CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Bejm sp.k. handles the entire spectrum of employment matters for Polish and international clients, with a particular focus on immigration mandates, internal investigations in HR cases, and terminations of top members of management. It is also highly adept in labour negotiations with trade unions, as well as managing regulatory matters concerning salaries in the financial sector; senior associate Maciej Andrzejewski is notable in this latter area. ‘Excellent lawyer' Katarzyna Dulewicz leads the Polish team, as well as co-heading the employment practice across the entire CEE region. She is supported by senior associate Agnieszka Kałwa, who routinely implements new pension schemes in Polish companies, and counsel Tomasz Sancewicz.

The employment and labour practice at Dentons leverages the firm’s global network to advise on domestic and cross-border projects, and support foreign companies with a presence in Poland. The team is active in assisting clients with entry into the Polish market, reorganisations and employee transfers, and whistleblowing matters. On the contentious side, the group represents clients in benefits-related litigation, collective bargaining negotiations, and investigations. Aleksandra Minkowicz-Flanek sits at the helm of the practice; key sectors of focus for her include IT, manufacturing, food, automotive, and advanced technology. Counsel Magda Słomska specialises in individual and collective labour law and HR law matters.

Agnieszka Lechman-Filipiak leads the practice at DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp. and advises on both collective and individual employment law matters, including group redundancies and collective disputes. The broader practice consists of lawyers and tax advisors, and it supports clients with their daily issues, in addition to restructurings, the transfer of employees, collective redundancies, and negotiations with trade unions. Its offering also extends to advice on cross-border projects and social security issues. Other key team members include counsel Michał Synowiec, who focuses on litigation and internal investigations concerning allegations of harassment and bullying, and counsel Dominika Nowak, who has expertise in advising international companies on entering the Polish market. At senior associate level, Hubert Hajduczenia is noted.

Raczkowski‘s HR law department is instructed by employers to assist with issues from the entire spectrum of labour law matters, including HR management, social security, and litigation, as well as compliance issues, criminal business law, immigration, and employee taxation mandates. The team is led by a trio comprising managing partner Bartłomiej Raczkowski in Warsaw, Dominika Dörre-Kolasa in Kraków, and Łukasz Kuczkowski in Poznañ. Iwona Jaroszewska-Ignatowska is also of note for her expertise in industrial relations and negotiations with trade unions, and Katarzyna Serwińska has substantial experience in employment tax advisory work.

The employment practice at Wardynski & Partners has ‘long-standing expertise’ in contentious proceedings relating to workplace accidents, terminations, and competition bans. It also advises on the labour aspects of transactions, internal investigations concerning harassment, and crisis management matters. Another area of focus for the team is advising clients in the financial-newtech industries on entering the Polish market. Agnieszka Lisiecka co-heads the group alongside Szymon Kubiak; Lisiecka handles individual and collective labour law matters, as does senior associate Agnieszka Godusławska, while Kubiak has strengths in outsourcing and restructuring. In team news, Marcin Wujczyk was promoted to partner in May 2022.

Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k.’s employment practice benefits from the firm’s global presence, enabling it to assist clients with both domestic and cross-border projects. Its offering includes advice on remote working, immigration issues, and the labour aspects of transactions. The group is also strong in handling sensitive board-level separation mandates. The team represents clients in labour-related litigation proceedings as well as assisting companies with establishing themselves in Poland. With a strong focus on individual and collective redundancies, managing partner Piotr Rawski jointly leads the practice alongside counsel Michal Lisawa, who advises on sensitive terminations.

The employment team at Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. has ‘vast experience in difficult, complicated cases’ and its offering extends to immigration law, labour-related M&A work that involves TUPE transfers and restructurings, and compliance projects concerning internal investigations. It is also active in developing benefit and incentive programmes for employees and advising on pension schemes. Karolina Stawicka, who has significant expertise in social security law mandates and compliance-related projects, heads the practice. She is supported by senior associate Michał Olszewski, who has strength in issues relating to terminations and the employment of temporary workers.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka‘s labour law and social security practice has a wide-ranging offering, from TUPE matters and restructurings to developing employee retirement schemes and advising on discrimination in the workplace. It is also active in immigration law and assists with trade union relationships. Industrial relations expert and ‘stand-out performer‘ Bogusław Kapłon splits his time between the firm’s Warsaw and Poznań offices, and he co-heads the department alongside Warsaw-based Agata Mierzwa, who specialises in restructurings, ground redundancies, and TUPE matters.

The labour law department at Eversheds Sutherland Poland has expertise in assisting domestic and international clients with restructurings and employee transfers, developing incentive schemes, advising on working time requirements, and co-operating with trade unions. Its offering also includes support with pension plans, internal audits, and immigration-related matters, as well as representation of clients in labour disputes. Co-managing partner Ewa Łachowska-Brol leads the team and is active in assisting clients with the termination of employees. She is supported by counsel Adam Nierzwicki – who has expertise in whistleblowing matters – and senior associate Paweł Lasota – whose strengths lie in individual and collective labour law.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k‘s labour and employment practice is led by Anna Hałas-Krawczyk; since May 2022, she has also co-chaired the firm’s European labour group, which has enhanced the Polish office’s ability to advise on cross-border projects. Hałas-Krawczyk ‘handles negotiations with top level managers effectively’. Noted senior associate Natalia Wołkowycka is active in compliance and employee data protection issues. The wider team has expertise in post-merger integration processes, establishment of businesses in Poland, reorganisation mandates, and redundancies.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr‘s employment team provides clients with support on a wide range of HR matters surrounding domestic and international M&A transactions, restructurings and collective redundancies, as well as acting in labour-related disputes. Practice head Wioleta Polak bolsters the team’s offering with her expertise in the employment aspects of public procurement law. In team development news, of counsel Agata Mietek joined from Kancelaria Ozóg Tomczykowski Sp. z o.o. in September 2021 and senior associate Mateusz Gajda from DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp. in March 2022.

Wojewodka i Wspolnicy Sp.k. assists employers with individual and collective labour law matters, as well as mandates involving employee benefits and relations with trade unions. Its offering also encompasses wage negotiations, collective disputes, and restructurings, as well as pension scheme issues. In addition, the group represents employers in contentious proceedings. Founder Marcin Wojewódka co-leads the team, alongside Alicja Pawelec, Piotr Nietrzpiel, Jolanta Ślesicka-Wyszyńska, Krzysztof Sosnowski, and Przemysław Krasadomski.

Following its foundation in 2017, boutique employment firm Zawirska Ruszczy Sp. k. has been advising both Polish and international companies on restructurings, reorganisations, and working time matters. The team also handles sensitive employee disputes regarding discrimination, mobbing, accidents in the workplace, and breach of enterprise secrets. Founder Patrycja Zawirska jointly leads the team alongside Grzegorz Ruszczyk, who is also head of the litigation practice.

In Warsaw, managing partner and firm founder Daniel Książek heads Baran Książek & Bigaj's employment practice, which is praised as ‘a unique offering specialising in labour law and related fields’. The team handles negotiations and disputes with trade unions, as well as anti-discrimination matters. Krzysztof Baran is a key name of note in Kraków, alongside Wojciech Bigaj, who supports clients with collective redundancies and litigation concerning occupational health.

CDZ CHAJEC & PARTNERS‘ employment law practice provides advice on both collective and individual labour law issues, including domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, transfer of employees, outsourcing services, and group redundancies. The team is co-led by Ewa Don-Siemion and Piotr Kryczek; Don-Siemion focuses on the financial services and TMT sectors, while Kryczek represents clients in proceedings before civil and commercial courts.

The employment practice at Clifford Chance is active in advising private equity funds on day-to-day labour-related issues, restructurings, terminations, and management incentive plans. The team also handles cases of bullying and discrimination, disputes with trade unions, and fatal accidents in the workplace. Counsel Tomasz Derda leads the team and is praised as ‘a sharp, practical, and solution-driven lawyer’. 

Gide Loyrette Nouel is active in assisting clients with cross-border projects, as well as representing them in contentious proceedings. Compliance issues and day-to-day advisory work are also within the group’s offering, in addition to negotiation with trade unions, terminations and restructurings, and employee transfers. Paweł Grześkowiak heads the practice and is skilled in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and social packages. Joanna Jasiewicz is also of note for advising clients on European labour law mandates.

NGL Legal‘s employment practice applies a multi-disciplinary approach to advising start-ups and multinational companies. Its offering includes support with individual labour-related matters, as well as preparation of internal regulations and benefit programmes, and assistance with the employment aspects of M&A transactions. The team is also proficient at co-operating with trade unions, an area in which practice head Magdalena Zwolińska has substantial experience.

Olesinski & Wspolnicy’s HR and labour team is based in Wrocław and is one of the firm’s key focuses, consisting of ‘high-class specialists from various fields’. Individual and collective labour law, establishment of remuneration systems for managers, and social security litigation are all within the team’s capabilities. The practice is co-chaired by Lucyna Brayshaw and Anna Chrobot, both of whom advise on collective redundancies and represent clients in disputes.

The employment practice at Penteris supports the M&A department with labour-related work, in addition to providing advice on day-to-day matters. Other areas of expertise include litigation, collective labour law matters, and social security issues. The team also supports employers throughout internal investigations. Managing partner Agnieszka Pytlas leads the group, supported by senior associates Piotr Bobrowski and Jeremiasz Kuśmierz.

Sadkowski I Wspólnicy‘s labour and immigration law department predominantly advises employers from the transport, logistics, construction, energy, banking and finance, and production sectors. Its offering includes assistance with issues relating to remote working, compliance audits, training, working time, and immigration. 'Perfectly prepared' Marzena Łabędź, who supports clients with individual and collective labour law issues, helms the practice.

Agnieszka Fedor brings her expertise in collective dispute resolution and restructurings to her position as head of the labour law team at Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak. The practice has been increasingly active in employee investigations, harassment cases, and related dismissals and litigation. Senior counsel Filip Sodulski focuses on internal ethics proceedings and difficult employee dismissals.

The labour and employment group at Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. fields ‘very competent specialists’ who advise on the hiring and dismissal of senior employees, reorganisations, compliance matters, and strategic planning. Immigration law is also an increasing focus for the team. The practice is chaired by Małgorzata Grzelak, whose areas of expertise include board-level hiring and severance, confidentiality, and restrictive covenants. In June 2022, senior associate Zuzanna Rosner-Laskorzyńska joined the team from Raczkowski.

The employment and global mobility practice at Wiewiórski Legal is based in Wrocław, and has recently been active in assisting clients with matters related to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as remote working. Another new focus for the team is the introduction of compliance advice for HR departments. It is also proficient in managing relationships with trade unions, handling restructurings, and dealing with accidents at work. Firm founder Marek MacIej Wiewiorski and Magdalena Szeptycka jointly head the team.

Wolf Theiss‘ Warsaw-based employment practice sits within the firm’s wider CEE group, enabling it to handle cross-border projects and M&A transactions. The offering also encompasses both individual and collective labour law, termination of employees, compliance matters, restructurings and TUPE, and litigation. Data protection issues and immigration law mandates are also within the team’s capabilities. Peter Daszkowski leads the group with the support of Agnieszka Nowak-Blaszczak, who was promoted to counsel in May 2022.

BSJP | bnt attorneys in CEE’s labour, employment, and HR department acts for domestic and international employers in both the private and public sectors, especially large entrepreneurs from the industrial and logistics sectors. It supports clients with day-to-day employment matters, as well as mobility and restructuring matters, and litigation proceedings before administrative bodies and public authorities. Christoph Garschynski in Poznań and Ewa Boryczko in Warsaw jointly lead the team.

CRIDO LEGAL‘s employment practice is led by Edyta Defanska-Czujko, and is skilled in assisting clients with Covid-19-related labour law matters, in addition to advising on the regulatory, criminal, and tax aspects of employment issues. The team also undertakes negotiations with trade unions, as well as representing clients before courts and public authorities.

Deloitte Legal, Ostrowski, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k.‘s employment law and benefits team advises clients on day-to-day matters, as well as multi-disciplinary cases requiring tax, social security, and corporate law expertise. Collective redundancies and terminations are also within the team’s capabilities. The practice is led by Katarzyna Sarek-Sadurska, who joined the firm in November 2021 from Kancelaria Raczkowki, alongside five other specialised practitioners.

EY Law‘s employment practice offers a multi-disciplinary approach for clients in the banking and finance, IT, and real estate sectors. The team assists with remuneration structures for top management and employees, employee share purchase plans, compliance issues, and whistleblowing matters. Corporate lawyer Zuzanna Zakrzewska leads the group.

The employment offering at Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) LLP is jointly overseen by Andrzej Dębiec and senior associate Agnieszka Szczodra-Hajduk. The group sits within the corporate department, and utilises the firm’s global network to advise international clients on the labour aspects of M&A transactions. It also handles employee mobility and remuneration matters. Marek Wroniak left the firm.

The labour law practice at Kopec & Zaborowski is jointly led by managing partner Marta Kopeć and Joanna Chmielińska, and it supports HR departments, management boards of companies, and entrepreneurs with their employment needs. The team’s offering includes restructurings and the transfer of employees, collective labour law matters, and disputes.

Linklaters‘ employment practice supports clients on the labour elements of transactional matters, and also advises on sensitive mandates including those relating to whistleblowing, mobbing, and discrimination. As part of a global firm, it can easily advise both international and domestic clients. Monika Krzyszkowska-Dąbrowska heads the group, and is noted for expertise in hiring and terminating at the management level, as well as individual and collective redundancies.

Noerr‘s employment and pensions group is typically instructed by clients active in the professional services, manufacturing, financial services, real estate, and retail sectors. The team is increasingly involved in post-M&A employment work, and its offering also includes day-to-day advisory, litigation, and projects involving immigration law and employee transfers. Senior associates Katarzyna Zwierz-Wilkocka and Jarosław Kalikowski co-head the practice.

Specialised HR law firm PCS Paruch Chruściel Schiffter Stępień | Littler Global was founded in 2020, and predominantly assists employers with a range of labour law matters, including global mobility and immigration law mandates, disputes, trade union relations and collective bargaining, and workplace bullying and harassment cases. Sławomir Paruch and Karolina Schiffter in Warsaw, Łukasz Chruściel in Katowice, Robert Stępień in Kraków, and Karolina Kanclerz in Wrocław all jointly lead the team.