Category: Poland

Magdalena Pyzik-Walag has become the new Managing Partner at Rymarz Zdort Maruta.

Pyzik-Walag has been with the team since 2006, when she joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as an Associate.

She became a Counsel in 2018 and also took over as Head of the Restructuring and Insolvency practice as well as the Distressed Asset Investments team that same year before Weil’s withdrawal from Warsaw that led to the establishment of Rymarz Zdort (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 28, 2019). She became a Rymarz Zdort Partner in 2020.

“I would like to thank the partners of Rymarz Zdort Maruta for the confidence they have shown in me by deciding to entrust me with the position of Managing Partner,” Pyzik-Walag commented. “This is not only a great moment for me personally, but also a great honor and acknowledgment of the work and achievements of my team.”

A&O Shearman has advised the European Investment Bank on its successful subscription for a total of EUR 2.236 billion in five tranches of bonds issued by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

According to A&O Shearman, the proceeds from the bonds issuances have financed the Aid Fund – a fund established by the Polish state to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The bonds are guaranteed by the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland.

The A&O Shearman team included Partner Tomasz Kawczynski, Counsel Lukasz Walczyna, and Associate Alicja Urbanska as well as further team members in Luxembourg

DLA Piper has advised the City of Warsaw on a PLN 1.05 billion loan from the European Investment Bank to finance the sustainable development of urban infrastructure.

According to DLA Piper, “the funds will be awarded as part of the new Warsaw Sustainable Infrastructure II project. The purpose of the framework financial contract is to support the investments of the Capital City of Warsaw planned for 2023-2029 as part of the Multiannual Financial Forecast of the Capital City of Warsaw, including the Urban Development Strategy Warszawa2030 and climate strategies.”

The DLA Piper team included Partners Adriana Mierzwa-Bronikowska and Mariusz Hyla, Counsel Aleksander Haleniuk, and Szymon Piotrowski.

Former Noerr Poland Head Pawel Zelich has joined DZP as Partner and Head of the German Desk.

Specializing in corporate and M&A, Zelich was previously an Associated Partner and Head of Noerr’s Poland office (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 19, 2022) which has since become independent earlier this year (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 28, 2024). He was with Noerr between 2010 and 2024. Earlier, he spent seven years in-house as a Lawyer with Petrobaltic between 2000 and 2007.

According to DZP, Zelich will be “responsible for building and developing relations with clients from German-speaking countries. We are confident that his expertise and dedication will enable us to enhance our cooperation with foreign partners and provide even more effective support to our clients in achieving their business objectives.”

Linklaters has advised NEPI Rockcastle on its EUR 405 million acquisition of Silesia City Center in Katowice, Poland.

NEPI Rockcastle is a retail real estate company.

According to Linklaters, Silesia City Center is a “dominant shopping destination in Katowice,” offering over 88,400 square meters of gross lettable area. The center boasts a 98.4% occupancy rate and features a range of anchor tenants including Cinema City, Half Price, H&M, Kaufland, Media Markt, Primark, Reserved, TK Maxx, and Zara.

The Linklaters team included Warsaw-based National Managing Partner Janusz Dzianachowski, Managing Associates Tomasz Trystula, Wojciech Podlasin, Barbara Wanat, Jakub Korobczuk, Szymon Sieniewicz, and Marta Szrajer, Senior Associate Marta Strykowska, Associates Maksymilian Hau, Filip Witaszek, Aleksandra Mielniczuk, and Katarzyna Grodzka, and Junior Associate Malgorzata Czubernat.

Linklaters could not provide additional information on the matter.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Abris Capital Partners on the sale of 100% of the shares in Dot2Dot to Van Genechten Packaging. Forton Legal advised the buyers.

Dot2Dot is an independent premium packaging producer in Central Europe.

Established in 2007, Abris Capital Partners is an independent private equity fund manager investing in Central Europe. 

The Norton Rose Fulbright team included Partner Agnieszka Braciszewska and Counsels Artur Jonczyk and Joanna Braciszewska Szarapa.

The Forton Legal team included Managing Partner Wieslaw Latala, Partner Katarzyna Zajas-Aydogan, and Lawyer Karolina Panek.

SK&S has advised Euricom on the acquisition of Sonko from OSHEE Polska. BCGL advised OSHEE.

According to SK&S, “Euricom aims to strengthen Sonko’s snack portfolio by investing in its infrastructure and brand identity, and expand its existing production capabilities in Italy.”

The SK&S team included Senior Partner Robert Gawalkiewicz, Partner Krzysztof Kanton, Senior Counsel Jakub Wozniak, Senior Associates Michal Dawidowicz and Szymon Murek, and Junior Associate Wiktor Markiewicz.

The BCGL team included Jacek Balicki and Senior Associates Monika Druzkowska and Justyna Szuprowska

WKB Lawyers has advised Lisner Holding on obtaining the competition clearance for the acquisition of Greenwich Investments, a company controlling the Graal Group.

According to WKB, Lisner is the leader of the Polish market in herring products, salads, and sandwich spreads. The company is part of the pan-European food group UTM, best known as the owner of the Mueller dairy brand.

The Graal Group is a producer of canned fish in Poland.

In 2023, WKB advised Lisner Holding on the acquisition of Graal from Abris Capital Partners (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 23, 2023).

The WKB team included Managing Partner Aleksander Stawicki, Partners Jakub Jedrzejak, Klaudia Fratczak-Kospin, and Wojciech Kulczyk, Attorneys at Law Malgorzata Studniarek and Piotr Popielarski, Associate Filip Rybak, and Lawyers Zuzanna Cybulska, Marcin Kemblowski, Karolina Kalinowska, John R. Kedzierski, Joanna Staroszczyk, and Marta Palyga.

MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj i Partnerzy has advised Yuniversal Development on a bond issuance totaling PLN 15 million.

According to MJH, the bonds, set to mature in September 2026, will help strengthen Yuniversal Development’s position in the Polish real estate market.

Yuniversal Development is a real estate developer that has been operating in the Polish real estate market since 1991.

The MJH team included Partner Pawel Cyganik, Senior Counsel Bartosz Jurga, and Associate Milena Zawisza.

MJH did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

Former Rymarz Zdort Maruta Partner Agnieszka Skorupinska has joined Baker McKenzie as a Partner in its International, Commercial and Trade practice. She will lead the firm’s Warsaw-based sustainability and energy transition practice.

Before the move, Skorupinska was with Rymarz Zdort Maruta as a Partner between 2023 and 2024 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 4, 2023). Earlier, she was with CMS as a Counsel between 2017 and 2020 and as a Partner between 2020 and 2023. Earlier still, he was with Dentons as an Associate between 2011 and 2013, as a Senior Associate between 2013 and 2016, and as a Counsel between 2016 and 2017. She began her career with WKB as an Associate between 2008 and 2011.

“Agnieszka’s unique combination of energy and projects and environmental law expertise is exactly what our clients need as they navigate a complex web of global ESG regulations and embrace the energy transition,” commented London Partner and Chair of the Firm’s global International, Commercial and Trade Practice Group Sunny Mann. 

“We are delighted that Agnieszka is joining us,” added Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie’s Warsaw office Weronika Achramowicz. “Her addition comes at a crucial time as we anticipate increased strategic investments in the energy transition in Poland, with businesses looking to accelerate their sustainability journey. Agnieszka’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable in guiding our clients on this path.”

“Supporting clients with their sustainability goals has been at the center of my focus for years,” added Skorupinska. “I am proud to join Baker McKenzie, a global firm that understands the potential of zero-emission energy sources and also excels in advising on green bonds, green leases, and investments in companies committed to creating positive impact. I look forward to leveraging the firm’s global platform to support businesses who aim to take forward their responsible business strategies while managing legal risks in a rapidly changing energy market in Poland and worldwide.”