Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka Managing Partner Krzysztof Zakrzewski, DWF Poland Managing Partner Michal Pawlowski, and MFW Fialek Managing Partner Miroslaw Fialek look at the current state of the Polish legal market and some of the challenges it faces despite increased volumes of work.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland has found itself at the forefront of NATO’s eastern flank, sharing a border with a country embroiled in a full-scale war. DLA Piper Partner Marta Frackowiak and Dentons Partner Jaroslaw Witek talk about how this geopolitical reality has prompted a significant shift in Poland’s defense strategy.

On July 7, 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported that Wolf Theiss expanded its Polish Corporate/M&A practice with the addition of seven Partners, at the core of a 27-strong team, from Wardynski & Partners. Wolf Theiss Poland Co-Managing Partner Tomasz Stasiak and Wolf Theiss Poland Partner and Co-Head of Corporate M&A team Izabela Zielinska-Barlozek share details about the transition and their plans going forward.

Panattoni Legal Director Kamila Dutkowska-Wawrzak talks about her background and in-house transition, building up the in-house legal team, and their current workload.

In connection with the implementation of Directive 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union, a principle has been introduced into the Polish Labor Code, according to which an employer may not prohibit an employee from parallel employment with another entity. The Polish legislator has established a strict ban on parallel employment with very few exceptions, which is widely criticized by employers.

Poland’s dynamic business landscape is about to transform as it adapts to the European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation dated December 14, 2022 (FSR), which partially came into effect on July 12, 2023. This regulation aims to level the playing field for companies operating in the EU market by scrutinizing financial support from non-EU countries.

The Polish Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) has devoted the last two years to the very important issue of influencers and their online advertising activities. Recent years have seen a significant development of influencer marketing not only in Poland but on a global scale. Across the world, companies and advertising agencies have noticed the growing popularity of celebrity accounts on Facebook or Instagram, and have strategically used them as a new channel to promote products or services.

In the realm of logistics contracts, Polish law does not provide a standardized blueprint. Instead, these contracts are multifaceted, drawing from various specific types and broader civil law principles. This makes it essential to keep an eye on the nuances.

Due to technological progress and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have increasingly turned to online shopping. This was accompanied by the rapid development of new methods of short-term financing, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, which allow customers to pay for purchases at a later date than the date of receipt. In Poland, financing is interest-free for a certain period, generally 30 days, after which interest charges apply.

The latest amendments to the Polish Code of Civil Procedure regarding interim relief in intellectual property cases, among other matters, entered into force on July 1, 2023. Interim injunction proceedings are crucial when the parties wish to quickly prevent further infringement of their intellectual property rights and obtain protection for the duration of the main legal proceedings. The main purpose of these proceedings is essentially to secure claims, i.e., to obtain a ruling (order) in which the court will order the opposing party to act in a certain way or prohibit certain actions.

An in-depth look at Andrzej Stosio of Clifford Chance covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

On September 22, 2023, the amendment to the Polish Code of Civil Procedure entered into force that significantly reinforces the protection of employees who benefit from special protections against dissolution of employment. As a result, an employer can no longer dismiss a specially protected employee until a final judgment is passed, which can, due to lengthy court proceedings, take several years.

Dentons has advised Modus Asset Management on obtaining EUR 58 million in debt financing from BNP Paribas Bank Polska and PKO Bank Polski to finance and refinance the acquisition of a 93-megawatt portfolio of photovoltaic projects in Poland. CMS advised BNP Paribas Bank Polska and PKO Bank Polski.

Greenberg Traurig has advised Valorem on its cooperation agreement with T&T Proenergy for the development of photovoltaic projects with a capacity of over 300 megawatts in Poland. GM Legal reportedly advised T&T Proenergy.

Dentons has advised Heimstaden on the refinancing of the acquisition of two residential complexes in Warsaw – Heimstaden Bokserska and Heimstaden Grzybowska – via a EUR 47.2 million loan from Santander Bank Polska. CMS advised Santander Bank.

SK&S has advised AniCura on the acquisition of the Gliwcka Przychodnia Weterynaryjna veterinary clinic in Gliwice. Roedl & Partner reportedly advised AniCura as well.

Former DZP Senior Associate Anna Hlebicka-Jozefowicz has become a Partner and will lead the Regulatory, Legislation, and Compliance Advisory team at the firm.

Taylor Wessing has advised Da Gama ASI on its investment in Ready Bathroom. Zydek Pliszka Korcik advised Ready Bathroom.