Best known for its creditor-side expertise, the team at Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. draws on the strength of the firm’s banking and finance practice to expertly handle cross-border restructurings; Arkadiusz Pędzich and Tomasz Kawczyński, in particular, embody this cross-departmental approach. Although the group is especially focused on reaching out-of-court settlements, many of the practitioners also have significant contentious experience. Practice head Bartosz Merczyński is the key judicial insolvency specialist, while counsel Jerzy Zdrojewski takes the lead on much of the transactional and non-litigious work.

At Clifford Chance, the client roster spans Polish and international lenders, bondholders and trustees, insurance providers, listed companies, and servicers of distressed assets. The team is equally proficient in both out-of-court and contentious mandates, with Bartosz Krużewski providing the dispute resolution expertise, while Miłosz Gołąb and Andrzej Stosio bring their extensive banking and finance knowledge to the group. Cross-border refinancings and restructurings are mainstays of the department. Krużewski and Gołąb jointly head up the practice.

Dentons fields an experienced multi-disciplinary team of restructuring experts and litigators. Practice head Anna Pukszto is singled out by one client for her ability to ‘find common win-win solutions in complex extra-judicial restructuring cases seemingly doomed to failure‘; cross-border bankruptcies and distressed asset acquisitions are her particular areas of expertise. Tomasz Trocki oversees the consensual restructuring offering, regularly advising on changes to credit facilities, bonds and derivatives. In February 2022, Stanisław Sołtysik, whose workload spans both contentious and out-of-court mandates, was promoted to managing counsel.

Since the arrival of ‘notable practitioner‘ Karol Czepukojć to oversee the department in 2020, Baker McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspólnicy Sp.k. has been steadily growing its restructuring and insolvency offering to become ‘one of the most innovative and competent on the market‘. Out-of-court workouts, contentious restructurings, bankruptcies, distressed asset transactions, and debt recoveries all form part of the group’s regular workload. The firm is best known for representing creditors and investors, including large financial institutions and private equity funds.

DLA Piper Giziński Kycia sp. is instructed by leading names from a wide range of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, retail, media, healthcare and pharmaceutical. Mariusz Hyla leads on the finance and restructuring side, utilising his banking and M&A expertise to advise on a wide range of out-of-court solutions. Highly regarded litigator Krzysztof Kycia oversees the contentious mandates, ably supported by recommended senior associate Magdalena Dec. The team is particularly praised by one client for its ability to ‘use theoretical knowledge in a practical way’.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka provides a cradle to grave service, spanning out-of-court restructurings, insolvency proceedings on behalf of both creditors and debtors, and investment advice concerning distressed assets. The team has particular expertise in the regulated sectors, and is frequently instructed by banking, consumer health and aviation clients to assist with solvent transformation projects. The group is also able to leverage the energy and infrastructure expertise of the wider firm to provide insight into restructuring issues relating to those fields. Bartosz Marcinkowski and Michał Cecerko are the key senior contacts.

Kochanski & Partners is highly regarded by clients for its concerted focus on non-contentious restructurings; the team is well versed in sale and leaseback transactions, mezzanine financings, renegotiation of commercial contracts, tax reorganisation and distressed M&A. Practice head Rafal Rapala‘s extensive corporate experience further serves to cement the group’s proficiency in resolving insolvency issues out of court. Pawel Cholewinski is particularly noted for his knowledge of the real estate sector. On the litigious side, Mateusz Ostrowski – whose experience spans both civil and criminal cases – takes the lead.

‘Effective and supportive‘ Magdalena Pyzik-Walag oversees the offering at Rymarz Zdort Maruta. The firm’s workload is equally split between domestic and cross-border insolvency mandates. Advising on credit extensions, representing clients in contentious bankruptcies, and assisting with distressed M&A are all areas of proficiency. In a recent highlight, the group advised Bank Pekao in connection with the high-profile restructuring of Idea Bank; this was the first instance of resolution instruments being applied with regard to a Polish commercial bank.

Clients from the financial sector - including many leading Polish banks - regard Wardynski & Partners as a go-to advisor for the range of debt restructurings and distressed transactions. International bankruptcy proceedings, particularly those with links to either the EU or US, are another area of expertise; the firm is often instructed to assist foreign insolvency office holders in such cases. Seasoned litigator Konrad Grotowski heads up the practice, with support from corporate expert Krzysztof Libiszewski and Łukasz Szegda, who primarily focuses on out-of-court solutions.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr is singled out by one client as ‘the firm which always delivers results even within challenging deadlines‘; the team’s expertise spans contentious insolvency proceedings, out-of-court restructurings, and other pre-bankruptcy arrangements, as well as assistance with distressed transactions. Andrzej Wierciński and Jakub Jedrzejak are the key names at leadership level; the latter also acts as one of the co-heads of the M&A department. Marcin Smolarek, who oversees the banking and finance group, is another active senior group member. Counsel Piotr Grabarczyk is noted as a ‘great strategic thinker‘.

Practitioners at boutique firm Zimmerman Sierakowski and Partners are highly regarded for their ability to ‘see the bigger picture and apply tailor-made solutions‘. The team runs the gamut of bankruptcy, restructuring and enforcement mandates, representing the interests of both debtors and creditors, and regularly advising official receivers in complicated insolvency estate cases. ‘Remarkable negotiator‘ Piotr Zimmerman and ‘real champion‘ Bartosz Sierakowski are the group’s key senior names. Norbert Frosztęga – whose client base is focused on entrepreneurs – also plays a core part in the practice’s management.

A strong contentious focus differentiates the team at Eversheds Sutherland Poland; creditors’ claims, bankruptcy litigation and judicial reorganisation proceedings are all part of the firm’s regular workload. The firm also has a successful track record representing businesses which have had their operations suspended due to a violation of insolvency law. Michał Miąskiewicz leads on the group’s most complex mandates, with support from key names in the dispute resolution department, including Maciej Jóźwiak.

According to one client, the team at EY Law is 'made for the most challenging and complicated projects'; acting on behalf of a diverse roster - from struggling companies to creditors and investors, as well as state and supranational institutions - the group regularly achieves successful outcomes in both bankruptcy proceedings and solvent restructurings. Policy reform is also a key part of the firm's practice; the group has twice been instructed by the European Commission and Polish ministries to evaluate regulations. 'Great supervisor' Magdalena Kasiarz oversees the department, ably assisted by senior associate Piotr Podsiadło.

Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokinski Sp. k‘s team leverages the firm’s cross-departmental contentious and transactional expertise to assist clients with issues arising at all stages of the insolvency cycle, from initial crisis management, to court applications and subsequent workouts. On the non-contentious side specifically, the group specialises in assisting distressed companies with the implementation of recovery plans.  Andrzej Wysokinski heads up the practice, which also fields experienced senior practitioners Aleksander Janiszewski and Michał Bobrzyński.

KKLW Legal Kurzynski Wierzbicki sp.k. fields a dedicated bankruptcy and restructuring team, experienced in acting on behalf of both creditors and debtors. Practice head Przemysław Wierzbicki brings more than 20 years of litigation expertise to the group, and regularly leads on the firm’s most complex insolvency cases. Advising on pre-pack liquidations is one of the group’s specialties, and forms a core part of the regular workload.

Complex restructuring mandates form the cornerstone of the practice at LSW Bieńkowski, Laskowski, Leśnodorski, Melzacki and Partners sp.k.; the team is highly regarded by both local and international clients for its successful track record carrying out such work. The firm is also known for receiving instruction from a large group of bankruptcy trustees, and for advising such clients on an ongoing basis. Władysław Bieńkowski heads up the practice. At senior associate level, Bartosz Nowicki and Magdalena Frąckowiak are the key contacts.

Restructuring is the key focus at Norton Rose Fulbright; the team is particularly well regarded for assisting entities operating in the banking sector, as well as domestic and cross-border financial institutions, with such work. Key senior practitioners Grzegorz Dyczkowski and Tomasz Rogalski – who was recently promoted to special counsel – are both experts in the financing sphere. Rogalski is also recommended for his extensive knowledge of the energy and infrastructure industries.

With a client base ranging from international corporations to mid-sized local businesses, SSW Pragmatic Solutions is well placed to handle the gamut of restructuring and insolvency matters, from pre-pack transactions to Supreme Court bankruptcy cases. Janusz Mazurek and Łukasz Grenda co-head the group - both are experienced in advising not only creditors and debtors, but also investors. On the contentious side, Łukasz Cudny is another key name to note.

The practitioners at Tatara & Partners Restructuring & Insolvency Law Firm  are highly valued for their 'deep understanding of the economic reality in Poland' and 'vast practical experience'. Pre-pack transactions and simplified restructuring proceedings are some of the firm's core specialisms. Managing partner Karol Tatara is singled out as a 'skilled negotiator'. Maciej Knopek and Tadeusz Grzesiak complete the roster of key practitioners at leadership level.

With Grzegorz Abram at its helm, White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k. offers clients 'certainty that the recommended solution is the best possible one'. The team's expertise spans the entire distressed continuum, from advising on corporate and financial restructurings, to acting in bankruptcy proceedings, multi-jurisdictional insolvencies, and debtor and creditor-related disputes. The group is particularly noted for assisting distressed asset investors and private equity funds.

Offering clients an equal focus on financial restructuring, insolvency and distressed investments, Wolf Theiss fields a ‘diverse and responsive group of very practical lawyers‘. The team’s broad workload spans mandates as diverse as acquisition of non-performing loans, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy cases, and rescue financing. Lech Gilicinski  heads up the practice, while counsel Joanna Gąsowski provides valuable litigation expertise.