Author: kancelaria

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 ranking has announced the results of its 2021 research.

The GWW team was distinguished in the Tax, Private Clients and Technology, Media, Telecommunications (TMT) categories.

Individual distinctions went to Aldona Leszczyńska-Mikulska, the head of the Private Clients team, and Wacław Knopkiewicz, the head of the TMT team.

TAX (Tier 3)

Practice heads: Artur Cmoch, Andrzej Ladziński.
Other key lawyers: Andrzej Próchnicki, Mariusz Tkaczyk, Piotr Świstak, Małgorzata Militz.

Testimonials:

“Customer oriented, cautious, but to the point tax advice and clear communication.”

“Availability, collaboration and speed of action.”

“Małgorzata Militz and Piotr Świstak are very open-minded, they listen to our experience – every idea is potentially good for them and worth to think it through. Their experience is of very high value, as well. Very good communication with them.”

Work highlights:

• Advised Polsat Group and Polkomtel on the tax aspects of an agreement between them and Cellnex Telecom to sell 99.99% of Polkomtel Infrastruktura.
• Advised Archicom’s founders on an agreement with Echo Investment to sell a majority stake (66.01%) of Archicom company.
• Advised Cyfrowy Polsat Group on the purchase of 10% of shares of eObuwie.pl by Cyfrowy Polsat.

PRIVATE CLIENT (Tier 2)
Practice heads: Aldona Leszczynska-Mikulska.
Other key lawyers: Tomasz Krzywanski, Tomasz Piejak.

Testimonials:

“The team is client-focused, empathetic and very often ahead of the market with good communicators.”

“The team’s key strengths and capabilities are the following: A pragmatic and straightforward approach to efficiently provide suitable solutions, great international experience and a deep understanding of specific needs of the industry.”

“This team makes a great go-between with their clients and the foreign law firms working on personal taxation matters. They always ask the right questions, look for alternatives and communicate well the conclusions to their clients.”

Work highlights:

• Advised the owner of a €100m fortune on designing a succession planning structure, with the use of a private family foundation in Liechtenstein.
• Advised the settlor of a structure worth €150m on crafting a complex list of wishes and instructions, regulating in detail distributions available to the next generations of his heirs.
• Advising on the relocation of a family from the US to Poland and related wealth planning which involves cooperation with US advisors.

TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, TELECOMMUNICATIONS (Tier 3)
Practice heads: Wacław Knopkiewicz.

Testimonials:

“Excellent knowledge of telecommunications law and regulation. Fast and reliable advice and assistance in local administrative procedures.”

“The GWW TMT Practice Team has unique experience in the market. Lawyers of GWW participate in the biggest telecommunication projects in Poland and share their knowledge with clients. In their work they use not only theoretical skills but also a highly practical approach, which is needed in business. They are reliable and flexible simultaneously, looking for solutions, not for problems.”

“Wacław Knopkiewizc has outstanding expertise in telecommunications law and regulation.”

Work highlights:

• Advised a division of INEA into wholesale (infrastructure) and retail telecommunication companies.
• Advised a client on the terms of access to the optical fibre infrastructure, including the optical fibre infrastructure co-financed from EU funds.
• Advised the Office of Electronic Communications on the legal aspects of the investment agreement referred to art. 139a of the Telecommunication Law.

Full results of the Legal 500 EMEA 2022 ranking: https://www.legal500.com/c/poland/ 

The Legal 200 EMEA 2021 ranking covering countries of Europe, the Middle East and Africa has announced results of its surveys for 2020.

The GWW team was awarded in the Taxes and Technologies, Media, Telecommunications (TMT) category.

An individual award was granted to Wacław Knopkiewicz, supervisor of the TMT team.

Taxes

• Team leaders: Artur Cmoch; Andrzej Ladziński
• Leading lawyers: Małgorzata Militz; Kamil Szczęsny

Clients’ comments on our work:

‘Compared to other Polish law firms I have worked with, GWW stands out in terms of professionalism and knowledge of international tax developments. They are very responsive and always to the point (they are not afraid to give a firm and definitive answer).’

‘As they are always willing to work on a fixed fee basis, you will never face unexpected bills.’

Technologies, Media, Telecommunications

• Team leaders: Wacław Knopkiewicz
• Leading lawyers: Rafal Duczek; Wojciech Krupa

Clients’ comments on our work:

‘GWW has a strong team of devoted and professional lawyers.’

‘Strong telecommunication team including: Mr Rafal Duczek and Mr Wojciech Krupa’. 

In this year’s edition of the Chambers Europe ranking in the tax category, the GWW tax advisory team was again awarded (Band 3).

Apart from the place on the podium for the entire tax team, the practice leaders – Andrzej Ladziński and Artur Cmoch, tax advisors and managing partners at GWW Tax – received individual distinctions.

The rankings prepared by the Chambers & Partners publishing house are considered to be among the most prestigious rankings in the legal world. We are proud to be once again in the top of the best tax advisory companies in Poland.

https://chambers.com/department/gww-tax-europe-7:49:173:1:126560 

In the current edition of the prestigious Legal 500 EMEA ranking, GWW was awarded in the following areas:

• TMT / 2^nd place – TMT practice has been at the top of the ranking since 2009.
  Justification: GWW has an active TMT regulatory practice, on both the advisory and contentious fronts. The team is led by Wacław Knopkiewicz, who has significant expertise in telecoms issues. Rafał Duczek is another key individual.
• Taxes/ 2^nd place – GWW tax practice has been continuing to maintain the second place in the list of recommended companies since 2012.
  Justification: GWW’s lawyers have ‘an excellent and up-to-date knowledge of international tax developments and how they impact upon business activities in Poland’. They successfully defended the Municipality of the City of Włocławek in tax proceedings against the authorities before administrative courts in a complaint concerning the right to deduct the calculated VAT in connection with the client’s investments. Tax litigator Andrzej Ladziński and tax structuring expert Artur Cmoch are the practice heads.
• Private Client / 2^nd place – consulting practice for individual clients was awarded for the first time!
  Justification: GWW’s team is noted for its ‘forward-thinking’ approach to private client work. As well as a strength in tax advice, the firm also handles inheritance disputes, succession planning and restitution claims. ‘An unquestionable expert’ in family businesses and succession planning, Aldona Leszczyńska leads the group, which includes tax structuring expert and managing partner Artur Cmoch.

An individual award in the TMT category was granted to Wacław Knopkiewicz, attorney-at-law, legal counsel, partner.

Full ranking results are available at: http://www.legal500.com/c/poland

In the current edition of the 2017 Chambers Europe ranking, the title of “recommended lawyer” was awarded to:

•    Attorney Wacław Knopkiewicz, who has been consistently placed in the top three recommended TMT lawyers (He is a respected name on the Polish TMT market. He is particularly experienced in advising public sector clients on legislative changes related to the telecoms industry. He is actively involved in the initiatives proposing the legislative changes in this area of law.).
•    Attorney Tomasz Burczyński, who was named an “Up and Coming” lawyer for Taxes (Tomasz Burczyński joins the ranking as a result of positive market feedback. He is a tax litigator with particular experience in the telecoms sector. A client reports that he is “able to creatively solve problems.“).

GWW was also singled out as a “recommended firm” in four areas of law:

•   TMT / consistently since 2007 (Sources highlight the teams strong expertise in the telecoms sector. “They have a clear strategy and are well prepared. They have excellent knowledge of telecoms,” a client says, adding: “I find them very trustworthy and reliable.”);
•   Construction / consistently since 2011 (“The team demonstrates good judgement concerning the risks we encounter, as well as adaptability, flexibility and communication skills.”);
•   Energy & Natural Resources / consistently since 2012 (“Recognised Practitioner”);
•   Tax / consistently since 2015 (Sources single out the firms litigation capacity, saying the lawyers have the “ability to develop and implement effective, long-term litigation strategy,” and adding that the team was “able to think outside the box.”).

The Chambers Europe listing is prepared by Chambers and Partners, an independent firm analysing the legal services market worldwide. Titles are granted on the basis of recommendations obtained directly from clients and other lawyers.

In the current edition of the 2016 Chambers Europe ranking, the “recommended lawyer” title was awarded to attorney Wacław Knopkiewicz, who was once again placed in the top three of recommended TMT lawyers (Clients appreciate his “knowledge and experience and, at the same time, business-like approach to the advice“).

GWW was also singled out as a “recommended firm” in four areas of law:

• TMT  |  “The lawyers are distinguished by vast knowledge, experience, accuracy and reliability. A committed, experienced and honest team.”;
• Litigation and arbitration disputes – continuously since 2010  |  “The firms litigation strategy has been well thought through and perfectly executed.“;
• Energy and natural resources – continuously since 2012  |  (1) “GWW’s lawyers specialise in energy law, have long-running experience and are highly qualified. The lawyers have been irreplaceable partners throughout our co-opertion, especially because of their profound knowledge of the fuel industry.” (2) “I liked the teams proactiveness, its business-oriented approach and its responsiveness regarding the needs of the client.”;
• Construction – continuously since 2011  |  “The team demonstrates good judgement concerning the risks we encounter, as well as adaptability, flexibility and communication skills.“.

Like last year, our tax practice was featured in the “Recognised Practitioner” listing, which means that respondents regarded GWW as an important and active firm in the area of taxes.

The Chambers Europe listing is prepared by an independent firm analysing the legal services market worldwide – Chambers and Partners. Titles are granted on the basis of recommendations obtained directly from clients and other lawyers.

The GWW law firm and Piotr Woźny have maintained their positions as leaders in the field of legal services for TMT companies (telecommunications, media, new technologies) in the current edition of the rankings. Weve held this position continually since 2007.

In this field we achieved excellent assessments from respondents, who justified their choice as follows:

• Piotr Woźny – “He has phenomenal understanding of the market” and “extremely sharp business instincts.”
• the TMT team – (1) “The lawyers are extremely well versed in legal and regulatory matters as well as technological and economic issues. They are also exceptionally creative.” (2) “It is hard to find another firm with the same depth of technical expertise.” (3) “It understands our business and has an intuitive feeling for our needs; this proactive approach creates new business opportunities which we can benefit from.”

At the same time, the title of recommended lawyer in their leading practices was won by:

• Wacław Knopkiewicz / TMT (jumped into the TOP3) – “Peers gladly refer regulatory work to him, while clients enthuse: “The precision and care of his legal analysis make him the ideal lawyer.” He is also praised for his “unparalleled knowledge of the legislative process.”;
• Krystian Szostak, former partner at GWW, heading the trial practice, as of 19 February 2015 Management Board Member for Legal and Regulatory Affairs at InPost / litigation and arbitration.

 

GWW was also chosen as a recommended law firm in the following areas of law:

• real estate and the construction sector / on the list of recommended firms continually since 2012 – “The lawyers have huge knowledge in this area, are very meticulous in their work and are always ready to help.”;
• litigation and arbitration disputes / continually since 2010 – (1) “The service level is really high. There are no delays and everything is delivered on time. It also gives clear advice on which option is the best one to follow.” (2) “The lawyers are flexible and open to new ideas for dealing with difficult cases”;
• energy and natural resources / continually since 2012 – “A proactive team that is flexible and creative when it comes to solving problems”;
• corporate law and M&A / continually since 2010 – “Noted in the market for its specialisation in the telecommunications and technology sectors.”.

Moreover, our tax practice featured in the Ranking in the “Recognised Practitioner” listing, which means that respondents regarded GWW as an important and active firm in the field of taxes.

The Chambers Europe listing is prepared by an independent firm analysing the legal services market worldwide – Chambers and Partners. Titles are granted on the basis of recommendations obtained directly from clients and other lawyers.

GWW and Piotr Woźny have maintained their positions as leaders in the field of legal services for TMT companies (technology, media, telecommunications) in the current edition of the rankings.

Weve held this position continually since 2007. Survey respondents justified their choice, and GWWs No. 1 ranking in Poland, with comments such as: “The firm is very well established in telecoms — the number one in Poland” and “Its always a pleasure to work with the lawyers at GWW; they can understand the technical side of what we are talking about and we’re always very pleased.”

At the same time, the title of recommended attorney in their leading practices was won by:

• Wacław Knopkiewicz – TMT
• Krystian Szostak – dispute resolution.

GWW was also chosen as a recommended law firm in the following areas of law:

• real estate and the construction sector – second place on the list of recommended firms (continually since 2012);
• dispute resolution – continually since 2010; 
• energy and natural resources – continually since 2012; 
• corporate law and M&A – continually since 2010.

The Chambers Europe ranking is compiled by Chambers and Partners, an independent firm that conducts research on the legal services market around the world. The awards are granted upon recommendations received directly from clients and the legal community.