Ignacy Heckert joins as new Partner and Head of the Defence, Dual-Use and Security Practice
Poland now spends more on defence than any other NATO country – close to 5% of its GDP. It is also the largest beneficiary of the EU’s SAFE programme, with a pool of over EUR 43 billion. What is more, banks that until recently had been reluctant to consider financing the defence industry are now committing to long-term investment projects – extending credit for factory construction, production-line expansion and technology transfer.
Poland’s defence, dual-use and security market is no longer a niche – it is increasingly seen as a major engine of the Polish and European economy. Multi-million contracts and cooperation agreements are being signed across the country, troops are being trained, international exercises are ramping up, and there is a growing focus on dual-use technologies and products. These are useful in peacetime, indispensable in times of threat.
This is why we are strengthening our capabilities in the field of defence and expanding our specialist Defence, Dual-Use and Security Practice. It will be led by Ignacy Heckert, who not only understands the sector from the inside but also brings a clear vision for helping Polish companies grow, build synergistic partnerships and position them within a rapidly evolving and demanding global defence ecosystem.
A lawyer who knows the sector from the inside
Ignacy Heckert advises Polish and international organisations operating in the defence, dual-use and security sectors. He specialises in regulatory matters, contracts and compliance, export controls and trade in strategic goods, licensing of arms and dual-use items, and international sanctions regimes.
He advises on the implementation of Internal Compliance Programmes and on M&A transactions in the defence industry, coordinating foreign investment screening procedures in strategic companies.
He holds a certificate issued by the Military Institute of Armament Technology authorising him to manage licensed activities involving the manufacture of and trade in explosives, weapons and ammunition.
Having taken a keen interest in the defence sector long before he began practising law in the field, he is thoroughly familiar with its logic, rhythm and the specific language of negotiations.
He is well aware that defence projects cannot be put on hold, that negotiation windows are short, contract values are high, and a product classification error can hold up a shipment at the border or freeze a credit line at the bank. All of this plays out against a regulatory backdrop that is far from straightforward for businesses, both at national and EU level.
The biggest shift we are seeing today is not just the surge in defence spending, but the fact that security has become one of the key sectors of the economy, driven by large enterprises and SMEs alike. A single project increasingly brings together defence, dual-use technologies, financing, M&A, procurement, export and strategic infrastructure, and calls for multi-layered cooperation. That is why I want to offer clients a comprehensive and efficient service, grounded in a thorough understanding of the broader defence industry, to guide them through the entire project cycle – from regulatory classification and market entry, to financing and contracting, to production and international cooperation covering both the import and export of goods and technologies. I hope that our advisory work will contribute, in some measure, to building resilience across the Central and Eastern European region, as well as to the international expansion of Polish arms manufacturers and dual-use technology producers – says Ignacy Heckert.
The vision behind expanding the Defence Practice at Kochański & Partners
The shift in banks’ approach to the defence sector is not merely a matter of geopolitics, but reflects a fundamental redefinition of ESG criteria. Until recently, financing the arms industry was effectively off-limits for banks applying restrictive ethical policies. Today, as highlighted by the September 2026 POLSIF report, among others, the protection of democratic values and peace is recognised as falling within the framework of responsible investment. This shift therefore removes barriers that had held back the development of the entire sector for years.
Against this backdrop, Poland’s defence market is entering a phase unprecedented in its history. Poland is already a recognised exporter of infantry fighting vehicles, unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems and Piorun man-portable air-defence missile systems, and Polish companies are looking with growing confidence towards international partnerships, particularly in the drone and counter-drone sectors.
State development institutions are leading the way in overcoming the reluctance of commercial banks. In Poland, the key drivers are Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and the Security and Defence Fund (FBiO), together with Chrobry S.A. as the entity responsible for the equity component of the Fund. In addition, new EU instruments such as the SAFE programme give banks the sense of stability they need to finance the defence industry directly.
There is a clear emphasis on dual-use projects and technologies that serve both civilian and military purposes. This is an area that is expanding at a remarkable pace.
Only recently, the field was limited to drones, IT systems, advanced optics and cybersecurity.
Today, it already spans nine categories regulated under EU legislation, ranging from nuclear materials and special chemicals, through electronics, computers and telecommunications, to sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, marine technology, and on to space and propulsion technologies, integrated circuits and semiconductors.
Dual-use extends well beyond technology in the narrow sense – it encompasses infrastructure, space, aviation and drone programmes, digital communication systems, data analytics platforms and distributed power supply systems, as well as systems integrating sensor technology, telemetry, artificial intelligence and secure communications for crisis management purposes. All of this is of critical importance for building national resilience.
The dual-use goods list, which already runs to over 430 pages of controlled items, continues to expand, being updated at least once a year on the basis of decisions taken under, among others, the Wassenaar Arrangement. The National Military List is likewise kept under ongoing review.
This is a change that businesses are increasingly feeling the effects of. For some, it may mean having to carry out export classification, screen the recipient and end-use, and – depending on the product and the direction of the transaction – obtain the appropriate licence and implement adequate compliance procedures. Before long, adherence to these procedures may well become essential when seeking financing for any new investment – whether factories, additional production lines, or greenfield and brownfield projects.
A One Stop Shop for the defence sector
Just as the defence sector needs banks and financing, both of these sectors need advisers. Our practice fits naturally into this model as an integral part of the ecosystem, generating significant cross-selling potential that clients will increasingly come to expect.
Our service model is a classic one stop shop: a single point of contact where clients in the defence, dual-use or security sectors can find comprehensive support.
How we can support your defence project
- Transactional and investment projects, joint ventures
- Project structuring and financing
- Defence procurement and industrial cooperation
- Export regulations, product classification, compliance
- Licences for international trade in arms and dual-use items
- Disputes and contract negotiations in defence projects
- Entry of foreign manufacturers and investors into the Polish market
- Obtaining and amending licences from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration
- International cooperation and expansion
- Strategic infrastructure, resilience and dual-use projects
- Technology, AI, cybersecurity
- Space/advanced technologies
Ignacy’s arrival is a strategic decision. The defence and dual-use sector is today one of the most dynamic and demanding areas of legal advisory, calling for a lawyer who understands it not only from a regulatory but also a business perspective. Ignacy combines both of these perspectives in a way that creates real value for our clients from day one – adds Piotr Kochański, Managing Partner.
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