Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.‘s ‘experienced and knowledgeable‘ private equity group sits within the firm’s wider M&A practice, and bolstered by its global presence, the team frequently provides high-quality support on cross-border transactions. The practice is highly adept at advising private equity funds throughout their entire lifecycle, from tax structuring and establishment, investments in portfolio companies, and strategic advisory work, to the exit, closure, and settlement of funds. Of recent note, ESG-driven matters have been an increasing focus for the group. With a diverse client roster, including major private equity funds, vendors, targets, industry investors, listed companies, and financial investors, Filip Uziębło jointly leads the team alongside transactional expert Tomasz Krzyżowski. Łukasz Targoszyński is especially notable for his work in the consumer goods, manufacturing, and technology sectors. In team news, Magdalena Medyńska and Marcin Płonka were both promoted to counsel in July 2023.

Global and regional private equity funds are counted among the impressive client roster at Clifford Chance, and its offering encompasses advice across key sectors of interest, including consumer goods, retail, healthcare, infrastructure, financial services, and e-commerce. The department is ably supported by the firm’s notably strong banking and finance, capital markets, antitrust, and M&A teams. Managing partner Agnieszka Janicka, Marcin Bartnicki and Wojciech Polz are key corporate experts, and also of note is Paweł Puacz, who specialises in energy, environment, and infrastructure-related mandates.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k is well regarded for its expert handling of complex transactions for leading private equity houses which have a presence across the CEE region. Its offering is bolstered through the group’s co-operation with the firm’s reputable tax, M&A, real estate, banking and finance, and capital markets departments. Senior partner and chair of the group Lejb Fogelman focuses primarily on international business transactions, and he is supported by Rafał Baranowski, who is active across a variety of industries. Klaudia Królak joined from Linklaters in October 2023.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta's offering was broadened in January 2023 with the merger of Rymarz Zdort and Maruta Wachta. Advising clients on their investments in, and exits from, public and private companies remains a core focus. The healthcare, retail, FMCG, real estate, and financial services industries, as well as the technology, media, and telecoms sectors, are strong areas for the department. Managing partners Paweł Zdort and Paweł Rymarz jointly lead the team, and they are ably supported by Jacek Zawadzki and Jakub Zagrajek, who specialise in M&A transactions, capital markets, and corporate law issues. At the senior associate level, Malgorzata Derus is noted.

CMS supports international private equity houses and regional CEE funds throughout the entire lifecycle of investment mandates, from integration of businesses and restructurings, to the implementation of growth strategies. Key sectors of focus include TMT, retail, insurance, manufacturing, life sciences, and renewable energy. The ‘very commercial’ Sławomir Czerwiński sits at the helm of the practice and is ably supported by the head of the firm’s corporate and M&A department, Rafał Zwierz. Counsel Olga Czyżycka-Szczygieł adeptly advises clients on cross-border transactions.

With an impressive client roster encompassing global, regional, and local private equity houses and venture capital funds, Dentons‘ industry knowledge spans a wide range of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, media and technology, life sciences, real estate, and food. The group is well positioned to advise on cross-border transactions, with five offices situated across the CEE region. Piotr Dulewicz chairs the department, as well as the firm’s broader European private equity offering, and has significant experience assisting clients with acquisitions and disposals. Michał Wasiak is another notable team member, with a particular focus on advising clients on investments into Poland.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k.‘s private equity team is praised for its ‘great market knowledge’ and is well known for assisting domestic and international private equity funds with cross-border mandates. Industries of strength for the practice include technology and telecoms, media, real estate, and engineering. Jakub Marcinkowski sits at the helm of the department and is ably supported by the head of the corporate and M&A team Marta Frąckowiak, and Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz, whose client roster encompasses public and private companies, private equity funds, and underwriters.

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k provides its clients with an all-encompassing private equity offering, covering the entire lifecycle of transactions, from fund formation and venture capital financing, to exit. Its client roster spans across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US. Managing partner and experienced transactional lawyer Michał Pawłowski is a core member of the group, as are Filip Urbaniak, who has a particular focus on work in the energy sector, and Rafał Wozniak, who possesses expertise in both public and private mandates.

SSW counts major domestic and foreign private equity houses and venture capital funds in its impressive client base. ‘Business-driven M&A lawyer’ Mateusz Rogoziński helms the team. Senior associate Łukasz Targoński is skilled in the healthcare, renewable energy, telecoms, IT, and video game industries, and Aleksander Nicałek is another key and active associate.

White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k.‘s private equity offering falls within the firm’s corporate, M&A, and capital markets department, headed by office executive partner Marcin Studniarek. The team has demonstrable experience advising on small, mid-sized, and large transactions for clients situated across Poland and Europe, with both domestic and cross-border expertise. Spanning fund formation, acquisitions, portfolio management, and exit strategies, the practice’s offering is broad ranging. Marek Sawicki is another notable name, with substantial knowledge surrounding both the public and private sectors.

B2R Law Jankowski Stroinski Zieba is highly regarded for its expertise in venture capital mandates, and it frequently advises clients on technology-based transactions in Poland and across the wider CEE region. The group is highly adept at assisting major local and international private equity funds with their investments and divestments, in addition to advising on fund formations. Rafał Stroiński chairs the team with a broad client roster encompassing major Polish, CEE-based, and international private equity houses, investment funds, entrepreneurs, management and financial advisors, and institutional investors. Aleksandra Polak left for LSW Bieńkowski, Laskowski, Leśnodorski, Melzacki and Partners sp.k. in June 2023.

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k. boasts a multi-disciplinary approach to its private equity work, with the department able to utilise the firm’s strong tax, and banking and finance capabilities to provide clients with an all-encompassing offering; this includes sales, acquisitions, restructurings, and spin-offs, and the group frequently acts on both the buy and sell-side of private equity-backed deals. Tomasz Ciećwierz leads the team with a varied client roster consisting of strategic investors, financial sponsors, high-net-worth individuals, and managers of acquired companies. Ryszard Manteuffel and Jacek Korzeniewski are also names to note.

Private equity is a core part of GESSEL Attorneys at Law‘s offering, and it advises private equity and venture capital funds on a whole range of mandates, including buyouts and growth capital transactions, as well as exit strategies. Clients from the energy and TMT sectors often instruct the group. As managing partner and head of the firm’s M&A and private equity practices, Marcin Macieszczak specialises in capital transactions in the public and private arenas. Maciej Kożuchowski, Michał Bochowicz, and Karol Sokół are also key names.

Paweł Grześkowiak sits at the helm of the private equity and venture capital practice at Gide Loyrette Nouel, with substantial expertise in banking and finance, secured and structured financing, and M&A mandates. The department is highly adept at supporting clients across a plethora of mandates in the private equity arena, from leveraged buyouts and venture capital transactions, to real estate fund acquisitions and exits from investments.

Kochanski & Partners is adept at advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and investment funds on all stages of the investment process, from fund formation, early-stage venture capital investments, and financings and refinancings, to going-private transactions, leveraged buyouts, and recapitalisations. Its offering also extends to corporate restructurings and exits, including IPOs. Paweł Mardas heads the team. Pawel Cholewinski, Rafał Rapala and are also senior contacts within the group. Szymon Balcerzak departed for Andersen in Poland in June 2023.

KWKR Konieczny Wierzbicki i Partnerzy has a diverse client roster, spanning both well-established companies and start-ups from the fintech, medtech, banking, and IT and software industries, as well as investment funds. The private equity group frequently assists with acquisitions and divestments, both domestically and internationally. Praised for her ‘in-depth legal knowledge’, Paulina Opiełka chairs the practice and specialises in entry and exit transactions; she is also active in advising entrepreneurs on commercialisation matters. Managing partners Marcin Wierzbicki and Michał Konieczny are also key names to note, with respective expertise in corporate and real estate law.

Linklaters often undertakes private equity mandates which have a cross-jurisdictional element, including leveraged buyouts and acquisition financings, as well as advising on exit strategies. The team also supports private equity investors who are entering the Polish market. The practice is jointly led by Daniel Cousens and Marcin Schulz.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s team handles the entire spectrum of private equity mandates, and it is especially active in Polish buy-out, restructuring, and exit transactions involving local or international funds. Key sectors of strength for the group include financial services, real estate, food and agriculture, transport and logistics, and energy and infrastructure, as well as healthcare and e-commerce. Team head, and corporate and M&A specialist Agnieszka Braciszewska, is lauded as ‘an exceptional lawyer’.

Schoenherr Halwa Okoń Chyb sp.k frequently advises its diverse client base on domestic and cross-border private equity mandates. Paweł Halwa sits at the helm of the corporate and M&A department, within which the private equity group sits, and he advises private equity houses and portfolio companies on their transactional mandates. Krzysztof Pawlak is another notable member of the department. In team news, Paweł Chyb joined from SSW in January 2024.

Jakub Jędrzejak and Ben Davey co-head the private equity practice at WKB Lawyers, which sits within the firm’s corporate and M&A practice. The group is typically instructed by local and international institutional investors, private equity funds, and alternative asset funds. Industries in which the group is especially active include food, fintech and manufacturing. Corporate lawyer Andrzej Wierciński is another notable name in this space.