IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is a mainstay in the Polish domestic market. The firm was established in 1991 and its banking and finance practice is led by Marcin Olechowski. In the last year, the firm has been heavily involved in compliance and regulatory work.

Deals
In one of the most highly publicised acquisitions in the market, Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak advised the borrower, Eurocash, in the €262 million financing of the acquisition of Tradis (a distribution group). The deal closed on 20 December 2011. Furthermore, the firm advised Muralis as the borrower and Azora Europa I and Azora Europa II as the sponsors in the €35 million financing of the acquisition by Azora Europa I and Azora Europa II of real property in Warsaw.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak is another of the strong local firms that carves itself a place in the second tier. After yet another solid year, the firm comfortably retains its place in the table. "It's not in the big M&A transactions. It handles the Polish to Polish transactions," one partner says. Market players hold deep respect for Professor Stanislaw Soltysinski, who, over the years, reconciled his academic activity with counselling services to Polish and foreign entities. Nevertheless, he has been described as "more of the academic type."

Deals
Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak has been busy this year and advised the purchaser Eurocash on its €240 million acquisition from Emperia of Tradis, its distribution business. This matter, which closed in December 2011, was highly publicised between publicly listed competitors who negotiated an alternative to a hostile takeover. Additionally, the client represented the bidder, Time Warner, in its bid for 56% of TVN in a competitive auction. TVN is one of the largest Polish private TV stations and a publicly listed company. Vivendi outbid the firm's client in October 2011 and closed the deal in December 2011.