Category: Poland

  • Anna Partyka-Opiela Becomes Head of ESG Practice at Rymarz Zdort Maruta

    Partner Anna Partyka-Opiela has become the new Head of the ESG practice at Rymarz Zdort Maruta.

    Partyka-Opiela has been with Rymarz Zdort Maruta since 2023 when she joined from DZP alongside Partners Michal Czarnuch, Marcin Pieklak, and Tomasz Kaczynski (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 10, 2023). Since then, she has also headed the Compliance and Forensic practices. Partyka-Opiela first joined DZP in 2012 as an Associate. In 2014 she was promoted to Senior Associate and made Partner in 2018. Before DZP, she was the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director of Jelfa SA/Sanitas Group between 2010 and 2012. Earlier, she was a Tax Advisor with Teva Pharmaceuticals Polska between 2007 and 2010.

    “I am looking forward to leading the ESG practice at our law firm in addition to the Compliance and Forensic practices,” Partyka-Opiela commented. “ESG risks are now recognized as material risks, so it is difficult to imagine compliance there with not being connected with sustainable business development. ESG strategy sets the direction for business development, thus making the long-term achievement of set goals realistic. I believe that, with our help and expertise, our clients will be able to achieve their goals, and that they will benefit from an even more comprehensive offer in this area.”

    “Placing the Compliance and ESG practices under the supervision of one individual was an obvious and natural choice,” added Managing Partner Pawel Zdort. “The two areas intersect and allow us to provide a coherent range of advice to our clients. This will certainly be another practice of which Anna will take excellent care.”

  • Agnieszka Rapcewicz Promoted to Partner At Just Law

    Agnieszka Rapcewicz has been promoted to Partner at Just Law Jastrun Kowalski.

    Rapcewicz, who specializes in personal data protection, has been with the firm since 2023 when she joined as Counsel. Earlier, she was a Compliance Officer with Grupa ANG between 2021 and 2022. Earlier still, she was a Personal Data Protection Specialist with iSecure between 2019 and 2021, as well as an Attorney at Law with ESB Matczuk Matuszak-Lesny between 2018 and 2019. Before that, she spent five years with Lexperts, between 2013 and 2018.

    “When Slawomir Kowalski and I founded our firm, we envisioned creating a place that would not only attract exceptional lawyers but also individuals with passion, dedication, and vision,” commented Partner Daniel Jastrun. “Agnieszka exemplifies these qualities – her expertise, legal intuition, diligence, experience, energy, and determination to execute ambitious projects are invaluable to both our firm and our clients. I am excited about our collaboration and the opportunities for further growth.”

    “I am delighted that Agnieszka Rapcewicz has joined the partnership of our firm,” added Partner Slawomir Kowalski. “Agnieszka has proven herself to be an excellent lawyer and a great collaborator. Big congratulations to Agnieszka on her well-deserved promotion.”

  • Act Legal Poland Advises WBW Invest on Marguerite and Griffin Capital Partners Investment

    Act Legal Poland has advised WBW Invest on an investment from Marguerite and Griffin Capital Partners, as well as on the sale of shares in WBW 2 – the special purpose vehicle owner of the OnTrain brand. 

    According to Act Legal, the deal involves the short- and long-term leasing of locomotives to European railway operators, along with their maintenance. The cooperation among WBW Invest, Marguerite, and Griffin Capital Partners represents a major step forward in the Polish and broader European rail sector, introducing advanced logistics and energy transformation solutions. 

    The Act Legal team included Partners Piotr Posnik and Mateusz Prokopiuk and Senior Associate Marlena Witkowska.

  • Gide Advises on Sale of Private Label Tissue and Italian Paper to Velvet Care

    Gide Warsaw has advised the shareholders of Private Label Tissue and Italian Paper on the sale of their shares to Velvet Care.

    Private Label Tissue, based in Rawa, specializes in manufacturing hygiene and sanitary paper products, while Warsaw-headquartered Italian Paper distributes such products to a range of large retail chains in Poland, including Auchan, Carrefour, Selgros, Eurocash, and Lidl. 

    Velvet Care, headquartered in Klucze, is a cellulose-based hygiene product producer and part of the Partners Group. 

    The Gide Warsaw team included Partner Pawel Grzeskowiak, Counsel Wojciech Czyzewski, and Associates Magdalena Zawislak and Dominik Figura.

    Gide did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

    Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Norton Rose Fulbright informed CEE Legal Matters that it advised Velvet Care. The firm’s team included Partner Agnieszka Braciszewska, Counsels Artur Jonczyk, Malgorzata Patocka, and Joanna Braciszewska-Szarapa, Senior Associate Maciej Dubiel, Senior Consultant Piotr Strawa, and Associates Magdalena Olechniewicz-Blocher, Jan Nowjalis, and Damian Pawlak.

  • DLA Piper Advises Enterprise Investors on Investment in eTravel

    DLA Piper has advised Enterprise Investors fund on a EUR 58 million investment in eTravel, alongside the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as a co-investor.

    Founded in 2006, eTravel operates in corporate travel management in the CEE region via its self-booking platform Corporate Travel Assistant.

    The DLA Piper team included Partner Rafal Kluziak, Counsels Michal Banasiak and Izabela Gebal, and Senior Associate Karolina Pichit.

    DLA Piper did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

    Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Norton Rose Fulbright announced that it advised TFI PZU on the financing of the acquisition. The firm’s team in Warsaw included Partner Tomasz Rogalski, Counsel Krzysztof Jasinski, Senior Associate Igor Kondratowicz, and Lawyer Antoni Krzyzanowski.

    Additionally, Schoenherr announced that it advised Enterprise Investors as well. The firm’s team included Partner Ilona Fedurek and Senior Attorney at Law Piotr Bartos.

  • Dentons Launches Projects Team and Infrastructure Group in Poland

    Former DLA Piper Partner Adriana Mierzwa-Bronikowska has joined Dentons’ Warsaw office with a team of four lawyers to form a Projects team to focus on infrastructure. As part of the same expansion move, Dentons also hired Former DLA Piper Counsel Aleksander Haleniuk, who joined as Counsel, and four additional lawyers.

    Before the move, Mierzwa-Bronikowska was with DLA Piper as the firm’s Head of Projects/PPP since 2019 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 29, 2019) and a Local Partner since 2022 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 12, 2022). Earlier, she was a Counsel at Hogan Lovells from 2014 to 2019 and at Chadbourne & Parke from 2008 to 2013. Earlier still, she worked as a Senior Associate at Eversheds Sutherland from 2006 to 2008, and at Gide Loyrette Nouel from 2005 to 2006.

    “Providing comprehensive advice on infrastructure projects requires a multidisciplinary approach across several areas of law, such as corporate and tax, public procurement, real estate, environmental law, and finance, coupled with specialized industry knowledge. Dentons boasts robust, market-leading teams in all these fields and is consistently committed to its continuous growth,” commented Mierzwa-Bronikowska.

    “The addition of Adriana Mierzwa-Bronikowska and her highly regarded team, along with the recruitment of Aleksander Haleniuk and a group of lawyers experienced in infrastructure and energy finance, aligns with our insights into market trends and client needs,” said Poland Co-managing Partner Jakub Celinski. “Infrastructure and energy are critical to the Polish and European economies, and the demand for legal services in these sectors will continue to grow.”

  • Gide and Wardynski & Partners Advise on Remake’s Acquisition of Four Hotels in Poland

    Gide has advised Remake Asset Management, acting for the SCPI Remake Live fund, on its EUR 33.5 million acquisition of four hotels in Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, and Lublin from Covivio. Wardynski & Partners advised the sellers.

    According to Gide, “the hotels are fully leased to B&B Hotels under long-term lease agreements.”

    The Gide team included Partner Blazej Czwarnok, Counsel Rafal Osetek, and Associates Agnieszka Dabrowska, Michal Wisniewski, Agnieszka Myszor, and Maciej Grela.

    The Wardynski & Partners team included Partners Michal Glinski and Jakub Macek and Counsel Jakub Baranowski.

  • Dentons Advises DRFG Investment Group on Office Building Acquisition in Warsaw

    Dentons has advised the DRFG Investment Group on the acquisition of the Signum Work Station office complex in Warsaw managed by the Cromwell Property Group.

    DRFG Investment Group is a Czech Republic-based commercial real estate investor.

    Cromwell Property Group is an Australian real estate investment trust listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. 

    According to Dentons, “Signum Work Station – also known as Trinity Park III – is a modern 7-story A-class office building, a part of the Trinity Park complex. Situated at 49 Domaniewska Street, the property offers approximately 32,500 square meters of modern office space and 880 parking spaces.”

    In 2023, Dentons advised DRFG on investment in Bratislava’s Ister Tower project (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 16, 2023).

    The Dentons team included Partner Piotr Staniszewski, Managing Counsel Tomasz Krasowski, Senior Associate Kamil Igielski, and Associate Kamil Gapski.

  • Greenberg Traurig and DWF Advise on Indotek Group’s Sale of Bokserska Office Center to Enter Air

    Greenberg Traurig has advised Indotek Group on its sale of the Bokserska Office Center in Warsaw to Enter Air. DWF advised Enter Air.

    Indotek Group is a Budapest-based pan-European real estate investment and asset management conglomerate.

    Enter Air is a Polish charter airline.

    Located in Mokotow, Bokserska Office Center offers six floors and approximately 6,600 square meters of net leasable area. Developed by Ghelamco Poland in 2001, the property offers 164 surface parking spaces and 18 underground parking spots.

    “The purchase of a new office is a natural step in Enter Air’s expansion in Poland,” commented its COO Marcin Kubrak. “Given the nature of our operations, proximity to Warsaw Chopin Airport and the standard of the office space were key factors in our selection. Bokserska Office Center meets our current spatial requirements while providing a strategic buffer for our company’s future growth.”

    The Greenberg Traurig team included Deputy Managing Partner Radomil Charzynski and Senior Associate Alicja Flis.

    The DWF team included Partners Tomasz Kaczmarek and Joanna Wojnarowska, Local Partner Weronika Roesler, Counsel Katarzyna Stec, Senior Associate Ewa Lewandowska, Junior Associate Patrycja Strycharek.

  • White & Case Advises BGK on PLN 750 Million Loan to Polenergia for Offshore Wind Farms

    White & Case has advised Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego on providing a loan of up to PLN 750 million (EUR 176 million) from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan funds to Polenergia. 

    Polenergia is Poland’s largest privately owned energy group, with operations focusing on renewable and low-emission energy generation, as well as electricity supply to both business and individual consumers.

    According to White & Case, the financing will support the construction of the Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3 offshore wind farms, with a combined capacity of 1440 megawatts.

    In 2024, White & Case advised on BGK’s USD 3.5 billion bond issuance (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 25, 2024). In 2023, the firm advised BGK on its USD 1 billion bond issuance for Poland’s armed forces support fund (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 8, 2023) and on BGK’s May 2023 issuance of ten-year bonds, with a total nominal value of USD 1.75 billion, guaranteed by the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland, and with proceeds earmarked for the COVID-19 response fund (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 1, 2023).

    The White & Case team included Partner Grzegorz Abram and Associates Magdalena Bachleda-Ksiedzularz and Klaudia Ochenkowska.