Profile
Work Department
Position
Bernadeta is an attorney at law and a partner at GESSEL. Expert in competition and consumer protection law, with a unique track record featuring private practice as well as the public sector. Worked at the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) for a total of 13 years, most recently (2014-2017) as Vice President charged with three departments – Concentration Control, Competition Protection, and Legal.
Career
After a brief period as a junior judge, Bernadeta developed an interest in competition law, then a new discipline in early 1990s Poland. After her first stint at UOKiK, she spent one year leading the legal department of UPC and then joined GESSEL in 2001.
In 2014, after moving to the head office of UOKiK, she oversaw the authority’s activities in the realms of corporate concentrations, market collusions, and abuse of dominant market positions. Propagated compliance culture; initiated and oversaw preparation of two publications recognised by the World Bank and the International Competition Network (in, respectively, 2016 and 2017) in contests for the best educational / information project in the field of competition law: guidelines concerning funerary services and municipal water and sewage utilities.
In 2017, returned to GESSEL, becoming a partner and building up the firm’s competition and consumer law practice. Advises clients on cases concerning mergers, market agreements, abuse of dominant market position, abuse of contracting advantage, and payment backlogs.
Languages
Memberships
Education
- Faculty of Law and Administration, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan
- Judge’s training articles with the Regional Court in Poznan; called to the bar as a judge, admitted practicing as an attorney
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The collaboration is excellent. Each team member is very competent and eager to help. We greatly appreciate that they offer sound advice and assistance on important matters.’
‘Firstly, extensive experience and competence in handling my case. Secondly, commitment and insight. Thirdly, excellent communication. I feel that the case is being handled properly, which gives me peace of mind.'
‘The Gessel competition/antitrust team is really fast and professional. Their sector-specific knowledge is remarkable.’
‘Natalia Lesna stands out with handling cross-jurisdictional mergers and being easily approachable.’
‘Very good, mid-size team led by Bernadetta Kasztalan-Świetlik.’
‘Bernadeta Kasztelan-Świetlik is a very good lawyer, bringing her enforcer's experience to the table.’
‘The head of the department, attorney Kasztelan Świetlik, and her knowledge, including that gained from many years of work at the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK).'
Key clients
- Anwim S.A. Asprod S.A. AvaFin Poland sp. z o.o. BNP Bank Polski S.A. Corab S.A. cyber_Folks S.A. Enterprise Investors Epaka.pl S.A. Everest Finanse S.A. Grupa Kęty S.A. Gwarant24 sp. z o.o. ING Bank Śląski S.A. Krajowy Projekt Energetyczny Lux Med sp. z o.o. Mastergrupa sp. z o.o. MS Galleon GmbH Sescom S.A. Telestrada S.A. Teroplan S.A. Shareholders of Ela Wyrób Folii i Opakowań sp. z o.o.