In our special 25th anniversary year in business, we were among the winners, in recognition of our financial results and the increases in our finances generated between 2021 and 2023.

Łukasz knows the Polish Energy Industry inside out, and is also familiar with Infrastructure and Environmental issues. As a former manager of important industry institutions and companies, he has unique professional experience, which he uses in his academic work and in the management of international, expert industry organizations.

The third year of the war is also the third year that our Ukrainian Desk has been working to support the Ukrainian economy and strengthen Polish-Ukrainian relations. The cornerstones of this work are balance and dynamism. We create solutions that build not only our clients’ businesses, but also lasting bridges of understanding and foundations for future post-war reconstruction.

November saw the issue of two important general rulings on withholding tax. The first concerns certain conditions for dividend exemptions and the second, conditions for interest and royalties. In addition, some notable tax clarifications are expected to appear by the end of the year. We take a closer look at the Ministry’s general rulings and their possible implications.

We end the year with the delayed implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

2024 belonged to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

It has been a busy year in the field of energy and climate change, so it is worth briefly summarising all the changes that will be relevant to businesses operating in these areas.

2024 has brought significant changes to employment law. Some of these are already in force, while others will not become effective until after the New Year. These changes are the Polish legislator’s response to what is happening in the EU labour market and are aimed at protecting the health of employees, improving working conditions and supporting entrepreneurs. Let’s take a look at the most relevant ones.

The Polish banking sector is currently facing another major challenge related to Swiss franc issues. This time, however, it concerns the tax consequences of settling loans taken out in CHF.

The EU has adopted new dates for the application of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Companies now have one year to bring their supply chains into compliance.

We have once again been highly rated by the Chambers ranking jury, confirming that we are among the exclusive group of the best FinTech advisers operating in our part of Europe.

The award from The Lawyer is not only prestigious, but above all is an opportunity to draw widespread attention to a problem that is slowly depriving entire societies of their basic rights. One of these is the right to know what those in power are doing.

Banks should protect customers from fraud. UOKiK has issued recommendations.

Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska and Aleksandra Pinkas look at how Polish companies are preparing for the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aims to counteract the ongoing degradation of forests.

Companies applying for an electricity distribution licence (Polish: DEE) face various challenges in obtaining it. Very often, the reason for the refusal of such a licence is the submission of inappropriate connection conditions.

Shareholders who wish to restrict the ability of heirs to join the company or limit the possibility of fragmentation of the company’s shareholding should plan ahead and amend the articles of association in good time.

The anti-SLAPP directive must enter into Polish law.

As we approach the fourth anniversary of the introduction of this levy, it is a good time to take stock of its impact and the doubts surrounding its application. Today, we can see that the revenue from the levy bears no relation to the ever-decreasing sales volumes. This points to a systemic problem.

On 12 September 2024, following negotiations in the Social Dialogue Council, the Council of Ministers adopted the Ordinance on the minimum wage and the minimum hourly rate for 2025.

Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska dispels doubts about EU deforestation regulation.

Throughout the year, The Trademark Lawyer magazine has conducted extensive research to identify the most outstanding trademark and IP law firms.

There are already around 10,000 cases before the Polish courts in which borrowers claim that banks have violated the Consumer Credit Act. As a result of these lawsuits, the sanction of free credit could be applied.

The Ministry of Justice has drafted a bill that will ultimately improve the resolution of conflicts between CHF mortgage borrowers and banks.

We would like to invite you to an event on 26 November which will focus on the practical aspects of charging the levy on alcoholic beverages in packages of up to 300 ml.

While most seem to be waiting for the ‘golden moment’, informed investors are already spotting unique opportunities to buy strategic properties in prestigious locations that are discounted by up to half the price and still available.

The long-awaited results of the IFLR1000 24 have just been released. In this year’s edition, we are once again ranked among the best in the field of transactional, financial and corporate advice.

3 October 2024 was very intense for us, as together with Altios and other advisors and business partners, including the ICAN Institute, we hosted another edition of the INTERNATIONAL CLUB event – International Business Meetings, which this time was held at the Sound Garden Hotel in Warsaw.

Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska answers questions about the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), this time focusing on the consequences for non-compliant companies and the monitoring system.

On 1 January 2025, new regulations will come into force that will fundamentally change the rules of property taxation in Poland.

This event will not only provide an opportunity for your professional development, but also help you to discover and understand the role AI can play in even the most unexpected areas of business management.

We invite you together with the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce to the Real Estate & Construction working group meeting, where representatives of the real estate industry will exchange experiences on the state and future of the real estate market.

On 3 October the semi-finalists of the 14th edition of the CEE Investment Awards were announced.

Why can IP reporting benefit a company?

One of the priority actions is the decarbonisation of buildings, which is the process of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions until their anthropogenic generation stops completely.

Tax governance is becoming a key element of the ESG strategy.

Let’s take a closer look at the social aspect of ESG, focusing on its impact on hiring policies and human resource management.

By improving access to mainstream products and services, the regulation aims to promote the full and effective participation in society of persons with disabilities and those who experience functional limitations.

When implementing ESG, we should keep all elements in mind. After all, in addition to environmental (E) and social (S) issues, it is also crucial to fine-tune the way a company is governed – the ‘G’.

All you need to know about the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in questions from companies and answers from Milena Kazanowska-Kędzierska, who examines the state of Polish businesses’ preparation for the new regulations on production based on the use of cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood… That is, activities causing deforestation.

On 4 November 2024, we will have the opportunity to meet again and catch up with friends from all the ISNL programme editions to date!

Recent UN research[1] indicates that human activities have resulted in the emergence of 37,000 alien species, 3,500 of which are invasive, with negative impacts costing the economy more than USD 400 billion.

This year’s International Bar Association conference in Mexico was unique. Not only because of the tropical location where it was held, but especially because of the topics that heated up the discussions and the participants.

The Ministry of Finance is working on changes to the bank tax structure that will make it more profitable for banks to provide strong financing to the economy.

The whole civilised world unequivocally supports the rebuilding of a new, strong, European and democratic Ukraine. And when that reconstruction does take place, it will be a challenge on an unprecedented scale.

Energy companies are increasingly interested in expanding their distribution networks, due to the need to connect new customers. To achieve this, it is necessary to become a Distribution System Operator (DSO).

We take a look at current trends and how AI is being implemented in the field of tax auditing.

Over the last five years, the use of deepfakes has become almost ubiquitous. Recently, for example, the NASK National Research Institute reported that in May 2024, new deepfakes were created with Rafał Brzoska, Andrzej Duda and Robert Lewandowski.

As the use of AI grows, so do the challenges of integrating it with existing regulations.

Do EU climate policy mechanisms work in the Polish energy system?

May marked the one-year anniversary of the family foundation legislation. The interest in this form of protection and accumulation of assets has exceeded the wildest expectations of its creators.

On 11 September, we will talk about the practical aspects of challenging WIBOR, take a close look at the arguments of borrowers and the strategies of the law firms representing them, and discuss effective defence strategies.

The harmonisation of regulations and de facto their enforcement is key to ensuring that AI is developed responsibly, transparently and in accordance with the rights of individuals.

Many companies wonder who owns the intellectual property rights to work produced by AI. This mainly concerns copyright and patents, which protect new inventions.

European officials are preparing a directive on platform work. The new rules aim to improve the working conditions and social rights of people working in this unusual form of employment.

All indications are that Poland will stand firmly behind the WIBOR. Indeed, the main state institutions are defending the legality, correctness and transparency of this index.

Polish and European banks and FinTechs will face many challenges in the coming years, adapting to both increasingly competitive market conditions and a fierce battle for customers, as well as changing regulations and legislation.

We already know the results of the ITR World Tax 2025 ranking, which have brought us as many as four recommendations, including three spectacular promotions!

Those who are interested in installing or who are already using photovoltaic panels to generate electricity should therefore carefully analyse their situation from a VAT perspective.

Based in Taiwan, UNIVACCO is a world leader in high-tech printing, hot stamping, coating, holographic and digital transfer products. It was looking for a large office space of several thousand square metres and production halls for its European subsidiary, which it found in the Hillwood Łódź Chocianowice logistics park.

We’ve done it. For the second time, we have won an EcoVadis silver medal for sustainability performance. This means that we’ve achieved a difficult and demanding task – not only have we maintained a high level of performance and again been among the best of the thousands of companies and institutions around the world that […]

You don’t have to be the patriarch of a family to benefit from the opportunities offered by a family foundation.

We look at how to prepare for this effectively.

From the point of view of the companies against which they are initiated, payment gridlock proceedings are one of the most burdensome proceedings in the field of competition protection.

NIS2, the Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, is a response to increasingly serious digital threats.

In an era of ubiquitous tax compliance inspections, the implementation of an appropriate oversight framework appears to be critical to the safe operation of a business.

The European Union wants to reduce global deforestation and halt the overall degradation of forests caused by, among other things, the industrial production of commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood.

WIBOR-indexed mortgages could go the way of CHF mortgages. Key ruling for millions of borrowers.

The MiCA regulation establishes a new, comprehensive regulatory environment for the crypto-asset market across the European Union.

Companies should start preparing now to implement an appropriate procedure for receiving whistleblowing reports.

Challenging WIBOR could ruin our economy

In this year’s edition of the Rzeczpospolita ranking, we are ranked 2nd (ex aequo) among large law firms in the Energy and Natural Resources category.

Accelerating RES installations and reducing barriers to the realisation of new capacity connections are key challenges in the energy transition process.

In the new bill, the Ministry has proposed a new definition of a structure.

Article 111 of the Election Code is intended to prevent the spread of false information during an election campaign.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology has prepared a draft law proposing a number of changes to commercial and administrative law. One of the acts to be amended is the Public Procurement Law. We review the key points of the government’s bill.

On 7 June, the Amendment to the Social Security System Act was signed by the President. This means that a large number of businesses will soon benefit from favourable changes to the payment of social security contributions.

When setting up a business, it is necessary to provide the company with certain resources, i.e., among other things, to contribute the appropriate capital required to fully pay for the shares issued.

The European Football Championship is an example not only of excellent organisation of a sporting event, but also of thoughtful and long-term protection of the organiser’s intellectual property rights. On many levels.

Our advisory services included a legal and tax due diligence, transaction structuring, drafting and negotiation of transaction documentation, and coordination of the entire company acquisition process.

For almost six years, since the establishment of KALYNA, the Polish-Ukrainian-Canadian Scholarship Foundation, we have been a partner and patron of this small but highly effective organisation, which supports scholars and artists dealing with the difficult question of Polish-Ukrainian relations, and assists in providing opportunities to study in Poland for the children of Ukrainian soldiers, killed or seriously injured in the defence of their homeland.

We have boosted our firm through the addition of Katarzyna Sabiłło – an energetic, determined and passionate pharmacist, lawyer and manager who will lead the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Law practice.

Our advice included structuring the transaction, drafting and negotiating transaction documentation and coordinating the entire process of selling the company.

On 23 May, the Sejm (the lower house of the Polish Parliament) passed a bill on the protection of whistleblowers. We summarise what has changed from the previous versions, what needs special attention and what amendments the Senate has made.

On 23 May, Sopot became the Baltic capital of the real estate industry. This was the day of the Baltic Investment Forum conference, which culminated in the 2nd Annual Baltic Sea Region Real Estate Awards gala. This year the jury focused on excellence, innovation and the courage to break new ground, as well as experience […]

Litigation is today a hard business reality for virtually every company, industry and sector.

For those interested in the legal aspects of artificial intelligence and wanting to know exactly what awaits the Polish technology market in the near future.

WIBOR more difficult to manipulate than appears.

We now know the results of the first part of this year’s IP Stars 2024 ranking in the Trademark disputes and Trademark prosecution categories, and we know which firms have been recognised as providing the most effective support in these areas.

The Minister of Finance has announced a plan to reduce the Belka tax, to come into effect on 1 January 2025. And although he has said that the groundwork is already being laid, he has not yet revealed all the details of the proposed changes.

The EU is seeking to electrify not only the energy sector but also many other sectors of the economy. As a result, the demand for electricity is increasing.

The liability of management board members is a complex and multifaceted issue. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at these issues, especially in light of recent developments.

Last year’s amendment to the Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 16 February 2007 introduced a new principle of liability of a dominant company for antitrust infringements by its subsidiary, which as early as the legislative stage was seen as a novelty in Polish law and caused numerous controversies.

The labour market is seeing an increased number of collective redundancies. We check what rules govern collective redundancies and what obligations must be fulfilled in order to carry them out effectively.

Tomasz Szambelan has been included in the list of accredited IP Scan providers maintained by the Polish Patent Office. The IP Scan service is part of the grant scheme for the filing of trade marks, designs and inventions from the European SME Fund.

At the beginning of April 2024, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) published new clarifications on the determination of the amount of fines in cases related to the conclusion of agreements restrictive of competition and the abuse of dominant position.

The Banking Forum is one of the most important annual events in the industry, and cannot be missed by representatives of top management and executives of Polish and international financial institutions.

Superficial and common judicial views on the so-called ‘CHF loan cases’ do not justify the conduct of civil proceedings in violation of the bank’s rights of defence, as the court of second instance has ruled.

Undermining WIBOR would be a blow to the economy.

RES requires not only a favourable regulatory environment, but also the modernisation of electricity grids.

Plans to introduce the National eInvoicing System (KSeF) have been suspended for at least two years.

How the extension of the electricity price freeze in the second half of 2024 will affect energy companies

The challenge of implementing ESG measures is becoming one of the key factors in successfully attracting investors, customers, vendors, tenants and, ultimately, employees.

The debate on nuclear energy is one of the hottest topics currently attracting the attention of the public, energy transition experts and representatives of the scientific, political and business communities.

The world today is urgently seeking ways to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment, and to better protect and reuse resources. And, where possible, to repair the damage done.

Individuals with an income of more than PLN 1 million have until 30 April to pay the 4% solidarity levy. It is worth checking now whether and how losses from previous years have been settled so far.

The impending Bitcoin halving, the Ministry of Finance’s announcement of new regulations for crypto-assets, and the PIT settlement for virtual currency trading are just some of the changes that cryptocurrency enthusiasts can expect to see in the coming weeks.

How do AI and Big Data affect the due diligence process for boards of directors

The UODO reminds us: Surveillance information should be in writing and in a separate document

Why has the latest draft caused such controversy among authors?

Limited liability companies often exercise the option to pay dividend advances.

In the last days of March the results of the 18th edition of Dziennik Gazeta Prawna’s Ranking of Tax Firms and Tax Advisors were published, with the list of winners showing the firms and experts setting the highest standards on the market.

Another accolade in the Media Law International ranking and a consistently high position confirms that our work on behalf of journalists and leading TV and radio publishers is not only effective, but also recognised and valued by the market.

Disputed WIBOR mortgages. Financial Ombudsman leaves both sides dissatisfied

As always, our greatest thanks go to our exceptional clients. You make us strive!

The European Union has adopted a binding target of climate neutrality by 2050 and intends to achieve this by, among other things, increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy mix.

From 30 December 2024, the new Regulation 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council will impose further obligations on traders who place on the market, make available on the EU market or export outside the EU, goods and products that may have an impact on deforestation and forest degradation.

The Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the Olympics of lawyers.

Ukraine needs continued, stable and consistent support on many levels.

The analysts compiling the ranking, who closely monitor the Polish FinTech market, highly valued our experts’ experience and know-how.

Legal Project Management is the application of formalised project management rules and techniques to the delivery of legal services.

groundbreaking changes to the taxation of online commerce.

Trading in cryptocurrencies not falling within the scope of activities of family foundations.

We take a look at the key changes businesses can expect to see as a result of the implementation of Directive 2022/2381.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act (Act) requires the notification and updating of information on the beneficial owners of partnerships and companies (and other entities referred to in Article 58 of the Act) to the Central Register of Beneficial Owners (CRBR).

The year 2024 will be marked by increased corporate preparation for sustainability reporting.

Following the announcement of the Chambers Global 2024 recommendations, which this year brought us fantastic news, the results of Chambers Europe 2024 have now been announced.

CJEU has ruled that the penalties imposed by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) on undertakings for breaching the obligation to purchase and submit for redemption certificates of origin or pay a replacement fee are unlawful.

On 20 March we invite you to a meeting on the role of mediation in the business world.

Entrepreneurs need proven advisors and partners who speak their language, are able to adapt solutions to the specific needs of a particular business and are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Because the goal is always the same. To change the world for the better.

Can banks meet the credit needs of the Polish economy?

Europe must not waver in its support for the Ukraine and its people.

We are checking whether the new regulations comply with EU law and whether they will be upheld.

How to sell shares in a company correctly, whilst avoiding running the risk of having the transaction invalidated.

Third-party funding is becoming more common in Europe, both in litigation and arbitration.

On 21 March, we will examine the practical aspects of the process of setting up and organising a family foundation, taking a closer look at specific problems and the current tax case law in this area. We invite you to join us for this discussion.

What an EU small-scale nuclear industry can expect?

Money is King. This is especially true in M&A transactions, which are primarily ‘for the money’. In this context, the valuation of a company being sold, i.e. the way of setting the share price and any post-purchase adjustments, is crucial.

How to avoid joint and several liability for a company’s tax debts?

Any small and medium-sized enterprise wishing to file a trade mark and/or design application can be reimbursed up to EUR 1,000.

We look at whether Polish law, as it currently stands, offers any protection against SLAPPs.

For the first time, our Dispute Resolution Practice has been ranked in a select group of the most highly recommended in the ‘Dispute Resolution’ area. This means that it is truly world class in every aspect of its work.

Company representatives must be aware that if they carry out a transaction without the consent required by the articles of association and this results in a loss/damage to the company’s assets, they may be held liable for damages to the company.

On 26 February, another bill on the protection of whistleblowers was submitted to the Sejm under a new title: the “Whistleblowers Act”. The bill is intended to implement Directive 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) of 23 October 2019.

The results of the World Trademarks Review 1000 2024 ranking, which identifies the world’s leading IP firms and practitioners, have just been released.

PPPs can be a model of cooperation and allocation of public and private resources that will revitalise the market for infrastructure projects and provide an answer to the problem of access to finance for the public sector, especially local authorities.

Banking sector appeal on credit holidays and Borrower Support Fund

In our report, we discuss in detail the rules governing the telecommunications sector.

By when do sole proprietors and non-corporate entities have to choose their form of taxation? Which is the most advantageous? This article analyses and explains the available options.

The implementation deadline of 1 July 2024 for the National e-Invoicing System (KSeF) has been suspended, announced the Minister of Finance.

The judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Achmea case called into question the compatibility of investment treaties concluded between Member States with EU law.

Hydrogen is expected to find applications primarily in energy, transport, industry and construction, thus facilitating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

When an external investor joins a company or when entrepreneurs set up a joint venture, it is important to develop corporate governance principles, i.e. standards for decision-making, management, supervision and interaction between company bodies and owners.

The consumer credit market has evolved considerably in recent years, mainly due to increased interest from regulators. Both at national and European level.

The south of Poland is a melting pot of business, finance and technology, where much is already happening, but a real acceleration can be expected in the near future. And we will be ready.

The Supreme Court stated that legal persons also have the right to claim compensation for an infringement of their personal interests.

Work on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is nearing completion.

The new phenomenon of hyper-personalisation is the result of technological amplification, whereby previous personalisation, limited in its simplicity by technological capabilities, takes on a new dimension by fully exploiting the potential of AI, ML or Big Data.

It is becoming increasingly risky for employers to hire employees under both employment and B2B (sole proprietorship) contracts when it comes to employee social security contributions.

Sale and leaseback transactions are becoming increasingly popular with companies, and for good reason as they offer the opportunity to raise financially attractive capital relatively quickly.

New EU thresholds and updated PLN exchange rate

According to the current wording of the Electronic Service Act of 18 November 2020, and the Communication of the Minister of Digital Affairs of 29 May 2023, the implementation of the National e-Service System was originally scheduled to cover the first category of obligated entities from 10 December 2023.

There is no doubt that the New Tech sector is currently booming, including in the area of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The recent amendment to the Companies & Partnerships Code has introduced a new form of division, i.e. a division by separation (known as a spin-off), and has regulated the cross-border division process. Let’s look at how these changes will affect existing technology transfer practices.

NBP: Banking sector’s net profit in Jan-Nov 2023 reached PLN 27.56 billion, up 113.2%.

Recently, banks have questioned the tax treatment of reimbursements to CHF mortgage borrowers in the event that a CHF mortgage agreement is declared invalid by a final and non-appealable judgement.