Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k.‘s banking group ‘is one the most experienced practices in Warsaw’ with an ‘ability to combine global reach and local knowledge’. Its offering encompasses the entire spectrum of financing work, from general lending and acquisition and real estate finance, to restructurings, export, project and asset finance. Its client roster includes major domestic and global financial institutions and banks, as well as international companies. Managing partner for the CEE region Arkadiusz Pędzich has vast experience advising borrowers and lenders on financings across a range of sectors, including real estate, shipping, telecoms, and energy. Other key senior names are Tomasz Kawczyński, head of the projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure group, who has a focus on project finance, and Anna Mądra, who oversees the real estate department, and she advises banks, borrowers, and sponsors on related financing transactions.

Clifford Chance is lauded for its ‘exceptional legal expertise’ in the banking and finance arena. Sustainability-linked transactions have been a recent area of activity for the group, in addition to project financing and refinancing mandates. Its impressive client roster includes major financial institutions and banks. Banking and securities law expert Grzegorz Namiotkiewicz, and regulatory and transactional specialist Andrzej Stosio jointly sit at the helm of the department. Miłosz Gołąb frequently advises clients on restructurings and refinancings, and Irena Floras-Goode, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, has a notable focus on project financing mandates, as well as asset, acquisition and export finance.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k.‘s group is praised as ‘one of the best banking teams in Warsaw with exceptional individuals‘. It boasts a broad client roster, which includes domestic and foreign banks, financial institutions, companies, and investment funds, and assists them with projects across Poland and the wider CEE region. Transaction financing is a core area of expertise for practice head Michał Mężykowski. Jakub Wieczorek specialises in project finance and acquisition finance, while Jakub Podkowa is skilled in financings in the real estate sector. Structuring projects and export financing are also key areas of strength for the department. In team news, Pawel Wajda joined the firm in January 2023 from Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k..

The banking and finance team at Dentons ‘consistently provides high-quality advice’ on the entire spectrum of relevant mandates, including on real estate, energy and project financings, acquisition and corporate financings, and export financings, as well as on regulatory matters, restructuring projects, and cross-border portfolio financings. Since May 2023, Piotr Nerwiński and Bartosz Nojek have been jointly leading the local practice, while Mateusz Toczyski continues to co-head the firm’s global banking and finance group. Mark Segall is another notable name in the cross-border financing space, while counsel Tomasz Zwoliński is recommended for manufacturing and industrial-related projects.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k. boasts ‘a very capable, experienced and strong team’ with well-established expertise in the financing of real estate transactions, advising both lenders and borrowers. Securitisation transactions are another core area of strength for the group, as well as restructurings, and project and export finance mandates. At the helm of the team is Mariusz Hyla, who advises both domestic and international financial institutions on real estate and asset finance mandates, as does Bartłomiej Palusiak. Katarzyna Wacławek, who was recently made up to partner, is notable in the energy sector with ‘excellent analytical skills’.

Linklaters provides ‘exceptional legal support’ to borrowers, financial institutions and financial sponsors on domestic and cross-border transactions and projects. Regulatory banking mandates are also an area of expertise for the group, especially regarding risk management, banking secrecy, and outsourcing issues. Marta Domino chairs the group with substantial experience in corporate finance and restructuring mandates. Jarosław Miller, a specialist in banking and finance law, plays an active role in key matters. English-qualified solicitor Adrian Horne is lauded as ‘very experienced’, and Joanna Gawlicka often advises clients on regulatory issues.

Advice on acquisition and asset finance, international financings, and financing involving mezzanine loans, bonds, and quasi-debt instruments all forms part of the wide-ranging offering at Norton Rose Fulbright, in addition to more traditional forms of lending, such as real estate finance, syndicated loans, and corporate lending. Notable sectors of strength for the practice include energy, infrastructure and transport. Grzegorz Dyczkowski leads the team with an impressive client roster encompassing Polish financial institutions and major multinational and domestic corporations. Marta Kawecka is recommended ‘as a really excellent banking lawyer’. In team news, Tomasz Rogalski was promoted to partner at the beginning of 2023.

The ‘highly qualified’ banking and finance team at Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k. is primarily borrower oriented, and assists clients with both transactional and regulatory mandates; this offering encompasses advice on acquisition, project and real estate finance matters, corporate finance and trade finance, and financial restructuring. M&A financing specialist Marcin Iwaniszyn chairs the practice, while counsel Jerzy Bombczyński leads the firm’s financial services regulatory and investment funds arm. Both Iwaniszyn and senior associate Jerzy Rostworowski are praised for their ‘exceptional knowledge and experience in financing transactions and projects and related issues’. Jakub Czerka is another key senior associate.

At Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k., the finance and financial regulation practice is divided into two sub-groups: one is focused on advising financial institutions on financial regulatory and fintech issues and is led by Sławomir Szepietowski, while the other is headed up by Maciej Georg and handles financing transactions, advising both lenders and borrowers on domestic and cross-border mandates, especially those regarding real estate assets. The team is also experienced in contentious matters surrounding financing. Counsel Marta Stanisławska is a key member of the team when it comes to advising financial institutions on adjusting activities to changing legal requirements.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka ‘has great experience’ in the banking and finance arena, and the team operates from within the firm’s capital markets and financial institutions practice. Its client roster is wide ranging and includes banks and their subsidiaries, financial holdings, brokers and investment companies, as well as investment funds. The offering encompasses debt financing, project financing, and regulatory advice, as well as equity financing, restructuring, and acquisition financing, with its transactions often involving a cross-border element. The practice is jointly led by financial transactions expert Magdalena Skowrońska and Rafał Grochowski, who specialises in infrastructure debt issuance transactions. Senior associate Tomasz Kalicki has notable experience in the financing and refinancing of renewable energy projects.

Gide Loyrette Nouel boasts ‘years of experience working with the banking sector’, including both borrowers and lenders. Its offering is broad ranging and encompasses cross-border finance transactions, corporate financings and real estate financings, as well as regulatory issues, leveraged and acquisition financing, and the preparation of transactional documentation. Paweł Grześkowiak sits at the helm of the practice with expertise in secured and structured finance operations. 'Excellent lawyer' Mateusz Gronau was promoted to counsel in April 2023, and Marta Karmińska made of counsel at the same time.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński Sp. k‘s banking and finance offering fields Polish, English, and New York-qualified lawyers. The team is is highly adept at advising borrowers on corporate reorganisations, transformations, and other corporate law issues, and the fintech sector is a particular industry of focus. In addition, acquisition finance, bridge and mezzanine financings, real estate financings, and restructuring mandates are core areas of strength for the group. Andrzej Wysokiński leads the department and frequently advises on domestic and cross-border transactions. Paulina Kimla-Kaczorowska is also a key name and is involved in many of the firm’s key mandates.

At the beginning of 2023, Rymarz Zdort and Maruta Wachta merged to form Rymarz Zdort Maruta, and the resultant banking and finance team excels in assisting with acquisition finance and M&A-related deals, including those concerning mezzanine structures. The group continues to have a notable focus on the sponsor side of mandates, representing domestic and foreign companies, although it has also been increasingly acting for lenders. Energy-related work and project financing constitute additional core areas of strength. Zofia Frydrychowicz and Jakub Rachwol jointy lead the team; the former has expertise in domestic and cross-border financings and debt restructurings, while the latter ‘possesses high-level expertise’ in corporate finance mandates.

The banking and finance team at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has an emphasis on financial regulatory work, especially for clients in the fintech and payment services areas. Financial sector M&A is another key area of strength for the group, including reorganisations and acquisitions, in addition to legislative work and cross-border deals. The team is also witnessing an increasing uptake in sustainable financing. The firm’s client roster largely consists of domestic and international regulated financial institutions. Marcin Olechowski chairs the group with ‘unique insight and exceptional intelligence’.

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k.‘s banking and finance practice is praised for its ‘extensive legal knowledge,’ and it is particularly active in financing transactions, including acquisition, asset and corporate financings, as well as multi-jurisdictional regulatory mandates for financial institutions, including internal restructurings. Another area of strength for the practice is supporting Polish financial institutions which are setting up projects in other countries, as well as foreign institutions entering the Polish market. Team lead and managing partner Tomasz Ostrowski often supports banks and borrowers, investment funds, and venture capital and private equity funds with a range of financing transactions.

Securitisation expert Piotr Zawiślak leads the banking and debt capital markets group at Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP. The team's client roster includes banks, lenders, credit enhancers, sponsors and borrowers. The team’s offering is wide ranging, extending from bilateral facilities to complex syndicated financings, and the group has notable strengths in the real estate and infrastructure sectors.

Schoenherr Halwa sp.k. has ‘deep knowledge of banking and financial law’, and is adept at advising clients on project finance, structured finance, real estate finance, and acquisition finance transactions. Sectors of strength for the practice include food, retail, manufacturing, and new technologies. With expertise in restructuring mandates, Paweł Halwa leads the team, and is ably supported by Weronika Kapica and counsel Marcin Antczak. The beginning of 2024 marked a period of significant growth for the firm, which onboarded a number of banking and finance specialists from SSW, most notably Szymon Okoń, Ilona Fedurek and Tomasz Kwaśniewski.

With a focus on the energy sector, SSW predominantly advises leading Polish banks and international financial institutions. Project finance is an area of expertise for Wojciech Szczepaniak, a key senior contact in the team. Piotr Bartoś is another name to note.

The ‘outstanding’ Zbigniew Korba leads the banking and finance group at Taylor Wessing Poland, which provides lenders and borrowers with transactional support, and financial institutions with regulatory advice, including on restructuring strategies. Łukasz Szymański is another key name, and oversees the regulatory side of the practice. Counsel Michał Kulig joined the team from Wolf Theiss in May 2023 with a focus on commercial real estate finance, while counsel Marta Gocał departed the firm in February 2023 for an in-house position.

Wardynski & Partners‘ banking and finance team ‘regularly advises on top-notch, cross-border transactions’. The group’s offering is strongly geared towards structured finance transactions, energy transition finance projects, and complex debt restructuring deals. Another strong area of expertise for the team is direct lending, and its client roster includes sellers, arrangers and purchasers, as well as investors and finance providers. Key names of note include finance transaction expert Łukasz Szegda, fintech and new technologies specialist Krzysztof Wojdyło, and Daniel Smarduch, who focuses on securitisation mandates.

At the beginning of 2023, WKB Lawyers‘ banking, debt capital markets, and financial regulations teams were merged into one practice; the strengthened group is now well placed to handle an even wider range of mandates, from multi-jurisdictional restructurings and high-yield bond issuance, to large-scale project, energy and real estate financings, to matters affecting the payments service industry. Securitisation and non-performing loans also fall within the group’s advisory work. Since previous practice head Marcin Smolarek left the firm in December 2022, Agata Szczepańczyk-Piwek has taken over leadership of the team, and she is praised as ‘one of the best banking lawyers in CEE’.

The banking and finance team at Wolf Theiss specialises in real estate financing projects. Additionally, restructuring and insolvency proceedings are strengths of Joanna Gąsowski, while counsel Adrian Krzyżanowski bolsters the team’s project finance capabilities, especially regarding renewable energy projects. Polish, German, and Austrian banks fall within the firm’s client roster, as well as international investors. Przemek Kozdój chairs the group. Michał Kulig  departed for Taylor Wessing Poland in April 2023.

DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k divides its work between transactional and regulatory mandates, advising a wide range of clients, including Polish and international banks, investment funds, assets management companies and borrowers, among others. Tomasz Kaczmarek oversees the transactional banking arm, in addition to acting as co-head of the firm’s wider European banking and finance group, while Radosław Cebeliński leads the banking, finance and insolvency litigation team. In September 2022, senior associate Marta Piotrkowicz joined from DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp.k. In further team news, Michał Miąskiewicz joined from Eversheds Sutherland Poland after publication.

The banking and finance group at PwC Legal Zelaznicki sp.k. has notable expertise in regulatory mandates, especially regarding the implementation of EU law, and ESG and AML-related matters. The team frequently provides Polish banks and international financial institutions with advice on their operations in Poland. Aleksandra Bańkowska sits at the helm of the practice, and her workload encompasses assistance with establishing banks, transforming banks into branches of credit institutions, M&A transactions involving banks, and proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. counts financial institutions, investors, suppliers and customers, as well as regulatory authorities, within its broad client roster. A key area of activity for the firm is acting as local counsel for internationally-financed business operations in cases where a Polish subsidiary is involved. Acquisition, asset-based and real estate financings also make up a large proportion of the team’s mandates, with an increasing focus on working for the borrower. Małgorzata Olech spearheads the practice. Michał Smolny departed for Eversheds Sutherland Poland in December 2022.

At White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k., large commercial banks are counted among the firm's key clients, and it assists them with Polish and international banking matters. The group’s offering is wide ranging, and includes advice on acquisition finance, asset-based lending, and financial restructuring and insolvency matters. Project and infrastructure finance, real estate finance, structured finance and derivatives, as well as sustainable finance projects, are also strong capabilities of the practice. At the helm of the practice, Grzegorz Abram has expertise in debt financing transactions.

Czabanski Galuszynski & Partners has extensive experience advising banks and borrowers on domestic and cross-border financing mandates; these include real estate financings, structured financings, acquisitions, and investment project financings. Restructuring proceedings are another area of strength for the group. Recently, technology-related matters, such as those relating to mobile payments, bitcoin, blockchain, crowdfunding, and electronic banking, have become an increasing focus. The team is led by Jacek Czabański and Piotr Gałuszyński.

EY Law provides large Polish banks with regulatory advice, as well as support with CHF mortgage loans and representation in mediation proceedings. The team is also regularly approached by foreign entities seeking regulatory and legal advice on Polish and EU regulations within the banking sector. Managing partner Zuzanna Zakrzewska sits at the helm of the department, and is ably supported by counsel Ewa Gajda-Kozłowska.

ftl ‘has an extremely experienced and capable team with years of experience in the field of the most complex banking and fintech projects‘. Polish, English, and Spanish-speaking lawyer Konrad Stolarski and payment services law expert Zbigniew Długosz co-head the financial services practice, with particular expertise in the regulatory aspects of fintech and new technologies. The team’s mandates often involve a cross-border element, and it also has experience in representing clients before the Polish Financial Supervisory Authority.

Kochanski & Partners is adept at handling financings at the pre-term sheet stage, as well as drafting and negotiating loan agreements regarding real estate financings, acquisition financings, refinancings and restructurings, corporate financings, and securitisations. Regulatory matters are also part of the group’s offering, including bank outsourcing and banking secrecy issues. Jan Ziomek leads the team, and also acts as chair of the firm’s fintech group, having joined the team in September 2023 from the Office of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

Penteris advises both lenders and borrowers on transactional and regulatory mandates. Real estate acquisition, and project financing are key pillars of the practice. Refinancings are another core area of strength. At the helm of the department, Katarzyna Sawa-Rybaczek has substantial expertise in the financing aspects of real estate transactions.

Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp. j. has ‘years of experience on the market’. The practice assists borrowers and lenders with real estate financing mandates, especially regarding residential properties, as well as restructuring projects. Notable senior members of the team include Martyna Kamińska-Tabaka, Agnieszka Piasecka and Zbigniew Skórczyński.

Fintech law expert Jan Byrski leads the financial institutions and payment services team at Traple Konarski Podrecki & Partners, which has a strong focus on financial sector entities, such as banks, payment institutions, credit institutions, and insurance undertakings, as well as technology providers. The team regularly represents clients in proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority. In team news, Michał Synowiec was recently promoted to counsel.

The beginning of 2023 saw considerable team growth at Andersen in Poland, with the addition of an entire team from FKA Furtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz following the merger of the two firms; Mariusz Aleksandrowicz, Tadeusz Komosa, and counsel Agnieszka Skrok all joined as a result of this development. Leszek Rydzewski and Piotr Krupa now jointly head up the strengthened team alongside Aleksandrowicz. The firm is instructed by a range of banks and other financial institutions to act on contentious and non-contentious mandates alike.

The banking, finance and restructuring department at BSJP bnt Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak Sroka Nilsson Zamorska Sp.k. focuses on acquisition, asset, and project financings, including real estate financing, debt refinancing, and the financial restructuring of companies. It is especially notable for its skill in advising German banks, and Polish banks with links to Germany. Katarzyna Domańska-Mołdawa and Jörn Brockhuis jointly lead the team from Warsaw and Gdańsk, respectively.

Eversheds Sutherland Poland is well versed in advising borrowers and lenders on the financial and regulatory requirements surrounding infrastructure projects; this offering includes advice on the financing aspects of energy, municipal transport, and water and sewer systems projects, as well as the construction of motorways and real estate projects. Following the departure of Michał Markowski to Osborne Clarke in August 2022, Mateusz Dereszyński joined the firm in December 2022 from Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP to lead the banking and finance group.

Kancelaria Prawna Kycia Radcowie Prawni Spolka Partnership is predominately instructed by banks, as well as major real estate investors. Its offering encompasses advice on various financings, including real estate finance, acquisition finance, and energy finance. Anna Kycia and Grzegorz Kycia jointly lead the team; the latter is praised by one client as ‘a go-to practitioner for financing transactions’.

Osborne Clarke‘s banking and finance practice offers clients transactional and regulatory advice, especially surrounding real estate and energy project finance mandates. The firm's instructions often incorporate cross-border elements. Michał Markowski sits at the helm of the department, and he is ably supported by counsel Augustyn Wróbel, who joined the team in May 2023 from WKB Lawyers.

Noerr handles international financing projects for international companies, banks, and financial institutions. Senior names of note include Paweł Żelich, who was recently promoted to supervising partner of the practice; Paweł Hoc, who joined from Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. in April 2022; and Paweł Samolewicz, who joined from Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k. in February 2023. Former practice heads Konrad Werner  and Ludomir Biedecki departed in April and September of 2022 to join Kochanski & Partners and Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k., respectively.