As many as fourteen SMM Legal experts were highlighted in this year’s edition of an important legal ranking, THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2023. On top of this, we earned a new team recommendation in the Construction category. This comes in addition to the distinctions we have repeatedly been awarded for years now in other areas of our practice: corporate and M&A, capital markets, intellectual property, dispute resolution and energy. Congratulations to our entire team!
‘To earn a recommendation in the ranking – apart from the objective assessment made by the analysts – a law firm must show a strong track record of positive feedback from its clients,’ explains Mr. Przemysław Maciak, Managing Partner at SMM Legal. ‘This is the most credible source of information on the market value of our team,’ adds Mr. Maciak.
The ranking quotes excerpts from the opinions that researchers gathered from our clients. Apart from our partner-line and business-oriented cooperation model, our clients often cited the innovative and creative approach of our lawyers to the projects at hand.
‘Businesses recognize and appreciate our ability to find non-standard solutions that take account of both the legal environment and their specific needs,’ explains Mr. Aleksander Czech, the other Managing Partner highlighted in the dispute resolution and investment-related categories.
Recommendations in six categories.
It is for the first time that SMM Legal has earned a recommendation in the Construction category. The Ranking Board appreciated the multidisciplinary nature of our team, capable of comprehensively addressing all the needs of our clients inherent to the sales and acquisition transactions as well as investments. The distinction was earned by both of the leaders in charge of the practice, attorney Aleksander Czech and Aldona Górska, attorney and a tax advisor.
In recognition of the ability to think outside the box, coupled with speed and pragmatism and underpinned by unrivalled competence, the Board of the ranking highlighted our M&A team handling the biggest mergers in the Polish energy sector, including the merger between PKN ORLEN S.A. and LOTOS S.A. As a result, as many as five experts across two categories, Capital markets and Commercial, corporate and M&A, have earned their distinctions. Apart from Prof. Maciej Mataczyński, Mr. Tomasz Jaranowski, Ms. Magdalena Cisowska and Dr. Miłosz Malaga who were highlighted also in the previous years, in both categories the analysts distinguished Mr. Mateusz Stańczyk, Partner with SMM Legal.
The fact that we have successfully handled projects of strategic importance for the National Energy System, shepherding the process from its onset to the very completion, was the key for our Energy Law practice earning a distinction in the Energy and natural resources category. The ranking analysis also appreciated the high level of professionalism of both leaders in charge of the team: Dr. Paweł Łącki and Mr. Michał Tarka.
Our intellectual property department achieved a success as well. Not only did it keep its recommendation in the Intellectual property category, but – apart from the continuing distinction earned by the head of the practice, Prof. Rafał Sikorski – it added two of its long-time members, Ms. Magdalena Michalska-Niewiadomska and Mr. Piotr Ruchała to the list of professionals highlighted by the ranking.
Extensive, cross-sectional competences, coupled with skilful approach to clients’ business needs is what motivated the recommendation awarded to our litigation department experts (Dispute resolution category). The analysts particularly stressed the strategic competences of the two Managing Partners, Mr. Przemysław Maciak and Mr. Aleksander Czech. The roles of our Senior Partner, Mr. Rafał Sikorski, and Mr. Wojciech Sikorski, another Partner with SMM Legal, were highlighted as well.
In brief
What makes us particularly proud is the double-digit number of individual distinctions earned this year by our lawyers. Importantly, a half of them were highlighted in two different categories.
‘Apart from unquestionable professionalism, our engagement is one of the key factors that makes our Clients want to work with us,’ sums up Mr. Przemysław Maciak. ‘Appreciating this fact, I wish to warmly congratulate all the distinguished lawyers,’ adds Mr. Maciak.
‘This is also an opportunity to thank our clients for all their positive feedback on our work’, concludes Mr. Aleksander Czech.
Congratulations to all the highlighted experts. We wish them continued professional success.
