Insurance in Poland
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Pośniak i Bejm sp.k.
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘One of their biggest assets is exceptional quality of advice and the commitment of their lawyers to meet the needs of their clients.‘
‘Very good knowledge in insurance regulations and business.‘
‘Ewa Świderska has exceptional knowledge and a commitment to work on the best solutions.‘
Key clients
AIG
AXA
Chubb
Generali
Unum Group
Volkswagen Financial Services
Wonga
Work highlights
- Assisted Generali group with acquiring majority stakes of shares in two – life and non-life – Concordia insurance undertakings belonging to the German Concordia insurance group.
- Advising AIG on regulatory Polish issues associated with the internal reorganisation of AIG’s European business due to Brexit planning. Also provide comprehensive day-to-day legal support related to the reorganisation going forward.
- Acting for Volkswagen on a new model of distance selling.
DLA Piper
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Very good knowledge in insurance regulations and business.‘
‘Great competence, open to react quickly whenever needed.‘
‘It has one of the top insurance law teams on the market. Members of its team have broad experience as in-house lawyers as well as external advisors. They have participated in many insurance transactions on the market and have demonstrated top quality.‘
Key clients
ARAG
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń INTER Polska
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń INTER-ŻYCIE Polska
Nationale-Nederlanden Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie
TUiR Allianz
TU Allianz Życie Polska
Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń
Generali Group
AXA Życie Towarzystwo ubezpieczeń
Pocztowe Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Wzajemnych
PKO Życie Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń
Open Life Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Życie
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Wzajemnych TUZ
Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń na Życie
Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń
Concordia Versicherung Holding
TU Europa
Open Life
Link4
Ubezpieczeniowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny
Polska Izba Ubezpieczeń
Concordia Polska Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Wzajemnych
Vienna Life TU na Życie
Ceska Pojistovna
Colonnade Insurance
RGA International Reinsurance Company
ALD Automotive Polska
ADAC Rechtsschutz Versicherungs
DARAG Deutsche Versicherungs- und Rückversicherungs
Work highlights
- Advised Concordia Versicherung Holding on the sale of Concordia Polska Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Wzajemnych and Wielkopolskie Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Życiowych i Rentowych Concordia Capital to companies of the Generali Group.
- Provided comprehensive advice to Ceska Pojistovna on the voluntary liquidation of the Polish branch (Proama) of the Czech insurer under the new legal regime regulating the operations of foreign entrepreneurs in Poland.
Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The 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.‘
‘Beata Balas-Noszczyk displays a high quality legal expertise, combined with the extended understanding of business issues. At the same time, she is a very responsive, communicative person with a positive attitude that is really valued by our employees that cooperate with her directly.‘
‘Excellent expertise in insurance law, especially compliance and supervisory and regulatory matters.‘
Key clients
Aviva Group
mFinanse
mBank
Credit Agricole Group
Generali Group
NN Group
CACI Life dac, CACI Non-Life dac
Lloyd’s Group
Gothaer Group
Polish Insurance Association
Work highlights
- Advising on mBank’s sale of shares of Latona, an insurance agent.
- Acting for the Aviva Group on regulatory issues and providing day-to-day legal advice.
- Advising mBank on the implementation of a new insurance distribution model.
WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The level of service they provide fully meets our expectations as any request to them has been responded to (i) in a timely manner and (ii) with the expected expertise, appropriateness of advice, strength-in-depth of team and value for money.‘
‘A strong theoretical foundation.‘
‘Dedication and a business approach.‘
Key clients
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń i Reasekuracji Warta
Chubb European Group SE
Chubb European Group SE Direktion für Deutschland
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń i Reasekuracji Allianz Polska
Link4 Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń
Nord Partner
Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń
Polish Chamber of Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers
Korporacja Ubezpieczeń Kredytów Eksportowych
Generali Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie Europa
Baloise Vie Luxemburg
Polskie Towarzystwo Reasekuracji
Polish Insurance Association
UNIQA
PKO Leasing
Odyssey Group Holdings
Work highlights
- Defending the insurer Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń i Reasekuracji Warta against a security company, in a case arising from cargo and third-party liability insurance claims following the loss of over PLN7m it was transporting to bank ATMs.
- Advised LINK4 Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń on cross-border liability for road accidents.
- Assisting Chubb European Group SE Spółka Europejska Branch in Poland with a project aimed at localising insurance policies for the Polish market.
Baker & McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team supports insurance companies in the most complicated and strategic matters. They know the business and the law.‘
‘Sebastian Pabian is a top specialist, who knows and understands business.‘
‘Understanding the problems of the industry resulting not only from legal regulations but also having a wider social context. Excellent ability to cooperate and present the industry’s arguments in relation with the supervisory body. Creativity in the search for new legislative solutions.‘
Key clients
Polish Insurance Association
Vienna Insurance Group
Colonnade Insurance Branch in Poland
Chubb European Group SE Branch in Poland
Meiji Yasuda
Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń I Reaskuracji Warta
Aviva
Work highlights
- Advised Polska Izba Ubezpieczeń on the process of developing and implementing legislative solutions relating to determine the quantum of compensation awarded for pain and suffering by the Polish courts.
- Represented Vienna Life TU na Życie in proceedings before the Supreme Court regarding the limitation period that should be applicable to claims resulting from unit-linked insurance polices.
- Advising Meiji Yasuda (as the shareholder of two Polish insurance companies) on a review of Polish legislation and recent changes regarding the operation of the insurance company.
CZUBLUN TREBICKI Law Office Professional Partnership
CZUBLUN TREBICKI Law Office Professional Partnership has a strong insurance-related offering, which is primarily oriented to regulatory issues, the establishment of insurance operations in Poland and matters relating to new insurance products. Industry specialist Piotr Czublun, a member of the working group of the financial market development council at the Polish Ministry of Finance, jointly leads the department alongside Agnieszka Wesołowska, who is a specialist in EU-wide and Polish insurance regulation.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Marsh
Mercer
MAK Group
Vereinigte Hagelversicherung
Compensa TU
Toyota Insurance Management SE
Arval Service Lease Polska
InterRisk
Grupa Inter Polska
Volvo Financial Services
Work highlights
- Assisted an insurance company with an audit of its insurance distribution models and documentation, with a recommendation of necessary IDD requirements to be introduced in the company.
- Preparing training materials for a Polish bank, for persons performing agency activities within bank-assurance distribution models, in compliance with the Act on insurance distribution.
- Assisted Vereinigte Hagelversicherung with the establishment of a branch in Poland, with advice on insurance and distribution model regulations.
Clifford Chance
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.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
AXA
Neon Underwriting
Euler Hermes
Allied World Assurance Company
EBRD
PZU
Prudential Financial
Work highlights
- Advised Prudential Financial on the sale of Pramerica Życie TUiR, an insurance company offering individual and group life assurance, to Unum, an employee benefits provider.
- Acted for Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on W&I Insurance on the sale of shares in DCT Gdańsk S.A. to PSA Internationa, the Polish Development Fund and the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund managed by IFM Investors.
- Advised L’biotica on W&I Insurance concerning its exit from L’biotica, a cosmetics and dietary supplements distributor in northern Poland.
Dentons
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Openness to clients’ needs and always try to find solutions for complicated legal matters.‘
‘When co-operating on a long-term basis, they provide for additional legal training for our in-house team.‘
Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka
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.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Competent, fast and direct in action.‘
‘A strategic thinking team.‘
Key clients
Credendo
Electrolux
HCC
Festo & Co
Ergo Pro
Argo Global SE
MetLife
NSK Steering Systems Europe
PGNiG Obrót Detaliczny
YIT Polska
Citibank Europe
Axopar
Wielton
Ergo Pro
Work highlights
- Advised Credendo on new documentation for credit receivables.
- Acted for Electrolux on a new insurance product, its distribution and on the drafting of the policy.
- Represented HCC in a dispute regarding directors and officers liability insurance.