Category: Poland

Taylor Wessing has advised the Polish Development Fund-managed FIZAN fund as the lender to the sale of the Kleczew Solar & Wind farm by Lewandpol Holding to Energa Wytwarzanie, part of the Orlen Group.

According to Taylor Wessing, the “current capacity of the Kleczew Solar & Wind farm is 244.5 megawatts. This includes a 225.3-megawatt photovoltaic farm and a wind farm with an installed capacity of 19.2 megawatts. However, the project is being further developed and the construction of the next phase will expand the photovoltaic installation by a further 25.4 megawatts.”

The Taylor Wessing team included Partner Zbigniew Korba and Counsel Michal Kulig.

Taylor Wessing did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

Former Hogan Lovells Counsel and Head of the Warsaw M&A Practice Tomasz Zak has joined Eversheds Sutherland as a Partner.

Joining with him is his team including Counsel Tomasz Pietrzak, Senior Associate Leonart Szanajca-Kossakowski, and Lawyers Aleksandra Filipiak and Hubert Jurczyk.

According to Eversheds Sutherland, Zak’s arrival “enhances the firm’s corporate transactional capabilities in Warsaw, whilst adding further depth to client offerings in Europe and on cross-border transactions.”

Before the move, Zak spent almost 21 years with Hogan Lovells before the firm announced it was shutting down its Warsaw operations (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 20, 2024). He joined Hogan Lovells as an Associate in 2004, becoming a Senior Associate in 2010, and a Counsel in 2010.

“We very warmly welcome a group of excellent lawyers led by Tomasz Zak to our team,” commented Managing Partner Ewa Lachowska-Brol. “This is an experienced, knowledgeable team, which will not only enable us to expand our law firm’s transactional and corporate service but will also allow us to better adapt to an ever-changing market.”

“I am delighted to join the Polish office of Eversheds Sutherland,” Zak added. “I believe this is the right place where both I and my team will be able to continue providing the highest quality comprehensive services to our clients.”

Greenberg Traurig has advised Generali Investments CEE on its acquisition of a logistics park in Zabrze, Poland, from Panattoni. Deloitte Legal advised Panattoni.

Generali Investments CEE is an investment company providing collective investment and asset management services.

According to Greenberg Traurig, located within the Katowice special economic zone, the 45,000-square-meter logistics facility is largely occupied by one of Europe’s largest suppliers of medical equipment. 

The Greenberg Traurig team included Deputy Managing Partner Radomil Charzynski, Counsels Olga Durawa and Anna Kokeli, Senior Associates Alicja Flis and Iga Czerniak, Associates Bruno Jasic and Patrycja Wakuluk, and Junior Associate Weronika Kopec

The Deloitte Legal team included Partners Marta Bijak-Haiduk and Dominika Sulak-Seyfried and Senior Managing Associate Patrycja Czarnecka.

Former DWF Local Partner and Head of Insurance Pawl Stykowski has his eponymous Pawel Stykowski Legal Studio.

According to Stykowski, the Pawel Stykowski Legal Studio’s primary area of focus will include “everything related to insurance and AML activities – from advising on regulatory and civil law issues, through conducting training, to handling court cases.”

Before the move, Stykowski spent more than five years with DWF as a Local Partner and Head of Insurance (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 19, 2019). Earlier, he was a Counsel with Eversheds Sutherland between 2018 and 2019 and, the Head of Legal with InterRisk between 2014 and 2018. Earlier still, he was with CMS as a Senior Associate between 2011 and 2014 as well as an Associate between 2007 and 2009. Between 2009 and 2011, he was a Legal Specialist with AXA Group.

Former Greenberg Traurig Local Partner Paulina Kimla-Kaczorowska has launched Kimla Law.

Former Greenberg Traurig Associate Szymon Grudzien joined Kimla-Kaczorowska in Kimla Law as an Associate.

According to Kimla-Kaczorowska, Kimla Law specializes in “legal solutions for financing transactions, M&A and venture capital investments with great focus on exploring new ideas for innovation in business transactions management.” 

Before setting up Kimla Law Paulina Kimla-Kaczorowska was with Greenberg Traurig between 2012 and 2024, having joined as an Associate in 2012 and being promoted to Senior Associate in 2018 and to Local Partner in 2022. Earlier, she was a Paralegal with Dewey and LeBoeuf between 2010 and 2012.

Former Hogan Lovells Partner Piotr Zawislak has joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a consultant in the firm’s banking and finance practice. Joining with Zawislak is Associate Julia Pycka.

According to Norton Rose Fulbright, Zawislak, who previously led the Warsaw-based banking and finance team at Hogan Lovells, specializes in debt capital markets, particularly asset-backed securitizations and structured debt securities. Hogan Lovells announced it was shutting down its Warsaw office last year (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 20, 2024).

“Julia and I are delighted to be joining Norton Rose Fulbright,” Zawislak commented. “We will work alongside the firm’s already well-established debt capital markets practice to further develop and focus on securitization. Securitizations are an increasingly important part of the financial and capital markets, and their growing number in Poland only confirms this.”

Linklaters has advised Investika Real Estate Fund and its joint venture partner Bud Holdings on the acquisition of a 212,500-square-meter logistics portfolio in Poland from commercial real estate developer 7R. A&O Shearman reportedly advised 7R.

Investika Real Estate Fund is the largest Czech and Slovak non-bank open-ended mutual real estate fund. According to Linklaters, the portfolio comprises five logistics parks: 7R Park Bydgoszcz I, 7R City Park Gdansk Airport I, 7R City Flex Krakow Airport I, 7R Park Kielce, and 7R City Park Poznan West.

The Linklaters team included Partner Marta Domino, Counsel Adriana Andrzejewska, Managing Associate Marcin Nowak, Senior Associate Marta Strykowska, Associates Przemyslaw Sanka, Aleksandra Mielniczuk, and Joanna Roman, and Junior Associate Aleksandra Stanulewicz.

Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Reals announced that it advised Investika Real Estate Fund as well. The Reals team included Partners Pavlina Tejralova and Miroslav Dudek.

Schoenherr has advised VetPlanet on its acquisition of Vetos-Farma from the Okoniewski family. Ecovis reportedly advised the sellers.

Established in 2008, VetPlanet is a pet product company whose roots stem from veterinary medicine. VetPlanet’s products are distributed in over 45 countries and range from pet food to medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

According to Schoenherr, the acquisition marks “an important step for VetPlanet, strengthening its position in the veterinary industry and supporting its growth and expansion in key markets.”

The Schoenherr team included Partners Szymon Okon and Marcin Czaprowski, Counsel Dawid Brudzisz, and Associates Olga Koncerewicz and Maciej Korzon.

Former Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe Vice-President of the Management Board Lukasz Mlynarkiewicz has joined Kochanski & Partners as a Partner in its Infrastructure, Energy, Environment, and ESG Practice Group and will also serve as the Head of the Nuclear Energy Practice.

Before the move, Mlynarkiewicz was with Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe between 2022 and 2024. Earlier, he was the President of Panstwowa Agencja Atomistyki between 2019 and 2022, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Wojewodzki Fundusz Ochrony Srodowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej w Gdansku between 2018 and 2020, as well as the Director of the Environmental Impact Assessment Department of the Generalna Dyrekcja Ochrony Srodowiska between 2017 and 2010. Earlier, he spent just over a year on solo practice, between 2016 and 2017.

“The biggest projects, not just energy projects, can only succeed if all parties – investors, contractors, government and local authorities – are able to work together,” commented Mlynarkiewicz. “Our role is not just to provide legal advice, but first and foremost to create opportunities and help build solid bridges between the various stakeholders.”

Originally reported by CEE In-House Matters.

MFW Fialek has advised Hartenberg Capital on its acquisition of a controlling stake in 4Kraft and its subsidiaries, 4Kraft LLC and Suzhou Kinderkraft Trading. Zhong Lun reportedly advised Hartenberg Capital as well. JLSW Janaszczyk Lis i Wspolnicy advised 4Kraft.

According to MFW Fialek, the transaction was executed through Enterstore, a holding entity consolidating Hartenberg’s e-commerce investments across multiple countries.

The transaction remains contingent on regulatory approval.

Hartenberg is a EUR 300 million investment fund focusing on mid-sized companies in the Central European region, primarily in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.

4Kraft is a manufacturer in the children’s products sector, known for the Kinderkraft and Kiddy brands, with distribution across Europe, Asia, and Australia, and plans to expand to North America and Africa.

The MFW Fialek Team included Partner Miroslaw Fialek, Senior Associates Mariusz Domagala, Krzysztof Drzymala, Michal Kret, Marcin Gutkowski, and Pawel Siwiec, Associates Wojciech Lichterowicz, Kacper Rydz, and Jakub Wilk, Junior Associates Franciszek Furmaniak and Maksymilian Gnat, and Intern Robert Szumilowski.

The JLSW team included Managing Partners Marcin Lis and Tomasz Janaszczyk and Partner Joanna Zemojtel.