Practices

Practices

  • Capital Markets

    We advise Polish companies planning to go public on the Warsaw Stock Exchange or obtain capital through securities issues. We handle bond issues, including senior and convertible bonds, and deal with international securities offerings.

    We represent clients before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) in issues related to violations of securities regulations. We prepare legal audits and advise public companies regarding disclosure obligations arising from their activities.

    We advise on the choice of appropriate financial instruments, including transactions dealing with private equity and venture capital firms.

  • Competition Law

    We advise and represent clients in matters involving unfair competition and antimonopoly law. We represent clients in litigation dealing with unfair competition practices, including trademark counterfeiting.

    We take part in antimonopoly proceedings (including notification of concentration of enterprises) before the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), its court, and the European Commission.

    We draft contracts covering services to consumers, and review existing agreements for the presence of prohibited contractual terms and conditions.

  • Corporate and Commercial Law

    Corporate Law

    A company’s corporate function is the engine that drives its success.

    We incorporate and register commercial law companies as well as Polish branches and representative offices of foreign corporations. We organize and hold meetings of shareholders, boards of directors and supervisory boards. We develop and provide legal opinions on internal regulations required by statutory law as well as on the principles of corporate governance.

    We advise corporate governing bodies on matters such as mergers, divisions, transformations and takeovers of companies. We represent and advise entities seeking permits, licenses and concessions. We develop complex legal corporate structures such as company groups, holdings and consortiums and assist clients in restructuring their corporate groups. Additionally, we advise on liquidations of commercial law companies.

    Moreover, we assist in resolving conflicts among partners/shareholders and with companies’ governing bodies.


     

    Commercial law

    We take the time to ensure each contract reflects our client’ objectives and protects their interests. Our advice covers the full spectrum of commercial and business law issues.

    We assist clients in their ongoing business and trading requirements, advising them on their strategic contracts and providing in-house teams with day-to-day support, templates, guidance notes and other tools for negotiating commercial contracts.

    We handle all aspects of contractual work, from drafting to negotiation. We create business contracts with suppliers, customers or collaborators. We also identify and manage commercial contractual risk issues.

    We guide our clients through the entire lifecycle of their business, providing practical legal solutions to their business operations.

  • Employment Law

    We advise across the full spectrum of labor and employment law, including mergers and acquisitions, as well as day-to-day legal advice. We handle workforce planning and structuring in business service centers.

    We offer practical business solutions to minimize legal and labor risks. We support clients in human capital management, and defining and implementing HR strategies.

    We advise on all stages of hiring and terminating contracts with employees. We develop and review employment contracts and management agreements, internal policies and employment bylaws. We advise on salaries, benefits and incentives, holiday schemes for employees, working time flexibility, personal data protection, non-competition and confidentiality matters. We guide our clients at all steps of employment relations, either individual or collective.

    We navigate our clients in downsizings, group layoffs, as well as dealing and negotiating with trade unions. We also handle international transfers of employees (TUPE), and adapt global employment policies to comply with Polish law.

    We represent clients in employment litigation, including mobbing and discrimination related cases.

  • Insolvency and Restructuring

    Insolvency
     

    We advise and represent clients at each stage of restructuring or bankruptcy proceedings. We handle the development and structuring of reorganization concepts, including the preparation of insolvency proceedings and drafting insolvency plans. We negotiate with creditors, draft requests for opening restructuring proceedings and declaring bankruptcy.

    We represent creditors in bankruptcy adjudications, including presentation of claims and disputes regarding the bankruptcy claims list and protection of debtor’s collateral on behalf of secured creditors.

    We represent debtors, creditors and trustees in bankruptcy, restructuring and court proceedings. We also advise bankruptcy trustees, court supervisors or administrators on all matters relating to insolvency and debt recovery.

     

    Restructuring
     

    We handle complex issues that arise in reorganizations, restructurings, workouts, liquidations, and distressed acquisitions and sales.

    Our clients turn to financial restructuring when reorganizing and/or acquiring core businesses, shedding excess assets or divisions, and reformulating long-term objectives.

    We advise investors, lenders, shareholders or other stakeholders facing financial under-performance on all levels of the capital structure. We deliver restructuring solutions and help build a platform for recovery.

    We work closely with our project finance, corporate and commercial law, capital markets, and litigation teams to deliver seamless and integrated advice.

  • Intellectual Property

    We represent clients in litigation over intellectual property rights violations and advise on matters relating to the protection of trademarks, and the resolution of conflicts in this field.

    We negotiate and draft contracts for entertainers, and provide legal opinions regarding advertising and promotional campaigns. We also negotiate and draft transfers of intellectual property rights and licensing agreements.

    In addition, we advise on the intellectual property rights implications of M&A transactions.

  • Litigation

    We represent clients (companies and individuals) before courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration courts in business, corporate, civil and labor law disputes.

    We specialize in insolvency and restructuring law, healthcare and unfair competition. We partner with trustees and creditors, including in cases related to pursuits of claims from board members, arising from bankruptcy petition late filing.

    We represent clients in inheritance and family law matters, such as matrimonial property, including tax issues. In addition, we advise on proceedings seeking the execution of foreign courts’ judgments in Poland, as well as Polish courts’ judgments abroad.

    We advise on the choice of effective litigation strategies and focus on providing results-driven solutions that minimize legal risks and avoid long court proceedings.

  • Mergers & Acquisitions

    We advise on cross-border and domestic M&A transactions, company reorganizations, demergers, joint ventures, and equity investments. Our practice handles sell- and buy-side transactions for private equity and venture capital funds.

    We develop transaction structures, conduct due diligence investigations, assist in eliminating or limiting legal risks, prepare all the necessary documents, and obtain the required legal consents.

    Our clients include private equity funds, investment funds, investment groups operating in the real estate market, companies from the TMT sector, private investors and start-up companies.

  • Personal Data Protection

    We help clients to minimize the legal risks associated with data protection and privacy law while obtaining, using, storing and transferring personal data or information.

    We advise on internal data protection compliance, such as HR; external data protection compliance; policies, processes and guidelines for data protection compliance; data security; and data protection issues connected with commercial transactions and outsourcing projects.

    We support clients in dealing with cross-border data transfers; social media at the workplace; Internet and email use; whistle-blowing; and data protection consent issues.

  • Practices
  • Project Finance

    We manage transactions related to project finance and securities financing, as well as assets financing and refinancing, and acquisition finance.

    We prepare investment documentation and loan agreements, and conduct negotiations (including leveraged buy-outs (LBO), management buy-outs (MBO) and financial transactions in the real estate market.

    Our clients include private equity funds, investment funds, investment groups operating in the real estate market and private investors.

  • Public Procurement

    We advise both purchasing bodies and bidders taking part in contract tender procedures.

    We advise public sector clients on procurement strategy, risk management and document development. For companies participating in public projects and procurement, we structure and develop bids, proposals and other documents, and assist throughout the bidding process.

    We also represent clients in proceedings before the National Appeal Chamber and courts of general jurisdiction.

  • Real Estate and Construction

    We advise on real estate mergers and acquisitions and real estate and construction financing related to land, buildings (office, shopping centers, shopping centers, hotels), and premises. We advise on lease or tenancy agreements.

    We provide legal advice regarding administrative aspects of real estate investment and development processes, the transfer of ownership of real estate properties, land use and agricultural commercialization procedures.

    In addition we advise on equity origination, securitization, the formation of real estate investment funds, and joint venture structuring.

    We represent clients before courts, construction supervision authorities and public and local administration bodies. We purchase real estate from bankruptcy trustees and through other types of tender.

  • Tax Law

    We provide advice on the full spectrum of tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, divisions, transformations, and joint ventures. We identify tax risks in tax planning for transactional matters. We develop transaction structures, conduct due diligence investigations, and assist in eliminating or limiting tax risks.

    We represent clients in tax investigations and tax dispute resolution, as well as in proceedings before Administrative Courts, including the preparation of appeals and cassation appeals. We prepare statements of explanation, objection, and appeal against decisions of tax authorities, as well as other documents required during tax proceedings.

    Additionally, we assist in the process of applying for individual interpretations of tax law issued by the Minister of Finance.

  • TMT

    We provide TMT companies with full-service legal advice in the areas of regulatory issues, M&A, joint ventures, asset protection, restructurings, information governance, technology development, commercial contracts with customers and suppliers, personal data protection and IP.

    We represent clients in proceedings before telecommunications market regulators involving radio spectrum reservations, and the development of telecommunications products and services. We develop and negotiate inter-operator cooperation agreements, wholesale network access agreements and network infrastructure agreements, as well as commercial contracts for the supply of goods and services for the telecommunications industry.

    Our clients include leading alternative telecommunication operators, the largest mobile network operators in Poland and one of the major satellite platforms in Europe. We also advise MNO’s and MVNO companies, telco infrastructure operators and mobile broadcasters that offer cutting-edge services based on the world’s most advanced mobile technologies, including LTE- A.

INDUSTRIES

Industries

  • Swiss franc loans

    If you have taken out a Swiss Franc mortgage loan you are certainly not alone. There is a rapidly growing number of banking litigation cases concerning loans denominated or indexed to foreign currencies, in particular Swiss Franc loans.

    The courts have begun to pay attention to inconsistencies within the loan agreements, and this gives borrowers the chance to recover financial losses.

    We take on cases involving foreign currency loans and mortgages. We support clients in all stages of the process, including negotiations with banks and representation in court disputes.

  • Construction

    The construction industry faces opportunities and risks every day. We understand legal and business needs of investors and contractors involved in investment processes.

    We deal with the full life cycle of investment and construction projects. We advise on tender procedures, zoning, building and approval procedures, development, planning and construction of properties, as well as real estate financing. We support clients in handling, negotiating and concluding contracts, including FIDIC Conditions of Contract.

    We resolve all types of construction disputes ranging from residential properties to largest infrastructure projects such as highways. We represent clients in court and administrative proceedings, as well as mediation and arbitration proceedings.

    We advise investors, developers, real estate owners, as well as contractors and suppliers.

  • Healthcare

    We advise on all aspects of operating healthcare facilities, including regulatory issues, personal data protection (in particular medical data), employment and healthcare informatization.

    We advise on negotiating and performing agreements with the National Health Fund (including refunds for health services provided beyond agreed limits). We draft and negotiate clinical trial contracts. We conduct audits of medical records.

    We handle public procurement procedures, legislative issues, representation in disputes with the National Health Fund. We represent healthcare companies and doctors in court cases.

  • IT

    We provide comprehensive legal advice during the implementation of IT projects. We prepare, review and negotiate supply, implementation and maintenance contracts as well as licensing agreements for IT solutions.

    We advise on the processes of outsourcing IT services and perform software legality audits. We represent clients in disputes in the IT industry.

    We also advise on copyrights and data protection with respect to the purposes and methods of data processing in IT systems.

  • Business Services

    The business services industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Polish economy. Thanks to the large number of university graduates and IT specialists, an impressive diversity of languages spoken and good infrastructure, Poland has become a powerhouse for nearshoring.

    We take care of the entire lifecycle of business service centers from the formation of the company, through structuring employment policies to assistance with leasing office spaces.

    We support leading organizations representing the business services sector in Poland.

  • TMT

    No part of the global economy moves faster than the technology, media and telecoms sector. Technological developments never stop, and market innovation constantly brings challenges. We know the business, law and regulations. We think ahead.

    Our multi-disciplinary team shares industry knowledge and expertise across legal disciplines. We work together to deliver insight into the complexities of the commercial and regulatory TMT environment.

    We advise on the full range of transactional activity from M&A to commercial and financing agreements, to regulation and litigation, outsourcing to compliance, and on niche areas from data protection to IP.

    Our lawyers have worked for both operators and regulators and are therefore well placed to understand, advise and assist our clients on all aspects of this dynamic business.

  • Start-Ups

    Our advice is designed to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to grow and succeed. We provide pioneering legal solutions. We understand that to our clients, it is not law that matters most, but business.

    We specialize in investments in start-ups, both on the side of investors and of shareholders and entrepreneurs.

    Our clients include those that develop new technologies and innovative business models.

  • Private Equity

    Opportunities abound for a firm that is capable of making sound decisions in a fast-paced environment. We understand the dynamics of the industry, its central players, their organizational structures and unique challenges.

    We advise on structured mergers and acquisitions, financings, the provision of venture capital to start-up businesses, and assist investment funds with their investments and co-investments.

    We have extensive experience advising private equity investors, banks, management teams, debt financing providers, investee and portfolio companies on the full range of private equity transactions.

  • Private Clients

    With our understanding of the dynamics of private and family matters, we offer solutions to assist clients to structure and preserve, or exit from, family arrangements and businesses; and to resolve personal requirements.

    We advise on a personal level, combining personal protection rights, family law, corporate and financial law, as well as commercial and private disputes.

  • Energy

    The energy sector is developing with unprecedented speed. The way in which it is structured and operated will evolve with the introduction of complex new technologies.

    We understand the complexities and challenges facing the energy industry. Our practice is driven by a broad understanding of key business technology and processes, and is particularly focused on energy regulation.

    Our advice covers all aspects of renewable energy, electricity generation, energy trading, electricity transmission, electricity and gas distribution and supply.

Justyna Buchwald-Krzak

Justyna specializes in telecoms, corporate and commercial law. She advises TMT companies on a day-to-day basis. She participates in investments related to the development and operation of telecommunication networks and projects connected with the use of new technologies and Internet.

She represents clients in court and administrative proceedings.

Justyna Buchwald-Krzak

Legal Advisor

Krzysztof Chyba

Krzysztof specializes in telecoms, new technologies and copyright law. He advises clients from the telecommunications sector, including fixed operators, MNOs and MVNOs companies.

He advises on shaping telecommunications services and frequencies management. He prepares regulations for the provision of telecommunications services, value-added services (VAS), and Internet access.

He represents telecoms operators in court and administrative proceedings before common courts, the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection and the President of the Office of Electronic Communications.

Krzysztof Chyba

Legal Advisor

CDZ

Małgorzata specializes in business, commercial and capital markets law. She advises on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and restructuring transactions. She develops transaction and financing documentation, negotiates investment agreements, and coordinates and participates in due diligence investigations. 

She advises on equity and debt transactions including IPOs, secondary, and follow-on stock offerings, and debt issuances. She deals with corporate restructuring, mergers and divisions of public companies, de-listing, dual listing, and share buy-back programs.

She advises public companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and represents clients in court proceedings related to corporate governance.

Małgorzata Sas-Madej

Advocate

CDZ

Radosław provides companies from the TMT, real estate and BPO/SSC sectors with day-to-day legal advice, in particular with corporate and employment law. He advises on real estate investments and TMT transactions.

In addition, he represents clients in court and administrative proceedings with an emphasis on construction and real estate development, civil and labor law.

Radosław Rudnik

Legal Advisor

CDZ

Szymon deals with real estate and construction law. He participates in developing and evaluating real estate contracts, including sales, lease, and tenancy. He is a team member of due diligence investigations during development and real estate transactions.

He drafts legal opinions and contracts with general contractors, construction works contracts, design and developer contracts.

Szymon Żyto

Lawyer

CDZ

Weronika deals with financing and refinancing transactions in the real estate market, corporate restructuring, and M&A deals.

She participates in developing and evaluating transaction documentation related to the granting of credits, loans and other financial instruments, and transaction securities documentation.

Weronika Bałenkowska

Trainee Attorney-at-law

Marcin Kanarski

Marcin specializes in telecommunication, new technologies and IT law. He advises on digitalization and cybersecurity issues, Internet regulations, e-commerce, big data, personal data protection and intellectual property.

He deals with regulatory issues and legislative processes in the telecommunications, IT and new media industries. He monitors regulatory changes, identifies competitive advantages or legal risks, and advises clients on the developments affecting their business. He has participated in numerous IT projects in the public and private sector, including the "From Paper to Digital Poland" project.

He represents clients in administrative proceedings before the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).

Marcin is a member of the FinTech Committee and the Blockchain Working Group at the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications (PIIT). He is an expert in modern technologies and an adviser to the Employers of Poland’s Social Dialog Council.

Marcin Kanarski

Legal Advisor

Nina Horbowiec

Nina is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin and has been qualified as an attorney since 2019.

She has many years of experience in advising on real estate projects, among others, in serving investors in the development industry.

Nina specialises in real estate law. She advises on real estate and investment transactions as well as on construction projects and the execution of contracts with participants in the construction process. She drafts and negotiates real estate sale agreements, commercial space lease agreements, conducts due diligence investigations. She advises developers on development agreements and during the conclusion of agreements on the establishment of separate ownership of premises.

Nina Horbowiec

Advocate

Jakub Urbanek

Jakub graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and is a graduate of postgraduate studies on legal and economic aspects of the investment process, conducted by the Warsaw School of Economics. Jakub obtained the professional title of attorney-at-law in 2019.

Jakub specialises in providing comprehensive services for real estate transactions and advising on all stages of the investment process. In his practice to date, Jakub has advised domestic and foreign real estate developers, construction companies, leading architectural studios and housing cooperatives.

He deals with real estate due diligence, preparation and negotiation of real estate sale agreements, construction works agreements, design work agreements and other documents related to construction projects.

Jakub also holds a degree in international relations from the University of Warsaw.

Jakub Urbanek

Advocate

Dawid Woźniak

Dawid specializes in litigation. He represents clients in court disputes before common courts. He handles cases related to disputes with financial institutions, in particular those concerning the Swiss franc mortgage loans. His practice areas also include debt collection and defense against debt collection, enforcement procedures with a particular emphasis on enforcement against real estate, as well as litigation related to claims against management board members for the liabilities of companies.

Dawid Woźniak

Attorney-at-law

Anita advises on real estate transactions, investment and infrastructure projects, as well as on real estate and construction law.

She advises on real estate financing including securitized financings, sale-leasebacks, and the formation and negotiation of joint ventures, as well as sale and perpetual usufruct agreements and lease and tenancy contracts.

Her clients include operators of shopping centers and hypermarkets, investment and private equity funds, owners of office and industrial developments and investors in the real estate market.

Anita Woźniak

Legal Advisor

Mariusz Busiło

Mariusz advises private entities and public administration on regulatory matters connected with energy law. He deals with the regulatory and commercial aspects of telecommunications and media law, competition law, copyright and Internet law.

He has participated in a broad range of legislative work, such as the drafting of laws and regulations related to the telecommunications, media and information and communication technologies sectors, working in particular for the Polish Office of Electronic Communications.

Mariusz has contributed to the work of European Commission working groups, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT).

Mariusz is the Vice Chairman of the Personal Data Protection and Information Management Committee and an expert in electromagnetic fields issues at The Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications (PIIT) and is a member of the Council of The Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications (KIGEiT) on behalf of the Copyright Protection Section.

He is recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 in the field of TMT.

Mariusz Busiło

Lawyer
Head of the TMT Practice Area

Piotr specializes in securities law and capital market transactions, including private and public offerings of financial instruments.

He advises on the introduction of securities into the regulated and alternative trading systems. He drafts prospectuses, information documents and memorandums and participates in proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

Additionally, Piotr deals with mergers and acquisitions, the purchase and sale of shares in public and private companies, as well as public calls to sell shares.

Piotr Rychta

Legal Advisor
Head of the CDZ Office in Lodz

Aleksandra Hulewicz

Aleksandra specializes in court and administrative proceedings. She represents clients before common courts, the Supreme Court, and the National Board of Appeal on matters related to public procurement law. She represents clients from the construction industry in disputes based on the FIDIC Conditions of Contract.

She advises private clients on inheritance and family laws. She represents clients in divorce cases and disputes related to child custody and the division of their marital property. She deals with consumer protection with an emphasis on Swiss Franc mortgage loans.

Moreover, she provides commercial companies and capital groups with day-to-day legal advice on corporate matters and represents board members in lawsuit compensation cases. She drafts IPO prospectuses.

Aleksandra Hulewicz

Legal Advisor

Dariusz Zimnicki

Dariusz specializes in commercial and labor law, investment process and intellectual property. He advises clients from the BPO/SSC, IT and telecommunication sectors, as well as real estate companies.

He supports clients in leasing commercial space and advises on contracts for the preparation of design documentation and the delivery of infrastructure (including IT systems) and services. In addition, he advises on corporate issues and compliance, and adjusts global procedures to Polish law requirements.

Dariusz Zimnicki

Legal Advisor
Head of the CDZ Office in Krakow

Eliza Szulc-Sierańska

Eliza specializes in corporate, civil and commercial law. She advises on the formation of Polish and foreign business entities, including international holding structures. She handles restructuring projects.

She advises on mergers, divisions and transformations of companies and capital groups. She coordinates and participates in due diligence investigations.

Eliza Szulc-Sierańska

Legal Advisor

Анджей Хаец

Andrzej has over 20 years’ experience in transactional work, principally in venture capital, M&A and privatization transactions. He specializes in corporate law, commercial law, telecoms law and private equity transactions. He prepares and supervises international issuances of securities.

He advises on the investment process, including developing the structure of the investment and the forms of capital raising. He deals with capital restructuring transactions of companies and capital groups.

Andrzej represents both domestic and foreign investors, as well as investment and private equity funds, and companies from the TMT sector.

He has been repeatedly recognized by The Legal 500 EMEA, Chambers Europe and Best Lawyers. In 2019, he is recommended in the field of corporate, commercial and M&A, private equity and restructuring law.

Andrzej Chajec

Legal Advisor, Partner
Head of the M&A and Private Equity Practice Areas

CAREER