Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak
Established in 1991, Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak (SK&S) is one of the leading law firms in Poland. The firm has 95 attorneys, including 23 partners and 3 attorneys in an of counsel capacity. It employs a total of 198 people including 20 paralegals and a support staff of 80.The firm's main offices are in Warsaw, smaller branch offices are located in Poznań, Katowice and Wrocław.In addition to the Polish language, we provide legal advice in English, German, French and Russian.Thanks to cooperation with renowned international law firms such as Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton; Debevoise & Plimpton; Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer; Gaedertz Rechtsanwälte; Jones Day; Latham & Watkins; Lindahl; Loyens & Loeff; Morgan Lewis & Bockius; Shearman & Sterling; Simmons & Simmons; SJ Berwin; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Vinge; Winston & Strawn and many others we can provide a legal service for complex transactions conducted simultaneously in several jurisdictions, at the highest professional level in each.The law firm of Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak was formed in June 1991, at a time when, following Poland's transition to democracy and a free market economy, a free legal services market arose geared to providing legal assistance regarding ownership transformations, and new national and foreign investments.The formation of the law firm and its continued growth have been due, to a significant degree, to its founders' assumptions as regards the directions in which the Polish legal services market would develop in the new economic reality. These assumptions proved accurate and SK&S is currently one of the leading law firms in Poland. 15 years have passed since the days when the firm's three founders started practice in two small rooms on Konstruktorska Street. Today the firm employs over 180 people.In January 1997 SK&S has opened its branch office in Poznań, which has significantly enhanced our ability to serve Clients along the whole Polish-German border.In January 1999 a branch office was opened in Katowice (Silesia). The Katowice Office has enabled us to more effectively assist Clients in Upper Silesia and the Kraków area.At the moment we are in a process of establishing a branch office in Wrocław.While most of the cross-border transactional work is conducted by our main office in Warsaw, the three branch offices allow us to provide quality, cost-efficient general cousel services to our Clients in Western and Southern Poland.In the Ranking of Law Firms published in April 2008 by Rzeczpospolita, the most prestigious Polish economic daily, SK&S was recognized by the peer law firms, for the sixth consecutive year, as the unquestioned leader in the qualitative ranking of the poll, receiving the "Leading Practice" title in three practice areas: "Commercial contracts/corporate law",  "Competition and antitrust law" and "Intellectual and industrial property law". In addition, our practice took second place in the area of "Court disputes - civil, commercial and arbitration" and "Employment law".The ranking also recognized individual lawyers as leading practitioners in the various areas of practice. Two partners of SK&S received this distinction: Professor Stanisław Sołtysiński for "Commercial contracts/corporate law" and "Intellectual and industial property law" and Dariusz Skuza for "Court disputes - civil, commercial and arbitration.".SK&S has also ranked as the best or the second best "Most Versatile Law Firm" in Poland in Forbes' Ranking of the Best Law Firms in the last three years.In 2008 SK&S was named the "Law firm of the Year in Poland" by Managing Intellectual Property, the leading international magazine for IP owners and has received the same distinction from International Financial Law Review, the world's leading magazine for in-house counsel and practitioners in the financial markets.Several of our partners were included yet again on the lists of renowned professional organizations, recommending outstanding specialists in various areas of legal practice.We undertake numerous pro bono activities, either gratuitously or for a symbolic fee. In this way we participate in shapint the law and the process of its application, thereby contributing to the public good.Among numerous initiatives of this type, several of the most important should be mentioned.- Prof. Stanisław Sołtysiński and Dr Andrzej W. Kawecki advised the Privatization Minister on the creation and implementation of the Mass Privatization Program, now better known as the National Investment Fund program. They were co-authors of the draft legislation, supported the government's efforts to persuade Parliament to adopt the Act on National Investment Funds, and helped prepare statutory instruments.- Professor Sołtysiński served as an advisor to the Minister of Finance in a restructuring and privatiozation project financed by the EBRD and the European Community, the so-called "Stabilization, Restructuring and Privatization Plan" and as adviser to the Economy Minister when drafting and implementing the restructuring program for the coal industry.- SK&S represented the Government of Poland on a pro bono basis in a much-publicized criminal case involving alleged illegal arms dealing, which resulted in the acquittal of the accused before a Federal Court in the United States. This representation involved the preparation and presentation of an amicus curiae brief - the first such submission by the Polish Goverment in United States litigation since 1989.- Dr Andrzej W. Kawecki prepared a draft of the first compregesive Polish regulation of inbestment funds for the Pribatization Foundation.- We advised the Polish Government in developing a negotiating position regarding a Multilateral Investment Agreement, an effore organized under the auspices of the OECD. Within that project, SK&S attorneys - led by Dr Ostrihansky - conducted a comprehensive review of all restrictions and discriminatory provisions of Polish law applicable to foreign business entities.- We represented the Telecommunications Minister in a precedent-setting dispute brought by two multinational telecommunications companies.- We provided legal consultation to the Polish government in its negotiations with the European Commision concerning an increase in funds to protect the Polish petrochemical industry.- Prof. Stanisław Sołtysiński chaired a special subcommittee of the Polish Codification Commission created to revise company law. The new Commercial Companies Code, developed with teh substantial contribution of Professor Sołtysiński and compliant with European Union standards, was approved by the Polish Parliament and entered into force on January 1, 2001.- Prof. Stanisław Sołysiński and Dr (hab.) Andrzej Szlęzak participated in the work of an expert team, set up by Prime Minister Leszek Balcerowicz, in charge of reducing bureaucracy in the economy.- Messrs. Bieroński and Sroczyński often provide opinions on draft legislation in their fields of specilisation.- Lawyers in the Tax Department also engage in pro bono work. Mr. Bieroński participates as an expert in legislative work. He has contributed, amongst others, to new solutions concerning binding official interpretations of tax provisions. Furthermore, employees of the Department use their expertise to assist charitable organizations.In addition to several high-profile cases infolving the government, many SK&S attorneys devote time to tradidional pro bono work, assisting numerous non-profit organizations, in prticular the Polish Fundation for the European Institute of Oncology and the non-profit making Vita Activa Foundation set up by Polish Olympians. Finally, many of our attorneys with an academic background continue to lecture and conduct seminars free of charge at Polish and foreign universities and institutions.The firm's practice covers the entire area of commercial law, with particular emphasis on fields in which all large law firms are involved, such as commercial transactions (including mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and debt restructuring), regulation of the securities and financial market, intellectual and industrial property rights, real estate transactions and property development, tax, customs and foreign exchange law, media and telecommunications law, antitrust and unfair competition law, labour law, and European law.Thanks to cooperation with renowned international law firms such as Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton; Debevoise & Plimpton; Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer; Gaedertz Rechtsanwälte; Jones Day; Latham & Watkins; Lindahl; Loyens & Loeff; Morgan Lewis & Bockius; Shearman & Sterling; Simmons & Simmons; SJ Berwin; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Vinge; Winston & Strawn and many others  we can provide a legal service for complex transactions conducted simultaneously in several jurisdictions, at the highest professional level in each.- General Corporate and Commercial Practice- Banking and Finance- Securities and Capital Markets- Litigation- Intellectual Property- Real Estate- Media and Telecommunications- Antitrust and Competition- Commercial Administrative Law- Tax, Customs and Foreign Exchange- Labour Law- European Union Law- Spanish Desk- German Desk- French Desk

practice areas

Advertising and MarketingArbitrationBanking LawCommunications and MediaCorporate LawCriminal LawE-CommerceEnergyEnergy RegulationEnvironmental LawFinanceInformation TechnologyIntellectual PropertyLabor and EmploymentLitigationProperty LawReal EstateSecuritiesSecurities FraudTaxationTelecommunications LawUnfair Competition

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