A new edition of the Legal 500 EMEA publication and ranking has just been published. We are pleased to inform you that our law firm and experts were rewarded again.

Below we present information about recommended teams along with the publisher's commentary and opinions of the surveyed clients. As in the case of other rankings, the criteria for the assessment of lawyers and individual teams were primarily: experience and completed projects, as well as customer relations, whose opinion is one of the most important factors.

White-Collar Crime
Leading Individual: Hanna Gajewska-Kraczkowska

TOP TIER RANKING:

Dispute Resolution
Leading Individual: Paweł Lewandowski

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka has 'a strong team of high-quality professionals', who are 'able to conduct the most difficult court disputes in the construction sector'. It is also able to handle transport and communications disputes and arbitral proceedings related to trade, finance and insurance. Paweł Lewandowski is representing Obrascón Huarte Lain in its claim against PBG to share the loss incurred on a construction project, following the bankruptcy of three other consortium members. Józef Palinka represented the City of Wrocław in claims against Max Bögl relating to overpayments for the construction of the Wrocław City Stadium. Paweł Paradowski is another key name, with expertise in business disputes, white-collar criminal defence and company law. Senior associate Maciej Orkusz is noted for his 'exceptional knowledge of the practical aspects of civil litigation'.

Energy & Natural Resources
Hall of Fame: Rafał Hajduk
Leading Individual: Paweł Grzejszczak

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka advises clients in the conventional, nuclear and renewable energy sectors, in addition to companies involved in cogeneration and heating. The group is led by Marcin Krakowiak, while Rafał Hajduk heads the energy advisory team. Hajduk is assisting Enea, Grupa Lotos and Tauron Polska Energia with a variety of investment matters. Together with Paweł Grzejszczak, Krakowiak is representing Naftogaz of Ukraine in its application for annulment against a European Commission decision that exempted the Opal pipeline from the requirement of third-party access and tariff regulation. Grzegorz Filipowicz is another key name.

Public Law
Leading Individual: Katarzyna Kuźma

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka advises public and private partners, including foreign contractors, on the contentious and non-contentious aspects of public contracts in Poland. The team is jointly led by Katarzyna Kuźma and Marcin Krakowiak. Krakowiak advises Astaldi on a number of issues, including a Waste Management System for the Tri-City metropolitan area and proceedings before the National Appeal Chamber and the Regional Court in Szczecin in a procedure to select a contractor for a road infrastructure project. Kuźma assisted Novago with a procurement procedure conducted by Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej Spółka in Olsztyn, regarding the city's heating network.

Healthcare and Life Sciences
Leading Individuals: Michał Czarnuch, Tomasz Kaczyński
Next Generation Lawyer: Marcin Pieklak

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's four-partner team is noted for its 'deep knowledge' of the Polish healthcare and life sciences sectors. Pharmaceutical law expert Michał Czarnuch is representing GSK in tender proceedings before the National Appeals Chamber for its pneumococcus vaccine. Tomasz Kaczyński assists Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna with day-to-day legal issues, including analysis and verification of contracts, marketing materials and pharmaceutical inspections. Senior associate Marcin Pieklak, whom clients rate for his experience at the Ministry of Health, is advising Servier Polska on reimbursement procedures regarding two of its high-profile drugs. Marcin Matczak is particularly recommended for his food law expertise.

TIER 2:

Construction

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's Marcin Krakowiak, who jointly heads the team with Tomasz Darowski, advised MTU Aero Engines on the construction of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul plant via a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik. Other clients include Mota Engil, Porr Infrastructure and Astaldi. Anna Glapa and Jose Luis Villacampa were promoted to partner in July 2017.

Employment
Leading Individual: Bogusław Kapłon

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's employment team benefits from the firm's wider specialisms, including tax, competition and criminal law. The group has particular expertise in collective work relations, health and safety matters, discrimination and business immigration. The team is jointly headed by experienced employment lawyer Bogusław Kapłon and social security and labour law expert Agata Mierzwa.

Private Client

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka provides the full range of legal and tax advisory services to private clients, including succession planning, restructuring, business transactions and joint ventures. The team is jointly led by company law expert Piotr Andrzejczak, tax adviser Joanna Wierzejska and Marek Świątkowski, who is advising a number of family businesses on share transactions. Przemysław Furmaga is another key name for restructuring projects.

Tax
Leading Individual: Artur Nowak

In addition to tax disputes, the team at Domański Zakrzewski Palinka has a strong advisory practice, which includes M&A issues, restructuring and tax optimisation. The team is jointly led by tax legal adviser Joanna Wierzejska and litigator Artur Nowak.

TIER 3:

Banking & Finance

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's department head Magdalena Skowrońska specialises in financial transactions and financial sector M&A. She advised Zarząd Komunalnych Zasobów Lokalowych on a PLN178m loan agreement with the European Investment bank to finance the development of social housing. She also assisted Goldman Sachs as the coodinator of several refinancing transactions for Orion Group. Andrzej Foltyn is an expert in the operations of financial institutions.

Commercial, Corporate and M&A

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka has 'a quick-thinking team', which acts for a broad mixture of domestic and international corporates with operations in Poland. In a prestigious transaction for the Polish energy sector, Marek Świątkowski advised Grupa Lotos on all aspects of its €10bn merger with PKN Orlen. Bartosz Marcinkowski and department head Krzysztof Zakrzewski advised Infracapital on a €300m joint venture with Nokia, which will contribute to the development of Polish fibre-optic infrastructure. Robert Niczyporuk is another key figure.

Insurance
Leading Individual: Julita Zimoch–Tuchołka

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's department head Julita Zimoch-Tuchołka advised Electrolux on the drafting and distribution of a new insurance product and, in another highlight, assisted PPF with W&I insurance for its acquisition of Solaris Group. German-speaking senior associate Joanna Schubel is another key name.

IP

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's team is commended for its 'competence, devotion and availability', which it applies to the spectrum of copyright, industrial property law, IT and TMT matters. Department head Aleksandra Auleytner provides comprehensive IP advice to Golden Media in relation to a number of prime-time television productions. Senior associate Jarosław Konecko is also recommended.

Restructuring & Insolvency

Domański Zakrzewski Palinka combines insolvency and restructuring knowledge with expertise in tax law to provide clients with a full-service on a range of issues. Marcin Krakowiak and Anna Glapa advised Polska Grupa Górnicza on a major restructuring, including the transfer of selected mines to Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń and the acquisition of Katowicki Holding Węglowy. Bartosz Marcinkowski and Marek Świątkowski are also key names.

TMT

Clients regard Domański Zakrzewski Palinka's team as the 'first choice' for media law issues, particularly in relation to television production and game publishing. Practice head Aleksandra Auleytner represented TVN in negotiations with the National Broadcasting Council, leading to a cancellation of a €350,000 fine imposed on the client for the manner in which it reported events in the Polish Parliament. She also advises Golden Media on all matters concerning its productions. Drawing on in-house industry experience in the TMT space, counsel Wojciech Dziomdziora is another key name.

Please go to: http://www.legal500.com/firms/12181/14384 for details of the Legal 500 EMEA recommendations.