The Legal 500

Poland

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Financial regulatory work is the focus for Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team, which predominantly advises banks and investment firms, but is also developing a strong reputation in the payment services sector. Jarosław Bieroński and practice head Dr Marcin Olechowski advised  ING Bank Śląski on the establishment of a mortgage bank; a matter that included a licensing process before the Polish banking regulator. Alongside Mikołaj Sowiński, Olechowski assisted Billon with regulatory compliance concerning its blockchain technology banking solution.

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Commercial, corporate and M&A

Commercial, corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team, which consists of 'hardworking professionals', is noted as 'supportive and flexible'. The group is regularly instructed by Polish and German corporates. Krzysztof Pawlisz, Piotr Andrzejak and Krzysztof Kanton advised Solaris Bus & Coach on all aspects of a €190m investment into the company by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Dr Marcin Olechowski assisted Globalworth Real Estate Investments with the indirect €138m acquisition of a 68% stake in Griffin Premium RE. Practice head Robert Gawałkiewicz has vast experience in M&A, restructurings and related disputes and arbitration.

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Competition/antitrust

Competition/antitrust - ranked: tier 2

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak provides the spectrum of competition advisory services to domestic and foreign clients in relation to Polish and EU law. The team is led by competition law expert Krzysztof Kanton, who represented Swiss Krono in antitrust proceedings before the PCA over collusion allegations regarding wood products; a matter which concluded with a successful leniency application. He is also defending the Polish subsidiary of The Swatch Group in an appeal against a fine for alleged price-fixing before the PCA. Senior counsels Jarosław Łukawski and Marta Kupczak-Strzelecka are also recommended.

Leading individuals

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Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 1

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has competencies in large-scale infrastructure and construction disputes, corporate litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, as well as intellectual and industrial property protection matters and unfair competition cases. It also handles the challenge, recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and the enforcement of foreign judgments. Dariusz Skuza successfully represented Budimex in three claims against PKP arising from an agreement for the acquisition by the client of 100% shares in one of the defendant's companies. Dr Marcin Olechowski and Dr hab Andrzej Szlęzak are recommended for arbitration cases, while Professor Stanisław Sołtysiński specialises in civil, commercial and foreign investment law. Construction disputes lawyer Rafał Waszkiewicz took over as head of the team in January 2019.

Leading individuals

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Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

In addition to general employment advice, Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team is often called upon to advise corporates on employee investigations, dismissals and litigation. Roch Pałubicki, who leads the team, assisted Solaris Bus & Coach with the employment aspects of an investment in the client by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Other clients include Caterpillar, Hollister and Intel. Associate Agata Miętek  is another key name.

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Energy and natural resources

Energy and natural resources - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team specialises in energy and natural resources regulation and projects. Team head Krzysztof Cichocki represented Enea in a dispute with the Energy Regulatory Authority before the Supreme Court, in a challenge to a fine related to the purchase of co-generation electricity; a case which has now been referred to the EU Court of Justice. Senior counsel Tomasz Młodawski is noted for his expertise in electricity and gas regulation.

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Healthcare and life sciences

Healthcare and life sciences - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's Dr hab Ewa Skrzydło - Tefelska specialises in industrial property law and unfair competition issues, Agata Szeliga leads on personal data and privacy and senior counsel Jacek Myszko focuses on IP and regulatory issues. Highlights for Skrzydło-Tefelska included successfully representing Bunge Group in a dispute raised against Unilever regarding the misuse of health claims in advertising a key product. Sławomir Uss  assists Eurocash with the regulatory aspects of its wholesale pharmaceutical activities.

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Intellectual property

Intellectual property - ranked: tier 1

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team is most noted for its patent litigation work, but it also handles IP enforcement and portfolio management. Dr hab Ewa Skrzydło - Tefelska, who leads the team together with Szymon Gogulski, represented Cinkiarz.pl in its successful challenge of an EU Intellectual Property Office decision to refuse its registration of a trade mark. Senior counsel Jacek Myszko specialises in IP as it intersects with pharmaceutical and EU law, while Maciej Zwoliński is an experienced IP litigator. Karol Gajek is a key name for patent and trade mark matters.

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Private client

Private client - ranked: tier 2

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

The team at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's key areas of expertise are tax advice and planning, family and inheritance law and business succession. Practice head Sławomir Łuczak specialises in international tax law. Senior associates Stanisław Gordziałkowski and Anna Kratiuk are also recommended.

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TMT

TMT - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

The team at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has developed real expertise in relation to software and often represents software companies in violation of rights proceedings and digital crime cases. The team is jointly led by IP and IT law expert Mikołaj Sowiński and personal data specialist Agata Szeliga. The duo advise Microsoft on IT and IP matters, including negotiations of customised software license contracts. Szymon Gogulski assists Eurocash with strategic advice relating to its e-commerce operations.

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Tax

Tax - ranked: tier 3

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has expertise in the range of Polish direct and indirect taxes, and is often instructed on tax disputes with the authorities. The group has also developed an IT-based solution for identifying business partners at risk of missing trader fraud. Practice head Jarosław Bieroński assisted Arjo Group with a tax audit and advised the client on international taxation issues regarding the reorganisation of the company.

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White-collar crime

White-collar crime - ranked: tier 2

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's stand-alone white-collar crime practice spans defence work and investigations. The group has also developed an active advisory practice, which assists clients with the mitigation and prevention of criminal liability. Senior associate Paweł Sawicki serves as local anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting outside counsel to Microsoft, a role which involves regular contact with law enforcement authorities. The department is led by vastly experienced criminal defence lawyer Tomasz Konopka. Senior counsel Katarzyna Randzio-Sajkowska is another key name, recommended for internal investigations.

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