PL

B2RLaw represents Poland at the European Commission workshop on the future of European VAT

On October 14th and 15th, Jan Sarnowski (Counsel, Tax Advisor, LL.M., Head of B2RLaw’s Tax Practice), will participate in the the VAT Expert Group workshop aimed at preparing recommendations on the further development of European VAT for the new European Commission (2024-2029).

The VAT Expert Group (VEG) is a body that assists and advises the European Commission on VAT matters, in particular on the preparation of new legislative acts, policy initiatives, and the practical implementation of VAT legislation.

The current VAT Expert Group has been appointed by the Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union for a three-year mandate starting on 1 October 2022 and ending on 30 September 2025.

The group is composed of individual experts with particular expertise in VAT and organisations representing business and tax practitioners who can contribute to the development and implementation of EU VAT policy. The VEG currently consists of 40 experts: 7 individuals and representatives of 33 organisations. B2R Law is one of the two Polish organisations selected by the Commission to represent Polish tax advisors in the VAT Expert Group.

The VEG meets quarterly. Its sessions consist of presentations on the current legislative, political, and judicial developments in European VAT, summarised by representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union. This is followed by a debate aimed at providing feedback and opinions from prominent members of the academic, business, and tax advisory communities.

Jan Sarnowski joins the B2RLaw team as Head of Tax Practice!

Jan is an experienced expert with many years of experience in legal and tax handling of investment processes and cross-border transactions. As Deputy Minister of Finance in charge of the tax legislation division, he was responsible for the implementation of a number of preferences for entrepreneurs operating in the manufacturing industry and new technologies (Estonian CIT, VAT groups, Polish Holding Company, allowances for prototyping, robotization and expansion, and supporting investment through venture capital funds).

He is the creator of the legal framework for the operation of new e-services of the administration (Your e-PIT, e-Tax Office, e-Paragons and National e-Invoice System).

He led the implementation of the provisions of the EU e-commerce VAT package, the implementation of successive simplification packages in the goods and services tax (SLIM VAT), the renegotiation of double taxation agreements with Malta and the Netherlands, and work on defining the taxation rules for family foundations.

As Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Finance for International Cooperation on VAT, he was responsible for the development of technological cooperation with the administrations of developing countries. The result of his work was that Poland signed the first agreements on automatic exchange of information in the field of VAT.

And to top it off, Jan is also an academic teacher at the Warsaw School of Economics and the author of more than 60 publications in the field of law and economics.

See Jan’s detailed profile: here

B2RLaw advises Kodano S.A. in a PLN 40 million investment by the Vinci Da Gama ASI fund

The Kodano Group, which sells optical products in Poland, has raised PLN 40 million from the Vinci Da Gama fund, managed by Vinci S.A. (from the Polish Development Fund S.A. group). The capital raised, will be used to intensify expansion in European markets and develop the laboratory where eyeglass lenses are manufactured.

Kodano is betting on an omnichannel strategy that includes the largest online contact lens and eyewear store in Poland and a network of 100 lenticular dispensers spread across the country. Given the growing demand for optical products, Kodano, which already has online sales in Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania, plans to intensify its expansion efforts into European markets. To achieve this goal, the group has raised PLN 40 million from the Vinci Da Gama fund, managed by Vinci S.A., which specializes in investments in growing companies.

„We are very happy to have been able to support our long-time client, Kodano, in this investment. The investment entry of the Vinci fund means an acceleration of the already very dynamic development of the Kodano group in Poland and Central Europe” – advises Agnieszka Hajos-Iwańska (Advocate, Partner at B2RLaw).

“Most of the capital raised from Vinci will be used to develop our network of stores, both online and stationary, primarily abroad” – Matthew Matula, CEO of Kodano, adds.

“We decided to invest in a company in the optical market because of the attractiveness of the business plan presented by Kodano. We see Kodano as a growth company and one that is ready to further scale its business by expanding its network of stationary stores and expanding its online sales in European markets. Kodano’s mix of sales channels allows it to further optimize its sales activities and benefit from economies of scale, which in the long term should positively impact the company’s profitability. We expect that the invested capital will allow Kodano to grow at a rate faster than the market” explains Piotr Wolinski, CEO of Vinci.

The B2RLaw team was led by Agnieszka Hajos-Iwańska (Advocate, Partner), with the support of Magdalena Borychowska (Associate, Advocate Trainee) and Konrad Czernecki (Associate, Attorney-at-Law).

For this project, we worked with Pekao Investment Banking, Kodano’s financial advisor.

B2RLaw advises Neuca S.A. and Humaneva, Inc in a $50 million share acquisition by Viking Global Investors

B2RLaw, in cooperation with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, advised Neuca S.A. and Humaneva, Inc. on the acquisition of a minority stake in Humaneva Inc. by Viking Global Investors for $50 million.

The transaction will contribute to the implementation of the long-term strategy in the area of clinical research and is a key step in strengthening the group’s position in the international biotechnology arena.

Humaneva, Inc., the parent company of Pratia, Kapadi, and Hyggio  – leaders in providing integrated clinical trial solutions – aims to accelerate the evolution of its business model. As a prominent player in the European market, Humaneva is now setting its sights on further expanding into the American and APAC regions, both recognized as hubs for advanced clinical trial activities. With over 90 dedicated and integrated Clinical Trial Centers (in six European countries), Humaneva plans to strengthen its proprietary technology offerings, focusing on eSource solutions, data integration, and analytics, with the goal of broadening access to clinical research as a care option worldwide.

Tomasz Dąbrowski, CEO of Humaneva, Inc., advises, “Partnering with Viking is a strategic milestone for us. Viking’s unique blend of hedge fund and private equity expertise, coupled with their long-term, value-building perspective, aligns perfectly with Humaneva’s vision.”

„Cooperation with our new partner may result in prospective new contacts and greater trust in our company from the US market players. This transaction is also proof of the high potential of this area and thus of the long-term prospects of the Group as well as the credibility of our activities and confirms the correctness of the growth trajectory for the segment pursued so far.” – says Grzegorz Dzik, Vice President of the Board of Directors of NEUCA S.A.

“Congratulations to Neuca S.A., Humaneva, Inc., and Viking Global Investors on completing such a significant transaction supporting the development of the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology sectors. This is a showcase scenario of rapidly developing services that are crucial not only for the economy but also for advancements in scientific and medical fields. This includes the development of new therapies, drugs, and innovative medical solutions that directly enhance the quality of life and extend its duration. Great to see Polish companies going global and proving the attractiveness of their business models to serious investors. We are honored to have been able to assist our clients in this process.” adds Rafał Stroiński (Senior Partner at B2RLaw).

The B2RLaw transactional team was led by Rafał Stroiński (Senior Partner) and consisted of  Magdalena Borychowska (Associate) and Danyila Zubach (Associate), Konrad Czernecki (Associate) and Konrad Zając (Associate).

On this transaction we were accompanied by the transactional team of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP led by Stan Lewandowski (Partner) with the support of Laura L. McDaniels (Partner) and Ann Kim (Associate).

Promotions in B2RLaw 2023/2024

May in B2RLaw gives us many reasons to celebrate this year! On the one hand, the return of our brave trainees after their professional exams, and on the other, well-deserved promotions of lawyers.

We are happy to announce the list of our exceptional team of promoted lawyers in the 2023/2024 promotional round in B2RLaw:

+ Paulina Milewska-Mróz (Counsel) – known for her strategic approach and unwavering advocacy, Paulina is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom;

+ Magdalena Borychowska (Associate) – with her corporate experience and passion for M&A, Magdalena has become a master of due diligence and a trusted advisor;

+ Tomasz Husiatyński (Associate) – a beacon of integrity and professionalism, Tomasz is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of legal practice;

+ Barbara Tchórzewska (Associate) – with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the law, Basia continues to excel in her legal pursuits;

+ Małgorzata Tomaka (Associate) – unmatched in her persistence to explore legal knowledge, which Małgorzata inspires and shares with others;

+ Aleksandra Zielińska (Associate) – a women-leader in litigation and a champion for justice, Aleksandra inspires and empowers both colleagues and clients alike;

+ Katarzyna Hardasiewicz (Assistant) – she’s the linchpin of B2R, seamlessly juggling tasks and anticipating needs with precision, possess a keen eye for detail.

“Congratulations to each of these remarkable lawyers on their well-deserved promotions! Your hard work, talent and passion for the law are worthy of the highest recognition. Your skills, knowledge and professionalism are the foundation of our success and inspire others. We wish you continued satisfaction and fulfillment in your new roles!” – Bartłomiej Jankowski and Rafał Stroiński, Managing Partners at B2RLaw, say in a joint statement.

B2RLaw on a New York expedition!

Embarking on an exciting trip to NYC to deepen ties and explore synergies between the US and Poland!

B2RLaw will be represented by managing partner Rafał Stroiński – Head of our Corporate M&A Practice Group and partner Roman Iwański – Head of the Commercial Law Practice Group. We are looking forward to the many invaluable in-person meetings during their week-long stay in hopes of strengthening and expanding our firm’s relationships.

Roman will be giving a seminar to several of our US tech clients in NYC on the benefits of setting up an IT/tech hub in Poland. There continues to be great interest from US tech companies in tapping into the IT engineer talent pool in Poland by setting up IT/tech hubs. Poland has found itself in a goldilocks zone of sorts – stability of NATO/EU, great talent further engthened by immigration from Ukraine and Belarus, but workforce costs remaining significantly lower than in the US and Western Europe.

B2RLaw’s offering covers every aspect of clients’ needs when entering the Polish market: corporate set-up (shelf company program), HR strategy/employment, ESOP programs, securing IP, tax & social security, banking, real estate advice, insurance, accounting/payroll, compliance/ESG, etc. We find that clients really appreciate having everything under one roof and smoothly coordinated. We can get a Polish subsidiary up and running in a matter of days.

B2RLaw recommended in the Legal 500 EMEA ranking 2024

We are proud to announce that in this year’s edition of The Legal 500 we have been recommended in 8 categories and 9 lawyers are recommended, including Bartłomiej Jankowski listed in the elite “Leading Individuals” group and Andrzej Zając listed in the “Next Generation Partners” group.

Ranking by practice:

White-collar crime  TIER:2

Private equity  TIER:3

Real estate  TIER:3

Construction  TIER:3

Dispute resolution  TIER:4

Employment  TIER:4 

Banking and finance  TIER:6

Commercial, corporate and M&A  TIER:6

Ranking by lawyers:

White-collar crime

Leading individual: Bartłomiej Jankowski

Recommended: Bartłomiej Jankowski, Edyta Zalewska

Private Equity

Recommended: Rafał Stroiński

Other key lawyers: Agnieszka Hajos-Iwańska

Real Estate

Next Generation Partner: Andrzej Zając

Recommended: Andrzej Zając

Dispute Resolution

Recommended: Bartłomiej Jankowski, Roman Iwański, Edyta Zalewska

Other key lawyers: Paulina Milewska-Mróz

Employment

Recommended: Roman Iwański, Paulina Wyrostek

Commercial, Corporate and M&A

Recommended: Rafał Stroiński

Other key lawyers: Agnieszka Hajos-Iwańska

Bartłomiej Jankowski recommended in the Chambers & Partners ranking 2024

We are proud to announce that in this year’s edition of Chambers & Partners Europe Guide 2024 our Senior Partner – Bartłomiej Jankowski has been recommended in White Collar Crime category in Tier 2!

More information about White Collar Crime category in Chambers & Partners 2024 you may find here.

The Chambers Global Guide ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over 200 jurisdictions across the world.

That legal rankings is the most thorough and independent on the market. Each ranking is based on the in-depth research conducted by their dedicated and experienced team of researchers. Their unparalleled analysis of the legal market enables Chambers Global to deliver indispensable coverage and insights into the leading law firms and legal professionals.

Chambers Global provides recommendations that can be relied on, to ensure law firm clients are able to make the best-informed decision when choosing legal services when it matters.

B2RLaw among TOP10 polish law firms recognized by Legal 500 in Green Guide EMEA 2024!

We are pleased to announce that B2RLaw law firm has been recognized for another consecutive year in The Legal 500 Green Guide 2024 for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region! Only 10 Polish law firms were included in the list.

The Legal 500’s Global Green Guide is the first worldwide guide to the top law firms advising on issues around climate change, governance, and sustainability, with the editorial highlighting the leading practices and individuals in each jurisdiction, recognizing a firm’s contribution to ‘Green Change’ and ESG.

In 2023, the EMEA region has continued its role as the vanguard of the global green transition, building further upon its significant developments across clean energy, sustainable finance and investment, and ESG requirements. Through the combination of EU-level developments with national legislation our lawyers are increasingly providing clients with sustainability-related advice. They are engage in green projects and transactions, supporting clients remain at the head of market, regulatory, and policy developments. To meet the pace of global decarbonisation and help show clients that they truly walk the walk, we continue to develop green internal initiatives and set positive net-zero targets.

The Legal 500 Green Guide Editors (Anna Bauböck, Harry Hyde, Maya Sainani) advise, ”We are proud to share the engagement of both those leading global players acting in pioneering projects and those boutique sustainability specialists in the decarbonisation of their particular focus areas, and we hope this edition of the EMEA Green Guide proves an inspiring insight into the positive work and commitments of firms across the region”.

B2RLaw was recognized for its significant achievements and notable expertise in the renewable energy sector, where it recently hanlded a number of innovative acquisitions and transactions. Including, among others, legal advice for Vestas, one of Denmark’s leading wind turbine operators, the team advised on the acquisition of the ST3 Offshore plant in Szczecin for over PLN 170m. This new site is intended to meet national and global demand for offshore wind energy, thus playing a key role in achieving Poland’s energy transition goals.

Sustainability and circular economy ambitions increasingly become reality!

B2RLaw supported Simmons & Simmons at Polish aspects of the acquisition of a group of Data4 Group by Brookfield Asset Management

We are pleased to share that we have been part of a project recognized in the Europe Datacentre Deal of the Year by TMT Finance!

B2RLaw supported Simmons & Simmons at Polish aspects of the acquisition of a group of Data4 Group by Brookfield Asset Management, including at the legal due diligence process and Polish aspects of financing of the acquisition, which has been provided by a large consortium of banks.

B2RLaw team was represented by Rafał Stroinski, Roman Iwański, Magdalena Kalińska, Konrad Czernecki and Danyila Zubach. We worked closely with the wonderful team from Simmons & Simmons: Gideon Sharp, Kirsty Barnes, Isabella Roberts, Peter O’Donnell, Yannis Gavriel, Ed Robson, Oliver Gingell.

We would also like to thank the legal advisors to the lenders, Linklaters Warsaw, for their efficient and pleasant cooperation: Patryk Figiel, Katarzyna Lesinska, Michał de Białynia Woycikiewicz, Przemyslaw Sanka.

Huge congratulations to all parties involved in this transaction!