Competition/Antitrust | Europe

The firm maintains its position in the top tier of competition law firms in Poland on the strength of its work in high-profile competition law damages actions. The team's strong behavioural practice further encompasses Polish competition authority investigations and subsequent challenges to fines. The law firm also offers notable activity in merger clearance and foreign direct investment notifications, often acting on behalf of private equity houses and other investors. It assists clients with competition compliance matters, particularly regarding distribution strategies. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance remains one of the strongest firms in Poland for behavioural matters. The law firm represents clients in high-profile abuse of dominance investigations, as well as challenges to competition authority decisions and private enforcement damages actions. Its recent work has also included investigations into allegations of misleading advertising and greenwashing. The team further assists clients with merger control matters, including phase II investigations, and state aid mandates. It often collaborates with the firm's international network on multi-jurisdictional matters.

Dentons is one of the leading firms in Poland for assisting clients from the financial services sector with the competition clearance for proposed joint ventures and mergers, including phase II investigations. The team is also strong in behavioural investigations and consumer protection mandates, as well as appeals against authority decisions. It additionally assists clients with the competition compliance aspects of distribution agreements and with European regulations.

Linklaters offers a market-leading practice group with outstanding knowledge of contentious competition matters. The law firm acts in behavioural investigations and follow-on damages claims. The practice represents clients before the Court of Appeal and the Court of Protection for Competition and Consumers in challenges to Polish competition authority decisions. The team collaborates with the firm's corporate department on merger control matters. It also acts on state aid cases and competition law compliance cases.

WKB Lawyers has a highly esteemed competition team that assists with a range of contentious competition matters. The law firm's mandates include investigations into alleged cartels or abuses of dominance, with additional experience in leniency applications, challenges to Polish competition authority decisions and damages actions. The team is frequently engaged in merger control proceedings, including challenges to blocked transactions. The practice advises on the preparation and implementation of compliance programmes.

Greenberg Traurig has a well-regarded competition and antitrust practice group, frequently retained by a number of notable private equity firms to assist with high-value merger control matters before both the Polish and European authorities. The law firm also represents clients in anti-competitive behaviour investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance. The team further assists clients with competition compliance matters.

Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak houses a highly respected practice group with a strong reputation for handling a variety of contentious competition law issues. The law firm represents clients in behavioural investigations before the Polish competition authorities and in subsequent court proceedings challenging infringement decisions. It also represents clients in damages actions. The team is retained by both local and international companies to assist with complex merger control mandates.

Baker McKenzie is a well-regarded practice group advising prominent international and domestic companies, often from the media industry. The law firm assists with merger control matters, frequently working alongside the firm's competition team in other jurisdictions on multi-jurisdictional filings. The team represents clients in Polish competition authority investigations into possible price fixing and consumer protection issues, as well as acting for them in challenges to authority decisions and damages actions.

CMS offers an accomplished team advising on both merger control and contentious antitrust issues. The law firm is noted for its representation in anti-competitive behaviour investigations. Additionally, the team represents clients in appeals against infringement decisions, including before the Supreme Court. CMS is experienced in advising on competition compliance matters, including distribution issues, and state aid mandates. Clients of the law firm include noteworthy transportation, energy and e-commerce names.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta's team is recognised for its robust merger control and FDI practice. The law firm advises on phase II merger clearance investigations, often involving multiple jurisdictions, as well as assisting clients with remedies. The practice also provides advice on behavioural investigations, state aid matters and competition compliance issues. Rymarz Zdort's clients include high-profile multinational and Polish companies.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka enters the rankings this year on the back of impressive activity on merger clearance notifications, as well as representing clients in phase II proceedings and possible gun-jumping investigations. The law firm offers additional experience in behavioural investigations, particularly regarding allegations of exclusivity and limiting market access. It further assists clients with competition law compliance.

Focused on contentious matters, Hansberry Tomkiel is a competition law boutique that represents a variety of clients before the Polish competition authorities. The team assists with behavioural investigations and high-profile damages claims, as well as acting for clients in court on challenges to authority decisions. The practice also handles merger clearance matters. The law firm also provides compliance advice to Polish and multinational companies, particularly regarding distribution strategies.

Hogan Lovells is active in contentious cases, including antitrust investigations, as well as in challenges to authority decisions. The law firm also advises on the competition compliance aspects of commercial contracts and distribution strategies, as well as assisting with merger control notifications.

Wardyński & Partners houses a well-regarded team that assists clients with competition authority investigations, as well as appeals against subsequent fines and damages actions. The law firm also advises clients on obtaining competition law clearance for corporate transactions and assists with competition compliance issues.

White & Case has a strong focus on merger control filings, often collaborating with the law firm's network of international offices to assist with multi-jurisdictional notifications. It is particularly active in transactions in the media, automotive, financial services and energy sectors. The team also represents clients in behavioural investigations.