Event Report

On Wednesday 26^th November, Legal 500 returned to Warsaw for the GC Summit: Poland 2025.

The morning began with a lively networking session over coffee and pastries, before Legal 500 Event Content Editor Isabel Caine kicked off the day’s agenda.

The first panel, in association with Greenberg Traurig, explored how general counsel can navigate M&A. Przemysław Furmaga, partner at Greenberg Traurig, took to the stage alongside Sebastian Bellitzay, Legal Director at Apart, and Hubert Kendziorek, General Counsel at Emitel, to look at how the GC role has evolved and is now an integral element of the M&A leadership team. The panellists stressed the importance of close collaboration between the legal function, the business, and external counsel when handling complex transactions. Furmaga asked the speakers to identify the key responsibilities and challenges GCs face, and the trio shared practical tips for managing M&A, from risk management to post-merger integration.

Balancing collaboration and competition law was the focus of the next panel, also in partnership with Greenberg Traurig. Robert Gago, Head of the competition and consumer protection practice at Greenberg Traurig, was joined by Małgorzata Wojnowska, Head of Legal at Żabka Polska and Michał Wołoszczuk, Head of Legal at Qemetica to offer guidance on handling the exchange of competitively sensitive information in M&A and cooperation agreements. The discussion ranged from the identification of sensitive data to the limits of information sharing, with reference to recent enforcement actions.

Łukasz Łyczko, Director and counsel at PwC Legal, then delivered a brief presentation on recent AI regulations and their implementation and implications from a legal perspective. He then invited to the stage Agnieszka Kosowska, member of the management board at Bank Pocztowy, Katarzyna Urbańska, Director at the Polish Banking Association, Marcin Golec, Senior Compliance Manager at Zen.com and Artur Bartosiak, Director at Visa Consulting & Analytics, to consider the question: is this an evolution or revolution? The expert panellists analysed the potential impact of AI regulations on the financial sector, with a focus on risk management, consumer protection and technological innovation.

Delegates then had the opportunity for a brief coffee break and networking session, before the agenda resumed with DWF’s panel.

For this interactive session, Ewelina Wętrys, partner at DWF, and Michał Szumbarski and Patrycja Treder, counsel at DWF, were joined on stage by Michał König, General Counsel at LOT Polish Airlines and the Polish Aviation Group, and Katarzyna Kucharczyk, Senior Legal Counsel, Ørsted.

In the midst of the litigation crisis currently taking place in the Polish common courts, the panellists discussed practical ways to avoid the frequent delays. Delegates were encouraged to participate in live polls asking whether their companies had been involved in mediation, arbitration or litigation to open conversations around choosing the right dispute resolution method – and reducing costs and risk.

The final panel of the day, held in association with People & Law, was entitled ‘From B2B to Employment: What the New Labour Inspectorate Powers May Mean for Businesses in Poland’. Katarzyna Sarek-Sadurska, managing partner, and Michał Wodnicki, partner, from People & Law welcomed to the stage Ewelina Jarosz-Zgoda, VP, Legal and General Counsel at CD Projekt RED and Marta Derlacz-Wawrowska, Director and Employment Lawyer Lead, Poland at TVN Warner Bros. Discovery.

The panel looked at the new regulatory reform soon to be introduced in Poland that will allow the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) to reclassify civil law contracts, including B2B arrangements, into formal employment relationships. Panellists discussed the potential challenges that businesses and their legal teams may face – especially those using flexible cooperation models – from financial risks to compliance concerns and offered guidance on preparing documentation, communication and internal processes for inspection.

The comprehensive morning of expert panel discussions concluded with a light lunch and further networking. Both panellists and delegates engaged in insightful conversation and thoughtful debate, reflecting on the varied and informative agenda.