We are proud to announce that in this year’s edition of The Legal 500 we have been recommended in 10 categories, and in as many as 2 categories we obtained the highest score (Tier 1).
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak has been recommended as a TOP-TIER FIRM in 2 practice areas:
Dispute resolution (Tier 1)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has competencies in large-scale infrastructure and construction disputes, corporate litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, as well as intellectual and industrial property protection matters and unfair competition cases. It also handles the challenge, recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and the enforcement of foreign judgments. Dariusz Skuza successfully represented Budimex in three claims against PKP arising from an agreement for the acquisition by the client of 100% shares in one of the defendant’s companies. Marcin Olechowski and Andrzej Szlęzak are recommended for arbitration cases, while Stanisław Sołtysiński specialises in civil, commercial and foreign investment law. Construction disputes lawyer Rafał Waszkiewicz took over as head of the team in January 2019.
Intellectual property (Tier 1)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s team is most noted for its patent litigation work, but it also handles IP enforcement and portfolio management. Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska, who leads the team together with Szymon Gogulski, represented Cinkiarz.pl in its successful challenge of an EU Intellectual Property Office decision to refuse its registration of a trade mark. Senior counsel Jacek Myszko specialises in IP as it intersects with pharmaceutical and EU law, while Maciej Zwoliński is an experienced IP litigator. Karol Gajek is a key name for patent and trade mark matters.
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak has also been recommended in the following 7 practice areas:
Banking and finance (Tier 3)
Financial regulatory work is the focus for Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s team, which predominantly advises banks and investment firms, but is also developing a strong reputation in the payment services sector. Jarosław Bieroński and practice head Marcin Olechowski advised ING Bank Śląski on the establishment of a mortgage bank; a matter that included a licensing process before the Polish banking regulator. Alongside Mikołaj Sowiński, Olechowski assisted Billon with regulatory compliance concerning its blockchain technology banking solution.
Commercial, corporate and M&A (Tier 3)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s team, which consists of ‘hardworking professionals’, is noted as ‘supportive and flexible’. The group is regularly instructed by Polish and German corporates. Krzysztof Pawlisz, Piotr Andrzejak and Krzysztof Kanton advised Solaris Bus & Coach on all aspects of a €190m investment into the company by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Marcin Olechowski assisted Globalworth Real Estate Investments with the indirect €138m acquisition of a 68% stake in Griffin Premium RE. Practice head Robert Gawałkiewicz has vast experience in M&A, restructurings and related disputes and arbitration.
Competition/antitrust (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak provides the spectrum of competition advisory services to domestic and foreign clients in relation to Polish and EU law. The team is led by competition law expert Krzysztof Kanton, who represented Swiss Krono in antitrust proceedings before the PCA over collusion allegations regarding wood products; a matter which concluded with a successful leniency application. He is also defending the Polish subsidiary of The Swatch Group in an appeal against a fine for alleged price-fixing before the PCA. Senior counsels Jarosław Łukawski and Marta Kupczak-Strzelecka are also recommended.
Employment (Tier 3)
In addition to general employment advice, Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s team is often called upon to advise corporates on employee investigations, dismissals and litigation. Roch Pałubicki, who leads the team, assisted Solaris Bus & Coach with the employment aspects of an investment in the client by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Other clients include Caterpillar, Hollister and Intel. Associate Agata Miętek is another key name.
Energy and natural resources (Tier 3)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s team specialises in energy and natural resources regulation and projects. Team head Krzysztof Cichocki represented Enea in a dispute with the Energy Regulatory Authority before the Supreme Court, in a challenge to a fine related to the purchase of co-generation electricity; a case which has now been referred to the EU Court of Justice. Senior counsel Tomasz Młodawski is noted for his expertise in electricity and gas regulation.
Healthcare and life sciences (Tier 3)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska specialises in industrial property law and unfair competition issues, Agata Szeliga leads on personal data and privacy and senior counsel Jacek Myszko focuses on IP and regulatory issues. Highlights for Skrzydło-Tefelska included successfully representing Bunge Group in a dispute raised against Unilever regarding the misuse of health claims in advertising a key product. Sławomir Uss assists Eurocash with the regulatory aspects of its wholesale pharmaceutical activities.
Private client (Tier 2)
The team at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s key areas of expertise are tax advice and planning, family and inheritance law and business succession. Practice head Sławomir Łuczak specialises in international tax law. Senior associates Stanisław Gordziałkowski and Anna Kratiuk are also recommended.
White-collar crime (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s stand-alone white-collar crime practice spans defence work and investigations. The group has also developed an active advisory practice, which assists clients with the mitigation and prevention of criminal liability. Senior associate Paweł Sawicki serves as local anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting outside counsel to Microsoft, a role which involves regular contact with law enforcement authorities. The department is led by vastly experienced criminal defence lawyer Tomasz Konopka. Senior counsel Katarzyna Randzio-Sajkowska is another key name, recommended for internal investigations.
3 lawyers are listed in elite “Leading lawyers” list:
Competition/antitrust – Leading individuals
– Krzysztof Kanton
Dispute resolution – Leading individuals
– Dariusz Skuza
– Rafał Waszkiewicz
30 lawyers are recommended in The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2019 editorial:
Banking and finance
– Jarosław Bieroński
– Marcin Olechowski
– Mikołaj Sowiński
Commercial, corporate and M&A
– Krzysztof Kanton
– Krzysztof Pawlisz
– Marcin Olechowski
– Piotr Andrzejak
– Robert Gawałkiewicz
Competition/antitrust
– Jarosław Łukawski
– Krzysztof Kanton
– Marta Kupczak-Strzelecka
Dispute resolution
– Andrzej Szlęzak
– Dariusz Skuza
– Marcin Olechowski
– Rafał Waszkiewicz
– Stanisław Sołtysiński
Employment
– Agata Miętek
– Roch Pałubicki
Energy and natural resources
– Krzysztof Cichocki
– Tomasz Młodawski
Healthcare and life sciences
– Agata Szeliga
– Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska
– Jacek Myszko
– Sławomir Uss
Intellectual property
– Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska
– Jacek Myszko
– Karol Gajek
– Maciej Zwoliński
– Szymon Gogulski
Private client
– Anna Kratiuk
– Stanisław Gordziałkowski
– Slawomir Łuczak
White-collar crime
– Tomasz Konopka
– Katarzyna Randzio-Sajkowska
– Paweł Sawicki