Clifford Chance, Janicka, Kruzewski, Stosio i wspólnicy spólka komandytowa ‘excels with deep expertise‘ in assisting both global and regional private equity funds looking to invest in the Polish market. Sectors of activity for the department include the consumer goods, retail, healthcare, infrastructure, financial services, and e-commerce industries. Managing partner Agnieszka Janicka spearheads the practice, which often cooperates with the firm’s banking and finance, antitrust, and capital markets groups, as well as the firm’s international network of offices to provide support on cross-border private equity transactions. Wojciech Polz and Paweł Puacz are both experienced in advising private equity sponsors. Marcin Bartnicki stepped down from the partnership in May 2024.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k‘s ‘very dedicated team’ of private equity lawyers handles some of the largest private equity deals in the Polish market, acting for major private equity houses from the CEE region. It is also increasingly active in venture capital transactions, and is well placed to leverage the strength of the firm’s tax, M&A, real estate, banking and finance, and capital markets teams. Senior partner Lejb Fogelman and Rafał Baranowski jointly lead the practice. Dual-qualified in Poland and the UK, Klaudia Królak is another key member of the practice, as is the ‘young and enthusiastic‘ Maciej Pietrzak.

The ‘strong‘ private equity practice at Rymarz Zdort Maruta is jointly led by managing partners Paweł Zdort and Paweł Rymarz, and is highly adept at handling the entire range of work for private equity funds, including investments and exits of public and private companies. Turning to key sectors, the healthcare, retail, FMCG, real estate, financial services, technology, media, and telecoms industries are all areas of activity for the group. Transactional lawyer Jacek Zawadzki and Jakub Zagrajek, who has advised various private equity funds on disposals and acquisitions, are also notable members of the practice, as are Malgorzata Derus, Malgorzata Banaszkiewicz, and Aleksander Jakubisiak.

White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k. is highly adept at handling a plethora of private equity transactions for clients across Poland and the CEE; this offering includes advice on fund formations, acquisitions, and exits, as well as portfolio management. Marcin Studniarek sits at the helm of the practice, and supports both public and private Polish and international companies. He is ably supported by Marek Sawicki, who boasts expertise in leveraged buyouts, frequently advising equity funds and investors. Maciej Zalewski is another key member of the team, and is heavily involved in transactions in the real estate and construction sectors.

The private equity department at Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k., which is lauded for its ‘exceptional knowledge‘, is positioned within the firm’s M&A group. It also benefits from the strength of the firm’s tax, capital markets, and banking and finance practices to provide clients with a well-rounded offering, and the international nature of the firm leads to strong cross-border capabilities in the private equity arena. Another area of strength includes advising private equity funds throughout their lifecycle, including advising on tax, structuring, fund establishment, and investment processes, as well as assisting with exits and fund closures. Other areas of expertise include ESG-linked transactions and the establishment of impact investment fund structures. The group is co-led by Filip Uziębło and Tomasz Krzyżowski, who are ably supported by Magdalena Medyńska, another key member of the practice who is praised as a ‘highly-experienced transactional partner‘. Łukasz Targoszyński has a notable focus on the food, manufacturing, and consumer goods sectors.

The private equity practice at CMS sits within the firm’s wider corporate and M&A group and assists international private equity houses, as well as more regional CEE funds. The team is experienced in handling the entire range of investment work, including the integration of businesses, restructurings, implementing growth strategies, and divestments. Practice head Sławomir Czerwiński has a particular focus on private equity transactions in the healthcare, financial services, FMCG, and infrastructure industries, as does Mateusz Stępień. Olga Czyżycka-Szczygieł is another core member of the team with expertise in acquisitions and sales. Ryszard Manteuffel and Robert Semczuk both joined the team from Deloitte Legal, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k. in March 2024, while previous co-head Rafał Zwierz  departed in April 2024.

The private equity practice at Dentons boasts an impressive client roster that consists of international, regional, and local private equity houses and venture capital funds, as well as portfolio companies. Piotr Dulewicz spearheads the wider department, while Bartosz Juszczak leads the venture technology group, which supports funds and founders on venture capital transactions. Michał Wasiak is another key member of the team, which saw the arrival of Maciej Skoczyński from A&O Shearman in April 2024, strengthening the practice’s offering in the infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology sectors. With five offices located across the CEE, the firm is well positioned to advise clients on cross-border transactions.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k.‘s private equity group is well placed to advise clients on multi jurisdictional and cross-border transactions, which also includes joint venture mandates. Its impressive client roster is composed of major domestic and international private equity funds, portfolio companies, founders, selling shareholders, and management. Jakub Marcinkowski leads the team, and another key member of the group is Marta Frąckowiak, who chairs the firm’s corporate and M&A department. Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz is experienced in acting for public and private companies, private equity funds, underwriters, and institutional clients.

For the private equity practice at GESSEL Attorneys at Law, particular areas of activity include buyouts, growth capital transactions, and exit strategies. Its client base is composed of private equity and venture capital funds, as well as portfolio companies. The team is led by managing partner and head of the firm’s M&A group Marcin Macieszczak; he is ably supported by Maciej Kożuchowski, Michał Bochowicz, and Karol Sokół.

The private equity group at Linklaters often undertakes mandates that require cross-border expertise, and the practice is highly adept at handling a plethora of private equity mandates, including leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, public to private transactions, exit strategies, and acquisition financings. Praised as ‘the go-to person for international private equity work‘, Daniel Cousens jointly leads the group with national managing partner Marcin Schulz, who ‘demonstrates strong sector knowledge‘.

WKB Lawyers‘ private equity clients often come from the food, fintech, energy, and industrial manufacturing industries, and also advises distressed businesses. Specialising in M&A transactions, Jakub Jędrzejak spearheads the practice, which has a local and cross-border service. Ben Davey is another notable name at the firm, with particular expertise in investments and disposals by institutional investors, which includes private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and alternative asset funds.

B2R Law Jankowski Stroinski Zieba has expertise across the entire range of private equity mandates, including M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, minority investments, and regulatory and compliance-related mandates. The practice additionally includes support with fund formation and exits, and its clients are active in the technology, healthcare, real estate, and finance sectors. Senior and co-founding partner Rafał Stroiński sits at the helm of the practice with significant experience in venture capital transactions.

The private equity practice group at DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k advises private equity funds on the entire lifecycle of mandates, from fund formation and investment work, to exits. Cross-border venture capital transactions are also a key staple of the practice, in which it advises clients from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the US. Managing partner Michał Pawłowski is a key transactional lawyer, Filip Urbaniak is notably strong in the energy industry, and Rafał Wozniak has expertise in M&A transactions.

Gide Loyrette Nouel‘s private equity and venture capital team advises clients on the entirety of corporate, regulatory, tax, financial and contractual elements of private equity work. More specifically, it frequently undertakes leveraged buyouts, venture capital transactions, real estate fund acquisitions, and exit matters. Paweł Grześkowiak leads the practice, which is sought after by local and international investors and sponsors. The practice is praised for demonstrating ‘a deep understanding of the complexities of private equity transactions‘.

The team at Kochanski & Partners provides advice throughout investment cycles, from fund formations and venture capital investments, to financings, refinancings, and going-private transactions. Its client roster includes private equity sponsors and their investment funds and portfolio companies; it is also active in leveraged buyouts and recapitalisations. Paweł Mardas sits at the helm of the department with a specialism in corporate and real estate law.

Kraców-based Paulina Opiełka leads the group at KWKR Konieczny Wierzbicki i Partnerzy, which provides international private equity services and is praised for its ‘exceptional competence‘, advising private equity investors, capital venture funds, and entrepreneurs. Opiełka also has expertise in start-ups from the med-tech, automation, engineering, fintech, and IoT sectors. Managing partner Marcin Wierzbicki focuses on corporate and real estate law, while managing partner Michał Konieczny is skilled in capital markets and focuses on acquisitions involving IT companies.

MFW Fiałek is experienced in advising private equity and venture capital funds on market consolidation matters as well as add-on transactions. The firm has also been witnessing an increased volume of mandates with cross-border elements. Lauded as ‘one of most experienced partners for private equity in Poland‘, founding partner and transactional lawyer Mirosław Fiałek jointly leads the practice alongside Rafał Siemieniec.

Osborne Clarke‘s private equity offering sits within the firm’s wider corporate and M&A group, and has a particular focus on the new technologies sector. The practice also supports clients with their venture capital transactions. Co-managing partner Tomasz Olkiewicz chairs the team with expertise in corporate, tax, and financing matters, and is ably assisted by Rafał Kozłowski, who has notable strength in venture capital fund investment deals.

Schoenherr Halwa Okoń Chyb sp.k‘s private equity practice sits within the firm’s corporate and M&A department, which is chaired by Paweł Halwa. He is ably supported by Krzysztof Pawlak, who is especially active in M&A transactions. The practice is adept at providing support to clients on local and cross-border private equity deals. The practice saw the arrival of Paweł Chyb from SSW at the beginning of 2024.

With a strong client base composed of founders and sellers, as well as private equity houses, Mateusz Rogoziński leads the private client team at SSW, which supports domestic and foreign private equity houses, as well as venture capital funds. In team news, Monika Szczotkowska joined the firm from CMS in March 2024, while Paweł Chyb and Marcin Czaprowski departed for Schoenherr Halwa Okoń Chyb sp.k at the end of 2023. At the same time, Łukasz Targoński left for an in-house position as general counsel.

Wardynski & Partners is praised by one client for its ‘deep expertise in structuring and negotiating complex private equity transactions‘. Key sectors for the practice include the technology, food, consumer products, packaging, life sciences, and manufacturing industries, and its client base is composed of global private equity houses, regional funds, and local private equity and venture capital funds. Jakub Lerner sits at the helm of the department with expertise in advising both public and private companies.

Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek, the ‘very knowledgeable‘ Anna Dąbrowska, and Krzysztof Libiszewski jointly head up the private equity practice at Wolf Theiss, which supports clients throughout all elements of the cycle of investment, including the formation of funds, initial fundraising, daily management and operational matters, and successful exits. The team also advises on financings, strategic partnerships, leveraged buyouts, cross-border M&A, and carve-out transactions.