The Legal 500

Poland

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons' team has a strong track record in real estate and acquisition finance, as well as project and renewable energy finance. 'Excellent practice leader' Mateusz Toczyski is head of the Warsaw and European banking and finance practice at the firm. Alongside London's James Irvine, he advised HSBC Bank on €635m of real estate finance investment facilities for Chariot Top Group's portfolio acquisitions across Poland. Counsels Tomasz Zwoliński, Bartosz Nojek and Agnieszka Lipska are also key names.

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Capital markets

Capital markets - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

The 'focused and pragmatic' team at Dentons is noted by one client for its 'exemplary understanding' of what banking clients look for in external counsel for capital market-related matters. The group is now co-led by Marcin Bartczak, who specialises in regulatory issues, and ECM specialist Jakub Celiński following the departure of Robert Dulewicz and Michał Śmiechowski  to Gide Loyrette Nouel in January 2019. It assists local and international issuers, as well as investment banks and other financial institutions, and regularly draws on the firm's international presence for cross-border matters. Celiński assisted Haifo with a tender offer in connection to the de-listing of AviaAM Leasing's shares from the WSE. Highlights for Bartczak included advising GPW Benchmark on the implementation of new WIBID and WIBOR reference rates fixing documentation in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

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Commercial, corporate and M&A

Commercial, corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Piotr Dulewicz leads the group at Dentons (noted for its 'impressive quality and commitment') and, alongside Paweł Grabowski, advised EDF Group on the €1bn of sale its assets in Poland to Polska Grupa Energetyczna. Capital markets lawyer Jakub Celiński handled Globalworth's €138m acquisition of a controlling stake in WSE-listed Griffin Premium Real Estate. Marcin Paliwoda and Michał Wasiak were promoted to counsel in March 2018.

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Competition/antitrust

Competition/antitrust - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons has experience providing antitrust advice to corporates across a number of sectors, including power, utilities, TMT, real estate and banking. The group is also often called upon to assist clients facing dawn raids. Agnieszka Stefanowicz-Barańska leads the team and also serves as chair of the Polish Competition Law Association. Highlights included successfully obtaining unconditional clearance from the Office for Compeition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) for Berry Global in relation to its takeover of Clopay Plastic Products Company. Anna Gulińska is another key name; she advised the Polish government on the implementation of the EU Private Enforcement Directive in 2017.

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Construction

Construction - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons handles the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious construction issues for private investors, public employers, general contractors, subcontractors, designers and contract engineers. Michał Jochemczak and construction disputes head Agnieszka Wojciechowska (who has 'a great understanding of technical issues') acted for SNC-Lavailin and General Electric as claimants in a dispute with PKN Orlen, seeking an extension of time and remuneration for a construction project; a matter that was resolved amicably. Team leader Piotr Staniszewski advised Globalworth on the Hala Koszyki redevelopment in Warsaw.

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Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

The team at Dentons is 'tenacious and not afraid to work on cases which, at first sight, seem hopeless'. The 'diversified' team is divided into sub-groups, including construction, infrastructure and real estate; white-collar and criminal law; healthcare; corporate disputes; insolvency; and domestic and international arbitration. The team is co-led by Wojciech Kozłowski and Anna Maria Pukszto, who specialise in commercial litigation and banking disputes respectively. Kozłowski and Michał Jochemczak represent a consortium of Saipem, Techint and PBG that is seeking the payment of costs incurred as a result of changes to Polish law, in an ICC arbitration against Polskie LNG. Former judge Patrick Radzimierski specialises in civil law procedure and is noted as 'an expert in litigation strategy'. Agnieszka Wardak leads on criminal litigation and investigations. Stanisław Żemojtel moved to PwC Legal Pawlowski Żelaznicki Sp. K in October 2018.

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Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons leverages its international presence and 'a pragmatic approach' to handle multi-jurisdictional employment and labour matters for a variety of corporate clients. Department head Aleksandra Minkowicz-Flanek has experience negotiating with employee representatives and cross-border employment relations. Managing counsel Agnieszka Fedor is another key contact.

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Energy and natural resources

Energy and natural resources - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

At Dentons, clients include energy generators, transmission and system operators and energy traders. The 'very professional' team handles matters relating to public procurement, public-private partnerships and environmental protection in the renewable, oil and gas sectors. Arkadiusz Krasnodębski leads the firm's energy and natural resources team in Poland, CEE and Europe, and is advising EDF Group on the disposal of all Polish conventional energy assets to PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. Counsel Michał Motylewski specialises in the EU's internal electricity and gas market, while Ewa Rutkowska-Subocz and Aldona Kowalczyk are other key names. In August 2018, Tomasz Janas left the firm for an in-house position in Finland.

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Healthcare and life sciences

Healthcare and life sciences - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

The team at Dentons is jointly led by tax expert Karina Furga-Dąbrowska and litigator Wojciech Kozłowski. The duo advise Ipsen on a number of issues, including registration, reimbursement and tax structuring. The client roster is composed of a range of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and medical device distributors with operations in Poland. Agnieszka Wardak leads on criminal litigation and investigations, while Agnieszka Stefanowicz-Barańska handles competition and antitrust matters. The group often draws on the expertise of consultant Maria Samolińska-Hojda, who is the former Polish Pharmaceutical Inspector.

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Insurance

Insurance - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

The 'very competent' insurance team at Dentons provides transactional and regulatory advice to insurers, negotiates insurance contracts for insured parties, and handles claims and loss adjustment matters. Paweł Grabowski advised Fairfax Financial Holdings on the Polish aspects of its $240m acquisition of AIG businesses in several European jurisdictions, which involved regulatory matters, including contracts with the Polish Financial Supervision Authority. The department is led by regulatory specialist Marcin Bartczak. Counsel Michał Steinhagen is recommended for commercial insurance issues.

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Intellectual property

Intellectual property - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons' team is commended for 'understanding business needs' and its 'pragmatic approach' to IP issues. The team is led by Karol Laskowski which also includes Igor Ostrowski who focuses on telecoms, media and new technology-related issues. Recent highlights include advising Opus Film on the copyright and distribution of its co-produced film Cold War and assisting Nike with brand protection matters.

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Investment funds

Investment funds - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons' services include the implementation of structures using dedicated closed-end investment funds, the renegotiation of contracts with fund managers and regulatory advice for financial institutions. Team leader Marcin Bartczak advised a global investment management corporation on a restructuring aimed at winding up its investments in Poland. Counsel Inga Dulska is also recommended for structuring, regulatory and day-to-day legal advice.

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Private equity

Private equity - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

At Dentons, department head Piotr Dulewicz and Paweł Grabowski advised Bounty Brands on the acquisition of Unitop Group. In another major transaction, Elżbieta Lis advised TPG Real Estate on the sale of TriGranit to Revetas Hungary.

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Public law

Public law - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Providing the 'highest level of support at every stage of the process', Dentons' team handles a broad range of public procurement issues and transactions, advising both awarding authorities and bidders on tender procedures. Public procurement practice head Aldona Kowalczyk is representing Stadler Polska on public procurement proceedings for the supply of 123 trams to Tramwaje Warszawskie, in a project which is co-financed by the EU. 'Very reliable' managing counsel Tomasz Korczyński, who co-heads the public private partnership (PPP) team alongside Kowalczyk, is advising the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism on a PPP project to develop an area adjacent to Warsaw's National Stadium. Counsels Anna Szymańska and Michał Drozdowicz are other key names.

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Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons' department is jointly led by 'great legal mind' Paweł Dębowski, who 'always delivers', and finance expert Piotr Szafarz. Together with 'commercially-aware' Bartłomiej Kordeczka, Dębowski advised Echo Polska Properties on the €692m acquisition of the M1 portfolio of 12 retail properties from Chariot Top Group. The highly regarded team includes counsels Anna Garbula-Węgrzynowska ('excellent in complex transactions') and 'highly knowledgeable' Łukasz Zwiercan. Tomasz Stasiak left the team for Wolf Theiss in November 2017.

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Restructuring and insolvency

Restructuring and insolvency - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons represents a number of high-profile clients in bankruptcy-related disputes, as well as advising creditors and debtors on a range of issues. Department head Anna Pukszto, who excels in handling cross-border bankruptcies, distressed debt and asset acquisitions, is acting for Bank Zachodni WBK as creditors in the Dolnośląskie Surowce Skalne bankruptcy proceedings. Counsel Michał Steinhagen is another key name.

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TMT

TMT - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons' group of 'open-minded and well-rounded' lawyers are instructed by a range of media companies, telecoms service providers, social networking services and other corporates. Practice head Karol Laskowski and Igor Ostrowski provide day-to-day legal support to BBC Worldwide in relation to its programming in Poland, as well as on regulatory issues. Counsel Dariusz Czuchaj is advising mBank on the structure of a deal to license the client's technology to La Banque Postale in France.

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Next generation lawyers

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Tax

Tax - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons' team handles transaction support, tax reviews, transfer pricing issues and tax structuring for a range of high-profile clients. Foreign investment expert Karina Furga-Dąbrowska jointly heads the team with Cezary Przygodzki, who specialises in corporate tax issues in the energy, TMT and real estate sectors. In one outstanding matter, Przygodzki advised HSBC on the tax aspects of its €635m real estate finance investment facilities to Chariot Top Group.

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White-collar crime

White-collar crime - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons' team handles a variety of corporate criminal defence matters for both companies and individuals, in proceedings related to corruption, fraud, criminal public procurement, investigations into abuse of office and cyber-crime matters. Practice head Agnieszka Wardak is representing Philips, as the injured party, in a corruption and tender law violation case before the Polish courts relating to the actions of former employees and contractors, following an FCPA-related internal investigation and proceedings before the US Department of Justice.

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