We are proud to announce that in this year’s edition of The Legal 500 we have been recommended in 13 categories, and in as many as 3 categories we obtained the highest score (Tier 1).
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak has been recommended as a TOP-TIER FIRM in 3 practice areas:
Dispute resolution (Tier 1)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has a stand-out litigation practice and lawyers with experience before Polish courts at all levels, with clients appreciating lawyers’ tendency to ‘focus on the key areas of the dispute and look for unconventional solutions’. Heading the department is Rafał Waszkiewicz, a respected litigation and arbitration expert in relation to construction and infrastructure disputes. The team benefits from the presence of seasoned litigator counsel Dariusz Skuza whose knowledge spans commercial, property and regulatory cases. Stanisław Sołtysiński is an expert in civil disputes and contentious IP matters. Andrzej Szlęzak is noted for international arbitration.
Intellectual property (Tier 1)
Szymon Gogulski and life sciences specialist Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska head the IP practice at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak, which has both domestic and cross-border capabilities. The team is adept at representing clients in disputes before before EUIPO and CJEU regarding trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition and domain name infringement matters. Additionally, it provides legal support to the IT industry, manages international IP portfolios and handles IP protection matters and transactions. Jacek Myszko is a notable team member advising clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and food products sectors on regulatory projects. The team has been further bolstered by the addition of Marek Oleksyn in September 2021.
White-collar crime (Tier 1)
The white-collar crime department at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak handles defence matters and major investigations, covering corruption, fraud and tax fraud, actions to the detriment of companies and creditors, cybercrime, money laundering, and construction and labour law offences. The team is also adept in advising on mitigating and preventing criminal liability and implementing compliance systems and procedures. The practice benefits from the firm’s strong tax, competition, employment and IP departments, allowing a multi-disciplinary approach. Compliance expert Tomasz Konopka leads the practice and is active in representing clients before the Polish courts. Katarzyna Randzio-Sajkowska has substantial experience in handing internal investigations. Senior associate Michał Opala specialises in business crime and cybercrime.
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak has also been recommended in the following 10 practice areas:
Banking and finance (Tier 2)
At Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak, the team is experienced in financial regulatory work, financial sector M&A and financing deals. On the regulatory front, the firm handles payment services and fintech-related matters, drawing on its strong intellectual property and IT departments. In addition, it is also regularly instructed to advise on anti-money laundering compliance. Utilising the regulatory practice, the team is well-placed to advise Polish financial institutions on M&A and group reorganisations. On the financing side, the team has substantial experience in acquisition finance and corporate refinancings, as well as handling an increasing amount of green finance matters. Names to note at the firm include practice head Marcin Olechowski, who has expertise in finance deals and regulatory mandates. Tomasz Kanski is an acquisition finance specialist. Wojciech Iwański, who made partner in 2021, is increasingly known for regulatory work, including for payments and fintech issues.
Commercial, corporate and M&A (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s corporate team works closely with the firm’s antitrust, litigation, renewable energy and intellectual property groups to provide a ‘pro-client‘ and well-rounded transactional service. The group has an impressive roster of international and Polish clients, for whom it handles high-profile deals. Leading the team is Robert Gawałkiewicz. He works with Krzysztof Pawlisz, who combines expertise in commercial and securities law, and is often instructed in privatisations and restructurings. Andrzej Motyka, who is ‘full of new ideas’, is also recommended.
Competition/antitrust (Tier 2)
The Warsaw-based competition group at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak handles large litigation cases before the Polish Competition Authorities for an impressive client roster including both Polish and international clients. The team also advises on merger control, antitrust matters and compliance mandates. Krzysztof Kanton leads the team. Other notable individuals include Marek Kolasiński, who has previous experience as a judge in the Court of Appeal, and Joanna Marek, who has expertise advising entrepreneurs active in a variety of sectors.
Energy and natural resources (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s energy law practice advises clients on a wide range of matters including infrastructure investments, compliance and regulatory issues, emissions allowances, M&A transactions and renewable energy project financings. Moreover, the team is also active in the contentious field, representing clients in disputes regarding the imposition of fines and connection to the grid where necessary. Krzysztof Cichocki in Warsaw and Zbyszko Wizner in Poznań jointly chair the team.
Healthcare and life sciences (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak‘s practice focuses on pharmaceutical law and medical devices, food law, biocidal products, IP and public procurement. The team handles regulatory matters, product labelling advertising and promotion, and is also increasingly involved in clinical trials. The team is jointly led by IP and life sciences experts Jacek Myszko and Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska. Marcelina Izydorczyk is also a name of note.
Private client (Tier 2)
International tax law expert Sławomir Łuczak heads up the practice at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak, which advises on tax issues, family and inheritance law and business succession, as well as asset management and investment matters. Restructuring projects and litigation are areas of focus for associate Karolina Gotfryd; senior counsel Anna Kratiuk is experienced in M&A transactions for private clients.
Tax (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is praised for being ‘focused on finding commercially sensible solutions for the client’. The tax department regularly advises clients on tax planning and implementation, transfer pricing and wealth tax management. On the contentious front, the firm’s impressive offering includes representing clients before tax authorities and courts, as well as assisting with tax audits. Jarosław Bieroński leads the practice and is an expert in international tax. Sławomir Łuczak has experience representing clients in tax and customs cases before Polish authorities, and Piotr Andrzejak is the name to note for VAT and indirect tax matters.
TMT (Tier 2)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is active in advising clients in new areas of technology and IT, such as cloud computing and cybersecurity, as well as assisting on IP transfers and IT deployment, related litigation concerning violation of rights for software products and digital crimes, blockchain matters and software audits. The practice is also adept at supporting M&A transactions, where it advises on the technology aspects. Software law expert Mikołaj Sowiński and cloud computing specialist Agata Szeliga jointly lead the team.
Real estate (Tier 3)
Radosław Waszkiewicz chairs the real estate department at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak. The team is adept at handling acquisitions, divestments and leasing, as well as development and construction projects, across offices, logistics, hotels, residential, and retail asset classes. Janusz Siekański and Zbyszko Wizner are the other standout practitioners.
Employment (Tier 3)
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is active in handling restructurings, large group dismissal processes, trade union negotiations, dismissals and employee investigations, including fraud and FCPA matters. The team is also skilled in advising on high value legal disputes between former employees and managers and is fronted by Agnieszka Fedor.
2 lawyers are listed in the Hall of Fame
Dispute resolution – Hall of Fame
– Dariusz Skuza
Competition/antitrust – Hall of Fame
– Krzysztof Kanton
5 lawyers are listed in elite Leading lawyers list:
Banking and finance – Leading individuals
– Marcin Olechowski
Dispute resolution – Leading individuals
– Rafał Waszkiewicz
Tax – Leading individuals
– Sławomir Łuczak
White-collar crime – Leading individuals
– Tomasz Konopka
Employment – Leading individuals
– Agnieszka Fedor
1 lawyer is listed in the Next Generations Partners:
Healthcare and life sciences – Next Generations Partner
– Jacek Myszko
40 lawyers are recommended in The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2022 editorial:
Banking and finance
Commercial, Corporate and M&A
Competition, antitrust
Dispute resolution
Employment
Energy and natural resources
Healthcare and life sciences
Intellectual property
Private client
Real estate
Tax
TMT
White-collar crime
