Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards recognizes our litigation practice group
In the life of every company, there are moments that define its future. Sometimes this will be a breakthrough contract, an international investor, or success in a new market. Sometimes it will take the form of an attractive niche that no one has noticed before, and sometimes… a letter that seems to call everything into question.
At such moments, there is no room for standard actions and ready-made schemes. This situation calls for strategies and specific plans that will allow you to emerge from the crisis stronger than ever. Provided that you work with the right people.
For us, a dispute is not a paralyzing problem, but a complex strategic challenge. A moment when in-depth knowledge of the industry and the specifics of a particular business, as well as the courage to take on precedent-setting cases, allow us to build bold, unconventional, and, above all, effective arguments.
Last year, we combined all our litigation practices into a single group, because representing clients in disputes is a strength of each of them and part of the strategic support we provide. This makes us stronger than ever.
And this is why we have been shortlisted for the international Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards 2025 in two key categories:
- Poland Firm of the Year
- Individual: Central & Eastern Europe Litigator of the Year for Piotr Kochański
The results will be announced in the fall, but such a successful debut deserves a closer look at the strategy, activities, and people who have earned us this recognition.
Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards 2025 – Kochański & Partners’ effective strategy
Piotr Kochański firmly believes in the “Litigation by Sectors: the Kochański & Partners Perspective” strategy, and has proven that a team of several dozen lawyers, experts in their fields, who know their clients’ businesses inside out, has enormous potential to handle even the most complex international disputes with precision and effectiveness. Regardless of whether these disputes concern ownership issues, energy, infrastructure and the environment, pharmaceuticals, logistics and trade, real estate, technology, taxes or, financial services.
Therefore, these nominations are not only a pleasant distinction for us, but, above all, a very concrete confirmation that the path we have chosen is the right one. And moreover, one that is appreciated by the market.
This is not an award for a single project, but for a consistent vision and hundreds of battles won, fought side by side with our clients. We believe that a modern litigation practice is not a factory for pleadings, but a strategic center where in-depth knowledge of sectors is combined with innovative argumentation. And it is precisely this model, which we have been developing successively and consistently, that has been recognized by the creators of the Benchmark Litigation Awards, emphasizes our Managing Partner.
When a dispute becomes a mission – defending fundamental values
There are issues where the stakes are higher than simply money. These include freedom of speech, democratic rule of law, and international security. In recent years, our involvement in these areas has been stronger than ever.
- Fighting SLAPPs: we will never agree with muzzling journalists and activists. That is why we are representing media outlets, publishers, and reporters in over 350 cases considered to be SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation). Not only do we defend them in court, but we also actively lobby for EU regulations that will curb this dishonest practice. We have developed legal mechanisms and standards that allow SLAPPs to be exposed and protect those who have the courage to hold those in power to account.
- Support for Ukraine: when the Russian aggression began, we did not stand aside for a single moment. We were one of the first Polish law firms to handle cases for the enforcement of judgments against the Russian Federation, dealing with complex issues of state immunity and the search for its assets.
We blaze new trails and set precedents that shape the market
We know very well that clients are not looking for lawyers who blindly follow well-trodden paths. They need guides who can chart new courses and boldly take on challenges, even when no one else believes in the possibility of success. And this is where we feel most at home.
- Energy: we are representing a company from the energy sector in a precedent-setting dispute over abuse of a dominant position. We are supporting another client in the comprehensive management of a project and a dispute concerning a photovoltaic farm located at a production plant. This project stands out for its innovative solutions in the form of carports and panels integrated into the building.
- Media and financial markets: we are conducting the first case in Poland and Europe that will define the relationship between press law and the EU MAR regulation. Its outcome will establish rules that will protect both media freedom and the stability of financial markets.
- Intellectual property in life sciences: we have obtained important EUIPO rulings that not only protect our client’s brand, but also set a groundbreaking precedent for the entire pharmaceutical industry in terms of assessing the risk of misleading consumers. These rulings are already being cited in other proceedings.
Scale and strategy become our advantage
More and more often, litigation is a large-scale operation requiring the involvement of dozens of lawyers and, consequently, perfect logistics and ironclad consistency. We have proven that we can manage even the most complex projects.
- Banking disputes: we are handling a portfolio of over 14,000 cases concerning foreign currency loans for the largest banks in Poland. At the same time, in response to interest rate changes, we were one of the first to develop an innovative approach to disputes concerning WIBOR-based loans
- Corporate and succession disputes: by repelling a hostile takeover attempt, we secured the interests of the founders of a family business, which is now worth over PLN 1 billion. In another complex dispute following a failed takeover, we are implementing a multi-pronged compensation strategy using innovative security measures.
- Tax disputes: on behalf of an international financial institution, we conducted a complex legal and tax battle, which resulted in a multi-million dollar VAT refund with interest. Our strategy, from the request for interpretation to the victory before the Supreme Administrative Court, shows that the key to success is determination and the careful planning of each step
We look to the future. And we see that disputes are becoming increasingly integrated into everyday business strategy. Our role is therefore not only to respond to problems, but above all to anticipate their occurrence and turn risks into opportunities. The nominations in the Benchmark Litigation ranking are a wind in our sails. They motivate us to raise the bar even higher and prove that even in the most difficult dispute, it is possible to chart a course to victory. We would like to thank our clients for their trust and the ranking committee for this unique recognition of our work, concludes Piotr Kochański.
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