional side, while Rafal Rapala leads on corporate mandates; the former has particular experience in the real estate sector. Pawel Mardas is another key senior name to note.

Practice head(s):

Pawel Cholewinski; Rafal Rapala


Other key lawyers:

Pawel Mardas; Karol Połosak; Aneta Serowik


Key clients

State Street Bank International


State Street Bank & Trust Company


State Street Global Advisors


Indus Holding AG


Universal Fibers Inc. (subsidiary of H.I.G. Capital)


Knapp AG


Ductor AG


Newcold (subsidiary of Westport Capital)


MML Capital Partners


Groupe Beneteau


Chrysler Poland


Ferro Corporation


Ringier Axel Springer Polska


Blachotrapez


Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.


Coca-Cola HBC Polska


Huuuge Games


Huta Małapanew sp. z o.o.


eFaktor S.A.


Inovo Venture Partners


Parkwind


Netguru S.A.


AirProducts


Oxenwood


Personnel Service


Equiniti


Panattoni Europe


Savills


Alantra – Klima Energy Fund


Pagra sp. z o.o.


Voodoo


Work highlights


  • Advised State Street Bank & Trust Company on the acquisition of the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.’s Investor Services business.
  • Assisted State Street Global Advisors with the setting up and running of investment and brokerage activities in Poland.
  • Advised State Street Bank International on general corporate audits and registration processes, as well as assisting board members with their duties and liabilities.

Noerr

The early months of 2023 have heralded significant change for the team at Noerr; in January, Renata Patoka, who mainly advises strategic investors and has specialist knowledge of the food and pharmaceutical sectors, joined from SSW, shortly followed by Karol Kicun from MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haładyj i Wspólnicy sp.k. in February. Kicun now oversees the M&A offering, bringing his extensive expertise in private equity matters to the role. The practice continues to be recognised as a go-to advisor for mid-market deals, in particular.


Practice head(s):

Karol Kicun


Other key lawyers:

Renata Patoka


Key clients

X-press Couriers


PAPREC GROUP


Inflexion


Worldline


EQT Private Equity


DSV


Rebelle AB


Gazelle Global Consulting Limited


SD Worx


Lush Limited


Rubix Group (portfolio company of Advent International)


TAG Immobilien AG


Aurelius


StoneX (previously Gain Capital)


Cedrob


CLAAS


TOI TOI & DIXI Group (a portfolio company of Apax Partners)


Merkur Sportwetten (Gauselmann AG)


Work highlights


  • Advising TAG Immobilien on the acquisition of Robyg from Bricks Acquisitions.
  • Advising X-press Couriers on its sale to Allegro.
  • Advising Inflexion on Polish law issues relating to its investment in SteriPack Group.

Penteris

Penteris is well versed in a diverse range of transactional work, including company and ongoing concern acquisitions, reverse buyouts, partial takeovers, share transfers, joint ventures, dispositions and related financing arrangements, and capitalisations. Assisting with the structuring and formation of investment funds is another mainstay of the group’s workload. The key senior contacts are Agnieszka Pytlas, Tomasz Kudelski and Wojciech Fabrycki.

Practice head(s):

Agnieszka Pytlas; Wojciech Fabrycki; Tomasz Kudelski


Other key lawyers:

Jeremiasz Kuśmierz; Irmina Kondraciuk


Testimonials

‘Penteris has a great track record in supporting me in cross-border matters. The reason why I’ve been with the team for so long is because they are good value for money, and they always get things done. Putting my trust in Penteris has been a great investment in and of itself and I will continue to work with them, I hope, for many years to come.’

‘Penteris is committed and they place a lot of emphasis on personal relations and having a solution-based approach. They’re always on time and they are always responsive.’

‘There are several stand-out individuals at Penteris. In particular, Agnieszka Pytlas is incredibly competent and continually proves to be great at organising teams, and co-ordinating complex corporate work.’

Key clients

Huuuge


Immofinanz AG


RIDA Development Corporation


DSM Nutritional Products


Facebook


Electronic Control Systems SA


Fabryczna 17 Spp Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością Spółka Komandytowa


Plukon Sieradz Sp. z o.o.


K2 Holding SA


Alumetal SA


Work highlights


  • Advised international gaming company Huuuge on the acquisition of Traffic Puzzle from Picadilla Games, a Wrocław-based gaming studio.
  • Advised Alumetal on the sale of all its shares to the Norwegian group Norsk Hydro ASA for more than zł1bn.
  • Advising Facebook on various day-to-day corporate matters with regards to its Polish operations.

SSW

An equal proportion of buy and sell-side clients, predominantly comprising leading private equity names, notable sectoral investors and high-net-worth-individuals, instructs SSW. The team is well placed to assist with every stage of a transaction, from preliminary advice and due diligence, through to negotiations and tax issues. Practice head Paweł Chyb welcomed Renata Patoka – formerly of Eversheds Sutherland Poland – to the group in April 2022, thus further strengthening the bench at partner level.


Practice head(s):

Wojciech Szczepaniak


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Chyb; Michał Badowski; Katarzyna Solarz; Renata Patoka; Mateusz Rogoziński


Testimonials

‘Professional and experienced team.’

‘Empathy, reactivity and quality of advice.’

‘Team is extremely flexible, always at the client’s disposal, very innovative in proposing compromises and always prepared.’

Key clients

Meide Group


Avallon PE


Rpower


Kruk


Unibep


Boryszew


Spire Capital


Afinum PE


Kospel


Vaillant Saunier Duval


STX Next


Dirlango Tech FIZAN


LERG S.A.


Santander Bank Polska


G2A


Masterchem


Value4Capital


WDB S.A.


PePe sp. z o.o.


Lenovo


Work highlights


  • Advised Growag, a Polish company providing products and solutions for rail transportation, on its sale to Recaro.
  • Advised Spire Capital,  a Polish private equity fund, on the acquisition of SaaS company Thulium.
  • Advised Avallon PE on the sale of 100% of the shares in NovoTech and its two subsidiaries, located in Romania and Belgium.

Wolf Theiss

Wolf Theiss fields a ‘fully integrated team‘, which can handle the gamut of relevant work, from general corporate advice to transactional assistance; in the former area, the firm is a go-to for leading international names wishing to establish a local presence on the ground in Poland. Since publication, the department has taken on a 27-practitioner team from Wardynski & Partners – including Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek, Anna Dąbrowska and Krzysztof Libiszewski, who will now jointly lead the practice – and other notable names such as Katarzyna Wójcik-Bąkowska.

Practice head(s):

Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek; Anna Dąbrowska; Krzysztof Libiszewski


Other key lawyers:

Peter Daszkowski; Dariusz Harbaty; Maciej Olszewski; Jakub Pietrasik


Testimonials

‘Very good substantive knowledge of transactional topics, business-oriented approach.’

‘Dariusz Harbaty has extensive knowledge and experience in transactional and corporate issues. He is able to face non-standard projects. He is a lawyer who inspires confidence.’

‘International knowledge and overall experience.’

‘Maciej Olszewski – detailed approach, honest and deep engagement, a good approach to the other side of the deal.’

‘A fully integrated team with great communication between the energy team, the tax practice and the corporate and M&A department. This accelerates deals.’

‘Maciej Olszewski is a great M&A lawyer. He managed the transaction which we did this year with full commitment and professionalism.’

Key clients

Elanco Poland


Vienna Insurance Group (VIG)


Ekamant


Bain Capital


Erwin Hymer Group


CPI Property Group


European Investment Bank


CMA CGM


Sigma Plastics Group


Burda Media Polska sp. z o.o.


Cyfrowe.pl sp. z o.o.


Trudell Medical Limited


Waterland Private Equity


ALSO Holding AG


Agrofert


Work highlights


  • Advising Burda Media on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Edipresse Polska from the Edipresse Group, headquartered in Switzerland.
  • Advised Cyfrowe, an omni-channel retailer of photographic and video equipment in Poland, on the auction sale process of 75% of shares in the company to the European Imaging Group.
  • Advising US-based Sigma Plastics Group on (i) a joint venture with Austrian corporation Teufelberger; (ii) acquisition by that joint venture of 100% of the shares in Polish company Marflex; and (iii) the subsequent demerger of Marflex and spin-off of parts of the Marflex business to Sigma and Teufelberger, respectively.

CDZ CHAJEC & PARTNERS

CDZ CHAJEC & PARTNERS is noted particularly for its expertise in the TMT and real estate sectors, and is consequently regarded as an advisor of choice for M&A mandates with a nexus to these industries. More broadly, the firm also assists with company reorganisations, demergers, joint ventures, and equity investments. Andrzej Chajec acts as the overall practice head, with Macej Kotlicki and Szymon Skiendzielewski co-chairing the M&A side, while Jolanta Okoniecka leads on other corporate and commercial mandates.

Practice head(s):

Andrzej Chajec; Szymon Skiendzielewski; Maciej Kotlicki; Jolanta Okoniecka


Key clients

ProService Finteco sp. z o. o.


Yazamco Corp ltd


Cordia (a part of Futureal capital group)


LUXVET24 sp. z o.o.


Orphinic Scientific S.A.


InteliWISE S.A.


Balticus S.A.


Tangent Line sp. z o. o.


Work highlights


  • Advised LUXVET24 on the the acquistion of a number of veterinary surgeries and clinics in Poland.
  • Advised Ghelamco and a group of private investors on transaction concerning a shopping mall in Warsaw.
  • Advised InteliWISE and its shareholders on a public-to-private deal, which involved a voluntary tender offer for the acquisition of 100% of shares in the client by Efecte, a Finnish IT services company,

CRIDO

At CRIDO, the team has increasingly been instructed to assist Polish entrepreneurs with the development of their businesses abroad, as well as continuing its established practice of advising foreign investors into the country. Mateusz Baran continues to head up the corproate advisory work. On the M&A side, Przemysław Furmaga – who joined the firm from Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka in September 2021 along with senior associate Andrzej Dunikowski – now takes the lead. The acquisition of the duo marked the start of a period of concerted growth at the associate level, which most recently saw Barbara Kwaśnicka arriving from MFW Fiałek.

Practice head(s):

Mateusz Baran; Przemysław Furmaga


Other key lawyers:

Katarzyna Żółcińska; Andrzej Dunikowski; Barbara Kwaśnicka; Marzena Lau; Aleksandra Czarnecka


Testimonials

‘I think that their knowledge of the industry and professional approach is very important. Great collaboration only adds to it. They are always prepared and able to provide various options to resolve any given topic. The team is very organised.’

‘They are always available and engaged, very efficient in delivering what is required. They are great communicators, and you can see they like working with people. Always ready to take on a new challenge.’

‘Superb collaboration and customer-friendly approach define Crido Legal as unique on the Polish market.’

‘Marzena Lau and Mateusz Baran are both professionals, who excel at the understanding of business needs and ways of simplifying even the most complex legal actions.’

‘Super hard-working, avaialble 24/7 with quick responses. They even sacraficed their weekends when it was needed.’

‘Przemysław Furmaga – conscientious, hard-working, experienced, professional.’

‘Przemysław Furmaga is a very good orator and negotiator with so much experience. Very flexible and profesional.’

‘We are working for a few years with Przemysław Furmaga and Aleksandra Czarnecka. Both are always available, willing to discuss legal issues, advise and negotiate, and above all provide comfort with their knowledge and experience.’

Key clients

iSpot


Garmin


Byggmax


7R


Atrium


Softserve


Vantage Data Centers


Wielton


Cloudflight


BPI


Dentsu


Elemental Holding


Work highlights


  • Advised Alfa Brokers on the sale of its shares to Renomia, which is partly owned by Gallagher, a US-based brokerage company.
  • Advised the Hungarian venture capital fund PortfoLion on its investment in Packhelp, a Polish tech start-up specialised in providing customised packaging.
  • Advised Saker, a Slovakian joint venture company which specialises in recycling, on a cross-border joint venture in Poland with business partners from Slovakia and Poland.

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k.

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k. fields a ‘versatile and talented‘ team at partner level, ensuring that the firm is well positioned to assist with the gamut of transactional and advisory work across a range of sectors. On the M&A side, Jacek Korzeniewski and Tomasz Ciećwierz – who joined the team from NGL Legal in May 2022 – are the key names. For corporate law mandates, Mariusz Sron and Robert Uhl are the go-to advisors.

Practice head(s):

Tomasz Ciećwierz; Mariusz Śron; Jacek Korzeniewski; Robert Uhl


Other key lawyers:

Karol Ciszak


Testimonials

‘They are available 24/7 and always with good solutions in our complicated transactions. The have extensive experience in the field of M&A.’

‘There are many great lawyers in the M&A team.’

‘Exceptional commitment of the team, with constant partner engagement during the whole project.’

‘Very professional approach to the client. A versatile and talented team of employees.’

‘Deloitte Legal M&A department is highly recommended, full of competent and intelligent lawyers. We made a great transaction with them this year. I’m really satisfied with their service.’

‘They link business approach with in-depth legal knowledge. What I value most is that they understand business and focus on important things, which allows the deal to go without a hitch. Further, their availability around the clock is also of unique value.’

Key clients

A&R Investments Limited


NCBR Investment Fund ASI S.A.


Benhauer sp. z o.o.


11 bit studios S.A.


BGW Sp. z o.o.


Pelion S.A.


Rio Amsterdam


Scope Fluidics S.A.


Polmos Bielsko-Biała S.A.


IMMO Muszkieterowie Polska sp. z o.o. oraz Krokus sp. z o.o.


Karl Storz


Marma Polskie Folie Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Curiosity Diagnostics, a company holding a patent for a device to make PCR testing for various kinds of viruses, including Covid-19, on the sale of its shares.
  • Assisted Polmos Bielsko-Biala with the conclusion of a preliminary sale agreement for the indirect sale of 100% of its shares to the Stock Spirits Group, which is owned by CVC Capital Partners.
  • Advised 11bit studios S.A, a Polish gaming company listed on the Polish Stock Exchange, on the purchase of a minority stake of shares (40%) in gaming company Fool’s Theory.

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k is known for its proficiency across the gamut of private and public corporate and M&A transactions. The team is able to draw on its cross-practice strength to assist with all financial, regulatory, compliance, and governance aspects of deals. The group’s client base spans large multinational operators, as well as ambitious mid-market companies, and capital markets players. Michał Pawłowski, Filip Urbaniak and Rafał Wozniak are the key names to note at leadership level.

Practice head(s):

Michał Pawłowski; Filip Urbaniak; Rafał Woźniak


Other key lawyers:

Adrian Jonca; Anna Wietrzyńska-Ciołkowska; Izabela Szczygielska; Mateusz Baszczyk


Testimonials

‘Responsivnness, quality of service, flexibility.’

‘Great team, professional, client-oriented. Very good understanding of client needs and business overall. Always on time, quick in response. Extremely high negotiation skills. Always available.’

‘Good communication and problem-solving approach. Represent the client’s interest, but not without understanding the approach of the other side.’

Key clients

Teufelberger GmbH


Fortaco JL


PAD RES


MS Innovation Impulse GmbH


Synthos Green Energy


Dobra Energia dla Olsztyna and its shareholder Meridiam


Meyra Group sp. z o.o.


KPMG


Enter Air


Augusta Energy sp. z o.o.


Sun Power Energy sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Teufelberger on a joint acquisition, with a co-investor, of 100% of the shares in Marflex – M.J. Maillis Poland.
  • Advised PAD RES on the sale of the majority of their shares and the establishment of a joint venture with Kajima Europe and Griffin Real Estate.
  • Advised MS Innovation Impulse and Synthos Green on the establishment of a joint venture with ZE PAK to conduct activities in nuclear energy.

Eversheds Sutherland Poland

With Ewa Szlachetka at its helm, the Eversheds Sutherland Poland team continues to expand its reputation in the sphere of mid-market corporate transactions. Group restructurings which involve a cross-border dimension are a particular strength of the firm. The client base includes notable venture capital and private equity funds, as well as strategic investors. Of counsel Krzysztof Feluch is another key contact.


Practice head(s):

Ewa Szlachetka


Other key lawyers:

Krzysztof Feluch


Key clients

Ricoh


Parker Hannifin


Green Genius


Modus Group


Advantage Smollan GmbH


Bang & Bonsomer Group Ab


SFC SOLUTIONS CZĘSTOCHOWA Sp. z o.o.


Airbridge Equity Partners


Perwyn/SilverTree Equity


Experian


ZignSec AB


Perma-Fix Environmental, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Advising SilverTree Equity Partners and Perwyn on the acquisition of SALESmanago.
  • Advising Experian on its $320m acquisition of Gabi.
  • Advising ZignSec on the acquisition of Web Shield.

GSW Legal Grabarek, Szalc i Wspólnicy Sp.k.

GSW Legal Grabarek, Szalc i Wspólnicy Sp.k.‘s specialised team is especially well known for its aviation, technology, energy and insurance expertise; the firm’s strong connections across the region, in particular with Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, ensure that the client base comprises many notable names from those countries. Tomasz Grabarek oversees the commercial side of the practice, while Rafał Szalc heads up the corporate offering. Szalc also jointly chairs the M&A sub-group, alongside recently promoted partner Maria Janicka.

Practice head(s):

Rafał Szalc; Tomasz Grabarek; Maria Janicka


Other key lawyers:

Katarzyna Białek


Testimonials

‘I am very satisfied with the services provided by this law firm.The team is great, very efficient and effective. The reaction time is quick, and the provided legal solutions are properly and clearly presented.’

‘Rafał Szalc is distinguished by a high level of customer service, culture and, above all, excellent legal knowledge. I am impressed by the involvement of this lawyer in the client’s affairs and readiness to provide information in an efficient and very substantive manner. His knowledge of corporate law is particularly noteworthy.’

‘Tough but open-minded negotiators, focused on achieving the client’s goals. Great market intuition and in-depth business knowledge.’

‘Maria Janicka and Rafał Szalc presented a positive attitude and openness that set them apart from the competition. Working with them, you don’t have to worry about every issue – they manage the entire process. Their deep and comprehensive knowledge allows you to complete even the most complicated transactions.’

‘I can confirm GSW Legal team has an outstanding knowledge of law. They have substantial domestic and cross-border experience in negotiating contracts and procuring all types of documents. As a law firm they’re trustworthy, conscientious and accurate.’

‘I have had an opportunity to work with Rafał Szalc for years s and I am pleased to say he is an excellent legal adviser, having outstanding legal knowledge and fantastic interpersonal communication skills. He is a strong supporter for our company.’

‘Great team, very strong at providing pragmatic, commercial advice and formulating contracts.’

‘The partners are excellent, in particular Rafał Szalc, who is one of the best lawyers I have worked with.’

Key clients

Amtrust International Underwriter DAC / Amtrust Nordic


Bacca Sp. Z O.O.


Central European Engine Services Sp. Z O.O.


Changemaker Educations Ab


Digital Care Capital Group


Elemental Holding S.A.


Elkom Trade


Futbol24.Com


Lot Aircraft Maintenance Services Sp. Z O.O.


Itboom Sp. Z O.O.


Mazovia Capital


Soflab Technology Sp. Z O.O.


Start Parking (Ecom Media Sp. Z O.O.)


Up Energy Sp. Z O.O.


Energy Gate Europe Sp. Z O.O.


Kavalier Group


Blue Cactus S.A.


Inspire Restaurant Brands S.A.


Connected Life Sp. Z O.O.


Capital Partners S.A.


Pointpack S.A.


Termisil Glass Sp. Z O. O.


Softteco


Imad Sp. Z O.O.


Work highlights


  • Advised Pointpack on the acquisition of 51% shares in P2A Box, and on the negotiation of the terms and conditions of further investment in the company.
  • Advised Elemental Holding on its investment into Legend Smelting and Recycling, an Ohio-based corporation.
  • Assisted Capital Partners Funds, as well as the founders and majority shareholders of Orbitvu, with the structuring and implementation of a share options scheme, as part of a transaction related to the acquisition of a majority stake in Orbitvu by Abris Capital Partners.

JDP Drapala & Partners

The 'exceptionally experienced' practitioners at JDP Drapala & Partners handle the gamut of corporate and commercial mandates, with a particular emphasis on cross-border M&A and joint ventures. The firm has established expertise in the construction and real estate sectors, and has recently been expanding its capabilities in the technology sphere. Marcin Chomiuk leads the team.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Chomiuk


Other key lawyers:

Adrian Andrychowski; Maciej Chrzan; Marcin Lewiński


Testimonials

‘We do recommend JDP to all other international companies with a Polish subsidiary.’

‘The whole JDP team is very professional. Nevertheless, we would especially recommend Marcin Lewiński who did a great job; he acts very fast and is dedicated to closing a deal on time.’

‘The firm’s key strength is the ability to provide high quality advice across the various legal disciplines.’

‘I always had confidence that Adrian Andrychowski acted in the best interests of our business.’

‘JDP is large enough to provide a full range of legal competencies for a large-scale business, yet small enough to really provide the tailored approach that one needs in today’s business environment.’

‘Adrian Andrychowski makes himself available to his clients to keep them up to date on the status of their cases. He is able to work across different geographical jurisdictions, as well as straddle the different competencies within JDP to get the right practitioner on the correct subject matter.’

‘Team is available on short notice, very engaged and takes the initiative. They bring together a lot of expertise from different team members. Team has a lot of practical experience that they are happy to share.’

‘All team members are exceptionally experienced and competent; easy-going people that I enjoy working with.’

Key clients

MAGNA Group


Bilfinger SE


Scope Fluidics


Apleona Group


Siemens


Adezz Group


Trei Real Estate GmbH


JAF Group


Terminal Inc.


Melitta Professional


Boehringer Ingelheim Business Services Poland


Waada The Movement


GreenPack Group


BestSecret


Paul Hartmann AG


Fluid Ice Family Office Ltd.


EPSA


Work highlights


  • Assisted EQT Group with the sale of its GETEC entities.
  • Assisted Trei Real Estate with the setting up of a joint venture with Patron Capital, a pan-European institutional investor focused on property-backed investments.
  • Assisted with a comprehensive restructuring of the Polish subsidiaries of Magna Group.

Krassowski

With its strong transactional focus, Krassowski is instructed by a mix of private equity funds, investors, and leading names from the healthcare, gaming, telecoms and power sectors to advise on the gamut of M&A deals. Founding partner Bartosz Krassowski oversees the work, closely supported by seasoned specialists Natalia Grzędzińska and Krzysztof Makosz, who provide more than 30 years’ of expertise between them.

Practice head(s):

Bartosz Krassowski; Natalia Grzędzińska; Krzysztof Makosz


Other key lawyers:

Natalia Wielgat


Testimonials

‘Quick reaction time. Very competent in the area of M&A transactions.’

‘Very practical approach to substantive issues.’

‘The practice is unique for 3 reasons: (i) experienced professionals in the field, (ii) pragmatic, problem-solving approach, and (iii) business-oriented, understand the client and are pro-active in business development.’

Key clients

LuxMed Sp. z o. o.


Diagnostyka Sp. z o.o.


Melvit S.A.


V-Ridium


Citomed sp. z o. o.


Industrial Starter S.p.A.


SYSTEMICS-PAB sp. z o.o.


Connectis sp. z o. o.


Stowarzyszenie Producentów Produktów Zbożowych


Work highlights


  • Advised LUXMED on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in MedPolonia, a Polish healthcare provider.
  • Advised the shareholders of Citomed on the sale of 100% of the stakes to LuxMed.

LegalKraft

In July 2022, LegalKraft made a concerted expansion in its offering through the acquisition of a bench of highly regarded practitioners from Maruta Wachta; team lead Daniel Jastrun brought of counsel Karolina Henriksson, and associates Mykola Zembra and Bartosz Kurzec, across with him. The change was made as part of a strategic move to become an advisor of choice for cross-border business operating within the Baltic sea region. Jastrun now jointly heads up the practice, alongside Artur Swirtun and Tomasz Rysiak.


Practice head(s):

Daniel Jastrun; Artur Swirtun; Tomasz Rysiak


Other key lawyers:

Karolina Henriksson; Mykola Zembra; Bartosz Kurzec; Beata Binek


Testimonials

‘Great team, great lawyers, great people. Very experienced, talented and business-minded.’

‘Artur Swirtun is an outstanding lawyer with a great team supporting him.’

‘A recognisable brand in the market, high quality of work and personal commitment. Professional approach to work which results in a high standard of service provision and corporate culture.’

Key clients

Barilla


CTS Corp.


Curated Content


EasyBrain


Elcowire Group


Librus


LTG Cargo


Max Poland


PEAB


Pracodawcy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej


Proxet


Tewa Temperature Sensors


The Scandinavian – Polish Chamber of Commerce


Work highlights


  • Providing ongoing corporate advice to Barilla in Poland.
  • Advising LTG Cargo and LTG Cargo Polska, subsidiaries of Lithuanian Railways, on commercial and corporate law aspects of their operations in Poland.

Norton Rose Fulbright

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright operates under the leadership of Agnieszka Braciszewska, who has particular experience advising clients operating in the private equity sector on asset acquisitions and disposals, as well as restructuring of holding structures; the group’s workload consequently reflects the specialisms of its practice head. Negotiation of special purpose acquisition vehicles is another core area of proficiency. At senior associate level, Aneta Janecka is the name to note.

Practice head(s):

Agnieszka Braciszewska


Other key lawyers:

Aneta Janecka; Maciej Dubiel


Testimonials

‘Good industry knowledge and good process management.’

‘Very committed.’

Key clients

Abris Capital Partners


Aegon Growth Capital


Allianz Capital Partners GmbH, London Branch


Aquila Capital Management GmbH


Aquiline Capital Partners


Arise AB


AXA XL


Bioventus


Enel Green Power S.p.A.


Energizer


Lantmännen ek för


Lear Corporation


Niam AB


Ortolan Capital GmbH


PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.


PGE Energia Odnawialna SA


Pinterest Inc.


Renesola Engineering International GmbH


Rockwell Automation


Societe Generale Equipment Leasing


Sompo International


SUSI Partners


TAURON Polska Energia S.A.


TFI Enrgia S.A.


Zhangjiakou Financial Holding Group


Work highlights


  • Advised SUSI Partners on a renewable energy joint venture with a local Polish partner for the acquisition of greenfield photovoltaic and wind projects, development of a retail trading arm with cPPA offtake capabilities, and an electricity balancing power offering.
  • Advised Enel Green Power on the joint development of a 346MW photovoltaic portfolio in Poland.
  • Advised Aquila Capital on the negotiation of project documents concerning a 20.4MW Donaborów wind farm portfolio in Poland.

PwC Legal Zelaznicki sp.k.

In close co-operation with the firm’s tax and regulatory practices, PwC Legal Zelaznicki sp.k. assists a wealth of local, foreign and multi-national companies, as well as Polish state-owned entities, on the gamut of corporate mandates. Recently, reorganisation and succession planning have been areas of particular focus for the team. Cezary Żelaźnicki heads up the practice, assisted by joint deputies Beata Kiedrowicz and Wojciech Trzciński.

Practice head(s):

Cezary Żelaźnicki; Beata Kiedrowicz; Wojciech Trzciński


Other key lawyers:

Artur Gątowski; Jacek Pawłowski


Testimonials

‘I highly appreciate the way that PwC Legal partners collaborate and assist their clients in their legal challenges and issues.’

Key clients

General Electric Group (GE Group) / GE-Hitachi


Indorama Ventures PLC


Bayer AG


Benefit Systems S.A.


Metric Capital Partners LLP


Shareholders of Capricorn S.A.


Proteon Pharmaceuticals


Pro-Project Group sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Benefit Systems on its investment into Lunching, a start-up operating an online food ordering platform.
  • Advised Proteon Pharmaceuticals, a biotech start-up producing bacteriophages for livestock farming and aquaculture, on a pre-IPO final financing round of €21m.
  • Advising Bayer on the sale of one of its business units.

Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp.k.

Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp.k. continues to advise a core group of leading names on day-to-day commercial law issues, domestic and cross-border M&A deals, and complex reorganisations. Private equity investments, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, de-mergers and divestitures all form part of the firm’s regular practice. Wlodzimierz Radzikowski and Gabriel Wujek oversee the department.

Practice head(s):

Włodzimierz Radzikowski; Gabriel Wujek


Other key lawyers:

Martyna Kamińska-Tabaka; Dariusz Michalski; Agnieszka Piasecka


Key clients

Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych S.A.


Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A.


Polpharma Biologics Warsaw sp. z o.o.


Mondi AG


Mondi Świecie S.A.


Polchar Sp. z o.o.


Mayland Real Estate Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych, a Polish automobile parts manufacturer, on the sale of approximately 742,000 square metres in the Żerań area, a northern part of Warsaw.

SMM Legal

Managing partner Maciej Mataczyński helms the offering at SMM Legal, and brings particular expertise in equity-backed and energy-related transactions to the team. The group is highly regarded for its M&A capabilities; the team’s strength in this space was recently highlighted by its involvement with the notable merger between PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos. Tomasz Jaranowski and Mateusz Stańczyk are also recommended advisors in the department.


Practice head(s):

Maciej Mataczyński


Other key lawyers:

Tomasz Jaranowski; Magdalena Cisowska; Miłosz Malaga; Mateusz Stańczyk


Testimonials

‘SMM provides technically excellent and very comprehensive advice and does so very quickly. They provide an excellent service and are very responsive to client requests.’

‘Mateusz Stańczyk provides technically excellent and very comprehensive advice within very short time frames, often within the same day.’

‘The team is creative, often finds unconventional solutions for our needs, and this, due to the very difficult legal conditions of our projects, is particularly important to us.’

Key clients

Grupa LOTOS S.A.


PKN ORLEN S.A.


National Centre For Research and Development (Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju)


Rotometal sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised PKN Orlen on its merger with Grupa Lotos, resulting in a total capitalisation of more than zł47bn.
  • Advising Grupa Lotos on its Gdansk Refinery spin-off.
  • Assisting the CEO of Rotometal with the management buyout of 100% of the company’s shares from Highlander Partners, a large investment fund, and from remaining minority shareholders.

Taylor Wessing Poland

Under the joint leaderhsip of Olav Nemling and Andrzej Mikosz, Taylor Wessing Poland assists clients with issues occuring at all stages of the corporate life cycle, from set-up, through early-stage funding rounds, to larger investments including private equity and M&A, to exits. The team has particular knowledge of the technology sector, and is also well versed in the healthcare, infrastructure, real estate and private wealth spaces.

Practice head(s):

Andrzej Mikosz; Olav Nemling


Other key lawyers:

Jakub Pitera; Katarzyna Matusiak; Patrycja Sojka


Testimonials

‘Very hands-on and focussed. Also fun to work with.’

‘Olav Nemling – very experienced in M&A; very good communication in both German and English.’

Key clients

GS Staalwerken Groep B. V.


mBank S.A.


Hauck & Aufhäuser Privatbankiers AG


BioMaxima S.A.


MLP Group S.A.


Work highlights


  • Advised GS Staalwerken Groep on the management buyout of shares in Smulders Polska, a company which the client owns.
  • Assisted Hauck & Aufhäuser Investment Banking and mBank with their roles as exchange trustee and settlement agent, respectively, on the exchange offer by Frankfurt-listed Vita 34 AG, Leipzig to the shareholders of Warsaw- listed stem cell bank Polski Bank Komórek Macierzystych.
  • Advised BioMaxima on the transfer of the company’s listing from NewConnect to the main trading floor of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

act BSWW legal & tax

With an equal focus on transactional and advisory corporate work, act BSWW legal & tax has a proven track record handling public and private M&A, reorganisations, and negotiations. The team’s leadership trio comprises Marek Wojnar, who has particular expertise in the real estate and construction sectors; Jacek Bieniak, who predominantly focuses on clients with ties to Italy; and commercial law expert Piotr Wojnar.

Practice head(s):

Marek Wojnar; Jacek Bieniak; Piotr Wojnar


Other key lawyers:

Marta Kosiedowska; Janusz Szeliński


Key clients

mPay


Foto Volt Eko


MA Investment


Interpump Group


Uno Capital


FM Solutions SPV


ZZ Development s. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advising Interpump Group on the acquisition of White Drive Motors & Steering for €278m.
  • Advising FM Solutions on the acquisition of shares in FM Solutions from Giovanni FIZ.
  • Advising Uno Capital on a real estate joint venture to develop a residential project in a resort town in southern Poland.

Andersen in Poland

Following the merger with FKA, the practice at Andersen in Poland is headed up by Tadeusz Komosa and Marcin Matyka; the former combines his corporate expertise with particular knowledge of the real estate and projects sectors. The team focuses principally on M&A deals and commercial transactions, and is instructed by a roster of both domestic and foreign investors.

Practice head(s):

Tadeusz Komosa; Marcin Matyka


Other key lawyers:

Angelina Długosz-Armańska; Piotr Krupa; Leszek Rydzewski; Aneta Górecka; Bartłomiej Wietrzykowski; Milena Wieczorek-Waszewska, Katarzyna de Rosset; Paulina Smulska


Testimonials

‘Very fast responce to client needs – accuracy – easiness of contact – extensive knowledge of different aspects of the business.’

‘Tadeusz Komosa: knowledge, personal commitment.’

‘Pragmatic approach. Understanding of local conditions. The client is involved and always informed.’

Key clients

Uponor Corporation


iSpot Poland Sp. z o.o.


Van Group S.A.


Ferratum Group


Makrowet


Service Innovation Group GmbH


Unimot


Delpharm


Budoserwis


EGM Limestone Mine / PKG Polish Granite Mines


NGK Ceramics


Work highlights


  • Advising Unimot Group on the acquisition of the fuel storage and bitumen disinvestment businesses from Grupa Lotos and PKN Orlen.
  • Advised Delpharm on the legal and tax aspects of the acquisition of a manufacturing plant in Poznań from GlaxoSmithKline.
  • Assisted Budoserwis, a Polish construction company, with negotiations for the agreement for construction works relating to the modernisation of selected areas of Arcelor Mittal’s steel plant.

Bakowski Law Firm

Bakowski Law Firm focuses on advising players with Polish and foreign capital, who are operating on the local market. Mandates involving the structuring, optimisation and reorganisation of companies form a significant part of the team’s workload. Recently, the team has advised numerous investment and venture capital funds active in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. Aldona Hapyn and Igor Bąkowski are the key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Aldona Hapyn; Igor Bąkowski


Testimonials

‘An amazing mix of motivation and skill. Highly experienced. When appropriate they apply innovative technology in their practice.’

‘Top individuals as far as education and understanding of the law is concerned.’

‘Exceptional work for startups.’

‘Team is responsive and capable.’

‘Igor Bąkowski knowledgeable and creative in his approach.’

‘They are very patient, as I am not familiar with Polish policies. They directed us in the right way and explained everything thoroughly.’

‘They are experienced people who have established long term cooperation with our company.’

‘Individual approach to the client. Availability, commitment, honesty, transparency, competitive prices.’

Key clients

Calmsie Sp. z o.o.


Qantifier Sp. z o.o.


LAMEX


SPDC-ProWay


PCR Industri


Horyzont Media


Eskulap


Habitat for Humanity


SkillsPoland sp. z o.o.


Well and Done


Polish Recycling Association


ZURAD sp. z o.o.


PIT-RADWAR S.A.


EDC Holdings Ltd


Slovenské elektrárne a.s.


Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.


Polish Agency for Enterprise Development


SPDC Holding


SPDC International


Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS)


CK Source Sp. z o.o.


deVere Group


BC Partners


Przyjaciele Kawy Sp. z o.o.


NAKAMACHI


ELI Inc.


HOLISTIC PHYSIO Sp. z o.o.


PREMA S.A.


PREMA-INWEST S.A.


Bomm Sp. z o.o. Sp. k.


BYWATER PROPERTIES SP. Z O.O.


SledovaniTV


Mozaic Group of Poland LLC


Tech-food S.A.


TNK Poland Sp. z o.o.


TRT – Trade Sp. z o.o.


TRT-Trade


UAB BOD GROUP


UNICOMS


Kosmetyka Naturalna Sp. z o.o.


RMI Sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised PIT-RADWAR, a developer and producer of telecoms equipment and innovative solutions for the military, on the restructuring of its portfolio companies, and negotiation of several national and international commercial contracts.
  • Advising Universal Weather and Aviation, a US-based company providing aircraft fuelling services and aircraft maintenance services worldwide, on issues relating to commercial contracts in Poland.
  • Assisted SPDC International with an M&A transaction, leading to the creation of SPDC-ProWay.

NGL Legal

In spring 2022, NGL Legal established a joint commercial, corporate and M&A team which unites a 'devoted team of lawyers' from the Warsaw and Poznań offices under the leadership of 'top professional' Krzysztof Wiater. The firm is much lauded for understanding the specifics of transactions involving state-owned companies. Counsel Dominika Mazur is also noteworthy.


Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Wiater


Other key lawyers:

Dominika Mazur


Testimonials

‘Very good team, well experienced with a creative business approach and understanding of client expectations. Really smooth and fruitful co-operation.’

‘Krzysztof Wiater is a top professional – with good understanding of how state-owned companies operate and what their risk approach is.’

‘Fantastic leadership by Krzysztof Wiater. Devoted team of lawyers, very competent and flexible.’

Key clients

EDP Comercial S.A.


Fortuna Entertainment Group a.s.


Grow Energy Management LDA


Owners of Impladent


PGE Energia Odnawialna S.A.


PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (PGE S.A.)


Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen S.A. (PKN Orlen S.A.)


Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A. (PGNiG S.A.)


Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń S.A. (PZU S.A.)


Shareholders of CDT Medicus sp. z o.o.


Sun Contracting AG


TAURON Polska Energia S.A.


Techtronic Industries Eastern Europe sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advising PKN Orlen on the acquisition of assets from the joint venture between the client and LyondellBasell Industries Holdings.
  • Advising TAURON Polska Energia on the acquisition of shares in the company developing the wind plant project Mierzyn.
  • Advising PZU on the acquisition of shares in Twoarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Energia from PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

PATH Law LLP

In December 2021, the team at PATH Law LLP was significantly strengthened by its merger with Kielian and Partners; notable names from the latter practice include Sergiusz Kielian and Maciej Owczarewicz, of counsel Anna Ochocka, and senior associate Małgorzata Lejman. Name partner Kielian now jointly oversees the department with Dominika Mizielińska. The firm runs the gamut of corporate and commercial mandates, with a particular focus on assisting high-net-worth-individuals with investment strategies.


Practice head(s):

Dominika Mizielińska; Sergiusz Kielian


Other key lawyers:

Maciej Owczarewicz; Anna Ochocka; Małgorzata Lejman


Testimonials

‘Dominika Mizielińska is very efficient and always delivers on time with a very practical solution at hand. Dominika is super knowledgeable in her field and makes you feel confident in whatever suggestion she provides.’

‘Seamless internal co-ordination of team effort, and also wuth foreign legal resources where necessary.’

‘ Sergiusz Kielian and Małgorzata Lejman always provide timely, relevant and proactive support.’

Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsel

Working with a predominantly Polish client base, Prof. Marek Wierzbowski and Partners Advocates and Legal Counsel is a go-to advisor for local buyers and sellers. The team’s regular workload spans M&A transactions, share sales and purchases, and fund establishments. The group is also known for providing ongoing day-to-day corporate assistance to leading names, including Grupa Lotos and John Cockerill Defence. Marek Wierzbowski heads up the practice.

Practice head(s):

Marek Wierzbowski


Other key lawyers:

Sławomir Jakszuk; Mariusz Rypina; Stanisław Radowicki


Testimonials

‘The team is great. They are very invested in all projects and we have now been co-operating for alomst 10 years.’

‘Stanisław Radowicki is just great. His knowlege, engagement and support is just what we need. It is easy to contact him and in all projects he is very supportive. What makes him different from other lawyers we worked with is his deep understanding of business needs and rules.’

‘We strongly recommend Stanisław Radowicki to everyone.’

Key clients

John Cockerill Defense Poland Sp. Z o.o.


Grupa LOTOS S.A.


MAXI PIZZA S.A.


STALEXPORT AUTOSTRADY S.A.


PKN Orlen S.A.


Boryszew S.A.


Żegluga Polska S.A.


Fundusz Sektora Mieszkań dla Rozwoju FIZ AN


Prosper Capital Dom Maklerski S.A.


Millennials Venture Capital ASI S.A.


Prosper Capital Dom Maklerski S.A.


Betfan


Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna


Betfan


Uczelnia Lingwistyczno-Techniczna etfan


ITCraftship


Uniwersytet Gdanski


Krakowska Akademia im. Andrzeja Fryczza Modrzewskiego


Nasz Lekarz Przychodnie Medyczne


Work highlights


  • Advising John Cockerill Defence Poland on various corporate issues relating to the modernisation of 60 BWP-1 vehicles.
  • Providing general corporate advice to Grupa Lotos.
  • Advised MaxiPizza on the process of increasing its share capital, as well as on certain regulatory issues, and the organisation and fulfilment of duties related to a general meeting of shareholders.

RKKW – Kwasnicki, Wrobel & Partners

At RKKW – Kwasnicki, Wrobel & Partners, negotiating shareholder agreements, advising on M&A transactions, and assisting with investments are the core areas of focus. Krzysztof Wróbel , Jarosław Szewczyk and Radosław Kwaśnicki are the most senior practitioners to note. The promotions of Piotr Letolc and ‘superbMarcin Jasiński in January 2022 further strengthened the bench at partner level.


Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Wróbel; Jarosław Szewczyk


Other key lawyers:

Radosław Kwaśnicki; Piotr Letolc; Marcin Jasiński


Testimonials

‘Professional approach, extensive substantive knowledge and practical knowledge of the market.’

‘I have the pleasure of working with Jarosław Szewczyk – what makes him different from the competitors is that he is always available for the client no matter how much work he has in the moment, he is very responsive. He has extensive legal knowledge and also a lot of practical experience. He always tries to advise what is best for the client in the moment and tries hard to work out the best solution satisfying business needs. I fully trust his assesment and his advice.’

‘Understanting of fast-paced and often unpredictable nature of business.’

Key clients

Atende S.A.


Giełda Papierów Wartościowych w Warszawie S.A.


Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN S.A.


PGNiG Ventures sp.zo.o.


Grupa Oryx sp. z o.o.


GRUPA LOTOS S.A.


Benefit Systems International sp. z o.o.


Omikron Capital sp. z o.o.


Menlo Electric S.A.


Instytut Energetyki


Grupa Pracuj S.A.


EleDriveCo sp. z o.o.


Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.


WMA A01 sp. z o.o.


Drutex S.A.


Harvent Capital sp. z o.o.


Atest – Joanna i Dariusz Kobierscy – Spółka Jawna


Work highlights


  • Providing ongoing commercial advice to Drutex, a supplier of windows, doors and shutters, operating across Europe.
  • Providing ongoing corporate and commercial advice to WMA A01, including assisting with issues related to asset management and investment projects.
  • Advised Menlo Electric, a photovoltaic distributor, on its co-operation with KUKE and KUKE Finance, as well as securing financing from mBank for zł20m.

Chabasiewicz, Kowalska I Partnerzy Radcowie Prawni

Chabasiewicz, Kowalska I Partnerzy Radcowie Prawni is particularly active in the capital investment space, and is frequently instructed to assist start-ups with such work, as well as advising on a wide range of other corporate issues. Agata Kowalska and Antoni Liśkiewicz are the key names to note on the M&A side, while Magdalena Golonka takes the lead on commercial matters.

Practice head(s):

Agata Kowalska; Magdalena Golonka; Antoni Liśkiewicz


Other key lawyers:

Wojciech Chabasiewicz


Testimonials

‘People in the firm are purpose driven, very communicative and highly effective.’

‘Wojciech Chabasiewicz is efficient and communicates well.’

‘Agata Kowalska has great experience in the area of M&A.’

Key clients

Strix Poland sp. z o.o.


Wimba Poland sp. z o.o.


Secfense sp. z o.o.


Summa Linguae Technologies S.A.


Benhauer sp. z o.o.


HCM Deck sp. z o.o.


BV sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised Benhauer on its acquisition by two English funds, Perwyn and SilverTree Equity.
  • Advised Summa Linguae Technologies on its acquisition of 100% of the shares in Datamundi, a Belgium-based language services provider.
  • Advised Strix Poland on its merger with Netherlands-based company ShopWorks eCommerce.

LSW Bieńkowski, Laskowski, Leśnodorski, Melzacki and Partners sp.k.

Under the joint leadership of Krzysztof Laskowski and Bogusław Leśnodorski, the ‘amazing‘ team at LSW Bieńkowski, Laskowski, Leśnodorski, Melzacki and Partners sp.k. handles a wide range of corporate and commercial work. Contract negotiation is a particular area of expertise, with the group regularly advising on sale agreements, asset deals, and incentive schemes. Practitioners are also frequently instructed to take on the roles of members of supervisory boards.

Practice head(s):

Krzysztof Laskowski; Bogusław Leśnodorski


Other key lawyers:

Michał Klimowicz; Jerzy Łopatyński


Testimonials

‘Diverse team of partners, so it is easy to find a match in terms of skillset and communication style. I perceive the team as truly caring personally for the client.’

‘Krzysztof Laskowski is always focused on the details and strives for perfection. However at the same time he has great soft skills and is full of understanding towards the client. This mix of features allows client to have peace of mind while dealing with complex transactions.’

‘The team was amazing. Everyone since the beginning of our co-operation it was super involved in all the issues.’

Key clients

Gemini Polska spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością


Instytut Monitorowania Mediów Spółka Akcyjna


KTS Weszło Spółka Akcyjna


Psychodnia Marta Labuda


Loando Group


45Avenue sp. z o.o.


Marcinkowscy spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością spółka komandytowa (limited partnership) with its registered seat in Warsaw


Cambridge Chocolate Technologies S.A.


Adiuvo Investments S.A.


4EST S.A.


APK Production S.A.


Platige Image S.A.


Purella sp. z o.o.


Work highlights


  • Advised a Polish company which was established in order to manage Polish football team KTS Weszło on the process of raising funds through crowdfunding.
  • Advised the owners of Loando Group, which operates in the field of online lending services, new technologies, and fintech, on the sale of all its shares to Sweden-based buyer Clar Group.
  • Advised two major shareholders of a listed company on a transaction involving the sale of 80% of the shares in Cambridge Chocolate Technologies to two individual investors.

Olesinski & Wspolnicy

Olesinski & Wspolnicy is valued by clients for its integrative approach, combining transactional expertise with in-depth knowledge of taxation issues; 'great leader' Rafał Olesiński exemplifies this approach. Alongside Olesiński, the key senior contacts are 'high-class specialist' Michał Bogacz and Magdalena Tyrakowska-Szymczak - the latter oversees much of the corporate work, including where it overlaps with capital markets matters.

Practice head(s):

Rafał Olesiński; Michał Bogacz; Magdalena Tyrakowska-Szymczak


Other key lawyers:

Samanta Osowska


Testimonials

‘Professional, clear communication by a friendly and helpful team.’

‘Extremely professional, friendly team with broad experience. I was under a very positive impression of their ability to explain and manage all issues that arise on the way.’

‘Always professional, always prepared and able to help.’

‘Flexibility and level of engagement into the clients’ matters.’

‘What I appreciate most is the availability of experts in many areas of law, a very professional, friendly approach to the client and the ability to communicate intricate legal provisions in a very clear and understandable way.’

‘Michał Bogacz is a high-class specialist.’

‘Rafał Olesiński – great leader and role model for his team.’

‘Extraordinary engagement, perfect communication.’

Key clients

Archicom S.A. [Inc]


ATM Grupa S.A. [Inc]


Booksy International sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


bValue Bridge sp. z o.o. ASI sp.k.


CCC S.A. [Inc]


DataWalk S.A. [Inc]


DEVELIA S.A. [Inc]


Modivo S.A. [Inc]


Flightscope sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Gigaset Communications sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Horex.pl sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


iFirma S.A. [Inc]


Impel S.A. [Inc]


Innoenergy Central Europe sp. z o.o.


IZOBLOK S.A. [Inc]


Kolej Gondolowa Jaworzyna Krynicka S.A. [Inc]


Libet S.A. [Inc]


Lokum Deweloper S.A. [Inc]


Lubawa S.A. [Inc]


Mechanistry sp. z o.o.


MKK3 sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Niemchem.ocm sp. z o.o.


Picadilla Games Adziński, Porzucek, Czerenkiewicz spółka komandytowa [Lp]


Polskie Koleje Linowe S.A. [Inc]


Selena FM S.A. [Inc]


Selena S.A. [Inc]


Silver Hexarion Holdings Limited [Inc]


Syrius Investments S.a.r.l. [Inc]


Tarczyński S.A. [Inc]


Ten Square Games S.A. [Inc]


The Heart S.A.


Vive Textile Recycling [Ltd]


XTPL S.A. [Inc]


Zago Capital I sp. z o.o. [Alternative Investment Company]


ZREW Transformatory S.A. [Inc]


Stileo sp. z o.o.


Libertist Yachts sp. z o.o


Silekol sp. z o.o.


GEA Tuchenhagen Polska sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Alides Polska sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Stocznia Cesarska Management sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Stocznia Cesarska Development sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Dyrekcja Office sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Gdansk Development Holding [Inc.]


Smulders B.V.


Fabryka Konstrukcji Stalowych i Maszyn Spomasz S.A.


Teleste Oyj


Exlabesa Extrusion Opole sp. z o.o.


INTERSPORT Polska S.A.


VOSS Automotive Polska sp. z o.o.


Stölzle Lausitz GmbH


optAd360 sp. z o.o.


Projektmanagement sp. z o.o.


Umicore Poland sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Umicore NV [Inc]


Umicore AG & Co. KG [L.P.]


Umicore Autocat Poland sp. z o.o. [Ltd]


Work highlights


  • Advised Zago Capital I ASI on a share swap transaction involving 4 companies.
  • Advised the founders on the cross-border sale of 100% of the shares in Stileo.

Sadkowski I Wspólnicy

With a concerted focus on the commercial side, overseen by managing associate Rafał Małolepszy, Sadkowski I Wspólnicy provides advisory services to clients from the gamut of industry sectors. Management board representatives, company-authorised signatories and members of supervisory boards regularly instruct the firm. Mariusz Kowolik brings his 'perfect negotiation skills' to M&A mandates.

Practice head(s):

Mariusz Kowolik; Rafał Małolepszy


Other key lawyers:

Patrycja Wieczorek


Testimonials

‘The Sadkowski team is unique because the are available 24/7, including the weekend if the problem has to be solved immediately.’

‘They are flexible depending of the problem and are discusiing internally several scenarios and then presenting afterwards ready advice and solutions. They always see several steps ahead.’

‘The law firm employs specialists in all possible areas.’

Key clients

UNIMOT S.A.


Work highlights


  • Advising Unimot on the transfer of an organised part of the company’s enterprise to its subsidiary Unimot Paliwa.

Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k.

Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. is noted for its capability in mid-market deals, especially those involving an international element; in recent highlights, the firm has been involved with several corporate reorganisations for high-profile global clients. Marcin Wnukowski, who has particular expertise in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, heads up the practice.

Practice head(s):

Marcin Wnukowski


Other key lawyers:

Paweł Magierowski


Testimonials

‘Quality adivce, provided rapidly.’

‘They have knowledge of our particular needs.’

‘Provide comprehensive action plans.’

‘Marcin Wnukowski – great communication’

Key clients

Bausch Health Companies


Chiltern Capital


Coinfirm Limited


Acciona Energy


Vidoomy Media


COBI S.A.


Bimba y Lola


OEC


Bausch+Lomb


Ligentia


Work highlights


  • Advised Kongsberg Automotive, a European automotive manufacturer, on the sale of its Interior Comfort Systems business unit to Lear Corporation following, approval by the European Commission.
  • Advised Ligentia, a UK-based freight forwarding and logistics provider, on the acquisition of VGL Solid Group, a Polish freight forwarding services provider.