The refugee crisis and related organizational adjustments are the major challenges faced by Poland, according to DWF Country Managing Partner Michal Pawlowski."Times are extremely challenging and turbulent," Pawlowski begins. "The COVID-19-related situation was finally becoming normalized, after different strains, restrictions, and vaccination-related public discourse. However, since late February, we are facing an even more extreme situation, that is, the Russian invasion in Ukraine."

Former Bank Pekao Director of the Office of Strategic Projects Adam Puchalski has joined Rymarz Zdort as a Counsel in the firm's regulatory practice. He is joined by Lukasz Karasek who joined the firm as a Senior Associate.

Linklaters Head of Banking and Finance practice in Warsaw Marta Domino has been appointed to Partner as of May 1, 2022.

Former Bird & Bird Partner Pawel Bajno has joined the Polish KPMG associated law firm D.Dobkowski as Co-Managing Partner. 

Following CMS's recent global promotion round, Nevena Radlova, Michal Andruszkiewicz, Cristina Popescu, and Olga Shenk were promoted to Partner, with Partners Gabriela Staber and Andrea Potz becoming Equity Partners.

Former Krzysztof Rozko i Wspolnicy Counsel Piotr Szelenbaum has joined B2RLaw as a Partner and will lead the firm’s Capital Markets and Public M&A practices.

Former Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak Partner Andrzej Motyka has joined Kulczyk Investments S.A. in Warsaw as the company's Lead Counsel, M&A.

APLaw law firm founder Artur Piechocki has been elected President of the Arbitration Court for Internet Domains at the Polish Chamber for Information Technologies and Telecommunications.

Russian invasion on Ukraine from 24 February 2022 has brought far-reaching consequences for lives of ordinary people, for international politics and for businesses. This unprecedented act of aggression was met with strong response from the international community. Words of condemnation were quickly followed by introducing some more tangible solutions – economic sanctions imposed on Russia itself and persons companies and institutions known to be Vladimir Putin’s close co-operators. International companies cut their ties with Russian businesses and limited the number of products imported from there.

On April 5, 2022, Dentons announced that the Gutenberg Capital’s Acquisition of Power Park Opole from EPP (reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 10, 2022) has now closed.

On March 31, Greenberg Traurig announced that Tag Immobilien’s Acquisition of Robyg from Goldman Sachs company Bricks Acquisitions and Centerbridge (reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 12, 2022) has now closed.

On January 14, 2022, CEE Legal Matters reported that Norton Rose Fulbright had advised Play on a PLN 464 million financing from Banco Santander in the form of an export finance facility backed by the Korean Export Credit Agency. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Marek Chrusciel, Director, Treasury, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance at Play, to learn more about the deal.

Kochanski & Partners Head of International Practice Development and Head of Chinese Business Desk Aleksandra Ryzkowska has been promoted to Partner.

Tomasz Prokurat has joined KDCP Rutkowski & Wspolnicy as a Partner.

Former Counsel Filip Lesniak has been promoted to Partner at Rymarz Zdort.

On March 17, 2022, Act Legal Poland (BSWW legal & tax) and Dentons announced that Adventum’s acquisition of Sky Tower from Develia (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 27, 2021) has now closed.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Vladimir Rangeloff of Kambourov & Partners to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

Contributed by CMS.