Kochanski & Partners > Warsaw, Poland > Firm Profile
Kochanski & Partners Offices

METROPOLITAN BUILDING
PL PILSUDSKIEGO 1
00-078 WARSAW
Poland
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Kochanski & Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Poland > Dispute resolution Tier 2
At Kochanski & Partners, Marek Jeżewski helms a highly-specialised practice, which fields numerous focused sub-groups. Jeżewski’s own area of expertise is in international disputes, which he jointly oversees alongside Dominika Durchowska. Michal König and Mateusz Ostrowski take the lead on commercial and civil disputes, respectively. Agnieszka Chrzanowska is the key contact for media-related litigation work. Andrzej Pałys and Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa co-chair the contentious financial services offering. Markiyan Malskyy, who joined from Arzinger‘s Lviv office in April 2022, brings renewed arbitration strength to the firm.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very good at understanding the technical aspect of a case and very thorough.’
‘Marek Jeżewski is very experienced with a good overview and understanding of the entirety of a case.’
Key clients
Muszynianka
Forteam Investment Limited
Honwood Services Ltd.
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.
Aasted ApS
Betomax (direct 100% subsidiary of Indus Holding AG)
Ringier Axel Springer Poland
Bank BPH
LOT Polish Airlines
Bank PKO BP (the biggest bank in Poland)
Greń sp.j.
Castorama
LS Airport Services
Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. (Polish national electricity transmission system operator)
Perfect Gym Solutions S.A.
Work highlights
- Representing Muszynianka in an investment dispute with the Slovak Republic concerning cross-border infrastructure under the 1994 Bilateral Investment Treaty between Poland and Slovakia.
- Representing Forteam Investment in a dispute concerning an investment made in a major retail-chain company.
- Representing Honwood Services in an international investment dispute against the republic of Poland concerning the mining of natural resources.
Poland > Energy and natural resources Tier 2
The energy, infrastructure, and environment practice at Kochanski & Partners supports both local and international clients with the development, financing, acquisition, and disposal of a wide range of energy generation and transmission assets. It is also increasingly active with respect to infrastructure developments in the Baltic Sea, as well as new technologies including hydrogen, energy storage, nuclear, and waste-to-energy projects. Wojciech Wrochna heads the department with a specific focus on innovative projects. He is supported by Michal Bedkowski-Koziol and Jacek Kozikowski.Practice head(s):
Wojciech Wrochna
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team combines perfect legal capabilities with impressive market knowledge and is able to understand technical issues.’
‘Wojciech Wrochna is impressive. His understanding of EU rules that are defining current energy frameworks makes him unique.’
Key clients
Windspace
CEE Equity Partners Ltd.
Air Products
Swiss Krono S.A.
Northvolt Systems Poland
Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe
Orange Polska
Reckitt Benckiser
MFW Bałtyk
Work highlights
- Advising Air Products on all matters regarding industrial gas supply agreements and development of its hydrogen business in Poland.
- Assisting Northvolt Systems Poland with permissions, contract drafting, and contract negotiation in relation to the construction of a large battery facility.
Poland > Intellectual property Tier 2
Kochanski & Partners‘ IP team is highly adept in the defence of trade marks and patents for clients active in the pharmaceutical, media and FMCG sectors. It also has expertise in domain name matters and IP-related M&A transactions, and represents clients before the common and administrative courts and the Polish Patent Office. The practice is chaired by founder and senior managing partner Piotr Kochanski, alongside Karolina Marciniszyn and Krzysztof Zieba, the last of whom also heads the dedicated FMCG, retail, automotive and trade, and distribution group.Practice head(s):
Piotr Kochański; Karolina Marciniszyn; Krzysztof Zięba
Other key lawyers:
Agnieszka Choromańska-Malicka; Tomasz Szambelan
Testimonials
‘Kochanski & Partners is a national law firm with a strong foothold in the local Polish market and with an outstanding international network and a wonderful IP team.’
‘The firm impresses with its incredibly swift and outstandingly expert handling of cases and the trustworthy way in which it deals with clientele at all times.’
‘Very good business approach.’
‘The services of Kochanski & Partners are thoroughly commended. The team is rigorous and diligent in its support, providing clear and concise advice on prosecution matters.’
‘The services of the firm are provided on a great level.’
‘Karolina Marciniszyn’s strengths are her knowledge and experience, the way she communicates with the client, her approach to problem solving, and her in-depth analysis of every case.’
‘Karolina Marciniszyn is recommended. She is a highly experienced and knowledgeable practitioner who provides savvy, concise, commercially-minded, and practical advice and proposes creative solutions.’
‘Krzysztof Zięba and Agnieszka Choromańska-Malicka are a great support to a client’s business. They understand business needs and sectors, and deliver clear and pragmatic advice.’
Key clients
nOvum Fertility Clinic
Ringier Axel Springer Poland
Hasco Lek
Hasco TM
Reckitt Benckiser
Pamapol S.A.
Coca-Cola HBC Polska
Work highlights
- Representing HASCO Lek against its competitor Swiss Pharma International in a number of trade mark infringement cases.
- Represented Ringier Axel Springer Poland in court proceedings regarding the issue of whether co-authors of films accompanying newspapers are entitled to additional royalties for the CD/DVDs attached.
- Representing Reckitt Benckiser in unfair competition litigation proceedings against one of its competitors.
Poland > Real estate Tier 2
The real estate group at Kochanski & Partners advises domestic and international companies and foreign investors on acquisitions, developments, environmental, planning, leasing, and financing matters. Pawel Cholewinski leads the team, assisted by Rafal Rapala, who leads the firm’s corporate practice in Warsaw. Assets of focus for the group include shopping malls, logistics centres, office buildings, hotels, and industrial facilities. In team news, Weronika Duda was promoted to counsel in March 2022.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Rafal Rapala; Weronika Duda; Malwina Jagiełło
Key clients
PBG Group
Panattoni
Dom Development
Havi Logistics
Skanska
Savills
Savills Property Management
Oxenwood Real Estate
AccorInvest Group S.A.
Orbis S.A.
Skanska Property Poland
Griffin Capital Partners
EPP
Coca Cola
Air Products
Beneteau Group
Reckitt Benckiser
Johnson Matthey PLC
Personnel Service
Inter Cars S.A.
Gaz-System S.A.
Universal Fibers Inc.
Plastipak
Newcold
Pomaris Sp. z o. o.
Equiniti Group PLC
Work highlights
- Advising Havi Logistics on a sale and leaseback transaction for the client’s warehouses and logistics centre located in Warsaw.
- Advising a company from the PBG Group on the sale to Unikoff of the Skalar office building, an A-class office building in Poznań’s Wilda district.
- Advising DiE Inwestycje on the sale of a newly-developed residential building with apartments for rent located in Warsaw.
Poland > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2
Kochanski & Partners is highly regarded by clients for its concerted focus on non-contentious restructurings; the team is well versed in sale and leaseback transactions, mezzanine financings, renegotiation of commercial contracts, tax reorganisation and distressed M&A. Practice head Rafal Rapala‘s extensive corporate experience further serves to cement the group’s proficiency in resolving insolvency issues out of court. Pawel Cholewinski is particularly noted for his knowledge of the real estate sector. On the litigious side, Mateusz Ostrowski – whose experience spans both civil and criminal cases – takes the lead.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Pawel Cholewinski; Mateusz Ostrowski; Karol Połosak; Aneta Serowik
Key clients
State Street Global Advisors
Ringier Axel Springer Poland
Chrysler Poland
Proservice Finteco
BU Media
Blachotrapez
Betomax (subsidiary of INDUS Holding AG)
Groupe Beneteau
Banner Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised State Street Global Advisors on setting up and running investment and brokerage activities in Poland.
- Representing Ringier Axel Springer Poland in restructuring proceedings relating to press distributor RUCH, the debtor in the case.
- Advising Chrysler Poland on the liquidation process of its Polish subsidiary.
Poland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Kochanski & Partners expertly advises strategic investors and business entities on noteworthy local and cross-border transactions, and is particularly well versed in share and asset deals, spin-offs and transformations, restructurings, and joint venture agreements. Pawel Cholewinski oversees the transactional side, while Rafal Rapala leads on corporate mandates; the former has particular experience in the real estate sector. Pawel Mardas is another key senior name to note.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Pawel Mardas; Karol Połosak; Aneta Serowik
Key clients
State Street Bank International
State Street Bank & Trust Company
State Street Global Advisors
Indus Holding AG
Universal Fibers Inc. (subsidiary of H.I.G. Capital)
Knapp AG
Ductor AG
Newcold (subsidiary of Westport Capital)
MML Capital Partners
Groupe Beneteau
Chrysler Poland
Ferro Corporation
Ringier Axel Springer Polska
Blachotrapez
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Coca-Cola HBC Polska
Huuuge Games
Huta Małapanew sp. z o.o.
eFaktor S.A.
Inovo Venture Partners
Parkwind
Netguru S.A.
AirProducts
Oxenwood
Personnel Service
Equiniti
Panattoni Europe
Savills
Alantra – Klima Energy Fund
Pagra sp. z o.o.
Voodoo
Work highlights
- Advised State Street Bank & Trust Company on the acquisition of the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.’s Investor Services business.
- Assisted State Street Global Advisors with the setting up and running of investment and brokerage activities in Poland.
- Advised State Street Bank International on general corporate audits and registration processes, as well as assisting board members with their duties and liabilities.
Poland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3
Kochanski & Partners‘ practice spans a wide range of issues affecting clients from the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, with a particular focus on marketing and advertising, medical technology, distribution, product liability, reimbursement and telemedicine. The firm’s broad outlook ensures that it is also well placed to advise on more general matters relating to employment, tax, intellectual property and corporate law. Krzysztof Zieba leads the team.Practice head(s):
Krzysztof Zięba
Key clients
Techdow Pharma Poland sp. Z o.o.
Hasco TM
nOvum Fertility Clinic
Krynica Vitamin S.A.
Natural Pharmaceuticals
Ringier Axel Springer Polska
Molecule One sp. Z o.o.
Reckitt Benckiser
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd
Corza Medical
Work highlights
- Advising Reckitt Benckiser on issues related to distribution of pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
- Successfully represented HASCO Lek against its competitor Swiss Pharma International in numerous trade mark infringement cases.
- Advising Molecule One on contractual and regulatory issues.
Poland > Private equity Tier 3
Bringing together a team of practitioners with in-house experience garnered from both private equity firms and commercial entities, Kochanski & Partners typically advises investment committees and management boards on all stages of the fund life cycle, with particular expertise in formation and structuring. In March 2022, the promotions of Weronika Duda and Aneta Serowik strengthened the bench at counsel level. Pawel Cholewinski is the key senior contact.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Rafał Rapala; Paweł Mardas; Szymon Balcerzak; Karol Połosak; Weronika Duda; Aneta Serowik
Key clients
State Street Bank International
State Street Bank & Trust Company
State Street Global Advisors
Indus Holding AG
Universal Fibers Inc. (subsidiary of H.I.G. Capital)
Knapp AG
Ductor AG
Newcold (subsidiary of Westport Capital)
MML Capital Partners
Groupe Beneteau
Chrysler Poland
Ferro Corporation
Ringier Axel Springer Polska
Blachotrapez
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Coca-Cola HBC Polska
Huuuge Games
Huta Małapanew sp. z o.o.
eFaktor S.A.
Inovo Venture Partners
Parkwind
Netguru S.A.
AirProducts
Oxenwood
Personnel Service
Equiniti
Panattoni Europe
Savills
Betomax systems GmbH Co. & KG (subsidiary of INDUS Holding AG)
Work highlights
- Advising State Street Bank & Trust Company on the acquisition of the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.’s investor services business.
- Assisting State Street Global Advisors with the setting up and running of investment and brokerage activities in Poland.
- Advised Inovo Venture Partners VC fund on a transaction involving the acquisition of shares in House Med.
Poland > Tax Tier 3
At Kochanski & Partners, ‘sharp thinker‘ Agata Dziwisz-Moshe presides over a team equally well versed in tax litigation, advisory, compliance and planning matters. Recently, the group has been involved in multiple disputes related to the right to receive VAT refunds from goods and services purchased to provide back office services to financial institutions. Andrzej Malec operates chiefly on mandates requiring significant economic expertise, and regularly assists with the selection of tax-efficient structures for business activities, investments and transactions.
Practice head(s):
Agata Dziwisz-Moshe
Other key lawyers:
Wojciech Śliż; Mirosław Malczeski; Aleksandra Pizon-Jaworska; Andrzej Malec
Testimonials
‘Capable and well connected, they take a direct approach, but it gets results. Excellent at thinking around the issue and driving towards a solution.’
‘Agata Dziwisz-Moshe is a sharp thinker and clear communicator.’
‘Wojciech Śliż brings excellent experience and a calm head.’
Key clients
Tchibo Warszawa sp. z o.o.
Molecule One sp. z o.o.
Pandora Jewelry CEE
Pandora Jewelry Shared Services
Forza Foods Ltd. (a UK based company)
Havi Logistics sp. z o.o.
Amara sp. z o.o.
Oxenwood Real Estate LLP
CJR Polska sp. z o.o.
Biuro Informacji Kredytowej S.A.
GFT Poland sp. z o.o.
Work highlights
- Assisting GFT Poland with the tax structuring of contracts for the client’s management team, in light of the new Polish Deal tax reforms.
- Successfuly assisted Tchibo Warszawa with obtaining its first APA, which related to the services of a business platform purchased from a related entity from the capital group.
- Advised Molecule One, a technology company providing an IP platform dedicated to the synthesis of drugs, on the tax structuring of a planned investment into the US market.
Poland > TMT Tier 3
The technology, media, and entertainment team at Kochanski & Partners has a strong focus on new technologies and the metaverse, which includes assisting clients with blockchain, AI, NFTs, and crypto-assets. Cloud computing in the financial services sector is also a key area for the practice, in addition to assistance with drafting of IT contracts and representation of clients in disputes. Agnieszka Chrzanowska jointly leads the group alongside Lukasz Wegrzyn. Mateusz Ostrowski is also a name to note, as head of the litigation department. Piotr Kaniewski was promoted to counsel in March 2022.Practice head(s):
Agnieszka Chrzanowska; Łukasz Węgrzyn
Other key lawyers:
Mateusz Ostrowski; Piotr Kaniewski; Szymon Ciach; Monika Maćkowska-Morytz
Testimonials
‘The firm’s knowledge of TMT is highly valued.’
‘Piotr Kaniewski and Łukasz Węgrzyn provide good cooperation.’
Key clients
ERGO Hestia
mBank
Pandora Jewelry CEE Sp. z o.o.
IZFIA
GFT Group
Spacelift
LMG FÖRSÄKRINGS AB Spółka Akcyjna Oddział w Polsce
Murapol S.A.
MAIN sp. z o.o.
Molecule One sp. z o.o.
LOT Polish Airlines
Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy
mElements S.A.
PKO BP S.A.
Ringier Axel Springer Polska
Pracuj.pl Group
Nest Bank
Getin Noble Bank
Canal +
Dalkia Polska Energia S.A.
Tameshi Investments
mBank Hipoteczny S.A.
TIDIO Poland sp. z o.o.
Work highlights
- Assisting the Polish Bank Association with a major update to the Polish standard for cloud computing implementation in banks.
- Advised ERGO Hestia on a cloud migration project.
- Represented Ringier Axel Springer Poland in almost 200 cases regarding freedom of the press and protection of personal rights.
Poland > Banking and finance Tier 5
Kochanski & Partners primarily operates at the instersection between banking law and technology; in recent highlights, the team has been instructed by a leading local bank to assist with building its presence in the global metaverse, and is also involved with development of the Polish standard for cloud computing implementation in banks. The group is also noted for its litigious strength, with Andrzej Pałys and Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa standing out for their contentious expertise. David Thomas has now left the firm.Practice head(s):
Andrzej Pałys; Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa
Other key lawyers:
Maciej Kuranc
Testimonials
‘Dedication to client support, professional approach, business orientation.’
‘High level of competence.’
Key clients
Universal Fibers Inc. (subsidiary of H.I.G. Capital)
STEAG Group
Schaltbau Holding AG
State Street Global Advisors
Work highlights
- Advised State Street Global Advisors on the setting up and running of investment and brokerage activities in Poland.
- Advising the working group responsible for providing a standard for cloud computing implementation in banks, established by the Polish Bank Association and the Banking Technology Forum.
- Representing Bank BPH, Bank Millennium, Bank PKO and Bank Ochrony Środowiska in a portfolio of more than 5,500 court disputes concerning Swiss Franc indexed loans.
Poland > Public procurement
Kochanski & Partners > Firm Profile
Managing Partner: Piotr Kochański
Equity Partners: Piotr Kochański, Paweł Cholewiński, Dariusz Dobkowski, Agata Dziwisz-Moshe, Anna Gwiazda, Marek Jeżewski, Jacek Kozikowski, Michał König, Markiyan Malskyy, Paweł Mardas, Mateusz Ostrowski, Andrzej Pałys, Bartosz Pawłowski, Karol Połosak, Rafał Rapala, Aleksandra Ryżkowska, Michał Walczak, Wojciech Wrochna, Monika Wojciechowska
Number of partners: 30
Number of other fee-earners: +100
Offices: Warsaw, Krakow
Firm Overview:
Kochański & Partners combines technological progress, experience and expertise to create innovative legal solutions and offer its clients top quality services.
The firm is not only a legal advisor, but also an invaluable business partner, supporting companies in finding answers to global challenges and megatrends. The firm is actively shaping the legal and social environment around the hottest contemporary topics such as data-driven economics, decarbonization, the metaverse, ESG, global infrastructure, global finance and capital markets.
The firm is well-known for its cross-border services, international cooperation and knowledge sharing programmes. Its experienced lawyers and tax experts advise international companies on becoming established in Poland (through incorporation, commercial arrangements or business acquisitions) or on trading with their partners throughout the world. Its advisors are able to coordinate and provide a seamless service with the firm’s network of international law firms in Europe, the UK, the USA and Asia.
Kochański & Partners is committed to applying and promoting ESG practices in its business and work environment. The firm is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and a signatory of the Diversity Charter under the aegis of the European Commission. The firm has voluntarily participated in the non-financial survey by independent international auditor EcoVadis, being ranked in the 89th percentile of participating companies and awarded a Silver EcoVadis Medal.
Main Areas of Practice:
Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
Kochański & Partners’ Dispute Resolution practice consists of international disputes, commercial disputes, civil and media litigation, and disputes of financial institutions. Within this practice, more than 40 lawyers are regularly engaged in sophisticated and challenging dispute projects, often of a landmark nature.
Kochański & Partners’ international disputes team receives instructions from foreign investors under bilateral investment treaties in the most complex investor-State arbitrations, while the commercial disputes practice faces an increasing number of instructions to represent clients in the most complex commercial cases, both via arbitration and in courts. The Civil and media litigation team supports freedom of speech, often defending journalists in high stakes disputes concerning leading political and media events in Poland and Central Europe. Kochański & Partners is also well-known for having the largest team of banking litigators in Poland, which places them among a limited pool of law firms creating strategies for financial institutions facing disputes over their market practice.
Key clients: Forteam Investment, Honwood Services, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, Aasted, Betomax (direct 100% subsidiary of Indus Holding), Ringier Axel Springer Poland, Bank BPH, LOT Polish Airlines, Bank PKO BP (the biggest bank in Poland), Castorama, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (Polish national electricity transmission system operator)
M&A
Kochański & Partners’ lawyers provide comprehensive advice on M&A and private equity issues. They advise on noteworthy local and cross-border transactions and smaller scale complex projects, as well as assist strategic and financial investors and business entities.
The advantage of Kochański & Partners M&A team is their creative and pragmatic approach with priority always given to smoothly facilitate the achievement of a client’s business goals. The M&A team offers practical solutions and clear conclusions and precisely identifies and realizes the goals of each transaction.
Types of M&A transactions: share deals, asset deals, mergers, spin-offs and transformations of companies, including regulated market companies, restructuring of companies and groups of companies, exit structuring, drafting and negotiating shareholders agreements and joint venture agreements
Key clients: State Street Corporation, State Street Bank, State Street Global Advisors, LOT Polish Airlines, INDUS Holding (parent company of Betomax systems), Blachotrapez, Revolt Energy, Ringer Axel Springer, Echo Polska Properties (EPP N.V.), Redefine, Dom Development, AccorInvest Group, Universal Fibers, Knight Frank, Coca-Cola HBC, Reckitt Benckiser, Air Products, Savills
Tax
Kochański & Partners’ Tax team is best placed to provide comprehensive advice on both domestic and international taxation, including ensuring effective tax settlements and accounting.
Kochański & Partners’ tax experts have renowned expertise in the field of tax litigation, international taxation, tax compliance (including transfer pricing), dynamic tax planning and structuring, accounting and complex advisory to companies operating in innovative sectors. They conduct their projects in close cooperation with other practices in order to ensure clients receive multidisciplinary legal advice to maximize their chances at mitigating legal risk.
Clients recognize that their advisors do not limit themselves to simply solving a single problem. By taking a broader perspective and analyzing the company’s particular situation in depth, they show their clients new ways to make savings on their tax burdens, often through the obtaining of significant tax refunds.
The Tax team authored and published the ‘Taxation of Cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and Challenges in the Metaverse’, the first extensive tax report on this area in Poland.
Key services: dynamic tax planning (tax efficiency of transactions); tax compliance and tax reporting, including VAT, WHT, MDR and transfer pricing compliance; tax support in real estate transactions – share or asset deals; tax efficiency for innovative businesses; International Tax Law; CIT, PIT, VAT, local taxes; customs law; tax proceedings; tax support during the introduction of a company into the Polish or foreign market.
Key clients: State Street Bank, Tchibo, Schooner Capital, Johnson Matthey, Oxenwood Real Estate, Forza Foods, Redefine Properties, Pandora Jewellery, Techdow
Banking & Finance:
Kochański & Partners’ is best placed to advise its clients on every aspect of transactional banking, complex regulatory matters, litigation banking and innovative projects connecting banking and technology.
The company stands out as a pioneer and thought leader wherever technology merges with financial services. Kochański & Partners supported the biggest Polish bank in building their presence in the global metaverse and, in cooperation with the Polish Bank Association (ZBP), co-authored the major update to the Polish standard for cloud computing implementation in banks, acting as the exclusive legal counsel to the workgroup.
In terms of litigation banking, Kochański & Partners is among a limited pool of law firms creating strategies for financial institutions facing disputes over their market practices. They work with top tier banks, and as one of the premier law firms representing the banking sector have a current portfolio of over 7000 cases regarding claims over Swiss Franc related mortgage loans.
Key services: transactional banking, regulatory matters, cloud computing in the banking sector, financial services in the metaverse, litigation banking, cybersecurity in the financial service market
Key clients: Universal Fibers (subsidiary of H.I.G. Capital), State Street Global Advisors, Polish Bank Association (Związek Banków Polskich, ZBP), Bank BPH, Bank Millennium, Bank PKO BP, mBank
Energy
Kochanski & Partners offers both national and international clients a sophisticated legal and project management advisory regarding high profile energy projects, regularly acting on the development, financing, acquisition and disposal of a wide variety of energy generation and transmission assets, as well as specialist energy regulatory matters. The law firm is also building its reputation in the development of large scale and high profile infrastructural projects, with a unique and rich experience in the development of infrastructural projects in the Baltic Sea.
Kochański & Partners’ experts are best placed to advise its clients in all aspects of climate change and new technologies in the energy sector issues (including hydrogen, energy storage, and waste to energy projects). Their unique experiences in the energy market, also brings added value to infrastructural projects, in particular greenfield investments in which they advise on a number of auxiliary services including the development of the energy strategy for production facilities constructed or operated by their clients.
Key specializations: hydrogen advisory, nuclear advisory, offshore energy projects, ESG, capacity market, greenfield projects, RES, energy storage projects, biogas projects
Key clients: Ductor; CEE Equity Partners; Krynica Vitamin; Swiss Krono; Northvolt Systems Poland; SPP Group; Montis Capital; Orange Poland; Reckitt Benckiser; MFW Bałtyk (JV of Polish Polenergia and Norwegian Equinor)
Technology
Kochański & Partners’ Technology practice stands out as a thought leader in FinTech. They supported the biggest Polish bank in establishing their presence in the global metaverse and, in cooperation with the Polish Bank Association (ZBP), co-authored the major update to the Polish standard for cloud computing implementation in banks, acting as the exclusive legal counsel to the workgroup.
They authored and published the ‘Kochański & Partners Metaverse Report’, the first extensive report on the Metaverse in Poland.
The Technology Team specializes in all aspects of IT contracts, technology compliance, financial regulatory, blockchain & cryprtoassets, IT dispute resolution, and data protection, advising in particular, banks, insurance companies, payment services providers, investment funds and financial technology providers.
Key clients: ERGO Hestia, mBank, mBank Hipoteczny, mElements, Nest Bank, IZFIA (Chamber of Fund and Asset Managers), GFT Group, Związek Banków Polskich (Polish Banks Association), MAIN, Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy (Credit Agricole Group), PKO BP, Getin Noble Bank, Tameshi Investments
Real Estate
Kochański & Partners’ Real Estate practice acts for domestic and international business and advise on the full range of real estate transactions. The team has the commitment, resources and know-how to advise on all aspects of the ‘property cycle’, including acquisitions, developments, environmental, planning and leasing advice, as well as financing and exit.
Key services: general real estate advice, real estate transactions, forward purchase and forward funding projects, construction law, lease agreements, real estate financing, real estate restitution
Key clients: Panattoni, Oxenwood Real Estate, Beneteau Group, Ikea, Coca Cola, Savills Property Management, Johnson Matthey, AccorInvest Group, Skanska, Havi Logistics, Reckitt Benckiser, Equiniti Group PLC
Infrastructure
Kochański & Partners Infrastructure practice provides comprehensive advice to both economic operators and contracting authorities on the preparation and implementation of investment processes in all sectors of infrastructure and construction. The team supports its clients at every stage of the investment process, including the phase of preparing technical documentation for proceedings or obtaining financing for a given project.
The team is also best placed to provide support on designing and implementing the optimal litigation strategies within disputes arising between the investor and the contractor / subcontractor.
Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Infrastructure team, in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Desk and the Public Procurement practice, has consistently raised its voice in the ongoing debate on the direction of the country’s reconstruction, initiating numerous stationary events and webinars.
Key clients: Baltic Pipe Project (GAZ-SYSTEM), Northvolt, NewCold (Westport Capital), STRABAG, Johnson Matthey, DCT Gdańsk (Deepwater Container Terminal), Mecanotubo Poland, SIAC
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Dr iur Michal Bedkowski-Koziol | Partner, Head of Competition & Antitrust Law Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Pawel Cholewinski | Partner, Head of Commercial Transactions, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Dariusz Dobkowski | Attorney at Law, Partner, Head of Global Transactions | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Weronika Duda | Counsel, Co-Head of German Desk | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Dominika Durchowska | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Agata Dziwisz-Moshe | Partner, Head of Tax Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Aleksander Galos | Of Counsel | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Anna Gwiazda | Partner, Labor Law Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Malwina Jagiełło | Senior Associate | View Profile |
![]() | Dr Marek Jezewski | Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Piotr Kochanski | Attorney at Law, Managing Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Michal König | Partner, Head of Commercial Disputes | View Profile |
![]() | Dr Jacek Kozikowski | Partner, Head of Asian Desk | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Marek Król | Attorney at Law, Partner, Head of Banking and Finance | View Profile |
![]() | Dr Jakub Krysa | Partner, Head of Public Procurement Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Mirosław Malczeski | Senior Associate | View Profile |
![]() | Dr Andrzej Malec | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Dr hab Markiyan Malskyy | Partner, Head of Ukrainian Desk | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Karolina Marciniszyn | Partner, Head of Intellectual & Industrial Property Law Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Pawel Mardas | Partner, M&A | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Monika Maćkowska-Morytz | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Mateusz Ostrowski | Partner, Head of Litigation Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Magdalena Papiernik-Konig | Counsel | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Andrzej Pałys | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Karol Polosak | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Rafal Rapala | Partner, Head of Corporate Practice, Shareholders Conflicts | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Aleksandra Ryżkowska | Partner, Head of International Practice Development, Head of Chinese Business Desk | View Profile |
![]() | Ms Aneta Serowik | Counsel | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Wojciech Wrochna | Partner, Head of Energy, Natural Resources & Chemicals | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Krzysztof Zieba | Partner, Head of FMCG, Retail & Automotive and Trade & Distribution Law… | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Jan Ziomek | Advocate, Partner, Head of FinTec, NewTech Sector Practice | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Wojciech Śliż | Counsel | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : over 100Languages
English French German Italian Polish Portuguese Russian SpanishMemberships
United Nations Global Compact Network Poland The International Bar Association (IBA) The Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (PUCC) British-Polish Chamber of Commerce International Chamber of Commerce La Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie France Pologne (CCIFP) Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications (PIIT) Polish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Polish-Spanish Chamber of Commerce Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce Scandinavian Polish Chamber of Commerce The International Trademark Association (INTA) The Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry (PIPC) The Polish Confederation Lewiatan The Polish-Italian Chamber of Commerce Union of Employers ShokokaiInternational Capabilities
Kochański & Partners is well-known for their cross-border services, international cooperation and knowledge sharing programmes. The firm’s experienced lawyers and tax advisors are highly-regarded in supporting international businesses. They advise international companies on becoming established in Poland (through incorporation, commercial arrangements or business acquisitions) or on trading with their international partners throughout the world. Kochański & Partners lawyers are able to coordinate and provide a seamless service with the firm’s network of international law firms in Europe, USA and Asia.
Kochański & Partners experts spend time getting to know clients, their businesses, and the markets they operate in. For that reason the firm has been trusted by a portfolio of the biggest European and global clients:
- Advising on the purchase of shares in Orbis S.A. (the Polish hotel chain), from Accor S.A. and Accor Polska – the biggest real estate transaction in the CEE region in 2019/2020. Our assignment included, in particular, performing a due diligence investigation of Orbis S.A. (involving 46 hotels in Poland), structuring of the transaction, preparing and negotiating the agreement for the sale of shares in Orbis S.A., as well as other transaction documentation. Kochański & Partners lawyers also advised on a call to sign up for the sale of shares in Orbis S.A. via a brokerage house.
- Advising Ferro Corporation, a leading global supplier of technology-based functional coatings and colour solutions, on the sale of its European Tile Coatings Business to Pigments Spain, S.L., a company of the Esmalglass-Itaca-Fritta group, which is a portfolio company of Lone Star Funds, for USD 460 million in cash, with the potential for an additional USD 32 million in cash based on the performance of the business pre-closing
- Kochański & Partners has been engaged in the process of initial public offering and listing of the Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical’s shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Kochański & Partners’ assignment included: due diligence of the Polish subsidiary; preparing legal opinion related to the Polish law aspects deemed key for the underwriters; preparing input to the prospectus regarding Polish regulatory environment; comments on Polish aspects of the prospectus.
- Advising one of the leading global financial institutions – tax support in a complex tax dispute. The matter regards the right to receive a VAT refund on back-office services performed by the client’s Polish branch office. Our assignment includes, among others: preparation and implementation of a multi-threaded strategy of tax dispute (before the tax authorities and the administrative courts), advice on the penal fiscal matters of the case, preparation of numerous documents to be used in the tax proceedings, development of new arguments to be used in the case, presenting the position of the client in a legislative process coordinated by the Ministry of Finance. Total value of dispute: ca. EUR 50 million.
- Tax advice regarding the planned merger of 2 listed UK funds (PLCs) that each own logistics real estate in Europe, including real estate properties in Poland. Our advice included an analysis of the tax consequences in Poland of such transaction, with a particular focus on corporate tax. The total value of the portfolio of the funds exceeds EUR 1.2 billion; the total value of the Polish portfolio of the funds reaches EUR 150 million.
Doing Business In
Poland
Business environment
Poland is an increasingly attractive market, having achieved a very stable economic growth and managing to quickly mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the decline in FDI projects in Poland was one of the lowest. In comparison to other European countries, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced Polish GDP growth to a lesser extent than other European members, which led to the Polish economy recovering swiftly.
Despite the war in Ukraine, Poland remains a stable investment location, being a member of the most strategic alliances, such as NATO, and economic– such as the UE. Its attractiveness in investors’ eyes is also influenced by the reliable banking sector and mature financial sector, well-developed infrastructure and the increasing value of foreign direct investments (FDI).
Poland has an excellent central position, straddling Western and Eastern Europe. The key advantages of Poland as a business location is coastal access, allowing to become being the second most popular destination for offshore FDI projects. The central position also provides a crossroads for European trade and transport routes. In recent years, an additional advantage for the global trade come from significant numbers of well-developed logistic centres.
There are many ways foreign investors may set up business, mainly depending on country of origin. The biggest advantage is granted to persons from Member States of the UE and the European Free Trade Association, who may start economic activity in the Polish territory under the same conditions as Poles.
A popular form of conducting business by those from abroad is via establishing a branch of the company, which allows expanding its business activity and conducting it without establishing a separate legal entity under Polish law. For investors interested in becoming more closely associated with Poland, operating on a larger scale and conducting business in a more structured and formalized way, there are various forms of possible commercial companies. All types are available under the Commercial Companies Code and provide different options suitable for a wide range of business activity. These types of commercial companies are partnerships and corporations, which differ on personal and capital issues, such as responsibility.
Economy
Despite Poland being a stable investment location, the war in Ukraine, has brought many challenges for both the Polish economy and economies of countries worldwide. The ultimate results of the war are hard to currently predict, but regardless of the geopolitical and economic challenges (which have not significantly impacted the general investment situation) Poland remains a safe and stable place to do business.
Poland is the fifth most populated country in the EU, the largest country in CEE, and the sixth largest economy in the EU. The economic growth is visible also by the increasing number of cities with more than 200k of residents, which is already at 14.
The key financial stability agencies continue to rate Poland highly, with no changes compared to previous years, providing a stable outlook for the future.
Poland is currently investing in numerous strategic projects, including energy and infrastructure. It is also the largest beneficiary of EU cohesion and funding for regional development. A crucial part of this funding is targeted towards R&D enterprises, innovation and environmental projects. One attractive form is a CIT exemption for investors under Polish Investment Zones and numerous government grants. There is a wide range of tax preferences provided for investors, such as relief for automation.
Current opportunities & future prospects
Poland is a very attractive investment location from the perspective of the demographics of society and the labor market, which continues to offer competitive labor costs, connected with the highly educated affordable skilled work force. Poland is the largest academic hub in the CEE region with more than 300 institutes of higher learning. Impressive are also numbers describing the volume of students: more than 1.2 mln in total and about 350 thousand graduates each year. 20% of these are graduates of engineering or technical faculties.
At the same time, Poland is a very attractive place to live and work for skilled employes – the unemployment rate is about two times smaller than the average in the EU. Moreover, Polish people as a society are relatively young in comparison to other European countries. The structure of society and a high level of education makes Poles very open to using new technologies. One more important note regarding a relatively young society is an increasing awareness of the importance of subscribing to an meeting ESG standards.
Among the most promising industries are: information and communications technology, electronics and business services. As an example, over the past 4 years the number of FinTechs in Poland has nearly doubled – rising to almost 300 in 2022. The following factors account for the successful growth in this area: the overall macroeconomic situation, the number of technical university graduates and highly-skilled experts, as well as high demand for technology-enabled financial services and, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the change of customer behaviors. Other prospective sectors are: aerospace, business services, home appliances, pharmaceutical and medical.
Legal system
The Polish legal system is based on both domestic regulations and EU law. Direct implementation of European law is broadly based, meaning that harmonization of Polish law with the EU legislation is a fact in many areas.
The Polish legal system is not based on case law in contrast to the UK or the US legal system. However court judgments and decisions of judges adopted in previous cases have impact on dispute resolution, being an important component of the Polish legal system.
What is also important is that the Polish legal system is quite stable, but is subject to change and development. The same concerns taxation in Poland.
Due to the plethora of regulations, foreign investors should take care when choosing legal forms and structures for doing business in Poland, to ensure they select the one which is the most efficient and appropriate for them.
Foreign investment restrictions
The Polish business ecosystem is open for foreign investment, both in terms of the market availability as well as in terms of legal regulations. Nevertheless some restrictions must be taken into consideration by foreign investors, in particular related to the acquisition of real estate and certain other investments in specific areas under the regulation dated 24 July 2015 on control of investment. These restrictions concern in particular the following sectors:
- electricity generation;
- production of petrol or diesel oil;
- pipeline transport of crude oil, petrol or diesel oil;
- warehousing and storage of petrol, diesel, natural gas;
- underground storage of crude oil or natural gas;
- production of chemicals, fertilizers and chemical products;
- production and trade in explosives, weapons and ammunition as well as products and technology for military or police purposes;
- regasification or liquefaction of natural gas;
- reloading of crude oil and its products in seaports;
- distribution of natural gas or electricity;
- telecommunications activity;
- transmission of gaseous fuels;
- extraction and processing of metal ores used for the production of explosives, weapons and ammunition as well as products and technologies for military or police purposes;
- production of devices, instruments and medical devices;
- production of drugs and other pharmaceutical products;
- trade in gaseous fuels and gas with foreign countries;
- generation or transmission or distribution of heat;
- reloading in inland ports;
- processing of meat, milk, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
Foreign investors contemplating acquisition of shares in companies conducting business activity in the above sectors, or acquisition of enterprises or organized parts of enterprises of such companies, are required to notify the Polish Antimonopoly Authority (UOKiK) on the investment. In some specific cases the UOKiK may block such transactions. Obtainment of UOKiK clearance is also required with respect to transactions exceeding certain value thresholds.
Top tips to takeaway “What to know before Investing”
Poland is an attractive market for foreign investments, and not only for macroeconomic reasons, but also the straightforward legal system which is harmonized with EU legislation in many areas.
One of the greatest strengths of the Polish business landscape is its stock exchange and capital markets. The Warsaw Stock Exchange may be the primary or the secondary stock exchange market for foreign investors looking for growth of their capital.
Planning business in Poland requires mapping of the Polish regulations with the specifics of Polish ecosystem. Due to the complexity of the domestic regulations, foreign investors are advised to hire professional legal and tax advisors who may assist them in optimum structuring of their expansion on the Polish market.
Authors: Paweł Mardas and Anna Szepietowska
Interviews
Piotr Kochański, Founding Partner, Managing Partner in the Executive Management
Coronavirus is said to be going to irreversibly change the face of business; will the legal sector also be affected? What has been the influence of COVID-19 on law firms?
Piotr Kochański: The coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated the processes I have been talking about for a long time. Businesses, not only law firms, now understand the need to digitalise their operations and introduce advanced solutions, in both internal organisation management and customer service. At Kochański & Partners we have already been undertaking and developing these processes for a decade. The pandemic forced companies to suddenly switch to remote work, for which many of them were unprepared in terms of organisation and technology. Therefore, solutions and technologies enabling joint work on documents or secure access to databases have become increasingly relevant. With the pandemic, those lawyers who had been reluctant so far, at last are understanding that digitalisation of legal services is no longer a choice, but a necessity.
What does this mean for clients?
PK: The value offered by technological solutions in the area of legal services is, above all, an enormous saving of time – for both lawyers and clients. With the automation of repetitive operations, lawyers will be able to fully dedicate themselves to intellectual work that cannot be performed by computers. Nowadays, the greatest value we can offer clients is creative time dedicated to them. Lawyers can now focus on developing innovative solutions and looking for opportunities to develop their clients’ businesses.
So the lawyer of the future is also a business advisor?
PK: Yes, indeed. Today lawyers are expected to not only know the legal environment of an organisation, but also to understand their clients’ business goals. Lawyers must think holistically about the needs of companies, and this requires an in-depth knowledge of the specific nature of their business. This is why at Kochański & Partners we focus on five main sectors of the economy: energy, infrastructure, real estate, financial services, and new technologies, science and industry. With this approach, we are able to fully understand our clients’ industries and business environment and customise our advice to their individual needs. A good example is the legal assistance we provide to financial sector companies in implementing cloud computing solutions. Cloud computing offers enormous opportunities for financial and infrastructural optimisation for banks, but so far its application has been hampered mainly by cybersecurity issues and regulatory constraints. Our firm, through the experience gained from our involvement in the works on PolishCloud standards, assists financial institutions in implementing cloud solutions in compliance with cybersecurity requirements.
Is such a proactive and business-oriented approach the future of Polish law firms?
PK: It definitely is. In Poland, the use of state-of-the-art technologies by lawyers and their business orientation, are still a novelty, but at leading global law firms this revolution is in full swing. At Kochański & Partners we understand these needs and are changing our approach to multidisciplinary legal advice, which is why major international law firms often choose to work with us as their local Polish partner. We have recently formalised such an alliance with one of the world’s largest law firms.
Press Releases
Jan Ziomek joins Kochański & Partners as Head of FinTech within the NewTech Sector Practice | This is the next stage of a carefully planned and consistently implemented consolidation.
11th September 2023 Following strategic actions in the areas of Global Transactions and International Finance, the time has come to complete the building of a comprehensive New Technologies Practice.Kochański & Partners – Concentration, Consolidation, Consistency
5th June 2023 Kochański & Partners is entering the next stage in the consistent pursuit of its business strategy – consolidation, while increasing the number of its Partners and Equity Partners. Piotr Kochański, Managing Partner, has become head of the integrated New Technologies Practice, with one team being led by Monika Maćkowska-Morytz in her role as Partner. The Firm is joined by Dariusz Dobkowski and Marek Król, who will lead the Global Commercial Practice and the Banking & Finance Practice, respectively. Dariusz Dobkowski, Markiyan Malskyy and Karol Połosak have become Equity Partners. Kochański & Partners has also announced extensive expansion and its plans to open new offices in key Polish business centres.Successful management buyout at Jansen
15th May 2023 Jansen is one of the largest Polish importers of cheese and other premium dairy products, having more than 20 years of experience in the food industry, and from being placed in the largest hyper and supermarket chains, has launched around 500 exclusive products on the Polish market. Kochański & Partners advised Jansen’s shareholder on the structuring and execution of a management buyout.Kochański & Partners advised on the purchase of a 75% stake in first-league GKS Tychy Football Club
15th May 2023 GKS Tychy is an ambitious football club from Silesia, consistently striving to add more trophies to its growing collection.KOCHAŃSKI & PARTNERS IS AWARDED THE ECOVADIS SILVER MEDAL
27th April 2023 Kochański & Partners has received a high rating in the ESG audit conducted by EcoVadis, an international specialist rating agency. EcoVadis is a trusted provider of corporate sustainability ratings, having to date audited more than 100,000 businesses from around the world. To demonstrate its commitment to responsible and sustainable business conduct, the Firm underwent a detailed analysis of its non-financial activities. The high rating and the silver medal awarded to Kochański & Partners reflect its maturity and attention to high management standards.Kochański & Partners strengthens its international position, as Agnieszka Chrzanowska appointed new IBA Publications Officer
14th February 2023 Agnieszka Chrzanowska, Partner and Head of the Kochański & Partners Media Sector, has been appointed Publications Officer on the Media Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA). This achievement has twofold significance, as it is also the first time that such a high-ranking position within the IBA has been entrusted to a Polish lawyer.KOCHAŃSKI & PARTNERS JOINS THE UN’S LARGEST SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS INITIATIVE – THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
30th January 2023 Kochański & Partners has joined the United Nations Global Compact – the world's largest initiative bringing together businesses working for sustainable development, and forming an integral part of the UN system based in New York. In advising clients on environmental issues, energy transition, sustainable finance, human rights, labour law and corporate governance, Kochański & Partners also implements ESG best practices into its day-to-day operations.Deadlock clauses in shareholders’ agreements
19th January 2023 Disagreements between shareholders can be a healthy thing, leading to creative solutions through the reaching of compromises. Differences can involve issues as diverse as how a company should be managed and controlled, and the direction and strategy it is taking. However, if differences become entrenched, the result can be potential deadlock and the loss of the ability to make important decisions, which can be severely damaging to a company and its shareholders.New liability rules for artificial intelligence in the European Union
7th December 2022 There’s a lot going on in the EU about Artificial Intelligence - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the EU’s strategy for creating a digital single market, and too this end, a number of EU legal documents have seen the light of day over the last several years. However, in April 2021, the European Commission presented a revolutionary proposal for a regulation on AI (Artificial Intelligence Act), laying the foundations for a legal framework for the use of AI within the European Union. Legislative work on the AI Act is already at an advanced stage and the document is expected to come into force at any moment.Kochański & Partners advised Savills on the acquisition of Knight Frank’s property management division
25th November 2022 We advised Savills, the international property advisory firm and leader in the commercial property industry, on the acquisition of a part of Knight Frank’s business, including its property management division. Following the transaction, Savills now manages more than 1,200,000 m² of office space.Piotr Kochański’s business advisory vision
21st November 2022 Kochański & Partners is the coherent, consistently and effectively built business advisory concept of Piotr Kochański. Lawyer, entrepreneur and manager, Piotr has set trends on the legal market in Poland for nearly 37 years, and fiercely promoted legal talent.The roots of the current ESG revolution
21st November 2022 As a new business trend, ESG is of growing interest to an increasing number of markets. More and more businesses are publishing ESG strategies and with good reason. According to PwC’s 2021 U.S. survey, 83% of consumers indicated a preference for companies to implement ESG best practices, and 86% of employees prefer to work for companies that care about ESG values.Trends in the regulation and taxation of crypto – a summary of the Kochański & Partners debate
15th November 2022 Kochański & Partners, the authors of the first metaverse report in Poland, published a follow-up tax themed report on 27 October. “Taxation of Cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and Challenges in the Metaverse” is a comprehensive overview of the tax consequences of events and transactions involving cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The publication was coupled with presentation of the report and an expert debate featuring the participation of representatives of business, new technology market practitioners who deal on a daily basis with crypto, NFTs and the Metaverse, and lawyers specialising in digital economics and taxes.Kochański & Partners Has Advised on the Strategic Baltic Pipe Energy Project
15th November 2022 On 27 September this year, the Baltic Pipe - the first ever offshore gas pipeline connecting Poland with the European energy system - was officially opened and symbolically launched. This is the first such large-scale project in the Polish area of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Pipe is of strategic importance for energy security, as it has enabled the creating of a new gas supply corridor in Europe, allowing gas to be transported from Norway to the Danish and Polish markets, and also to end-users in neighbouring countries. The pipeline also enables the transmission of gas from Poland to Denmark. The investment is being carried out by the Polish gas transmission pipeline operator Gaz-System in cooperation with the Danish operator Energinet.The Work-life balance directive — Changes to the Labour Code and new rights for employees
15th November 2022 Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU, commonly referred to as the work-life balance directive, is due to be implemented into the Labour Code by the Polish government.We are ready to change the world – step by step
15th November 2022 Making the world a better place is the key to our vision for building a new future. For nearly 25 years, we have been creating and initiating change, and not only when it comes to the legal market. We believe that we also have a responsibility to set benchmarks and trends in the wider social area, outside of our day to day legal service to which our Clients and colleagues have become accustomed.We advised Klima Energy, supporting the development of green energy
15th November 2022 Our M&A team, led by Pawel Mardas, assisted Klima Energy, the Spanish Alantra Group VC fund, in their PLN 70 million investment into SunRoof. Sunroof is a Polish-Swedish start-up, offering pholtovoltaic roof panels to produce green energy for powering homes, in countries including Poland, Germany, Sweden and Norway.SLAPP – a global legal problem that, if unchecked, could stifle freedom of expression
15th November 2022 History shows that the last bastion of freedom of speech, which guarantees these values, is the free press. But it’s no secret that since 2015, key constitutional values have been in crisis. Over the past three years, there have been repeated legal actions by state institutions, state-owned companies, businessmen and other lobbying organizations aimed at stifling the work of journalists, publishers and NGOs.Paweł Cholewiński heads up Kochański & Partners’ Transactional Practices Group
15th November 2022 Paweł Cholewiński has been appointed Partner in charge of Kochanski & Partners Transactional Practices Group, with both the Sectorial Real Estate and Mergers & Acquisitions Practices now falling under his remit.Polish Tech Pitches to Private Capital – the event organized in cooperation with the London Stock Exchange
20th July 2022Polish Tech Pitches to Private Capital | Access to International Finance
he access to international finance is an aspiration for many growing companies, especially in Poland, where the quantum and complexity of the finance needed requires other forms of investment and markets than can generally be found in Poland, and this is where London becomes such an important centre.Publication of the PolishCloud 2.0 Standard
20th July 2022 The Polish Bank Association has just published the PolishCloud 2.0 Standard, i.e. a standard for the implementation of public and hybrid cloud computing services. This is the most recent and comprehensive set of practices and solutions guiding banks smoothly through the cloud migration process, with the highest security standards applied.We are expanding FinTech and strengthening the Capital Markets and Banking & Finance Practices
20th July 2022 We are delighted to announce that David Thomas, a renowned expert in financial markets and banking, the former Chairman of the British Polish Chamber of Commerce and CEO in many financial institutions in London and Warsaw, i.a. HSBC Polska, has joined Kochański & Partners as Head of International Finance.Promotions at Kochański & Partners
20th July 2022 Following our continuing dynamic growth, and in response to the talent, experience and hard work of our Team, we are delighted to announce the promotion of 12 of our Colleagues, including 10 lawyers.Aleksandra Ryżkowska, Head of International Practice Development and Head of the Chinese Business Desk, has been appointed as Partner.Weronika Duda from the Real Estate Practice, Aneta Serowik from the Corporate Practice, Szymon Ciach and Piotr Kaniewski from the Technology Practice, and Jakub Jach from the Disputes of Financial Institutions Practice have been promoted to Counsel.Dominik Karkoszka from the Corporate Practice and Patryk Lisiecki from the Disputes of Financial Institutions Practice, have been promoted to Senior Associate, and Paulina Perkowska from the Technology Practice and Dominik Gryś from the Real Estate Practice, have been promoted to Junior Associate.Pola Trzęsicka has been promoted to Executive Managing Partner Assistant/Office Manager, and Artur Ziejewski to Junior System Administrator.“I would like to congratulate everyone in their new positions and thank them for their commitment, professionalism and effort they have put into building client relationships and maintaining our position on the market. These promotions demonstrate the excellence and drive of Our Team, which is made up of seasoned advisers and a new, young generation of lawyers. The enormous potential of this Team is recognised by the business community and the market, who continue to entrust us with innovative domestic and international projects. We also recognize and appreciate this potential within Our Firm” – said Piotr Kochański, Managing Partner.Aleksandra Ryżkowska is responsible for developing a network of international contacts, particularly within the European Network of Pinsent Masons. She coordinates the growth of cooperation in foreign markets and strengthening of Kochański & Partners’ position as a firm serving clients operating globally. After graduating from law school at the University of Warsaw, Aleksandra completed her LL.M. in Political Science and Law at the China University of Political Science and Law. Prior to joining Kochański & Partners, she worked i.a. at the Polish Embassy in Beijing, where she supported Polish-Chinese economic cooperation.Weronika Duda advises on real estate projects on the Polish market and also on complex, cross-border transactions. Furthermore, she also supports German-speaking clients on the Polish market as Co-Head of the German Desk.Aneta Serowik specialises in commercial and capital markets law. She conducts multi-thread litigation concerning civil, commercial, criminal and capital markets law matters. Aneta advises companies on day-to-day corporate matters and M&A transactions. She is recommended by The Legal 500 in Commercial, Corporate and M&A, and also Restructuring and Insolvency.Szymon Ciach advises on the implementation of IT projects and innovative digital solutions and supports financial institutions in the field of outsourcing regulations (cloud services) and also specialises in blockchain technology. Szymon was involved in the development of the PolishCloud 2.0 Standard published in February 2022.Piotr Kaniewski specialises in drafting and negotiating IT contracts, in particular those involving Agile and DevOps. He advises on building agile contract and purchasing models and implementing IT solutions based on cloud computing, AI and robotic process automation (RPA). Piotr is a frequent speaker at the Digital Banking Academy organised by the Polish Bank Association (ZBP) and the Banking Law Centre.Jakub Jach advises and represents clients in civil law litigation regarding claims arising out of foreign currency loan agreements and foreign currency-indexed loan agreements. Jakub also participated in developing the litigation strategy for one of Poland’s largest commercial banks with regard to claims arising from Swiss franc loan agreements, regarding remuneration for the non-contractual use of capital due to a loan agreement being cancelled.It is our aim and ambition to foster talent and the development of Our Team. We congratulate all those promoted and wish them success in their new roles!
17 March 2022
Publication of METAVERSE REPORT KOCHAŃSKI & PARTNERS
20th July 2022 We are the authors of the first extensive report on the metaverse in Poland.Jakub Krysa – Head of Public Procurement Practice and Spanish Desk
20th July 2022 Jakub Krysa, PhD has joined Kochański & Partners to head up the Public Procurement Practice and the Spanish Desk.Markiyan Malskyy – New Partner and Head of Ukrainian Desk
20th July 2022 As a sign of our new strategy and solidarity with Ukraine, we have decided to establish a Ukrainian Practice (Ukrainian Desk).Rebuilding Ukraine in practice – financing sources and investment perspectives
20th July 2022 Nearly 24,000 kilometres of roads, end to end measuring ca. 60% of the Earth’s equator in length, hundreds of bridges, thousands of buildings and tens of thousands of cars – this is only a partial account of the destruction inflicted so far on Ukraine by Russian forces. But although the war in Ukraine has not stopped since 24 February 2022, the prospect of a post-war reality cannot be ignored, and so ways of rebuilding the country should be considered.Sale & Leaseback as an alternative form of financing
20th July 2022 In a Sale & Leaseback transaction, a property used for business purposes is sold and simultaneously made available for use by the seller under a lease or rental agreement.Tenders for Ukraine | Current status, rules of participation and prospects
20th July 2022 Rebuilding infrastructure and meeting the current needs of citizens are among the most important tasks facing Ukraine today.Kochański & Partners has advised Inovo Venture Partners on its acquisition of shares in SunRoof
7th May 2021 Kochański & Partners has advised Inovo Venture Partners VC fund on a transaction involving the acquisition of shares in technology company SunRoof. The investment was made as part of the seed round extension, with Inovo being the lead investor. Other investors participating in the round included other VC funds: SMOK Ventures, LT Capital, EIT InnoEnergy, FD Growth Capital and KnowledgeHub, and also local and international business angels.Kochański & Partners Expand Financial Institutions Disputes Practice with 2 Partner Promotions
1st April 2021The issue of Swiss franc loans remains a key challenge for the financial sector in Poland. Banks' uncertainty over the options for regulating this problem is casting a shadow over development of the banking sector in Poland. The coming weeks and months will therefore be crucial for the development of business and litigation strategies by financial institutions.
New Infrastructure & Environment Practice Leader at Kochański & Partners
3rd February 2021 Kochański & Partners is expanding its energy and infrastructure practice with the addition of a new partner, Katarzyna Barańska Ph.D., to head up the Infrastructure & Environment team. Her extensive experience covers legal advisory on major infrastructure projects, renewable energy sources, environmental law and municipal investments.Beyond.pl and Kochanski & Partners join forces
2nd February 2021 Beyond.pl, the provider of the most secure data center services in Europe, is joining forces with the law firm Kochanski & Partners. Their partnership offers customers further confidence that colocation and cloud implementation projects will be technologically superior and compliant with legal requirements. The cooperation is international in scope.Kochański & Partners Strengthen Their Tax Team
1st February 2021 Kochański & Partners entered the new year with an expanded team. Wojciech Śliż, the former Director of the VAT Department at the Ministry of Finance, has joined the tax law practice as counsel.Kochański & Partners named “Law firm of the year: Central Europe” by The Lawyer
1st December 2020It is our great pleasure to inform you that the Kochanski & Partners law firm has received the title of “Law Firm of the Year: Central Europe” in the prestigious “Lawyer Awards 2020” competition.
Kochanski & Partners strengthens the Technologies Team
24th November 2020 To reflect the new technological ecosystem, from 1 November 2020, Kochański & Partners have consolidated their Technologies team by introducing a group of specialists: Szymon Ciach (Senior Associate), Piotr Kaniewski (Senior Associate), Piotr Gałka (Counsel), and Łukasz Węgrzyn (Partner).Idea Bank paves the way for financial sector in obtaining cloud computing certification
18th November 2020 Idea Bank is the first Polish financial service sector entity to obtain the ISO 27017 and ISO 27001 certifications, confirming that its cloud computing solutions meet the highest international standards, and that customer data is processed in the cloud with full respect to security standards. Kochański & Partners advised the bank throughout the certification application process.Kochański & Partners shortlisted for the Lawyer Awards 2020
16th November 2020 This is the eleventh edition of the Lawyer Awards already. The awards scheme attracts entries from over 120 independent law firms headquartered in Europe and global firms across the Continent. This is the highest distinction for independent law firms and the culmination of many years of hard work consistently spent on building the brand, strength and effectiveness of the Kochański & Partners law firm. The nomination constitutes an occasion to appreciate, with great satisfaction, the stage and the position currently held by the firm.Świtalski family mansion and grounds in Sowiniec seized by Forteam Investments Ltd.
30th October 2020 The Regional Court in Poznań granted the fourth successive injunction in favour of Forteam Investments Ltd., an investment company belonging to Delta Capital Partners Management – a U.S. private equity fund, in the pending dispute with Mariusz Świtalski. This time, all assets of Druga – Sowiniec Capital, including a mansion in Sowiniec, surrounding grounds and a polo club with horses, have been seized as a result of seizure of shares under the court decision.Arbitral Tribunal: Slovakia’s actions against Muszynianka showed “willful disregard for the law”
9th October 2020 On 7 October 2020, the arbitral tribunal conducting proceedings under the UNCITRAL rules issued an award in the case of our Client “Muszynianka” sp. z o.o. against the Slovak Republic. The Tribunal decided that Slovakia violated international law to the detriment of the Polish company.Change in Leadership in the Kochański & Partners Capital Markets Practice
1st October 2020 The Warsaw Stock Exchange attracts ever more foreign investors, with their share in WSE turnover reaching 58% in H1 2020. In response to these accelerating business trends, Kochański & Partners is reinforcing its Capital Markets Practice, with the appointment from October of Jarosław Grzywiński, Partner, former President of the WSE Management Board, as its new leader.Kochański & Partners acting as legal counsel to Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne
28th August 2020 Kochański & Partners has been awarded a tender for legal services to PSE S.A. – the sole Polish electricity transmission system operator. The Firm will assist PSE in addressing the formal and legal aspects of the company’s electricity infrastructure. As part of the project, Kochański & Partners lawyers will represent the client before public administration bodies, common and administrative courts, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, in addition to advising on preparation for and conduct of proceedings, as well as drafting of relevant legal opinions.Another litigation win for Kochański & Partners: Onet journalist walks free from court
29th July 2020 The District Court for Kraków-Śródmieście has discontinued criminal proceedings against an Onet journalist who wrote about paedophilia in the Tricity area (Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot). Mr Podolski was represented by advocate Mateusz Ostrowski, Partner and Head of Litigation at Kochański & Partners.Kochański & Partners’ Litigation Success Before the Supreme Court – Royalties
27th July 2020 Co-authors of films accompanying newspapers are entitled to additional royalties, however only on copies actually sold, and not on the entire published run. Moreover, the amount of royalties may not be arbitrarily imposed by copyright collecting societies. This is the conclusion stemming from a judgment of the Supreme Court, which endorsed the arguments of Kochański & Partners lawyers representing our Client – Ringier Axel Springer Polska.POLISHCLOUD ACADEMY: Cooperation with leading consulting and technology companies brings banks closer to the cloud
1st June 2020 The Polish Bank Association, Microsoft, Google Poland, the National Cloud Operator, Accenture and Kochański & Partners have established a joint group to promote cloud computing solutions in the Polish banking sector, creating the PolishCloud Academy project, providing free training and workshops relating to cloud implementation for representatives of financial institutions.New Kochanski & Partners business strategy and marketing team
22nd May 2020 Kochański & Partners (K&P) is implementing a new business strategy to rapidly accelerate its penetration of international markets via strategic alliances with key foreign law firms. This strategy involves a reformulation of the business model and closer, comprehensive cooperation with clients. Kochański & Partners also plans to remodel its internal structures and processes, in particular in the BDM area. This transformation process will be managed by the new Business Development & Marketing Director – Barbara Lenarcik, formerly Marketing Director at SSW Pragmatic Solutions, with two more former SSW employees joining the department: Marcin Woliński (Manager) and – from July – Paulina Berska (Specialist).K&P acts as legal counsel on cloud computing implementation standard for banks
13th September 2019Kochanski & Partners is the exclusive legal partner of the working group on a standard for cloud computing implementation in banks, established by the Polish Bank Association (ZBP) and the Banking Technology Forum.
Ringier Axel Springer Poland consolidates dispute resolution services by choosing K&P
13th September 2019 Ringier Axel Springer Poland (RASP), a part of the leading CEE multimedia Ringier Axel Springer AG group, has consolidated its dispute resolution services by choosing Kochański & Partners as its legal advisor in Poland.K&P Authors a Report on M&A Market Structure in Poland
13th September 2019The K&P Transaction Advisory and Analysis team has prepared a report on the structure of the M&A market in Poland. The report presents an in-depth analysis of current trends in the M&A market and phenomena affecting its structure in the first half of 2019.
Kochanski & Partners advised Groupe Beneteau on the acquisition of Delphia Yachts
25th July 2019Kochanski & Partners (K&P) advised Groupe Beneteau (France), one of the two largest sailing and power boat manufacturers globally, on its transaction with Delphia Yachts – Poland’s leading boatbuilder. As a result of this transaction, the rights to sailing and power boat designs, and the building and marketing activities of the Delphia and Maxi Yacht brands were acquired.
Kochanski & Partners has advised Coca–Cola HBC Polska on the lease of new headquarters
25th July 2019Kochanski & Partners Law Firm has advised Coca-Cola HBC Polska sp. z o.o. in the negotiations and execution of a lease agreement for office and warehouse space in the Business Garden office complex in Warsaw.
K&P has successfully advised on the sale of an office building located in the centre of Warsaw
25th July 2019 Kochański & Partners has advised an investment fund managed by the Griffin Estate Group on the sale of the office building located in the centre of Warsaw.New opportunities for Japanese capital in Poland
25th July 2019 Report authored by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and Kochański & Partners Business Law Firm shows the opportunities for Japanese investors in Poland.Kochański & Partners – special sponsor of GC Summit Central & Eastern Europe Legal500
25th July 2019GC Summit – Central & Eastern Europe invites the most esteemed in-house counsel from the CEE’s most prolific companies to discuss their changing roles as in-house leaders and the challenges, issues and opportunities they are facing in 2019 and beyond. Between comprehensive panel discussions and the opportunity to meet and engage with fellow in-house counsel, GC Summit – Central & Eastern Europe promises to be a practical, forward-looking event bringing together the region’s top legal minds.
Kochański & Partners – Founder of the Anti-Fraud Association
25th July 2019For many years now, we have observed with great concern the growing level of economic crime and abuse affecting Polish companies. This has made us aware not only of the inherent weakness of the system, but also of the limited effectiveness of ad hoc actions, which do not significantly reduce the problem while consuming large amounts of money.
K&P has advised EPP on the acquisition of the O3 Business Campus II
25th July 2019Echo Polska Properties N.V. (EPP) has acquired from Echo Investment S.A. another building of the O3 Business Campus office complex in Krakow under the right of first offer (ROFO) contract. The office building, constituting the second stage of the O3 Business Campus office was valued at EUR 49.2 million.
K&P advised Davidson Kempner Capital Management on the high profile GBP 180 million financing
25th July 2019We advised US investment firm Davidson Kempner Capital Management on the high profile GBP 180 million financing granted to Pepkor Europe of the Steinhoff Group
K&P has advised EPP on the acquisition of King Cross Marcelin shopping centre
25th July 2019Kochański & Partners law firm (K&P) advises EPP on its EUR 91.1 million acquisition of King Cross Marcelin shopping centre in Poznan – EPP’s first entry into Poznan.