CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k. is instructed on trade union negotiations, immigration-related issues and sensitive internal HR investigations, leveraging its international network to support on an array of domestic and multinational mandates. The team also assists clients in setting up pension schemes and routinely handles regulatory matters regarding salaries in the financial services sector. Katarzyna Dulewicz heads the department and is supported by senior associates Maciej Andrzejewski and Agnieszka Kałwa, as well as counsel Tomasz Sancewicz .
Employment in Poland
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k.
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Testimonials
‘Good commercial advice, good value on rates and know our business well.’
‘ I always appreciate the support provided by CMS, containing not only information about law regulations but also advice concerning possible solutions and risks combined to them.’
‘The advice provided by them is always detailed, on time, containing proper interpretation.’
‘Tomasz Sanciewicz has a very commercial practice, does not sit on the fence, knows our business and is very responsive.’
Key clients
Primark Limited
Coty, Inc.
ZTE Corporation
Douglas
TJX
Egger
Ringier Axel Springer
Alvogen Pharma Sp.
Honeywell Services
British Telecom
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA
Bentley
Vistra International
BPH S.A.
Equiniti Limited
Motorex AG
Korn Ferry
Universal Music
Warner Media
Becton Dickinson
Pharmaceutical Restructuring International
Atlantia S.p.A.
Partner in Pet Food
Mondi
AirHelp
Grupa Azoty
Zensar Technologie
Jamf Software
Bruker
Electrolux
Work highlights
- Advised Coty on an outsourcing deal from Coty to Accenture.
- Assisted Honeywell with implementing new HR software – time and attendance system.
- Advising TJX on Covid related topics during shops’ closure.
Dentons
Compliance and corporate law expert Aleksandra Minkowicz-Flanek leads the employment and labour practice at Dentons; her team is particularly formidable in the field of employment-related restructurings, dismissals and employee transfers, tax-efficient structures, regional projects, contentious matters and crisis situations such as mobbing and harassment allegations. The practice is equipped to support on matters across the entirety of Europe and includes Magda Słomska, a go-to name for management board members and HR Directors.
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Testimonials
‘The team is unique in that it acts fast and swiftly with great quality of advice and execution; you can rely on this team to get the results your business needs.’
‘Dentons is my preferred firm for employment law in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. They are practical and realistic in their advice, often explaining the law and the practice to manage our expectations.’
‘Very responsive, great attention to detail and very flexible. Nothing is too much trouble.’
‘Clear understanding of our company; excellent communication and advise.’
‘Magda Słomska is very knowledgeable, willing to go the extra mile, provides outstanding advice.’
‘They’ll explain what the law says vs what we find in practice and the real risk of the decisions we make. Standout individuals Poland are Aleksandra Minkowicz-Flanek (the best employment law litigator) and Magda Słomska.’
Key clients
CEE Equity Partners
Green Investment Group
Stage Capital Management Limited
Qair Poland
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna
Fortum Power and Heat Poland
ENEA
POLENERGIA
EDPR
International Finance Corporation
Taiga Mistral
DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.
DLA Piper‘s employment team consists of both lawyers and tax advisors and provides clients with day-to-day employment advice, as well as support on social security benefits regarding individual and collective labour law. The department is chaired by Agnieszka Lechman-Filipiak and includes senior associate Dominika Nowak, an expert in advising international companies entering Poland, in addition to counsel Michał Synowiec who focuses on labour law disputes. Further key strengths include trade union and employee relations, discrimination and diversity management, pensions, employee benefits, incentive issues and restructuring arrangements.
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Testimonials
‘Unparalleled practical approach to complex legal issues; flexibility; creativity in terms of finding the most suitable solution.’
‘I really value the fact that DLA Piper helps us to implement unusual solutions like unlimited holidays and additional leave plans, these require an open mind and creative approach.’
‘The people are the greatest value; their high personal culture, willingness to help and, of course, professionalism and knowledge, inquisitiveness and never giving up, always putting the client’s good first.’
‘Agnieszka Lechman-Filipiak- High level of English and has a very good approach in explaining Polish employment law to foreigners.’
‘Dominika Nowak is a great lawyer with a pragmatic and creative mindset. I like working with her, which is why this has been a standing relationship for over 4 years now.’
‘Mr Hubert Hajduczenia – organisational skills, the competence and practical experience in the field of labour law, especially procedural aspects of labour law, the enthusiasm and readiness to engage in research and educational projects.’
‘Michlał Synowiec is a fantastic lawyer. He is incredibly responsive and helpful and always ready to go the extra mile for his clients. His advice is succinct and commercial and he excels at finding a practical solution.’
Key clients
Amgen
Ardagh
Credit Suisse
Duracell
Elavon
Emirates Airlines
Finastra
GSC
Houghton
Levi Strauss
Livanova
PGNIG
PKP
PORR
Revolut
ROSS Stores
SDL
Siemens
Synopsys
Teatr Kwadrat
TMF
Trakcja
Vertex
WizzAir
Work highlights
- Assisted an Israel-based digital entertainment company in employment related aspects of entering the Polish market, including advising on relocating several hundreds of employees from Belarus to Poland.
- Representing a teacher whose employment contract was not renewed due to her disability.
- Advised Żabka Polska on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Maczfit Foods from Resource Partners.
Raczkowski
Raczkowski advises employers on all aspects of employment law, including HR management, social security law, litigation, compliance, criminal business law and employee taxation. Of recent note, the team has also been handling remote working advice, government programmes for employees and online terminations as a result of Covid-19. Managing partner Bartłomiej Raczkowski, Dominika Dörre-Kolasa and Łukasz Kuczkowski all jointly lead the group. Katarzyna Dobkowska is also a key name, advising Polish and international clients in a variety of mandates regarding HR and employment law.
Practice head(s):
Bartłomiej Raczkowski; Dominika Dörre-Kolasa; Łukasz Kuczkowski
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Raczkowski really stood out as truly outstanding and a league apart across a number of dimensions: their tremendous expertise in the field and depth of understanding across local labor and employment law, cross border matters and IP matters stood out right from our first conversation, which was critical to us.’
‘Recommended for their ability to deal with a very complex commercial arrangement (that included our company, our customers, and local contractors) as well as come up with creative solutions and approaches to achieve our business goals; very rapid responsiveness and very high quality deliverables; and being mindful of our budget and working with us within our budget.’
‘They are known to be the best for employment matters, very experienced and also knowledgeable about our industry.’
‘Katarzyna Dobkowska is committed to delivering the best services in a very efficient manner and understands the business needs of the customer.’
Key clients
Astellas
Decathlon
Citibank
Castorama
Coca-Cola HBC Polska
Hotel Sheraton
Hotel Westin
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Johnson & Johnson Poland
VIMN Poland
Procter & Gamble
Sephora
UPS
Wardynski & Partners
At Wardynski & Partners, the practice litigates a number of contentious employment matters including termination, accidents at work, competition bans and discrimination. Restructuring expert Agnieszka Lisiecka co-leads the department alongside Szymon Kubiak, a specialist in individual and collective labour law from both a Polish and European perspective. The department is also reputed for its outsourcing, domestic and international transactions, internal investigation and crisis management expertise, as well as an increasing number of global mobility and data protection mandates. Agnieszka Godulska is also a name of note, handling individual, collective, and EU employment law matters,
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Testimonials
‘Super professional and prompt reaction on any case we may have – always smooth and great collaboration with advisors, who are fully committed to the client. Also being very open for the solution proposed by the client.’
‘The Wardynski team has proven to be a very valuable partner for our operations in Poland. As a North American based company, the Polish legal landscape and culture can be a challenge and quite alien to our natural thought processes. Wardynski’s team has been strong in bridging that gap.’
‘Wardynski & Partners employment team always provides the best quality business-oriented services and is able to meet even very tight deadlines. They always use client-friendly language and explain all legal reasonings clearly. The team has a strong reputation in employment litigation and risk management advisory, as well as in day-to-day HR matters and data protection.’
‘The practice shares its knowledge by publishing articles on important employment matters, which was extremely helpful during the pandemic, including rapidly changing law in this respect. The online seminars are also useful. Wardynski & Partners employment team understands the market situation and is able to connect business with external services providers ready to serve non-legal services.’
‘We chose this team for complicated matters that required a comprehensive approach and a combination of knowledge from various areas. The company’s employees are characterised by professionalism, reliability and timeliness in carrying out cases. There is always a nice and constructive atmosphere during online meetings and conferences. The quality of the services provided was satisfactory and the price was within our budget.’
‘Wardynski and Partners has been supporting us for many years for employment litigation, restructuring, termination, mobbing, and discrimination so in principle HR related areas. We are always happy with the high level of passion and individual engagement and open collaboration. They always deliver high flexibility and really dive deep into the problem. The team we work with is absolutely awesome, and I am never left unanswered or disappointed. Our long-lasting cooperation has turned into a strong partnership for mutual success.’
‘Agnieszka Godulska is a great support for us, bringing a lot of experience and knowledge to support very complex transitions. Her role is crucial!’
‘Szymon Kubiak is always responds quickly to our queries, with very clear and relevant guidance. He understands what a foreign company, which is headquartered in a Common Law jurisdiction, needs to know about Polish law.’
‘Agnieszka Lisiecka is a top employment practitioner in Poland who is always professional and reachable to meet business needs. She always provides best quality service and finds practical solutions even in extremely complex and difficult situations, including risk management. Agnieszka Godusławska is a strong team member known for her litigation skills. She effectively handles complex situations and combines legal knowledge with a business approach. She understands clients’ needs and businesses well.’
Key clients
adidas Poland Sp. z o.o.
Allfunds Bank, S.A.U.
Arvato Polska
Audytel S.A.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
CHC Helicopter
Constantia Flexibles International GmbH
CXC Global Poland Sp. z o.o.
Dryvit Systems USA (Europe) sp. z o.o.
Frank Recruitment Group Limited
G2A.COM sp. z o.o.
H+H Polska Sp. z o.o.
JMP Flowers Ptaszek Spółka Jawna
KK Wind Solutions
KK Wind Solutions Polska sp. z o.o.
Konsorcjum doradczo-szkoleniowe S.A.
Mabion S.A.
Ørsted
Orsted Polska Sp. z o.o.
Sandvik
Sandvik Machining Solutions AB
Verifone sp. z o.o.
Verifone European Shared Services sp. z o.o.
Victaulic Company
VMWare Inc.
Work highlights
- Advised Salling Group on a large transaction involving the acquisition of shares in Tesco, including employment and data protection matters.
- Supported clients in internal investigations, including forensic audits and anti-discrimination and harassment proceedings, in particular in proceedings initiated as result of whistle-blowers’ reports.
- Represented a client in a cross-border matter involving court proceedings pending in connection with a workplace accident suffered by the Polish employee abroad.
Wojewodka i Wspolnicy Sp.k.
Wojewodka i Wspolnicy Sp.k. is a boutique firm which primarily advises employers on collective and individual labour law and employee benefits. It specialises in pension scheme issues and assisting employers on relations with trade unions and other employee representation, as well as wage collective disputes and restructuring. On the contentious front, the team is adept at representing employers before common courts, the Supreme Court and public administration bodies. Founder Marcin Wojewódka co-leads the team alongside Alicja Pawelec , Adrian Prusik, Piotr Nietrzpiel and Jolanta Ślesicka-Wyszyńska.
Practice head(s):
Marcin Wojewódka; Alicja Pawelec; Adrian Prusik; Piotr Nietrzpiel; Jolanta Ślesicka-Wyszyńska
Key clients
Polska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej
Services Agency
Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa
for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture
Budimex
3M Poland
Michelin Polska
Bridgestone Poznań
L’oreal
Lotte Wedel
Unilever Polska
Calsberg Polska
Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.
The employment practice at Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k. is split between the Warsaw and Łódź offices, handling both regional and international projects, a forte made possible due to the firm’s vast international network. Managing partner Piotr Rawski and counsel Michal Lisawa co-chair the team which thrives in respect of the HR elements of transactions, restructurings and employment litigation, also fielding a dedicated pension scheme practice.
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Testimonials
‘The speed and the ability to answer the questions from a client is what I value the most about this firm. They are always trying to offer solutions that are client oriented.’
‘Michal Lisawa is always ready to answer the questions. He is very approachable, has shown a great commitment and always gives practical solutions.’
Key clients
Accenture
Biogen
Broadcom
ByteDance
CBRE
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
JTI
Kantar
Netflix
Standard Chartered Bank
Westinghouse Electric Company
Work highlights
- Assisted Hewlett Packard with implementing new working models in Poland, reflecting the group’s new global strategy.
- Assisted Weber-Stephen with setting up an entity in Poland and starting operations, preparing all employment-related templates and policies and reviewing contracts with vendors as well as day-to-day advice.
- Assisted GlaxoSmithKline on a couple of big projects, including reorganisation, outsourcing and the sale of part of business in Poland.
Baran Książek & Bigaj
Baran Książek & Bigaj‘s employment practice is situated across Warsaw and Krakow with an impressive portfolio of clients including IKEA, Tesco and PfizerPolska. The team is particularly adept in supporting clients in reorganisations and restructurings and is led by managing partner and firm founder Daniel Książek; he is especially well-regarded for his track record in trade union disputes, as well as litigation surrounding discrimination in the workplace.
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Testimonials
‘Great support, understanding of the market and company needs and a holistic approach with consultancy.’
‘I trust that even in urgent situations, I will get professional support basically right away, regardless of the situation. It makes me, as a client, feel secure that in case of any emergency topic, I will get professional, high-level support.’
‘High specialisation of topics, a partnership approach to the client, and understanding of needs.’
‘Very deep understanding of the company, its culture and ways of solving issues. This allows for having the legal support well anchored in company strategies and values. Quick and to-the-point advice, well adjusted to the situation.’
‘Building good relations by the lawyers, availability (we can talk whenever we need it), and practical knowledge from other employers.’
‘A super professional law firm specialising in labor law. Providing in-depth legal analyses covering a wide spectrum of the legal status, handling pre-trial and trial cases in a way that gives the client a sense of security and care.’
‘Outstanding professionals with extensive legal knowledge, especially in the field of labor law and related fields.’
‘Great team of experts, very competent, reliable and customer oriented.’
Key clients
Bank Nowy BFG S.A.
AstraZeneca Pharma Poland Sp. z o.o.
HEMPOLAND SP. Z O.O.
IKEA Retail Sp.z o.o.
PfizerPolska Sp. zo.o.,
Pfizer Trading Polska Sp. z o.o.
Sanofi-Aventis Sp. z o.o.
ING Bank Śląski S.A.
Tesco (Polska) Sp. z o.o.
DHL Express (Poland) Sp. z o.o.,
DHL Parcel Polska Sp. z o.o.
Medicover Sp. z o.o.
TNT
FedexExpress Poland International Sp. z o.o.
Work highlights
- Advised the Social Dialogue Council on the proper regulation of occupational health and safety issues, in particular with respect to persons working on a basis other than an employment agreement.
- Provided the Ministry of Finance and Tax & Customs Academy with a series of workshops on labor law in order to improve the quality of work.
- Supporting the Ministry of Finance on the preparation of an opinion on the strike.
Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k.
Karolina Stawicka leads the employment department at Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. which caters to clients in the TMT and IT, banking and finance, life sciences, food and beverage, construction, media & entertainment sectors. The capabilities of the team are far reaching and include advising on M&A and restructurings, TUPE transfers, employee incentives, pension schemes and social security and employment litigation. The team is also increasingly active in immigration matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Paulina Grotkowska-Harrington; Paula Koczara; Michal Olszewski; Barbara Klimczyk; Kacper Podplomyk
Testimonials
‘We particularly value the project management skills that all B&B lawyers possess. They do not only respond quickly to legal problems and queries, but they are always proactive and take a lead in managing projects for us. They ensure that our needs are met timely, with fully understanding of our business, specifics of the IT sector and our organization. Thanks to such comprehensive support we have full trust in them as our legal advisors.’
‘The team has good knowledge with a proactive approach.’
‘Karolina Stawicka effectively supervises all the team members making sure that lawyers are allocated to best fit to the nature of a given query. She is very responsive, proactive and business friendly. Great managerial skills.’
‘Paulina Grotkowska is a leading lawyer involving hands-on support for us. She has a deep understanding of business and clients’ needs when providing a pragmatic approach and to the point advice.’
‘Michal Olszewski is a technical and analytical advisor with deep awareness of cross-practice situations, not only related to employment. Cross-boarder and commercial advisory are also the areas of his expertise.’
‘Barbara Klimczyk is a great negotiator with a strong understanding of court proceedings. She calmly and clearly explains complicated legal problems.’
‘We have been working in the last 12 months with Kacper Podplomyk and Michal Olszewski. Both are very good and thorough lawyers. They are both very nice colleagues to work with and valued by the team and our internal clients.’
Key clients
Pfizer Group
Dominium Pizza
Gaz System
Rackspace Group
Remote Technology Group
Remitly Poland
OpenX
Workday Group
ESSPEE Złom
Work highlights
- Supporting the Pfizer Group regarding Polish aspects of a cross-border transaction on a global spin-off and combination of companies with a total deal value of USD 12bn.
- Advised Dominium Pizza on all employment-related aspects on a reverse takeover of a Dominium franchise in Poland with a total deal value of GBP 23m of the acquisition valued Dominium, and an associated GBP 5.2m institutional fundraising was also conducted as part of the transaction.
- Supporting Remitly in establishing and operating an engineering talent centre in Poland that aims to gather software developers to support the fast growth of the company.
Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka
Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka supports clients on a wide range of employment matters, including collective work agreements between employers and trade unions, restructurings and employee retirement schemes. The team also advises on health and safety in the workplace matters, discrimination issues and business immigration, while also supporting M&A transactions. Bogusław Kapłon heads the department, leveraging considerable experience in trade union negotiations, and is supported by Agata Mierzwa, an expert in respect of restructuring, ground redundancy and TUPE affairs.
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Testimonials
‘Responsive, extremely practice oriented, very good market knowledge, uncomplicated, business-enabler type of counsel.’
‘Lawyers have extensive practical knowledge, keep abreast of changing legislation and prepare solutions to implement these changes. The cooperation was particularly valuable during the pandemic.’
‘The solutions presented take into account the needs of business and are not a theoretical interpretation of legal provisions.’
‘We’ve been co-operating with the team for years. They know our company, they are very professional and responsive. Also they coordinate very well with their partners in other countries, so actually they are our contact point in complicated cross-borders matters requiring involvement of lawyers from outside of Poland.’
‘Thr partner, Agata Mierzwa, is the key person we’ve been co-operating for years. She’s the contact person as well when we need consultancy in other areas.’
‘They know the business, the company and the company’s needs.’
‘Agata Mierszwa is very professional, know the people from the company and what is important for them. she knows how to deliver the message and be direct if needed.’
‘Agata Mierszwa is very professional, responsive and accountable.’
Key clients
Polish Governement
Toyota
Alpega
Exclusive Network
ProMedica
Johnson Matthey
Mousquetaires Group
Andersen Lab
Intergiro
DFDS
Tokai COBEX
MPWiK
WÖRWAG Pharma
Work highlights
- Advised the Polish government and PGG on the conclusion of a social agreement with trade unions in connection with the restructuring of the Polish coal sector.
- Advised Exclusive Networks on the employment aspects of an M&A transaction.
- Advised Promedica in employment matters of strategic importance for numbers of years now, recently in relation to the consequences of Brexit for their UK business.
Eversheds Sutherland Poland
Eversheds Sutherland Poland‘s employment practice focuses on restructuring mandates, incentive schemes, working time requirements, cooperation with trade unions, pension schemes and immigration-related matters. The team is able to call upon the firm’s international network when representing both domestic and multinational companies, recently adding a number of prominent names such as AstraZeneca Pharma and Axpo Services to its client roster. Ewa Łachowska-Brol heads up the practice and is supported by Adam Nierzwicki, a counsel skilled in sensitive matters such as bullying.
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Testimonials
‘Good collaboration, intellectual capability and business understanding’
‘I find the Polish labour team under Ewa Lachowska-Brol’s supervision to be responsive, pragmatic and concise in their communications and advice, all of which, as a busy in-house lawyer with an international remit, I very much appreciate.’
‘Capable of supporting us with employment law issues, and providing unique advice for our industry. They always provide us with bespoke advice, and the service always feels personal.’
‘Ewa Lachowska-Brol has amazing knowledge and business understanding, is supportive in every difficult situation and has a great team including Adam Nierzwicki and Paweł Lasota regarding labour law.’
‘Adam Nierzwicki is responsive, pragmatic and concise in his advice and solution focused.’
Key clients
AB Foods Polska
ARM
Aspen
AstraZeneca Pharma
Avis
Axpo Services
Capital GES
CenturyLink
Lumen
Eaton
EcoWater
Emerson
Essentra
Johnson Controls
Owens Corning Fiberglas
Mobica
Mims PTE
NDC Technologies
Paroc Polska
Peerless AV
Ricoh
Sims Recycling Solutions
Turkish Airlines
URBN Outfitters
Virtusa
WeWork
Xylem
Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński Sp. k
The ‘effective and comprehensive‘ employment team at Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak sp. k. has particular expertise in advising on the employment due diligence investigations in M&A transactions. Anna Halas-Krawczyk leads the team, combining ‘broad transactional experience with employment expertise‘, and was recently promoted to partner in July 2021. Her practice focuses on employment restructuring, mass redundancies and creating incentive schemes for senior employees; she is supported by the ‘highly skilled‘ Natalia Wołkowycka who also recently received a promotion, moving up to senior associate in June 2021.
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Testimonials
‘Greenberg Traurig’s employment practice is the best in the class team combining good understating of transactional aspects and management themes involved in MBIs/MBOs and private equity. The transactional team and employment practice team work together and deliver a combined product without the client’s need to coordinate streams. It saves time during intense projects and gives comfort that all conjoint issues are properly addressed.’
‘The team combines top legal expertise and understanding of the client business needs and in particular the economics of the processes they are involved in. What differentiates them from other lawyers is their business approach and responsiveness. Rather than providing legal analysis with pros and cons for the client to decide (which is common for other law firms), they always look for the most practical options and come up with clear recommendations.
‘The employmepnt team of Greenberg Trauris is capable to provide effective and comprehensive assistance on most complex and complicated cases. They have profound experience and knowledge of court precedences. An additional value of the team is their ability to assess the case from practical and human point of view, helping the client to take decisions whether taing legal measures is the preferred option.’
‘I have been working with Anna Halas-Krawczyk at Greenberg Traurig for quite few years on various matters connected with formalization of management and implementation of various incentive schemes in our deals. She combines a broad transaction experience with employment expertise which is unique in the market and what is especially important for us, while we are in the private equity industry. She is very creative lawyer and has a strong problem solving skill while she stays flexible and actually listens to client’s needs.’
‘Anna Halas-Krawczyk has a a strong M&A background and therefore is the first choice for complex management incentive schemes, particularly for private equity and venture capital funds. She understands the needs and expectations of both the management and the shareholders and is with very practical in her approach. I highly value her deep knowledge of the market and her negotiation skills allowing to reach the best results for the client.’
‘Ms. Anna Halas-Krawczyk is one of the best experts in the employment law we have came across. She will provide the client with the certainty as to the best possible solution. Ms. Natalia Wolkowycka should also be praised as a highly skilled young lawyer.’
Key clients
Allianz
Citibank
Generali
CVC Capital Partners
Abris Capital Partners
Innova Capital
OTB Ventures
Grass Valley Group
Epic Games
Techland S.A.
PCF Group S.A.
Echo Investments S.A.
Sage sp. z o.o.
Omada
CEDC International
Chipita Poland
Global Savings Group
Lee Hecht Harrison LLC
Madison Capital
Multy Home
Murapol S.A.
PKP Energetyka S.A.
Porsche Inter Auto Polska
TurnKey Lender
Very Good Ventures
WING Group
Żabka Polska sp. z o.o.
PEKAES sp. z o.o.
Polsat Group
Work highlights
- Advising Grass Valley on the establishment of a software development center in Poland.
- Advised PEKAES in negotiations of the terms of their engagement including their management contracts, motivation schemes as well as the corporate governance rules with the new owner of GEODIS in relation to private equity fund Innova/5 in the exit and sale of shares in Pekaes sp. z o.o. to GEODIS S.A.
- Advised Allianz SE on all the employment aspects of relating to the acquisition of Polish Aviva Group operations in Poland such as in particular the review of the internal employment and remuneration rules of Aviva, the separation of the internal motivation systems based on Aviva equity instruments from Aviva Group and the assessment of the overall Aviva’s employment regulations in the light of Allianz corporate standards.
Zawirska Ruszczyk Gąsior radcowie prawni i adwokaci sp. p.
Established in 2017, Zawirska Ruszczyk Gąsior radcowie prawni i adwokaci sp. p. is a boutique firm dedicated to employment and labour law. The team handles reorganisation and restructuring processes, sensitive disputes regarding discrimination, mobbing, work accidents, immigration and breach of enterprise secrets. Founders Patrycja Zawirska and Krzysztof Gąsior lead the team alongside employment-related disputes specialist, Grzegorz Ruszczyk.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The services provided remain at a high level. Extensive factual background and involvement in the analysis of the problem allows us to give the highest possible rating.’
‘Wide scope of HR/labor law related topics, for example: termination of employment, negotiations with ex-employee to avoid court case, amendments to work regulations, help with legal permission to stay in Poland for family member of employee, advise on employer options to support employee with personal problems.’
‘The firm provides comprehensive employment law advice. The team is strong, professional and very responsive. The outcome of their work is always of top quality and on time. They are my trusted partner.’
‘I have been blown away by the support and professionalism of this team in the last year. Every piece of work gets the same attention to detail and effort. The consistent support and exceptional delivery from the firm provides high level of comfort that anything can be solved, even when we are hundreds of miles away.’
‘Patrycja Zawirska has been consistently exceptional. She breaks down complex problems and communicates her proposals for resolution clearly and concisely. Patrycja is always on top of a file and we have full confidence any problems we send her way will be resolved.’
‘Patrycja Zawirska has very high proficiency, effectiveness, attention to detail, detailed risk analysis, always on time, even for ad hoc queries, deep knowledge on Company’s regulation and rules.’
‘Grzegorz Ruszczyk has very high proficiency, effectiveness, able to find best solution, risk analysis balanced with benefits from chosen solution, always on time, even for ad hoc queries.’
‘Patrycja Zawirska is a very experienced, competent and smart lawyer. She is fast in responding, accurate and business oriented. I am confident she can navigate through various challenges and always find workable solutions. She is a genuine expert in her field.’
Key clients
Elsevier
The Walt Disney Company
FOX Networks Group Poland
Carrier
Roche Diabetes Care
TrueBlue
PSE S.A.
Makita
Telemond Holding
Port Lotniczy Gdańsk
Work highlights
- Advising Elsevier Poland in all employment and labour law matters.
- Advised The Walt Disney Company on all employment and labour law post-acquisition steps.
- Advised Teleskop Holding on all employment and labour law matters.
CDZ Chajec, Don-Siemion & Partners
CDZ Chajec and Partners provides both individual and collective employment advice, including the labour aspects of M&A transactions, the transfer of employees, outsourcing services and group layoffs. The practice is recognised for its expertise in the business service sector, and being a member of INTERLAW, also acts for companies opening shared services centres across the CEE region in addition to those entering the Polish market. Ewa Don-Siemion and Piotr Kryczek jointly head the group.
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Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A distinguishing feature of CDZ is their close cooperation with the client and the willingness to learn about the business context and the needs behind the inquiries addressed to the law firm. After years of cooperation, I have the feeling that the knowledge of the processes by the employees of the law firm is as good as it would be for an internal employee of the legal department. This greatly facilitates work on subsequent projects. Despite the completed calendar, in the event of an urgent need for consultation, we have never been left without support. The law firm supports our HR department also in the education of our management team, which positively affects their independence in fulfilling the role of people managers. During the pandemic, despite the lack of the possibility of personal meetings, the cooperation did not suffer in any way, and the use of videoconferencing tools used by our company made the cooperation run smoothly and effectively.’
‘Our main point of contact is Mr. Dariusz Zimnicki, who has been supporting us for years in matters of labour law, civil law contracts and any other topics that arise in our organization. It is very important to understand our business needs, which means that the opinions and analyses delivered by Mr Zimnicki are adequate to the realities in which we operate and possible to implement. His communication skills are also exceptional. Both in contact with our management board, finance departments, HR or directly with people managers at various senior levels. He is always able to transfer knowledge and practical examples to a group of listeners. He is also a great business trainer – delivered in person as well as through videoconferences, the training provided is practical and engaging for the audience. He knows our company very well, is aware of the challenges we’re facing, knows our internal processes and policies and this makes the collaboration really smooth and effective.’
Key clients
AON
Alexander Mann Solutions
Computacenter Poland
Schibsted Tech Polska
Booking.com B.V.
Grid Dynamics
OCADO Technology
MAKINO Europe
OCADO plc
Centerscape Investments Poland
Prisjakt Poland
Centerscape Investments Poland
Cero Generation Services
Sappi Europe
Work highlights
- Supporting Ocado Technology in changing the employment structure, including implementation of B2B as a form of employment.
- Assisted Booking.com on establishing working relations with new trade unions in the company.
- Advised AON in the major issues related to the employment including a new incentive plan and court disputes with the employees.
Clifford Chance
Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance handles a range of employment matters for private equity funds, including employment termination and management incentive plans. The group also handles contentious bullying and discrimination matters in addition to restructurings, trade union disputes and fatal accidents at work. Counsel Tomasz Derda is head of the practice and is noted for his ‘always available, hands-on service.’
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Our company operates on the retail sector. With Clifford Chance, we have always found very capable consultants who can provide effective solutions to our problems, especially when they are are linked to the specificity of our sector. They are always very responsive and proactivie to find specific solutions and advice for our cases.’
‘Very responsive, practical advice and knowledgeable.’
‘Excellent balance of knowledge and experience.’
‘Tomasz Derda provides an excellent level of service.’
‘Tomasz Derda is always available and a hands-on lawyer who provides practical and to-the-point advice.’
Key clients
Pfizer
Cellnex Telecom
Naspers
Bridgepoint Advisers Limited
Warburg Pincus
Allegro.eu
Allegro.pl
Waterland
Arvato
CBRE Global Investors
CBRE Global Investors Administration
Stryker
Prologis Management
ALD Automotive
RTB House
Hillwood
Work highlights
- Supporting Cellnex Telecom in all the labour law matters pertaining to the establishment of a new telecommunications tower company, and on the signing of an agreement with Cyfrowy Polsat and Polkomtel to acquire 99.99% of Polkomtel Infrastruktura.
- Advised Pfizer on a broad spectrum of employment aspects related to the joint venture between the client and GSK.
- Advised Allegro.eu on a full spectrum of employment legal aspects related to its IPO, including on the preparation and introduction of a stock option plan (Allegro Incentive Plan) based on the participants’ entitlement to Allegro.eu shares.
Gide Loyrette Nouel
Gide Loyrette Nouel, a firm headquartered in Paris, fields a closely integrated international employment practice. The team in Poland is instructed on trade union negotiations, restructurings, employee transfers, disputes and insurance packages, among other mandates. Paweł Grześkowiak chairs the practice with the support of Joanna Jasiewicz, noted for her ‘many years of experience in both Polish and European labour law.’
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Up to speed on all changes and cooperative.’
‘I found the Gide team (Mr. Pawel Grzeskowiak and Mrs. Magdalena Kalinowska) really professional, very supportive and able to give our company a great help in dealing with sensitive issues.’
‘In our cooperation we focus on the people, their in-depth knowledge of the EU and Polish employment law as well as their responsiveness, soft skills (problem solving, coalition building, team spirit) that are also essential to our work and mission as the employers’ lobbying organisation. Gide Employment Department is a unique combination of legal competence with passion to law and strong sense of mission in defending the legitimate rights of the members of our organisation in the EU and Polish legislative process.’
‘We very much appreciate working with Joanna Jasiewicz. She has many years of experience in Polish and European labour law, as well as experience of trade union law, and it shows through her work. Joanna is an incredible advocate, extremely competent and constantly developing her skills. She has a well-rounded education and is extremely knowledgeable, which means she is able to advise on the most complicated and problematic matters. Her work is always of the highest standard with full focus on solving the problem and passion to law. Her combination of knowledge and experience in Polish and European law has proven to be extremely valuable on many occasions.’
‘Adam Pawlak is a very helpful person. Paweł Grześkowiak is very experienced and trusted advisor.’
‘Mrs. Magdalena Kalinowska appears from the beginning as an outstanding professional in legislation knowledge.
Mr. Pawel Grzeskowiak is a great leader who takes into consideration the different circumstances to be considered from a management point of view too.’
Key clients
DSV
Orpea
GLP
Spokey
LVMH Group
ETI
Maczfit
Guerbet
Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe Porty Lotnicze
Inter-Vion
Mindspace
Bonduelle
Layetana
CHEP
PZL Świdnik
Work highlights
- Advising one of the DSV Group companies by providing internal services for the Group and supporting the logistics branch of the DSV Group.
- Advising GLP on employment law issues, in particular on employee remuneration principles and introducing bonus and incentive schemes for employees in Poland.
- Advising Orpea on creating a European Works Council and conducting elections for it, as well as dealing with trade unions operating in the Polish company, as well as advising on its ongoing employment issues.
Olesinski & Wspolnicy
The HR and labour team at Olesinski & Wspolnicy is jointly chaired by Lucyna Brayshaw and Anna Chrobot from the firm’s Wroclaw office. The practice provides both Polish and international clients on a range of labour law mandates, including the prevention of mobbing, workplace accident prevention and global mobility matters. Ludmiła Łuczak is noted for her ‘knowledge and highly personal service.’
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team was very communicative and responsive to business needs which we value most. Undoubtedly, the team members are extremely knowledgeable and thorough when providing advice and recommendations. Although the project involved several team members, everyone was kept informed of all parts and stages of the project.’
‘Although they are external advisors, they become members of the client’s team. This is very important to us. They try to get to know the specifics of the client, how things work and what values are important to the client. As a result, they are able to provide legal advice tailored to the client’s needs, both in terms of form, level of detail and providing the communication expected by the client. They are great professionals. They maintain full professionalism both in strategic projects – key projects for the client, as well as in day-to-day HR support. Apart from that, they are just nice people.’
‘Olesinski & Wspólnicy are very professional. We cooperated on many different cases, from various fields. They have always shown a great knowledge and interests inside topics which at the end covered the cases from many angles. You can count on them whether a simple law advise needed or on very complicated topics.’
‘The knowledge base in the team is quite broad and we were able to deal even with complex topics. This has enabled us to build a relationship and I know what to expect from each person. I know I can rely on them. I really appreciate the support in the form of a newsletter or blog and I often get updates on things we have worked on in the past in case of any changes. The knowledge base in the team is quite broad and we were able to deal even with complex topics.’
‘A very strong point is the quick response to the discussion of the problem and the communicative language that allows both parties to understand each other. Understanding the client and having a positive attitude towards him make the company stand out from the crowd.’
‘I always get a comprehensive service – not only legal advice, but also documentation preparation, trainings, translations. We can always meet to discuss the problems, explain our business needs. I appreciate the most working with: Ludmiła Łuczak, Katarzyna Jarczyk and Lucyna Brayshaw.’
‘Ludmiła Łuczak has professionalism, timeliness, knowledge and a highly personal service.’
‘I’ve been working with Natalia Komarzanska. She is an outstanding lawyer with high attention to detail. She puts the client’s interests first, and you can be confident her recommendations are backed by experience and intensive research. I know we’re in good hands whenever she represents our company in negotiations with third parties.’
Key clients
AALBERTS SURFACE TREATMENT Sp. Z o.o.
AKS Precision Ball Polska sp. z o.o.
Asplex sp. z o.o.
Atlas Ward Polska sp. z o.o.
Beewatec Sp. z o.o.
BITO Technika Magazynowa sp. z o. o.
Booksy International sp. z o. o.
Boundless Payroll Poland Sp. z o.o.
Boundless Technologies Limited
CCC S.A.
CCC Factory sp. z o.o.
CCC.EU Sp. z o.o.
Cimcool Polska Sp. z o.o.
Curaden Polska Sp. z o.o.
DeLaval Sp. z o.o.
DeLaval Operations Sp. z o.o.
Deutsche Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH oddział w Polsce
DEVELIA S.A.
Deviniti Sp. z o.o.
DEVnet High Performance Solutions Sp. z o.o.
Dr Schneider Automotive Polska sp.z o.o.
DIP DRAEXLMAIER ENGINEERING POLSKA sp. z o.o.
“DWS Draexlmaier Wyposażenie Wnętrz Samochodowych Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością”
eobuwie.pl S.A.
EXLABESA BUILDING SYSTEMS SP. Z O. O.
Exlabesa Extrusion Opole Sp. z o.o.
Finder.com Polska Sp. z o.o.
Fly on the cloud sp. z o.o.
Franklin Products sp. z o.o.
Oddział w Polsce
GBT Polska Sp. Z o.o.
Gigaset Communications Polska Sp. z o.o.
Gino Rossi S.A.
GKN Driveline Polska sp. z o.o.
GOK Regler und Armaturen Polska Sp. z o.o.
GUOTAI-HUARONG (POLAND) Sp. z o.o.
HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung AG
Hauck Heat Treatment Sp. z o.o.
Hengst Filter Polska Sp. z o.o.
Hengst Filtration Poland Sp. z o.o.
Hitachi Vantara (Polska) Sp. Z o.o.
ICB Pharma Tomasz Świętosławski, Paweł Świętosławski sp.j.
IFIRMA S.A.
Infobip sp. z o.o.
Infobip Lab sp. z o.o.
INPLAG sp. z o.o.
INTERSPORT POLSKA S.A.
IT Kontrakt Sp. z o.o.
IZOBLOK S.A.
JOST Polska Sp. z o.o.
Karmar S.A.
Kaufland Polska Markety sp. z o.o. Sp. K.
KIK Textil Sp. z o. o.
KOLEJ GONDOLOWA JAWORZYNA KRYNICKA S.A.
Konica Minolta Buisness Solutions Polska sp. z o.o.
Krajowy Rejestr Długów Biuro Informacji Gospodarczej S.A.
KSM Poland sp. z o.o.
Leoni Kabel Polska sp. z o.o.
Limango GmbH
Lubawa S.A.
MAHA Maschinenbau Haldewang GmbH & Co. KG [Lp.]
MEA Polska sp. z o.o.
Metroplan Polska Sp. z o.o.
MKK3 Group
NESTLE Polska S.A.
Objectivity Sp. z o.o.
OSADKOWSKI S.A.
Paragon Siechnice Sp. z o.o.
Pfeifer Steel Production Poland Sp. z o.o.
PFEIFER Structures (PL) Sp. z o.o.
Picadilla Games Adziński, Porzucek, Czerenkiewicz sp.k.
PKL FOOD sp. z o.o. sp.k.
PKL HORECA sp. z o.o.
Polskie Koleje Linowe S.A.
Sagaris Sp. z o.o.
SAGARIS CONSTRUCTIONS Sp. Z o.o.
SCHILSNER Industry Group Sp. z o.o.
Selena FM S.A. [Inc.]
Selena S.A.
SI-Consulting Sp. z o. o.
Sidel Poland sp. z o.o.
Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz
Sika Automotive Złotoryja sp. z o.o.
Sitech Sp. z o. o.
SpotOn Poland Sp. z o.o.
SRG Global Bolesławiec sp. z o.o.
T- Systems Polska Sp. z o. o.
Tangara IP Sp. Z o.o.
Tarczyński S.A.
TEAMTECHNIK PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY SP. Z O.O.
Ten Square Games S.A.
THE HEART S.A.
Toshiba Carrier Air-Conditioning Europe Sp. z o.o.
Towarzystwo Finansowe “Silesia” Sp. z o.o.
Toys „R” Us Sklep Internetowy Sp. z o.o. Sp.k.
TPL Sp. z o.o.
Tristone Flowtech Poland Sp. z o. o.
UMICORE Poland sp. z o.o.
Viessmann Sp. z o.o.
Viessmann Technika Grzewcza Sp. z o.o.
Volkswagen Motor Polska sp. z o. o.
Volvo Polska Sp. z o.o.
VOSS Automotive Polska Sp. z o. o.
Voss Fluid Polska Sp. z o.o.
WE Sagaris Sp. z o.o. Sp. k.
Whirlpool Company Polska Sp. z o. o.
WHIRLPOOL EMEA SPA
Whirlpool Polska Appliances Sp. z o.o.
XTPL S.A.
Zakon Posługujących Chorym Ojcowie Kamilianie
ZEBRA SP. Z O. O.
ZREW TRANSFORMATORY S.A.
Work highlights
- Advised Toshiba Carrier Air-Conditioning Europe sp. z o.o. regarding the relocation of executives who are Japanese citizens to Poland.
- Acted for Nestle in designing and conducting a series of customised workshops for high level management staff on preventing mobbing and discrimination in the workplace.
- Advised Selena during the design of mechanisms related to whistleblowers and creating internal procedures.
Sadkowski I Wspólnicy
Sadkowski I Wspólnicy advises clients in the transport, logistics, construction, energy, banking and finance, production and trade sectors on a range of employment matters; examples include working time, immigration, training and audit matters. Marzena Łabędź and Michał Wysłocki jointly lead the team.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Top market knowledge, always listens to client needs, and looking for the best possible solutions. In comparison to other firms, this firm is a boutique with unique people on board and a diverse team, delivering the highest quality.’
‘The law firm is a specialist in many areas of law which allows them to provide comprehensive services in the shortest possible time. The lawyers of the law firm understand the needs of the client’s business and are looking for unconventional, effective legal solutions.’
‘I find the whole collaboration exceptional; as a company we are impressed with the quality of the service, all issues/cases are always resolved and dealt with professionally. Time devoted to give us professional legal advice, a flexible and individual approach, commitment and support, being quick and efficient – that all makes Sadkowski & Partners Law Firm stand out from others.’
‘The best support in terms of labour law and immigration law. Very eager to support immediately when the problem arises. The lawyers know not only legal aspects but also practices of regulators and clerks.’
‘They know the law, they are very competitive, they specialise in narrow sections of the law, none of the queries is left unanswered, which comes in a very short time, the opinions issued by them are insightful, comprehensive and accurately describing the topic raised.’
‘Lawyers with whom I cooperate are always ready to cooperate and provide legal assistance, they replace themselves in the absence of one of them, they are characterised by great legal knowledge, they know where and how to look for answers, they are conscientious, timely, the materials that the client receives from them are precise, they willingly invite you to participate in trainings and webinars prepared by them, lectures.’
‘The lawyers with whom we work are distinguished by outstanding knowledge, experience and punctuality, as well as the ability to build good relationships with clients. In particular, this applies to partner Marzena Łabdź and director Michał Wysocki.’
‘I have the pleasure to work with Michal Wyslocki – Director of the Immigration Law Department at Sadkowski & Partners Law Firm. The communication and collaboration is impressive. He is a real professional, always accessible with a ready solution offered. Being our main advisor and coordinator of all major cases, he makes our cooperation very smooth and seamless. We do appreciate his individual approach, flexibility, reliability, great knowledge, experience, expertise, commitment, support, and efficiency. On a daily basis, I work closely with Marta Pietrzak, a trainee advocate. Though she is not very experienced, yet her great commitment and enthusiasm makes our cooperation very successful.’
Key clients
Atlas Copco Sp. z o.o.
Addit Sp. z o.o.
Amari Spa Group
Api Market Sp. z o.o.
ARCHIVIO Sp. z o.o.
CS Natura Tour Sp. zo.o.
CWS-boco Polska Sp. z o.o.
Circle K Business Centre Poland Sp. z o.o.
Continental Express Sp. z o.o.
DEDRA EXIM Sp. z o.o.
Diversey Polska Sp. z o.o.
EHRLE Sp. z o.o.
Enea Centrum Sp. z o.o.
ESAB Sp. z o.o.
EPP Sp. z o.o.
FIEGE Sp. z o.o.
FIEGE E-com Logistic Sp. z.o.o.
Global Labour Service Sp. z o.o.
Groupon Shared Services Poland Sp. z o.o.
Habasit Services Sp. z o.o.
Hegelmann Transporte Sp. z o.o.
Imar Service Group Iwona Biernat Sp. z o.o.
IPAK Dariusz Niklas
Klimas Sp. z o.o.
Knauf IT Services Polska Sp. z o.o.
Kupiec Sp. z.o.o.
LeasePlan Fleet Management (Polska) Sp. z o.o.
LS Airport Services S.A.
LS Technics Sp. z o.o.
Lubricant Polska Sp. z.o.o.
MAHA Polska Sp. z o.o.
MERCK Sp. z o.o.
Mostostal Kraków S.A.
NILOS Polska Sp. z o.o.
Pekao Bank Hipoteczny S.A.
PKP Intercity S.A.
POLREGIO Sp. z o.o.
Polska Izba Biegłych Rewidentów
Polskie Stowarzyszenie Zarządzania Kadrami (PSZK)
Prometheus S.A.
Przedsiębiorstwo Robót Inżynieryjnych GEOHARD Sp. z o.o.
Ramp Trade Sp. z o.o.
Ricoh Polska Sp. z o.o.
Servier Polska Sp. z o.o.
Servier Polska Services Sp. z o.o.
Smart Solutions Polska Sp. z o.o.
Shiji Poland Sp. z o.o.
SEKA S.A.
SmartLife Robotics Sp. z o.o
Stoelzle Częstochowa Sp. z o.o.
TI POLAND Sp. z o.o.
Tokai COBEX Polska Sp. z o.o.
Tridon Clamp Products Sp. z o.o.
UNIMOT S.A.
VIMED Sp. z o.o.
Vinci Group Sp. z o.o.
WARS S.A.
Węglokoks S.A.
Wkręt-Met Sp. z o.o.
Association of IT & Business Process Services Companies in Poland
Work highlights
- Advised an employer from the logistics services sector on the process of taking over an establishment resulting from a change in the entity providing logistics services at a client’s location, in a specific situation where the service will be provided by a subcontractor and not directly by the entity taking over the provision of logistics services.
- Advised a large trade union in Poland on the process of negotiating a voluntary redundancy programme and group lay-offs for the head office of one of Poland’s largest energy companies.
- Advised an employer in the rail transport industry on the process of negotiations with trade unions on the postponement of wage increases set out in an agreement to end a collective dispute.
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is active in handling restructurings, large group dismissal processes, trade union negotiations, dismissals and employee investigations, including fraud and FCPA matters. The team is also skilled in advising on high value legal disputes between former employees and managers and is fronted by Agnieszka Fedor.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is a large organisation employing many high-class specialists specialising in selected areas. I am very impressed with their extremely accurate assessment of a given situation, the selection of appropriate specialists to solve the problem and their mutual cooperation, which ensures complete comprehensive service.’
‘The firm has a large team of lawyers. They have experience in all areas related to employment law. They are always able to provide comprehensive advice of the highest quality.’
‘I work mainly with Agnieszka Fedor. In my opinion, she is an absolutely unique lawyer, in addition to substantive knowledge and vast legal experience, she has an extraordinary sense of business issues and people management. I can always rely on her knowledge and accurate assessment of the situation.’
‘Most often I work with Filip Sodulski in the field of labor law. This man is distinguished by great self-control, an accurate assessment of the situation, the ability to react very quickly and extremely professionally to the situation. Moreover, he is fluent in English, and the arguments used by him mean that, no matter what the topic, I always feel safe when he leads me by the hand through a problem, even if it is quite complex in my opinion.’
Key clients
Mazda Motor Logistics Europe NV
Intel Corporation
Home.pl S.A.
Senstar GmbH
Alphalab Capital
Eurocash
Winterhalter Gastronom GmbH
Ermewa SA
OpenBet Limited
RED ON LINE
Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o.
Zalando SE
Solaris Bus&Coach S.A.
Caterpillar
Work highlights
- Advised a client in a complex matter involving employees’ fraud, acting to the detriment of the company, undertaking activities competitive towards the employer, abuse of trade union rights, as well as disciplinary termination of employment with trade union representatives followed with court proceedings.
- Supported a client in group dismissals covering almost half of the production team, including negotiations with the trade unions.
- Supported a client in setting up online shopping platforms in commencement of activities in Poland including all aspects connected with remote work and internal regulations related thereto.
Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k.
At international firm Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k., the team is led by Malgorzata Grzelak and is adept in advising on senior employee hiring and dismissals, compliance, strategic planning and the employment aspects of corporate reorganisations. Its client roster encompasses companies from varied sectors, including chemicals and plastics, entertainment, life sciences, information technology, and manufacturing and design.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘SPB is our major legal services partner related to employment matters. We have used their services for a broad range of topics over the years.. We really appreciate the quality of their services, timeliness, flexibility and willingness to go the extra mile’
‘Ms. Malgorzata Grzelak’s depth of knowledge, her ability to recommend the most suitable solution for business, her proactiveness, and her flexibility are some of the traits which set her apart from other legal counsels.’
Key clients
Robert Walters
Freightliner
Work highlights
Wiewiórski Legal
Wroclaw-based Marek MacIej Wiewiorski and Magdalena Szeptycka jointly lead the employment team at Wiewiórski Legal, which is active in promoting equal treatment in the workplace. A further focus of the team is advising foreign companies entering the Polish market, as well as supporting clients with trade union relationships, restructurings and working time.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Wiewiorski is able to present high competence in all areas we need: company ordinance, strategic planning and taxation. They give a personal touch, respond quickly and do as I ask. In many cases I appreciate that they are able to keep the pace up on legal projects even more than we as a company can. It is this personal touch that makes us as a company special. Further, Wiewiorski take time to understand us and our business and propose solutions not just from the law but specific to us. This has resulted in never having to clarify any piece of work in more detail than the initial discussion and always being happy with the result.’
‘Wiewiorski Legal practice is first of all a very capable company, with a high level of presented substantive legal knowledge. All the cases prepared by them are always done precisely, comprehensively and also with high attention to describing all potential risks, related to the compiled topic. I would like to highlight two new solutions, that have been introduced lately and are, in my opinion, a very helpful for the partner companies: first one is a newsletter, a short summary of the most important law changes, which is send over to customers, as a guideline and quick acquired material, and the second new solution is a training offer, which is provided as additional and fully customized product for the customers, when the agenda can be individually discussed from the beginning, based on a customer needs. I truly appreciate all the innovations, presented by Wiewiorski legal within last 1-2 years.’
‘They do understand the business, they are very interested in our company and thanks to that they do know what sort of service is required. They are in touch with the client, responding to each need we had or have and thanks to that this is very outstanding service on the market. They have legal counsels who are experienced in many areas which is very helpful because many times the cases are complicated and broaden consultations are required.’‘
Wiewiórski Legal has remarkable deliverance of unique solutions in aspects of Labor Law. I have been working three years with Labor Law team. During this time Wiewiórski Legal shares and represents positively our vision how to cope with the unique cases that we participate in. The help provided to us is very practical, based not only on regulations but above all on experience.’
‘Marek Wiewiorski himself is the key here. His approach to us has adapted over time as he has learned what we need. He steers everything. I have come to trust Marek to a level where I no longer request quotes for work, I know he and his team are fair players.’
‘I value in Magdalena Szeptycka’s attention to detail and precision within the topic description, we can be sure we will receive the fully described analysis with all the risks, potential solutions and also assignment to the legal basis. The way of answering and analysis is comprehensive and supportive.’
‘In the last year of our long-term cooperation, attorney Magdalena Szeptycka particularly distinguished herself. Ms Szeptycka is an excellent specialist in the field of labour law. She kept track of the complex changes in the law during the pandemic and thanks to her help we were able to obtain significant help in order to keep our level of employment. Ms Szeptycka was available within several dozen minutes and at various times of the day (also in the evening). Ms Szeptycka is distinguished from the competition by the versatile knowledge, which is not limited only to labour law, and this allows her to recommend more appropriate business decisions.’
‘Magdalena Szeptycka is a great employment lawyer, understanding business needs and converting them into Polish employment documents. Magdalena was able to present us in very comprehensible manner all options for employing our new staff in Poland and gave us practical insights as to the best solution. We believe that entire Wiewiórski Team represent similar qualities: they are fully dedicated to Clients, speak English, have great technical knowledge and understand needs of international clients.’
Key clients
Fresenius-Kabi
Acturis
Knowable
Avid Technology
Allegion
Coherent Solutions
Factor Law
Huber Group
Oetiker
Olympus
Consult Red/Red Embedded
Trane Technology
Unic
Work highlights
- Assisted Knowable on remote work policies.
- Assisted Allegion in implementing new pension plans for the Polish workforce.
- Advised Coherent Solutions on the preparation of a new structure for employing IT specialists, including self-employed contractors.
WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr
The employment team at WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr handles both local and internationally-based mandates; its key areas of work include supporting M&A transactions, restructurings and collective redundancies, due diligence and disputes, especially for state-owned energy and fuel companies. Wioleta Polak leads the practice with expertise in advising on the employment parts of public procurement mandates.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The WKB employment team lead by Wioleta Polak is one of the best employment teams I have worked with. They care about the client and the effect the client is hoping for, they adjust the approach to individual cases, they have in mind not only the legal provisions and practices but also the business aspects which makes their advices very useful on daily basis. They work quickly and efficiently, providing exactly what is needed.’
‘The most important factors are the people and their attitude to clients.’
‘They are professional and full of engagement.’
‘Very deep expertise and broad experience customer orientation and flexibility proactive approach and recommendation of solutions very hogh quality of work.’
‘The team is highly reliable and provides a very good level of service, also on short deadlines. The team is very communicative, passes the information between team members and cover a team member in case one is not able to join a meeting.’
‘The individuals are proactive, looking for solutions to ensure the business can continue operating smoothly. The cooperation is generally smooth and the tasks entrusted are resolved timely. The associates as well as partners are highly skilled and able to deliver response in a clear and detailed manner.’
‘Monika Walasek and Wioleta Polak are exceptionally high professional expertise, broad experience, great customer orientation, great communication, speed, flexibility and accessibility.’
‘We have been working mainly with Wioleta Polak. Wioleta is on of the best employment lawyers I know, she has vast employment experience, extensive knowledge, great business approach and an incredibly practical sense in matters that require a non-standard approach.’
Key clients
Orkla ASA
Warsaw Aviation sp. z o.o.
Ryanair Sun S.A.
Salini Impregilo S.P.A.
Salini Polska sp. z o.o.
PZU Zdrowie S.A.
Centrum Rozliczeń Elektronicznych Polskie ePłatności S.A
BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A.
Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji w m.st. Warszawie Spółka Akcyjna
Toys ”R” Us Poland sp. z o.o.
ADP Polska sp. z o.o.
Alpha Solar sp. z o.o.
Asahi CE & Europe Services s.r.o.
Nord Partner sp. z o.o.
Nederman Manufacturing Poland sp. z o.o.
Ralph Lauren Poland sp. z o.o.
Games Workshop Limited (sp. z o.o.) Oddział w Polsce
Aviva plc.
Boekestijn Transport
Energix Group
Euronet Polska sp. z o.o.
Eurowind Energy Sp. z o.o.
HeadFirst Source Holding B.V.
Iyuno Sweden AB
OLX
Work highlights
- Assisted Gudrun Chocolates Group in employment related matters concerning potential complicated cross-border transfer of employees.
- Advised Orkla ASA in a project regarding the transfer of a part of the working establishment in Poland.
- Advised Aviva plc on the Polish legal aspects of its exit from Poland through the sale of its entire shareholding in Aviva Poland companies toAllianz Groupfor a cash consideration of €2.5bn.
Wolf Theiss
The employment team at Wolf Theiss advises clients predominantly on the labour-related elements of M&A matters, including the due diligence processes. The team is also recognised for its coverage of the CEE/SEE region and thus its ability to handle cross-border mandates, as well as advising on terminations, restructurings and litigation. Peter Daszkowski heads the practice.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team are consistent and for our organisation consistency of our legal providers is a must. They are always responsive when needed and always cost conscious given our financial landscape. All requests are dealt with the upmost professionalism regardless of the timelines proposed on anticipated feedback. I cannot fault them at all and will be utilising the firm for the years to come.’
‘efficient and pragmatic legal advice high quality’
‘Team has been quite responsive, despite different time zones. Provides practical advice for managing the nuances of Polish employment law.’
‘They have a good client base of US and UK companies and are used to advising on the issues important to such companies. They apply the law well to client’s situation and give clear practical advice.’
‘I’ve worked most closely with Agnieszka Nowak-Blaszczak. She has been excellent to work with, showing a mastery of Polish employment matters and helping us navigate some complex corporate governance issues. She is responsive and timely, which I particularly value.’
‘Agnieszka Nowak-Blaszczak has provided excellent service. Clear advice delivered in a timely manner. She has a real wealth of knowledge of the issues facing international companies operating in Poland.’
Key clients
Larsen & Toubro Infotech
Bright Machines
GKN Automotive
HedgeServ
Heidrick & Struggles
DB Cargo Eurasia GmbH
Neuraxpharm
Work highlights
- Advised Larsen & Toubro Infotech on contentious and non-contentious employment matters relating to day-to-day business issues.
- Advised GKN Automotive on termination of the employment of a key employee.
- Advised HedgeServ on a wide range of employment issues.
BSJP Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Sp. k.
Christoph Garschynski and counsel Ewa Boryczko co-lead the labour, employment and HR group at BSJP Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Sp. k. The team is active in advising domestic and international employers from the private and public sectors on HR support, mobility and restructuring mandates; it also represents clients in litigation proceedings before administrative bodies and public authorities and frequently acts on the hiring and dismissal of C-level executives.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Direct Communication Sp. z o.o.
TTEC EUROPE B.V. Sp. z o.o.
EY Law
The employment law team at EY Law offers a multi-disciplinary approach to assist clients in the banking and financial services sectors on the remuneration of managers. Zuzanna Zakrzewska is head of the team and possesses extensive experience in employee benefits and executive compensation matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
GST Automotive
PFR S.A.
PFR Ventures
Armatura Kraków
Cavatina GW Sp. z o.o.
Greenpoint S.A.
Rawicom
PZU S.A.
Pekao S.A.
BEC a.m.b.a. Branch in Poland
United Technologies International Operations, Inc. S.A.
NREP
Alexander Mann Solutions Poland sp. z o.o.
Gorilla Group sp. z o.o.
Cinema City Poland sp. z o.o.
Work highlights
- Advised Cavatina GW on the successful completion of an employment IPO readiness assessment.
- Acted for GST Automotive Safety Poland Sp. z o.o. in a complex liquidation process of a manufacturing business.
- Advised Armatura Kraków on a cross-border remuneration structuring for top executives.
Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP
Andrzej Dębiec, Marek Wroniak and Agnieszka Szczodra-Hajduk jointly head the employment practice at Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP which sits within the corporate group and advises both domestic and international clients across a range of matters, including the employment aspects of cross-border M&A transactions. Sector focuses of the department include pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, software, telecommunications, automotive and insurance.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Atlassian
Equinix Poland
Lionbridge
Viatris
Mylan Group
Corning
ABC Group
Dover
TI Poland
TI Automotive
Amdocs
Honeywell Group
Texas Instruments
Koch
Guardian
Habitat for Humanity
Centrum Pro Bono
Work highlights
- Advised Atlassian on the acquisition of the Polish company, Spartez R&D sp. z o.o., providing software research & development services.
- Acting for Viatris/Mylan as a coordinator of external law firms from Central, Eastern and South Europe advising Viatris/Mylan and its European affiliates on various issues in relation to 34 jurisdictions, including corporate and employment law, compliance and health science issues, competition law, dawn raids and data protection.
- Advising TI Automotive on various employment matters in relation to key employees, including overtime, data protection, restrictive covenants and compliance issues, governmental support for employers and co-financing of the employment costs, as well as special allowance for employees due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Linklaters
The employment team at Linklaters is adept at handling highly sensitive issues such as redundancies, terminations and discriminatory matters in addition to M&A and TUPE mandates. The team’s status as a Magic Circle firm naturally renders it a go-to for both international and domestic players who also seek advice on general advisory work and trade union negotiations. Monika Krzyszkowska-Dąbrowska leads the team and was promoted to counsel in May 2021.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Good ability to listen to the client needs and looking for the solutions that would allow businesses to meet business goals best meeting legal requirements same time. When proposing solutions, Ms Monika Krzyszkowska, as well as our other partners from the legal office, identify potential risks in an accurate and timely manner and explain the situation from the legal perspective in clear and easy way. We also appreciate the ability to indicate market trends and solutions that have been observed on the market, allowing us to choose from the best practices. The way the opinion is presented is always clear. Support is immediate or as quick and possible. Our advisors know well their area of competency and when needed do not hesitate to redirect us to the best contact person or possess the information internally by themselves to serve business client in the most accurate way.’
‘Ms Monika Krzyszkowska is our main contact person. Her knowledge, culture, listening abilities and advisory quality is on the highest level. Provided opinions and statements are clear and direct.’
Key clients
Unilever
Intel
BNP Paribas
Work highlights
- Advised Intel on employment aspects of a transaction concerning the acquisition of Intel’s NAND memory and storage business by SK hynix.
- Advised BNP Paribas on employment aspects of a strategic agreement with Allfunds to build next-generation fund distribution services.
NGL Legal
Magdalena Zwolińska leads the multi-disciplinary employment team at NGL Legal which advises clients on both domestic and cross-border mandates; examples include executive contract drafting, pension schemes and employee benefit programmes, restructurings, employment disputes and trade union relations. The practice also demonstrates proficiency in handling the employment elements of M&A transactions.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is aware of the running topics, so in case of any absence of our main contact, the team members immediately took over and continued the professional work.’
‘Fast answers (the same day), where the person indicates when they will return with an answer and / or cost offer. Urgent topics are solved the same day. Good work and patience under time pressure.’
‘NGL Legal is an outstanding employment team and my first choice for employment law issues, especially in disputes with trade unions and former employees, including dismissal of trade union representatives, mobbing, and discrimination allegations. I entirely rely on their in-depth legal knowledge and appreciate their unique understanding of the specificity of the functioning of state-owned companies that always reflects in very practical advice.’
‘ The team, supervised by Magdalena Zwolińska, is very responsive and forthcoming. Beyond the legal knowledge, the team provides reliable advice and straightforward answers easily understood by non-lawyers and therefore easily implemented. They help us understand the commercial implications of our decisions and advise on practical ways to proceed.’
‘The team is young yet very experienced. They are easily reached; I may call them whenever I need to. They meet my deadlines.’
‘Highly motivated individuals with huge backgrounds in employment law. The team is very dedicated with attention to details. The case is taken care of in all aspects, timely and substantively.’
‘Marta Murek has good knowledge and understanding of business needs.’
‘Magdalena Zwolińska is an exceptional employment lawyer and litigator. I count on her in complex cases regarding disputes with trade unions, where her high-level skills cannot be overestimated. She is tenacious, devoted, and she perfectly uses her expertise and in-depth legal knowledge in negotiation and litigation situations.’
‘Magdalena Zwolińska has an increadible personality. She is extremely professional, but is able to communicate with such efficiency and warmth that everybody likes to cooperate with her. Her labor law knowledge is the best I know on the market. I have been working in HR for 16 years and I met many lawyers. Magda is by far the best.’
Key clients
Centrum Kongresów i Rekreacji Orle Gniazdo Szczyrk sp. z o.o.
Crispy Food
Ejendals AB
Elektrobudowa S.A. w upadłości
Elumatec Polska sp. z o.o.
EOS KSI Polska sp. z o.o.
Geofizyka Kraków S.A. w likwidacji w upadłości
KGHM S.A.
PGE Energia Odnawialna S.A
PGE GiEK S.A.
Playtech plc
Polish Space Agency
Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A.
Schindler Polska sp. z o.o.
Solenis Poland sp. z o.o.
Techtronic Industries Eastern Europe sp. z o o.
Travel Free Poland sp. z o.o.
VESTA FIZAN
Symfonia Sp. z o.o.
Quickspin AB
Work highlights
- Supported Techtronic Group in providing ongoing legal advice on employment law throughout the CEE region.
- Advised Centrum Kongresów i Rekreacji Orle Gniazdo Szczyrk sp. z o.o., VESTA FIZAN in a challenging a complicated case concerning support in a dispute with the State Fund for Rehabilitation of the Disabled employees.
- Advised Elektrobudowa S.A. w upadłości; Geofizyka Kraków S.A. w likwidacji w upadłości on matters on the borderline between labour law and insolvency and restructuring law.
Noerr
The employment and pensions department at Noerr is led jointly by senior associates Katarzyna Zwierz-Wilkocka and Jarosław Kalikowski. Its client roster includes employers from the professional services, manufacturing, financial services, real estate finance and retail sectors. Core fields of focus for the practice include day-to-day advisory work, projects regarding regulations and transfer of employees, litigation and M&A projects.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The work was very smooth and efficient.’
‘Their general knowledge is the essential, fundamental part of what makes them unique.’
‘The team is very focused, reacts quickly and on time.’
‘The legal advice is on spot.’
‘We have worked with Katarzyna Zwierz-Wilkocka. She is very competent and responsive.’
‘Katarzyna Zwierz-Wilkocka is the main star of the firm, her work is outstanding.’
Key clients
AMD International Sales & Service, Ltd.
Polska Press
Verlagsgruppe Passau
Gates Corporation
StoneX
Finiata
Bauer Media Group
Totolotek
Merkur Sportwetten
PEAC
AVID Technology
Gazelle Global
Work highlights
- Advised AMD on the transfer of the organised part of the employment establishment and implementation of an obligatory pension plan at a foreign entity.
- Advising Gain Capital on employment, social security and data protection related issues, including also litigation with a former director of a Polish branch.
- Advising Polska Press in a number of matters related to the employment of key employees for several years.
Penteris
Penteris provides clients with day-to-day advice on disputes, transactions. litigation, collective labour law and social security matters, as well as advising on regulatory issues. Senior associates Piotr Bobrowski and Jeremiasz Kuśmierz support practice head and managing partner Agnieszka Pytlas. The team’s client list includes corporations in the food, industrial production, retail, banking, technology and IP-intense fields.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Blueback Global
Elements Global Services
Northpass
Varian Medical Systems
Workforce Logiq
VENTURE CODE
DSM Nutritional Products
HUUUGE GLOBAL LTD
Flexlink
Global Upside
Plukon Food Group
Nokian Tyres
Work highlights
- Acting for DSM Nutritional Products in a raft of employment issues, including the replacement a board member, adoption of management board regulations, compliance and much more.
- Acting for Nokian Tyres in the preparation of employment and managerial contracts, non-competition and non-disclosure agreements, personnel management, redundancies and employee restructuring, as well as a recent and sensitive employment dispute.
- Advising Flexlink on a raft of employment matters in Poland, including the preparation of comprehensive work travel, as well as dealing with remote work and the raft of COVID-19 related regulations.