Poland

About

We have been advising and representing foreign and Polish clients doing business in Poland since we opened our Warsaw office in 1991.

For more than the last two decades, we have been evolving into one of the leading practices in all major areas of business law. We have developed an outstanding reputation for our role in a number of high-profile, pioneering transactions.

Highly regarded for our experience in emerging markets, our Polish clients believe that "the team is very commercial and business-oriented. The lawyers are very practical – they don't search for problems, but offer solutions" and "the team works very well between the Warsaw and London offices, which is very important for international transactions." (Chambers Europe)

Through the extensive footprint of offices worldwide, and with the continuous cooperation of lawyers from various countries, we are able to assist our clients with their most complicated cross-border transactions. Clients who seek our counsel include financial institutions, large companies, entrepreneurs, public sector companies and private investors in areas including energy, mining, telecommunications, real estate and finance. Our advice enables them to achieve their business goals in relation to their investment plans in Poland and expansion into other markets, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Our lawyers are licensed to practice law not only in Poland, but also in the United States and England. Our team also has unique experience in representing clients in domestic and international disputes and arbitration proceedings.

The Warsaw office is the focal point for English-law governed transactions in and around the CEE region. Here, we support our clients in their participation in the financing of large investment projects. We offer tailored advice regarding their investments in Polish banks and the development of new banking products.

Our success in Poland is founded on our ability to combine deep knowledge of the issues that are relevant to our clients and our global experience.

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Tier 1: Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Capital Markets (Debt and Equity)
Tier 2: Dispute Resolution, Investment Funds, Competition and Antitrust, Private Equity
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022

Tier 1: Corporate and M&A, Capital Markets (Debt and Equity)
Tier 2: Banking, Project Finance, Project Development: Power and Project
Development: Infrastructure
IFLR1000 2021

Band 2: Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets (Debt and Equity)
Chambers Global 2022 and Chambers Europe 2022

No. 1 CEE M&A Legal Adviser of the Year
Mergermarket Europe M&A Awards 2020

No. 1 Law Firm in Poland by both value and volume of finalized M&A transactions
Mergermarket M&A Report 2020

Experience

Largest-ever private equity exit in Poland
Mid Europa Partners on the sale of Żabka Polska S.A., which owns, operates and franchises a network of convenience stores in Poland, to CVC Capital Partners.

First international program for the issuance of mortgage bonds under Polish law
Societe Generale, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, PKO Bank Polski and Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg on the establishment by PKO Bank Hipoteczny S.A. of a €4 billion international covered bond issuance program. We subsequently acted on three international issuances under this program as dealers' counsel.

Record-breaking transaction in terms of value on the Polish fintech market
Nets Denmark A/S regarding acquisition of Dotpay/eCard (Dotcard), a leading Polish digital payment company, from MCI.EuroVentures and Saltus TUW .

Largest 2018 transaction on Poland's food processing, animal breeding market
Konspol Group, the leading producer and processor of poultry in Poland, on the sale of its group companies to American corporation Cargill.

PLN 2.45 billion public tender for Synthos S.A.
FTF Galleon S.A., shareholder in Synthos S.A., on a tender offer for the remaining 37.54% stake in Synthos, as well as the subsequent mandatory squeeze-out and deal financing. Total value of both transactions was PLN 2.45 billion. Following the tenderoffer and mandatory squeeze-out, Synthos applied for delisting.

PLN 1.56 billion financing for offer to acquire AmRest shares
Bank Zachodni WBK S.A. (Santander Group) on the indirect financing of up to PLN 1.56 billion (approx. US$392 million) to guarantee the acquisition of shares in AmRest Holdings SE by its largest shareholder, FCapital Dutch B.V.

Largest private share issue in Poland in 2018
Bank Zachodni WBK S.A., as global coordinator and bookrunner, on the issue of new shares of Globalworth Poland Real Estate N.V. as part of a €450 million private issue.