We are attending the 4th International Exhibition & Conference ReBuild Ukraine Construction & Energy 2024 (13-14 November, EXPO XXI Warsaw).
The event brings together leaders and innovators to drive the vital recovery efforts needed for Ukraine’s war-torn economy, with a focus on rebuilding its infrastructure, industry, energy and housing sectors.
Rafal Stroinski and Roman Iwanski represent the legal perspective on reconstruction and investment initiatives, underlining the importance of a sound legal framework to ensure safe investments and sustainable reconstruction for Ukraine’s future, emphasising stable, long-term solutions.
We look forward to supporting and contributing to this transformative journey in any way we can.
Learn more about the event: https://rebuildukraine.in.ua/en
We are proud to announce that in this year’s edition of IFLR1000 ranking we have been recommended in 2 categories.
Ranking by practice:
+ Project development Tier 3
+ M&A Tier 5
Full ranking: https://www.iflr1000.com/Jurisdiction/poland/Rankings/195#rankings
On 14 and 15 October, Jan Sarnowski, head of B2RLaw’s tax department, participated in a workshop of the EC VAT Expert Group in Brussels. B2R Law is one of two Polish organisations selected by the Commission to represent Polish tax advisors in the VAT Expert Group. The two-day discussion focused on recommendations regarding the current challenges of European VAT, as well as general directions of development of this tax in the next 5, 15 and 25 years.
What were the key issues discussed?
The EU has ambitious goals for sustainable development. Should VAT play a role in achieving the EU’s sustainability goals? What would be the effectiveness of such measures and how would they affect the complexity of the European VAT system?
Today, the world’s most valuable resource is no longer gold or oil, but data. The analysis of relevant and reliable data is crucial in many areas of the private economy, as well as in the public sector, in order to protect the VAT revenues of countries threatened by tax fraud. Managing the data comes with challenges in terms of privacy and data security. How much should tax administrations know about taxpayers to ensure both the effectiveness of tax collection and the rights of individual citizens and confidential business information?
The EU platform economy is growing rapidly, from an estimated €3 billion in 2016 to €14 billion in 2020, affecting an increasing number of business sectors (e.g. finance, transport, accommodation and retail). Currently, online platforms don’t fit comfortably into the international VAT framework. How can new payment and reporting obligations be designed to avoid distortions of competition? Is there a way to ensure VAT neutrality in the choice between traditional and e-commerce distribution channels?
The results of the workshop will be presented to the new European Commission (2024-2029) in December 2024.
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 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
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, 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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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