Tomasz Arabski returns to Kochański & Partners to lead the Commercial Disputes Practice
A strategic move that strengthens the position of the Cracow office and redefines its relationship with the business community
Tomasz Arabski, a leading specialist in commercial disputes and a highly regarded advisor to major financial institutions, has returned to our firm to take up the twin roles of Partner and Head of Commercial Disputes.
Tomasz is a highly regarded expert who combines litigation expertise with a purely pragmatic, business-focused approach. Tomasz’s mission is founded on several pillars. Firstly, the dynamic development of the Cracow office, which is set to function as a hub for strong local business leaders and attract international investment and projects that will drive growth in the region, create new jobs, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology. Other important pillars of the mission include strengthening the litigation team and the ‘Litigation by Sectors – Kochański & Partners Perspective’ strategy, as well as supporting and developing new capabilities within the Disputes of Financial Institutions Practice.
Malwina Bieniek-Arabska, an experienced specialist in banking disputes and white-collar crime cases, has also joined the team alongside Tomasz.
Businesses don’t need theory; they need solutions that deliver tangible value
The legal services market is changing irrevocably. Nowadays, clients no longer just expect business lawyers to be familiar with case law and identify risks; they also expect them to seamlessly step into the role of a guide and partner who can navigate the complex economic landscape with ease and steer their company through their greatest global challenges.
We have built our competitive advantage on this approach for years, and it is on this foundation that Tomasz Arabski was professionally trained. Today, he adds to this a work philosophy based on deep business empathy.
My motto is simple: work as if you were the client paying for the service yourself. Every recommendation and every minute billed must be justified by the value we deliver to the business, emphasises Tomasz.
In commercial disputes, the legal outcome must genuinely support the client’s structure and objectives. No matter whether we’re talking about the FMCG sector, banking, or corporate disputes, a lawyer must understand the specifics of the industry in question just as well as the entrepreneur themselves, he adds with conviction.
Cracow: the second economic heart of Poland
One of Tomasz’s key tasks will be to strengthen our firm’s position in southern Poland. Cracow and the surrounding regions are now home to a thriving community of modern, family-run businesses with established regional brands and global ambitions.
The development plan for the Cracow office includes:
- Support for family businesses: providing practical advice to companies that do not necessarily seek a foothold in the capital, but which form the foundation of Poland’s GDP
- A talent incubator: close cooperation with local universities, including Jagiellonian University, and the recruitment of the most talented and ambitious young lawyers
- A bridge to the United States: collaboration with the American Law Program at Jagiellonian University and with US universities, which will open up new prospects for expansion and foster a deeper understanding of transatlantic business and educational cooperation
A new standard in financial institution disputes
Tomasz Arabski has also joined the Disputes of Financial Institutions Practice team, strengthening its ranks. This will enable us to make the most of his extensive litigation experience and unique expertise in all kinds of disputes currently arising between consumers and financial institutions. The Cracow office will also support financial institutions in implementing new regulatory requirements concerning credit and loan products offered to consumers.
This is a ‘feedback loop’ approach, in which knowledge gained in the courtroom can become the foundation for secure and modern banking products, says the new Partner.
Malwina Arabska reinforces our litigation capabilities and the White-Collar Crime Practice
Malwina Bieniek-Arabska has also joined the Cracow office, where she will be responsible for managing complex litigation portfolios and representing banks in proceedings concerning foreign currency loans to consumers.
She is also a white-collar crime expert, boasting a unique combination of civil and criminal expertise. Our new Counsel supports clients in serious crisis situations involving breaches of criminal law in business, intellectual property protection and economic fraud. Her appointment signals that Kochański & Partners offers comprehensive litigation support, ranging from complex commercial contracts to the most sensitive cases involving the criminal liability of managers.
A vision for growth: a one-stop shop for disputes
Tomasz Arabski is committed to striving for the highest possible standards, and his vision involves further strengthening the ‘Litigation by Sectors – Kochański & Partners Perspective’ strategy, which is founded on an efficient and versatile litigation team capable of handling the most complex cases in every business sector.
Tomasz’s return to our firm is about more than just the transfer of an experienced Partner. It is a strategic move that completes our service offering in southern Poland. Tomasz combines the qualities of a leader and a strategist who understands that today’s businesses need responsive – even agile – lawyers. We are building a team in Cracow that is not afraid to take responsibility for results and is ready to support clients in expanding across the CEE region, says Piotr Kochański, Managing Partner at Kochański & Partners.
Poland as a hub for the CEE region
Piotr and Tomasz both recognise Poland’s growing role as the central market of Central and Eastern Europe. The relocation of decision-making centres from other competitive European capitals to Poland presents enormous opportunities for those with a pro-business approach. The new Commercial Disputes Practice is designed to guide international clients through the Polish legal system and act as a reliable partner for Polish companies looking to expand internationally.
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