News
January 27, 2021
SMM Legal 24 – our new portal on law
27 January marks the launch of SMM Legal 24 (www.smmlegal24.pl), our new blog on legal issues. For several weeks, our team has been honing the concept of the website and working on content selection. Today, we are proud to share with you as many as 70 articles across 10 categories consistent with our fields of expertise.
January 8, 2021
PROMOTIONS AND NEW HIRES AT SMM LEGAL
With the onset of the New Year, two of our experienced lawyers have been promoted. Mr. Tomasz Jaranowski has become a Partner at our firm, while Ms. Patrycja Starczewska now holds the title of Counsel. What is more, starting January 1st, our energy law team welcomed yet another expert, Mr. Marek Grzywacz, PhD.
December 11, 2020
SMM LEGAL JOINS THE POLISH LNG PLATFORM
We have stepped up our efforts to promote the cooperation between businesses aimed at developing the LNG market in Poland. Over the last month, our firm has become a member of the Polish LNG Platform.
December 8, 2020
PKN ORLEN S.A. INCREASED ITS STAKE IN ENERGA S.A.
30 November 2020 marks the date when the tender offer for a minority stake in ENERGA S.A. announced by PKN ORLEN S.A. was effectively settled. Once again, our SMM Legal corporate team has comprehensively handled all the legal matters related to the project.
October 8, 2020
PRECEDENTIAL PERMIT FOR COVENTRY UNIVERSITY WROCŁAW
Supported by our lawyers, the Wrocław-based campus of Coventry University Wrocałw was granted a permit to recruit non-EU students using a simplified procedure. The decision is valid for two years and it took nearly nine months to obtain it. What was unique about this project?
September 29, 2020
SMM LEGAL HANDLES ONE OF THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN POZNAN FOR MTP POZNAN EXPO
On 15 September 2020, Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie sp. z o.o. (MTP Poznań Expo) closed a tender to select a buyer for a 5.5 ha plot in a prestigious location in the centre of Poznań. The plot, worth PLN 114.5 million, was sold on 29 September. A SMM Legal expert team, managed by Aleksander Czech, our Managing Partner, provided comprehensive legal services throughout the process.
September 28, 2020
INTERNATIONAL COMPANY’S BOARD MEMBERS ACQUITTED AFTER A DECADE
On 22 September 2020, District Court in Brodnica issued a first instance judgement acquitting two French businessmen in a complex white-collar crime case regarding a company operating in the computer paper production sector. From the very beginning, the Clients were defended by SMM Legal partners - attorneys Krzysztof Urbańczak and Przemysław Maciak.
September 23, 2020
PKN ORLEN S.A. ANNOUNCED A TENDER OFFER TO BUY THE REMAINING SHARES IN ENERGA S.A.
On 21 September 2020, PKN ORLEN S.A. announced a tender offer to buy the remaining shares in ENERGA S.A. A SMM Legal team led by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, our Managing Partner, has been providing comprehensive legal support throughout the project.
July 28, 2020
SMM LEGAL NAMED ONE OF THE GROWTH LEADERS AND RANKED 14th IN THE RZECZPOSPOLITA 2020 LAW FIRM RANKING
The Rzeczpospolia Law Firm Ranking is the most influential list of law firms in Poland. The firms are ranked on the basis of the number of lawyers – bar members and all law graduates – employed by the firms requesting to be included in the list. A report on the situation in the market of legal services published by Rzeczpospolita together with the ranking placed SMM Legal in the exclusive group of growth leaders in the last decade.
July 14, 2020
SMM LEGAL AND PKN ORLEN CELEBRATE A SUCCESS. EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES ORLEN’S MERGER WITH LOTOS
With our Firm’s support, on 14 July PKN ORLEN was granted European Commission’s consent for conditional concentration with Grupa Lotos. This is the first decision of this kind in Poland and probably the largest M&A transaction in the history of the Polish economy as such. The procedure lasted for over one year, and the project team was managed by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński.
July 8, 2020
SMM LEGAL SUPPORTS ENERGA IN ITS ENERGY TRANSITION PROJECT
On 7 July 2020, Grupa Energa S.A. launched one of its largest wind farms in Poland. A dedicated SMM Legal team led by Paweł Łącki, PhD, assisted the client in the investment process. The project is a new addition to a long list of successful investments in the energy sector handled by SMM Legal.
June 19, 2020
SMM LEGAL AMONG TOP 10 MOST ATTRACTIVE POLISH EMPLOYERS IN THE LAW CATEGORY
The Universum Most Attractive Employers Poland, an independent ranking, placed SMM Legal on the 8th position among the best places to work in Poland in the ‘law’ category. The top 10 include two tech giants, Google and Microsoft, and only four law firms. Only one of them ranked higher than SMM Legal. The remaining international law firms were placed below ours.
June 10, 2020
CELEBRATING OUR LAWYER’S SUCCESS: JAN STRANZ CONFERRED A PHD DEGREE IN LEGAL SCIENCES
On 12 May 2020, Jan Stranz, one of our Senior Associates, successfully defended his PhD dissertation on company law. On 09 June 2020, the Academic Council of the Faculty of Law and Administration of Adam Mickiewicz University resolved to award him a doctoral degree in legal sciences. Congratulations!
May 21, 2020
“HOW TO SURVIVE THE CRISIS?” A LEGAL HANDBOOK FOR BUSINESSES BY OUR LAWYERS
On 21 May 2020, a legal handbook for medium and large enterprises entitled Jak przetrwać kryzys? (How To Survive the Crisis?) hit the virtual bookshelves. The publication was prepared under the editorial eye of Wojciech Kapica, Head of our Financial Markets Law Department. The authors include also other SMM Legal lawyers: Piotr Kawiak, Wojciech Stawnicki and Paweł Stępniak.
May 7, 2020
SMM LEGAL SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A GRAND CHALLENGE PROJECT
Our Client, the National Centre for Research and Development, has launched an innovative project entitled “Grand Challenge: Energy”. This is the first Polish initiative in a unique formula modelled upon DARPA Grand Challenge competitions. The legal aspects of the project are handled by one of our lawyers, Mateusz Stańczyk.
April 23, 2020
PKN ORLEN S.A. TAKES OVER CONTROL OF ENERGA S.A. WITH SMM LEGAL’S SUPPORT
On Wednesday, 22 April, after a lengthy procedure, PKN ORLEN S.A. has been cleared to take over ENERGA S.A. Throughout the transaction process, PKN Orlen was supported by SMM Legal’s expert team led by Prof.Maciej Mataczyński, Manging Partner at our Firm.
April 15, 2020
SMM LEGAL RECOMMENDED IN AS MANY AS FIVE CATEGORIES BY THE LEGAL 500, A PRESTIGEOUS LAW FIRM RANKING
Another year in a raw, the effects of our work have been recognized by THE LEGAL 500, a prestigious law firm ranking. This year our firm has earned recommendations in as many as five categories: corporate practice and M&A, intellectual property, litigation, capital markets and, for the first time, investment funds.
March 31, 2020
EUROPEAN COMMISSION CLEARS ACQUISITION OF ENERGA S.A. BY ORLEN S.A.
On 31 March 2020 the European Commission issued a non-opposition decision to the acquisition of ENERGA S.A. by PKN Orlen S.A. The SMM Legal team led by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński provided comprehensive legal support to PKN Orlen S.A. throughout the notification process. On top of this, Prof. Mataczyński represented the Client in the procedure before the European Commission.
March 18, 2020
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESSES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected legal and economic environment in Poland, creating a plethora of problems that companies are struggling to respond to. In this situation, we have launched a dedicated e-mail address pomoc.koronawirus@smmlegal.pl for any inquiries related to the legal aspects of running a business during the epidemic.
March 16, 2020
ORGANISATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS AT SMM LEGAL DUE TO COVID-19
Despite extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemics, SMM Legal continues to provide legal services without interruptions. The epidemiological situation has no impact on the quality of our work. We remain at our Client’s disposal and continue to monitor the events. In compliance with the recommendations issued by the National Sanitary Inspection, most of our employees work remotely from home.
March 10, 2020
SMM LEGAL PARTNERS WITH THE ‘PR COLLEGE’ EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
PR College is a new educational project dedicated to SMEs and aimed at strengthening entrepreneurs’ independence in the area of public relations. SMM Legal provides specialist support for the event in the field of intellectual property rights.
February 27, 2020
ENERGA-OBRÓT S.A., SUPPORTED BY SMM LEGAL, SIGNS ITS SEVENTH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH WIND FARMS
Energa-Obrót S.A. amicably resolved all its disputes regarding so-called green certificates with yet another business partner. This is the seventh dispute settled by Energa-Obrót S.A. with wind farms sued in September 2017. Throughout the negotiation process, the company was supported by our interdisciplinary energy law and litigation expert team managed by Mr. Paweł Łącki, PhD, and Ms. Patrycja Starczewska.
February 26, 2020
PKN ORLEN NOTIFIES THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF ITS INTENT TO ACQUIRE ENERGA S.A.
On 26 February 2020, PKN ORLEN notified the European Commission of its intent to take over control of Grupa ENERGA S.A. For several months, a team of SMM Legal lawyers led by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Managing Partner at our firm, has been working on the legal aspects of the notification.
February 14, 2020
KALIKST NAGEL, PhD, PROMOTED TO SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT SMM LEGAL
Mr. Kalikst Nagel, PhD, our expert on public procurement law, has just been promoted to the rank of Senior Associate. This decision was announced today by the firm's management board.
January 12, 2020
SMM LEGAL MAKES MAJOR ADDITIONS TO STRENGTHEN ITS ENERGY LAW DEPARTMENT
SMM Legal is pleased to announce that it has added two energy law experts: Mr. Michał Tarka and Mr. Marcin Trupkiewicz, who have joined our Firm together with their team, TTW Legal. In response to the growing demand for legal services in the Polish energy sector, which is undergoing a major transformation, we have combined the experience of the two law firms with top expertise in this field. Both Mr. Tarka and Mr. Trupkiewicz became SMM Legal Partners.
December 6, 2019
PKN ORLEN S.A. ANNOUNCED ITS PLANS TO TAKE OVER ENERGA S.A.
PKN ORLEN S.A. announced a tender offer aimed at acquiring control of ENERGA S.A. SMM Legal’s expert team, managed by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Managing Partner at our Firm, is in charge of providing comprehensive legal support on this project.
December 3, 2019
WOJCIECH KAPICA IS PROMOTED TO THE ROLE OF A SMM LEGAL PARTNER
Wojciech Kapica, who previously worked with SMM Legal as a Counsel, has been promoted to the role of a Partner at our Firm. From the very beginning, he has been co-managing the Financial Markets law practice.
December 2, 2019
SMM LEGAL HELPS TO PROTECT MPT GROUP’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DURING TRADE FAIR
SMM Legal lawyers and the MPT Group – the leading organiser of trade fairs in Poland – are implementing ‘IP Friendly’ – an innovative project aimed at streamlining IP-related disputes involving exhibitors.
November 29, 2019
THE FIRST BRITISH UNIVERSITY OPENS ITS CAMPUS IN POLAND WITH SUPPORT FROM SMM LEGAL LAWYERS
Following a successfully completed registration procedure carried out with SMM Legal’s support, the Polish Branch of Coventry University in Wrocław will be able to welcome its first students in the autumn of 2020. This is the first branch campus of a foreign university to open in Poland in over two decades, and the second case of this type in history. The first foreign university to start its operations in Poland was the European College in Bruges, which opened its Polish branch campus in the early 1990s.
November 21, 2019
SMM LEGAL LAWYERS CO-AUTHOR AN IMPORTANT PUBLICATION FOR THE FINANCIAL SECTOR
SMM Legal lawyers, Wojciech Kapica and Adrian Rycerski, are among the authors of the first comprehensive publication on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing in the Polish market. This is the first exhaustive commentary to legislation on this topic.
October 29, 2019
COOPERATION WITH THE SWPS UNIVERSITY! THE LAUNCH OF THE “LAW, BUSINESS AND YOU” PROJECT
“Law, Business and You” is an educational project targeted at law students enrolled with the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities. It aims at confronting aspiring lawyers with the actual market expectations, helping them to be intentional about planning their future careers. The project was launched with a presentation by Mr. Przemysław Maciak, Managing Partner at SMM Legal, entitled “The Death of Law Firms”.
October 10, 2019
PROMOTIONS AT SMM LEGAL
We are proud to announce a new round of promotions at our firm. Mr. Tomasz Jaranowski, legal advisor, has be promoted to the status of Counsel, while two younger lawyers, Ms. Magdalena Cisowska, legal advisor, and Mr. Miłosz Malaga, PhD, were promoted to Senior Associates.
August 26, 2019
PROF. RAFAŁ SIKORSKI ATTENDS A CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES
Prof. Sikorski, a SMM Legal expert, will present a paper at the 38th ATRIP Congress in Nashville, Tennessee. Prof. Sikorski will discuss patent infringements during the session on strategic legal reforms. The new patent law is one of the hottest topics debated at the conference.
August 2, 2019
SIMPLE JOINT-STOCK COMPANY BECOMES A FACT. PROF. TOMASZ SÓJKA AMONG EXPERTS-AUTHORS OF THE CONCEPT.
The legislative process introducing Simple Joint-Stock Company (Prosta Spółka Akcyjna) into Polish law is now complete. Prof. Tomasz Sójka, SMM Legal’s Founding Partner, is one of the few expert-ideators of the project. What is more, Prof. Maciej Mataczyński and other lawyers from our Firm’s company law department made their substantive contributions at the earlier stages of the work.
July 23, 2019
SMM LEGAL SUPPORTS ENERGA IN SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH WIND FARMS
Energa – Obrót S.A. has entered into yet another settlement agreement with one of the wind farms it sued in September 2017. Our team, coordinated by Paweł Łącki, PhD, and Ms. Patrycja Starczewska, supported the Client in the preceding negotiations.
July 22, 2019
SMM LAWYERS ADMITTED TO THE BAR
In July three of our lawyers took their oath and were admitted to the bar. Our team has two new advocates, Ms. Elimia Topolnicka, and Mr. Mateusz Kotowicz, and a new legal advisor – Ms. Magdalena Cisowska.
July 3, 2019
THE PKN ORLEN AND LOTOS MERGER ENTERS ITS KEY STAGE: THE CONCENTRATION NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
On 3 July 2019, PKN ORLEN notified the European Commission of its intent to acquire Grupa LOTOS S.A. The notification was preceded by a lengthy preparatory process spanning many months and involving dozens of SMM Legal lawyers led by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, our Firm’s Managing Partner.
June 14, 2019
TWO SMM LAWYERS ADMITTED TO THE BAR
Over the last month, two SMM Legal lawyers, Kalikst Nagel, PhD, and Tomasz Lewandowski, PhD were admitted to the bar. As a result, our team has a new licensed legal advisor and a freshly minted licensed advocate. Both lawyers have been working with our Firm for years.
June 10, 2019
A LEAP IN THE ‘RZECZPOSPOLITA’ RANKING! SMM LEGAL MOVES UP TO THE 11TH PLACE
The "Rzeczpospolia" Law Firm Ranking is the most influential list of law firms in Poland. The firms are ranked on the basis of the number of licensed lawyers and the number of all lawyers in general. The results were revealed during a ceremony held on 7 June at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
June 4, 2019
SMM LEGAL SUPPORTS AMBITIOUS INNOVATORS AND RESEARCHERS
SMM Legal has partnered with Alfa School in providing workshops for innovative entrepreneurs and researchers organised by SpeedUp Venture Capital Group. During the event, Prof. Rafał Sikorski explained how to protect one’s know-how in the corporate context.
June 3, 2019
LEGAL ASSISTANCE ON ENERGA’S SHAREHOLDERS LOYALTY PROGRAMME
SMM Legal has worked on the development on the "Energa w Akcji!" loyalty programme for Energa’s shareholders. Our team, headed by Aleksander Czech, Managing Partner, and consisting of Jan Stranz, Maksymilian Saczywko and Tomasz Lewandowski, provided comprehensive legal advisory on the project, the first of this kind in Poland.
May 10, 2019
SMM LAWYERS PASSED THEIR BAR EXAMS
Five of SMM Legal lawyers have successfully passed their bar exams. The newly admitted bar members are Magdalena Cisowska, Monika Ratajczak, Mateusz Kotowicz, Wojciech Krzysztofik and Emilia Topolnicka. As a result, SMM Legal has gained two new advocates and three new licensed legal advisors.
April 24, 2019
PROF. RAFAŁ SIKORSKI SPEAKS AT AN INTERNATIONAL PATENT CONFERENCE IN MUNICH
Prof. Rafał Sikorski gave a lecture entitled “Global convergence of approaches towards injunctive relief in patent law: achieving flexibility via different legal tools” at an international patent conference “Injunctions and flexibility in patent law” in Munich, Germany.
April 11, 2019
SMM LEGAL HIGHLIGHTED BY THE LEGAL 500 IN AS MANY AS FOUR CATEGORIES
For another year in a row, experts from SMM Legal have been highlighted by a prestigious law firm ranking, THE LEGAL 500. This year we feature among leading firms in as many as four categories: commercial, corporate practice and M&A, intellectual property, dispute resolution and capital markets.
March 27, 2019
PATRYCJA STARCZEWSKA TO LEAD THE LITIGATION DEPARTMENT
We are pleased to announce changes to our team. Ms Patrycja Starczewska, Senior Associate, will lead our Litigation Department. Ms Starczewska has worked with us since 2012. In her practice she has focused on civil, business law and litigation and has represented SMM Legal Clients in many court disputes. Her extensive experience includes energy-related projects and litigation regarding utility easements.
February 6, 2019
PROF. TOMASZ SÓJKA IN A GROUP OF TOP EXPERTS FINALISING DRAFT LEGISLATION ON SIMPLE JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES
A Simple Joint-Stock Company (Prosta Spółka Akcyjna, PSA), a new flexible legal vehicle facilitating the development of start-ups, is about to become a reality. The government has approved draft amendment to the Code of Commercial Companies regarding the introduction of this novel solution in Poland. Prof. Tomasz Sójka, an outstanding specialist in the field, has been working on the draft in a small group of top experts.
January 30, 2019
SMM LEGAL WELCOMES A NEW PhD TO ITS TEAM
We are pleased to announce that our Firm has yet another PhD in its ranks.
On 11 December 2018, Mr. Kalikst Nagel of SMM Legal’s Public Procurement Department successfully defended his PhD dissertation on human rights theory entitled “Inherent human capacity for inherent rights. A study in legal theory and philosophy of law” at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. On 29 January 2019 the Council of the Faculty of Law and Administration adopted a resolution conferring on Mr. Kalikst Nagel the degree of PhD in legal sciences.
January 11, 2019
MR. ALEKSANDER CZECH PROMOTED TO MANAGING PARTNER AT SMM LEGAL
We are pleased to announce that as of 14 January 2019 Mr. Aleksander Czech becomes a managing partner at SMM Legal.
Mr. Czech has worked with us from the very beginning. In 2014, he joined S&M, the predecessor of our Firm, and once SMM Legal was established, he became its limited partner, to obtain a senior partner status in 2017.
October 1, 2018
Wojciech Kapica joins Financial Markets Law department
Since this October, Mr. Wojciech Kapica, a leading expert in the field of compliance, financial sector regulations and regulatory relations, joins SMM Legal. Together with Prof. Tomasz Sójka, he will coordinate the Financial Markets Department at our Firm.
September 17, 2018
SMM LEGAL LAWYERS AMONG SPEAKERS AT THE 3RD GWOR CONFERENCE
On 11-13 September, the 3rd Conference on Rainwater and Meltwater Management (GWOR) was held in Zakopane. This year, as many as three SMM lawyers from our Administrative Law Department were invited to speak at the event: Mr. Jędrzej Bujny, PhD, Partner at our Firm, Mr. Mikołaj Maśliński, and Ms. Emilia Topolnicka, advocate trainee.
September 11, 2018
SMM LEGAL TO ADVISE POZNAŃ INTERNATIONAL FAIR ON THE ORGANISATION OF THE COP24 CLIMATE CONFERENCE
The Poznań International Fair (MPT) and the Ministry of the Environment have announced that MPT has been selected to handle the logistics of the biggest global forum on climate policy - the COP24 climate conference. SMM Legal supported MPT throughout the process of contract negotiation; our team, consisting of Ms. Olga Sokołowska and Mr. Maciej Goncerzewicz managed by Mr. Aleksander Czech, Head of our Corporate Department, will continue to provide comprehensive legal advisory related to the organisation of the event.
September 5, 2018
SMM LEGAL TO ADVISE PKN ORLEN IN THE PROCESS TO NOTIFY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF ITS INTENT TO ACQUIRE THE LOTOS GROUP
The 27th Economic Forum in Krynica, the biggest conference in Central and Eastern Europe on the current political, economic and social developments in the world, attended by more than 4,000 participants, is currently underway. On this occasion, we recommend an interview with Mr. Daniel Obajtek, CEO of PKN Orlen, summarising the developments in the European Union prenotification process.
September 5, 2018
TOMASZ LEWANDOWSKI, PHD, AMONG THE REVIEWERS OF AN UN PROJECT ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Mr. Tomasz Lewandowski, PhD, was selected to join a group of reviewers of an UN project entitled ‘Global Survey of the situation of human rights defenders’.
August 20, 2018
PROF. RAFAŁ SIKORSKI SPEAKS AT THE ANNUAL ATRIP CONGRESS IN HELSINKI
On 05-08 August 2018, the Hanken School of Economics and the IPR University Center in Helsinki hosted the prestigious annual international academic congress organised by ATRIP - the International Association for the Advancement and Research in Intellectual Property.
August 20, 2018
NEW PUBLICATION BY PROF. MACIEJ MATACZYŃSKI
A new publication by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Managing Partner at SMM Legal, has just appeared in bookstores. The book, written in the English language, is entitled ‘Seat of the Company in Private International Law. Selected Issues’.
June 8, 2018
SMM LEGAL IS AN OFFICAL LEGAL PARTNER OF ENVICON WATER 2018
On 5-6 June 2018 the Fair and Exhibition Centre in Bydgoszcz hosted ENVICON Water – the 3rd International Congress of the water supply and discharge sector. This year SMM Legal was the legal partner of the event. Our Firm was represented by Jędrzej Bujny, PhD, Partner at SMM Legal, and Mr. Mikołaj Maśliński. Both lawyers are on our administrative law team.
May 24, 2018
SMM LEGAL ASSISTS THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A NEW INNOVATIVE PROJECT
The National Centre for Research and Development announced a call for proposals in its new program “Hydrogen storage”. Following the “Blocks 200+” programme, this is the second contract to be awarded in an innovative pre-commercial procurement (PCP) procedure designed by the Centre with the assistance of SMM Legal.
May 14, 2018
SMM LEGAL PROVIDES ADVISORY TO PKN ORLEN ON THE LOTOS GROUP MERGER
SMM Legal has been selected by PKN ORLEN to provide comprehensive legal advisory on its merger with the LOTOS Group. Our Firm will carry out the due diligence audit of the LOTOS Group and will assist ORLEN in developing a merger strategy. What is more, we will draft comprehensive documentation of the deal and will participate in its preparation and closure, including the anti-monopoly procedure.
May 14, 2018
PROF. MATACZYŃSKI SPEAKS AT THE 10TH EUROPEAN ECONOMIC CONGRESS IN KATOWICE
Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Managing Partner at SMM Legal, is attending the European Economic Congress, a three-day event (14-16/05/2018) launched today in Katowice.
May 7, 2018
MS. AGNIESZKA SZTOLDMA, PhD, JOINS SMM LEGAL IP DEPARTMENT
On the 7th of May 2018, SMM Legal will welcome a new member – an outstanding lawyer, Ms. Agnieszka Sztoldman, PhD, will join our team.
She will partner with Prof. Rafał Sikorski to manage a dozen lawyers from our intellectual property and competition practice.
April 24, 2018
SMM LEGAL AMONG TOP 3 FASTEST-GROWING LAW FIRMS
As announced in the Rzeczpospolita Law Firms Ranking, SMM Legal is the 13th biggest law firm in Poland in terms of number of lawyers, and the 14th in terms of advocates and legal advisors nationwide.
April 24, 2018
PROF. RAFAŁ SIKORSKI AND SMM LEGAL IP TEAM ATTEND THE “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW – COMPETITION – NEW TECHNOLOGIES” CONFERENCE
On 24 April, a conference “Intellectual Property Law – Competition – New Technology” was held in Warsaw. Prof. Rafał Sikorski, head of the IP and Competition law and partner at SMM Legal was among the speakers.
April 16, 2018
SMM LEGAL PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ADVISORY IN THE LARGEST POLISH ELECTROMOBILITY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT (PLN 2 BILLION)
SMM Legal Team provides the Polish National Centre for Science and Research with comprehensive legal assistance in the first and so far the largest Polish project (total worth over PLN 2 billion) aimed at boosting the development of the electric transportation sector in Poland. The programme is being carried out within the innovative partnership formula. So far advisory has focused on public procurement law and electro-mobility regulations, but SMM Legal supports the Centre also in ongoing liaison with other contracting parties and stakeholders.
April 13, 2018
THE LEGAL 500 RECOMMENDS SMM LEGAL AGAIN
As in previous years, SMM Legal is amongst the law firms recognized by the prestigious THE LEGAL 500 RANKING. This time, we were recommended in two categories: Corporate Practice, Capital Markets and M&A Transactions, as well as Telecommunications Law.
April 9, 2018
SMM LEGAL CO-ORGANISES PROF. BENTLY’S LECTURE ON “CLAIMS, NOTICE AND PROPERTY DEFINITION IN THE LAW OF TRADE MARKS” AT ADAM MICKIEWICZ UNIVERSITY
On 26 March 2018, the Faculty of Law and Administration of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań had the pleasure to host Prof. Lionel Bently of Cambridge University, who presented his lecture entitled “Claims, Notice and Property Definition in the Law of Trade Marks”. The lecture was organised with the support of SMM Legal by the Faulty, the British Law Centre and the Intellectual Property and Competition Law Society.
January 10, 2018
PARTNER AT SMM LEGAL RAFAŁ SIKORSKI, PHD, RECEIVES PROFESSORSHIP AT ADAM MICKIEWICZ UNIVERSITY
We are honoured to announce that the Board of the Faculty of Law and Administration of Adam Mickiewicz University has awarded tenured professorship to Mr. Rafał Sikorski, PhD, Senior Partner at SMM Legal.
January 10, 2018
SMM LEGAL WELCOMES A NEW PHD
SMM Legal welcomes a new doctor of legal sciences (PhD) to its legal team.
January 5, 2018
SMM LEGAL IS ADVISING THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE LARGEST PUBLIC CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED IN POLAND
The SMM Legal team has been advising the National Centre for Research and Development on the largest public contract to be awarded in Poland in the innovation partnership procedure. The successful bidder will develop and deliver innovative emission-free public transport vehicles.
November 20, 2017
MR. PRZEMYSŁAW MACIAK IN ‘RZECZPOSPOLITA’ ON RENEGOTIATING ENERGA-OBRÓT’S LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS
On 20 November 2017, ‘Economics & Market’, a specialist insert in leading Polish daily ‘Rzeczpospolita’, published a comment by Mr. Przemysław Maciak, Managing Partner at SMM Legal, on the possible renegotiation of the long-term agreements made by Energa-Obrót S.A.
November 17, 2017
Tomasz Lewandowski, PhD wins ‘Rising Stars’ Lawyers of Tomorrow 2017’
Tomasz Andrzej Lewandowski, PhD, Senior Associate at SMM Legal, is among the lawyers awarded a special prize in the ‘Rising Stars’ Lawyers – Leaders of Tomorrow 2017, a prestigious competition organised by the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, a specialist daily dedicated to legal issues, and Wolters Kluwer Polska, to distinguish outstanding lawyers aged under 35.
October 30, 2017
TOMASZ LEWANDOWSKI, PhD, A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN
From 26 to 28 October 2017, a member of SMM Legal team, Tomasz Lewandowski, PhD, attended the 10th International Conference for Young Researchers on International Humanitarian Law at the University of Yerevan.
October 23, 2017
RAFAŁ SIKORSKI, PhD, SPEAKS AT THE 36TH INTERNATIONAL ATRIP CONGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND
On 25 October, Mr. Rafał Sikorski, PhD, Partner at SMM Legal and the Head of our Intellectual Property Team, will present his lecture entitled “Searching for Optimal Response to PAEs’ Excessive Enforcement Practices” at the University of Wellington in New Zealand.
October 17, 2017
R. Sikorski, PhD, Senior Partner at SMM Legal speaks to The Financial Times about ENERGA-Obrót’s compliance with CPAs
The Financial Times recently published an article on actions that Invenergy, an American Corporation, intends to take against Poland.
October 12, 2017
MEDIA WEIGHS IN ON PRECEDENTIAL ACTIONS TO INVALIDATE CERTIFICATE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Ever since the joint press conference held by SMM Legal on behalf of the ENERGA Group announcing precedent court and arbitration actions, the media have been incessantly covering the case.
October 12, 2017
ARTICLE ON PRECEDENTIAL CASES BROUGHT BY SMM LEGAL ON BEHALF OF THE ENERGA GROUP PUBLISHED ON THE PRESTIGIOUS ‘CEE LEGAL’ WEBSITE
The prestigious specialist legal website, CEE Legal Matters, recently looked at the precedential nature of actions declaring the invalidity of contracts for the purchase of so-called green certificates, brought by SMM Legal on behalf of the Energa Group.
September 27, 2017
PROF. MATACZYŃSKI AND PROF. SÓJKA PUBLISH THEIR RESEARCH ABROAD
Peter Lang, a prestigious German academic publishing house, has just published a volume of collected works, edited by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński. The book is entitled The Takeover of Public Companies as a Mode of Exercising EU Treaty Freedoms and features papers by a number of scholars, including Prof. Mataczyński and Prof. Sójka.
September 26, 2017
PROF. MATACZYŃSKI PRESENTS HIS PAPER AT THE 11TH MEETING OF COMMERCIAL LAW CHAIRS IN WARSAW
From 21-22 September 2017, the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw hosted the 11th Meeting of Commercial Law Chairs. This year’s meeting was entitled ‘Searching for the optimum company governance – effective management and supervision’, and included a presentation by Prof. Mataczyński on Management and supervision models in a limited company, outlined in the European Model Company Act draft.
September 26, 2017
PROF. MATACZYŃSKI SPEAKS AT THE NATIONAL ADVOCATE TRAINEES’ ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
At the recent National Advocate Trainees’ Academic Conference, which ran from 22-24 September 2017 in Warsaw at the Ministry of Development, Prof. Mataczyński presented his paper entitled The supervisory board and audit committee functioning model in the corporate oversight system viewed from the perspective of the Act on Statutory Auditors, Audit Firms and Public Supervision of 11/05/2017 and the Code of Commercial Companies Act of 15/09/2000.
September 12, 2017
On behalf of ENERGA Group, SMM Legal brings a precedent court and arbitration action
The SMM Legal team, managed by Prof. Maciej Mataczyński and Mr. Przemysław Maciak, Managing Partners at SMM Legal, is representing ENERGA-Obrót S.A. in 22 precedent court and arbitration cases concerning framework agreements on the sale of proprietary rights under certificates of origin for the energy generated from wind farms (green certificates).
July 13, 2017
SMM LEGAL’S SUCCESSFUL ADVISORY ON A MAJOR POLISH MBO TRANSACTION
Recently, a company controlled by Mr. Igor Chalupec (currently serving as CEO at RUCH S.A.) acquired control of RUCH S.A. from Eton Park. The SMM Legal team (composed of Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Managing Partner, Mr. Wojciech Sikorski, Partner and Mr. Maksymilian Saczywko, Associate) had the pleasure to advise the buyer on the transaction.
June 27, 2017
ANOTHER SMM LEGAL LAWYER AWARDED A PHD
Today (27/06/2017), the Council of the Faculty of Law and Administration at Adam Mickiewicz University conferred a PhD degree in Legal Sciences on Mr. Tomasz Lewandowski of SMM Legal.
May 24, 2017
SUCCESS OF SMM LEGAL’S DEFENSE LAWYERS – FINAL ACQUITTAL OF PROF. KRZYSZTOF DREWS, M.D.
On 24 May 2017 the Poznań Court of Appeal upheld a lower instance court judgement finally confirming the acquittal of gynaecologists accused in the high profile case of the death of a patient and her unborn children in a Poznań-based maternity hospital. During the trial Prof. Drews was represented by SMM Legal partners Mr. Przemysław Maciak and Mr. Krzysztof Urbańczak.
May 22, 2017
SMM LEGAL ADVISES SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL ON THE ACQUISITION OF UNIWHEELS AG SHARES
SMM Legal provided advisory to Superior Industries International as part of the company’s tender for a 100% sharehold of Uniwheels AG.
May 16, 2017
SMM LEGAL PARTNERS THE ENVICON WATER CONGRESS HELD IN BYDGOSZCZ ON 16-17 MAY 2017
From the 16th-17th May 2017 Bydgoszcz will host the two-day Envicon Water Congress. SMM Legal is an official partner of the event.
April 21, 2017
SMM LEGAL CONTINUES TO CLIMB THE RZECZPOSPOLITA LAW FIRM RANKING
We are thrilled and proud to announce that for another year in a row SMM Legal has been recognized as one of the top law firms in Poland in the most prestigious Polish law firm ranking, compiled by Rzeczpospolita.
April 20, 2017
SMM LEGAL PROVIDES LEGAL ADVISORY IN THE LAUNCH OF TWO NCBR FUNDS
2 billion zloty to support investments in technologies – SMM Legal provided comprehensive legal advisory in the launch of two Funds of Funds – NCBR CVC and NCBR VC by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
April 18, 2017
SMM LEGAL SOLIDIFIES ITS PRESENCE IN THE LEGAL 500 RANKING
For another year in a row, SMM LEGAL has confirmed its strong presence in the periodic LEGAL 500 ranking of law firms. As in previous years, we were distinguished in as many as three categories.
April 6, 2017
SMM LEGAL SUCCESSFULY ADVISES IN THE ACQUISITION OF EIT+ BY THE STATE TREASURY
Yesterday in Wrocław Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Science Mr. Jarosław Gowin, the Mayor of Wrocław Mr. Rafał Dutkiewicz and the rectors of Wrocław’s universities signed an agreement by which the State Treasury acquired shares in the Wrocław EIT+ Research Centre.
March 27, 2017
MR. RAFAŁ SIKORSKI, PhD, SPEAKS AT CONFERENCES IN THE US AND INDIA
On 23-24 March 2017, Mr. Rafał Sikorski, a distinguished legal scholar and partner at SMM Legal, participated in a seminar on patent claims.
March 24, 2017
SMM LEGAL’S LEAP IN POLITYKA INSIGHT’S 2017 REGULATORY LAW FIRMS RANKING – TELECOMMUNICATIONS
This year, for another year running, SMM Legal was listed in the 2017 Regulatory Law Firms Ranking prepared by Polityka Insight specialists. Our firm moved up from last year’s position in Group 3 in the Telecommunications category, to become the leader of Group 2.
March 7, 2017
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT AN ORIGINAL IDEA? SMM EXPERTS EXPLAIN IN THE RZECZPOSPOLITA DAILY
An article written by experts from the SMM Legal Intellectual Property Team, Ms. Magdalena Michalska and Ms. Joanna Matczuk, entitled W jaki sposób można skutecznie obronić autorski pomysł (How to Effectively Protect an Original Idea) was recently published in the leading Polish daily newspaper, Rzeczpospolita (Rzeczpospolita of 03/03/2017, p. D4).
February 15, 2017
MS. MONIKA ADAMCZAK – NEW PARTNER AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT AT SMM LEGAL
SMM Legal is pleased to welcome a new Partner – in mid-February an outstanding public procurement and business law specialist, Ms. Monika Adamczyk, joined our Firm.
January 13, 2017
A YEAR OF CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS – 2016 AT SMM LEGAL
Dear Readers,
In the first days of the New Year, as a Managing Partner at SMM Legal, one of the leading Polish law firms, I would like to take the opportunity to recap 2016 from the perspective of our legal practice. Last year at SMM Legal will be remembered as very intense and abounding with professional and personal achievements.
January 12, 2017
ARTICLE BY JOANNA MATCZUK AND MAGDALENA MICHALSKA IN ‘RZECZPOSPOLITA’
An article by Ms. Joanna Matczuk and Ms. Magdalena Michalska of SMM Legal, entitled Legalne linkowanie? (Legal link posting?) focuses on the legal aspects of link posting in the context of the latest CJEU judgement. It was published in the 11/01/2017 print issued of Rzeczpospolita, a major Polish daily.
December 30, 2016
SMM LEGAL’S ADVISORY ON EUR450 MILLION INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CONTRACT
EUR 450 million for the commercialisation of innovative research – SMM Legal has provided comprehensive legal services instrumental to the successful signing of a contract between the Polish National Research and Development Centre and PFR Ventures to establish an Investment Fund within the BRIdge VC programme.
December 15, 2016
SMM LEGAL’S ADVISORY ON THE FIRST POLISH INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP PROCEDURE
Ms. Monika Adamczak of SMM Legal has provided comprehensive legal advisory to the largest Polish transfer operator, in the process of assembling tender documentation for the first Polish innovative partnership procedure.
December 7, 2016
SMM LEGAL’S SUCCESS BEFORE SUPREME COURT
Patrycja Starczewska, an attorney from SMM Legal representing one of the major transfer operators, has won a case before the Supreme Court.
Last week the Supreme Court issued a prejudicial ruling answering the following question of law: Is a person whose property, that has become encumbered by an easement corresponding to a transfer easement as a result of usucaption, entitled to a claim for the fee for use of the property with respect to the easement for the period preceding the usucaption?
November 25, 2016
JOANNA ŁABUDZKA TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE ECTA (EUROPEAN COMPETPTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION)
We are pleased to announce that Joanna Łabudzka, legal advisor and partner at SMM Legal, managing our Firm’s Telecommunications Practice, a Board Advisor on Regulatory Matters to Netia S.A., has become a member of the Board of the ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association), a leading organisation supporting competition in the telecommunications sector. Her two-year term on the ECTA Board will commence on 1 January 2017.
November 15, 2016
AGNIESZKA GOLISZEWSKA, LEGAL ADVISOR, LICENSED TO PRACTICE AS AN ATTORNEY IN NEW YORK STATE, US
We are pleased to announce that Ms. Agnieszka Goliszewska, legal advisor at SMM Legal, has now been licensed to practice as an attorney in New York State, USA
November 8, 2016
NEW FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS LAW WITH PROF. SÓJKA’S CONTRIBUTION ARRIVES IN BOOKSHOPS
A few days ago, Prawo Instrumentów Finansowych (Financial Instruments Law), the fourth volume of the well-regarded Commercial Law System series edited by Prof. M. Stec, arrived in bookshops.