Blazej Czwarnok has been promoted to Partner at Gide’s Warsaw office. He heads the local Real Estate practice. 

REITs first appeared in the US in the 1960s, and the American REIT market has enjoyed considerable growth over the last quarter of a century. From there, REITs have spread to most developed economies, including many EU member states, and can presently be found in approximately 40 countries. In the US, the total return on investment in REITs making up the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index reached 1,225% over the last 25 years, which translates into an average annual return of 10.9%. This, coupled with the good performance of REITs in other countries, contributes to an increased interest in this type of legal structure in jurisdictions where such solutions have yet to be introduced.

On October 18, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Katarzyna Sulimierska had joined Schoenherr as Head of Real Estate in Warsaw. We spoke with Sulimierska to learn more about her and her practice.

CEE Legal Matters spoke with CMS Partner and Head of Environmental Law Practice in Poland and CEE Agnieszka Skorupinska and CMS Turkey Managing Partner Done Yalcin about the impacts of the EU Green Deal and the rise of ESG in Europe and beyond.

Former Dentons Senior Associate ​​Andrzej Wloch has joined the Real Estate practice at SSW Pragmatic Solutions as a Partner.

Wiercinski Kwiecinski Baehr Partners Anna Flaga-Martynek, Marta Midloch, Marcin Smolarek, Maciej Szambelanczyk, Anna Wojciechowska, and Anna Wyrzykowska have become Equity Partners, while Counsels Agata Szczepanczyk-Piwek, Sergiusz Urban, and Jordan Zafirow have been promoted to Partner, as of January 1, 2022.

Former Counsels Wojciech Merkwa and Jakub Majewski have been promoted to Partner at ​​JDP Drapala & Partners, as of January 1, 2021.

Path Augustyniak Hatylak and Partners has joined forces with Kielian and Partners. From now on, the law firms will operate under one brand – Path Law Hatylak Kielian and Partners.

BSJP's Maciej Kuropatwinski has become a General Partner, while Grzegorz Wasiewski has been promoted to Partner with the firm, as of January 1, 2022.

In recent years, crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular source of financing for companies, especially start-ups. Crowdfunding is also a great marketing tool, as it allows companies to reach a wide spectrum of potential investors.

Former Solivan Partner Christian Schnell has joined Dentons as a Partner in the firm's Energy and Natural Resources practice. Based in Warsaw, Schnell will also practice in the firm's Munich office. He is joined by Counsel Piotr Dziwniel, Senior Associate Olga Wasilewska, and Associate Ewa Golabek. 

Former Counsel Edyta Defanska-Czuko, specializing in employment law, has been promoted to Partner at Crido Legal.

Kyndryl has hired Bartosz Jablkowski as its Country General Counsel, Poland and Baltics in Warsaw.

On November 9, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Legalio had advised IFP Erste Immobilienfonds fur Polen on the sale of Mercedes-Benz Buildingisition to Adventum. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Christoph Schmidt, Managing Limited Partner at IFP Erste Immobilienfonds fur Polen, to learn more about the sale.

Agnieszka Bienko-Michael has joined Eneris Group in Warsaw as its Legal Director in October 2021.

While real estate is turning heads, according to CMS Partner Michal Miecinski, tax hikes and high inflation might present cause for concern in Poland, heading into 2022.

Contributed by Penteris.

According to the information on the website of the Polish government, in the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, works on the bill which is supposed to implement Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law are in progress. According to the provisions of the directive, Poland is supposed to implement the whistleblower protection regulations into its legal system by 17 December 2021.