The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Poland > Insurance

The standalone insurance group at CMS is led by counsel Ewa Świderska, and covers all areas of insurance law. The team's clients include insurers, banks, investment and pension funds, as well as companies with insurance programmes, re-insurers and insurance intermediaries. An area of particular expertise is insurance claims and disputes, but it also handles non-contentious issues in relation to insurance products and corporate transactions in the insurance sector. Małgorzata Surdek is a name to note with regulatory and licensing expertise, which she applies regularly in relation to the establishment of insurance businesses in Poland.

DLA Piper's team provides regulatory, corporate, tax and litigation support to domestic and international insurance companies, and their intermediaries. On the regulatory front, the group assists with the establishment and day-to-day running of insurance companies, as well as with governance and compliance issues. In terms of contentious work, the group represents clients in proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority. Transactional services include advising on insurance company M&A, reorganisations and insurance portfolio transfers. The department is led by counsel Beata Mrozowska-Bartkiewicz who is, concurrently, a member of the European Supervisory Authority board of appeal. Counsel Senior associate Dominika Wolf-Jezierska is an expert in insurance regulatory issues and contentious cases.

At Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP, insurance work is led from the financial institutions group, which advises companies operating in the insurance industry on matters including the establishment of operations in Poland, new insurance products and distribution systems, as well as financing, outsourcing, M&A and reorganisations. Beata Balas-Noszczyk takes the lead and has extensive regulatory expertise. Senior associate Karol Ruszkowski has expertise in the legal aspects of cooperation between banks and insurance companies.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr is instructed by Polish and international insurance companies, as well as brokers and distributors. The group, jointly led by Tomasz Kwieciński and Jakub Pokrzywniak, has a strong contentious practice, representing clients in numerous insurance-related proceedings before the Polish courts. It also advises on the implementation of new regulations, as well as localising insurance policies for foreign insurance companies. Other areas where the group stands out are matters that intersect with competition and consumer law.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa's team has experience of all aspects of insurance law, handling insurance and reinsurance claims, policy drafting and regulatory issues. It also advises insurance-sector clients on corporate, M&A and compliance issues. The group is jointly headed by regulatory expert Paweł Wajda, whose practice also spans constitutional and EU law issues, and insurance litigation and regulatory disputes specialist Sebastian Pabian.

Clifford Chance is well placed to advise clients on the regulatory and M&A aspects of transactions relating to the insurance industry, as well as on restructuring matters. The group has also developed a strong practice for warranty and indemnity and title insurance, assisting a range of underwriters and brokers. Marcin Bartnicki, who is an experienced corporate lawyer, and counsel Marta Bieniada, who has significant expertise in insurance regulation, jointly head the team.

Led by Marcin Bartczak, the team at Dentons stands out for advising on regulatory matters. It is also strong on claims handling, loss adjustment and litigation, often drawing on the firm's litigation department. Other key areas of expertise include advising Polish and international insurance companies on transactions, negotiating insurance contracts for insured parties and risk management.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka stands out for services related to insurance contracts, including the amendment of policy documentation. It also handles insurance audits, as well as acting for corporate clients on claiming compensation and in disputes with insurers. Another area of expertise is transactions in the insurance sector, the development of new insurance products and regulatory compliance. With expertise in insurance law and cross-border insurance issues, Julita Zimoch-Tuchołka leads the team, which includes senior associate and insurance advisory specialist Joanna Schubel, who is noted for assisting German-speaking companies.