Wolf Theiss has announced the expansion of its Polish Corporate/M&A practice with the addition of seven Partners, at the core of a 27-strong team, from Wardynski & Partners. The move includes Partners Izabela Zielinska-Barlozek, Anna Dabrowska, and Krzysztof Libiszewski – who will also lead the WT Corporate/M&A practice – and Bartosz Kuras, Maciej Szewczyk, Marcin Pietkiewicz, and Katarzyna Wojcik-Bakowska.
"The expansion is part of the firm's ongoing commitment to investing in its focus markets within the CEE/SEE region," Wolf Theiss announced.
Zielinska-Barlozek focuses on M&A, cross-border transactions, and enterprise restructuring. She had spent over 26 years with Wardynski & Partners, having joined in 1997 as an Associate, before being promoted to Legal Advisor and, eventually, making Partner and leading the firm's Corporate/M&A practice.
Dabrowska specializes in acquisitions and divestments in sectors including manufacturing, FMCG, technology, and private equity. She spent almost 19 years with Wardynski & Partners, joining as a Senior Associate in 2004 and making Partner in 2013.
Libiszewski works on cross-border M&A, takeovers, joint ventures, distressed situations, and corporate restructurings with a focus on the private equity industry. He spent over 22 years at his previous firm, having joined in 2001. Before that, he spent two years as an In-House Counsel with the Warsaw Consulting Group.
Kuras focuses on transactional advice, commercial matters, and new technologies. He spent almost 15 years with Wardynski, having joined in 2008 as a Senior Associate, and making Partner in 2020. He started his career in-house with Parexel in 2006.
Szewczyk specializes in M&A, including private equity, corporate, and commercial law. He spent 16 years with his previous firm, having joined in 2007 as an Associate. He made Senior Associate in 2013 and Partner in 2021.
Pietkiewicz focuses on equity and debt capital markets, the financial industry, and regulatory matters. He joined Wardynski back in 2004, spending 19 and a half years with his former firm.
Wojcik-Bakowska focuses on the IP, technology, FMCG, financial services, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors. She made Partner at her previous firm in 2020 and was also a Co-Head of its Insurance practice.
"We are thrilled to join Wolf Theiss, a leading regional firm that has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality legal services to clients in Poland and beyond," Anna Dabrowska commented on behalf of her team. "We are confident that our experience and expertise will enable us to make a significant contribution to the firm's further growth and success in the region."
"We warmly welcome our new joiners who will strengthen our capabilities and allow us to offer our clients an even more comprehensive range of legal services in the Polish market," Poland Managing Partner Tomasz Stasiak added. "This is an exciting time for the legal industry in the region and I am confident that our Corporate and M&A practice in Poland is ideally positioned to continue meeting and exceeding our clients’ expectations."
