Latest updates
Downstream mergers under Polish company law
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Corporate Finance/M&A
- Poland
- 19 February 2020
The Code of Commercial Companies allows for mergers of both independent companies and related entities. Concerns arise when subsidiaries take over dominant companies (so-called 'reverse' or 'downstream' mergers) and the domination results in a subsidiary having a controlling shareholding package. While downstream mergers are admissible under Polish company law, a high level of uncertainty remains as to whether they will be accepted by a particular registry court.
Draft Promotion of Electricity Generation in Offshore Wind Farms Act published
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Energy & Natural Resources
- Poland
- 17 February 2020
The draft Promotion of Electricity Generation in Offshore Wind Farms Act was recently published on the Government Legislation Centre's website. Among other things, the proposed act aims to create a regulatory environment that encourages investors to carry out offshore wind farm projects. In turn, this will enable Poland to fulfil its obligations under the EU Promotion of Energy from Renewable Sources Directive.
Res iudicata saga continues
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Arbitration & ADR
- Poland
- 30 January 2020
The Supreme Court has previously opted for both a broad and a narrow understanding of res iudicata in Polish arbitration law. In a recent judgment, the court again leaned towards a narrow understanding of to what degree an arbitral tribunal is bound by a previous award. The decision should be a caveat for all participants in the Polish legal market that they should play until the whistle is blown.
Summary of 2019 labour law amendments
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak- Employment & Benefits
- Poland
- 15 January 2020
The year 2019 saw an abundance of labour law novelties, including amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Act on Trade Unions and the Labour Code. To welcome 2020, this article summarises the biggest changes that employers and employees faced in 2019.
Disposal of shares in private companies after introduction of universal dematerialisation
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Company & Commercial
- Poland
- 13 January 2020
The Law of 30 August 2019 significantly amended the Commercial Companies Code and other laws. The main change regards the general dematerialisation of shares in private joint stock companies and limited joint stock partnerships. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2021.
Posting employees to Poland as part of provision of services
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak- Employment & Benefits
- Poland
- 18 December 2019
The National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) oversees the practice of foreign employers posting employees to Poland as part of the provision of services. PIP inspections show that many foreign employers are unaware of the obligations imposed on them by Polish law, which can lead to fines of Zl1,000 to Zl30,000. Thus, foreign employers posting employees to Poland must understand their obligations, particularly with regard to working time and health and safety issues.
Amendments to Code of Civil Procedure
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak- Employment & Benefits
- Poland
- 04 December 2019
The Act of 4 July 2019 – which amended the Code of Civil Procedure and other acts, including Poland's labour and social security law – has received significant attention. Among other things, these amendments have introduced pre-trial proceedings and permit the courts to order employers to continue to employ a worker until proceedings are concluded, not only if termination of employment is considered ineffective, but also when the worker has been reinstated in their job.
Important changes to arbitration of corporate disputes introduced
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Arbitration & ADR
- Poland
- 07 November 2019
The arbitrability of corporate disputes has long been a controversial issue in Poland. Recent changes in Polish law introduced by the Act of 31 July 2019 aimed to resolve the issues surrounding and give the green light to arbitrating corporate disputes. Unfortunately, it seems that these amendments have failed to solve all of the problems and have even created additional uncertainties.
High-efficiency cogeneration – individual cogeneration bonuses announced
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Energy & Natural Resources
- Poland
- 28 October 2019
The first implementing regulations of the Act of 14 December 2018 on the Promotion of Electricity from High-Efficiency Cogeneration were published on 21 August 2019. The act aims to exploit the potential of cogeneration to improve air quality in Poland and increase the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
Recent labour law changes – an overview
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak- Employment & Benefits
- Poland
- 23 October 2019
A number of significant changes to Polish labour law have been announced in recent months. This article examines these amendments in detail, including changes to the Labour Code, remuneration for vocational training and apprenticeships, an increase in the minimum wage rate, the abolition of limits on retirement and disability insurance contributions and changes to social benefit fund contributions.
Supreme Court judgment on copyright of deceased artist
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak- Intellectual Property
- Poland
- 21 October 2019
The Supreme Court recently issued a notable judgment concerning the work of a deceased artist and the alleged infringement of his moral copyright. The decision underlines that it is difficult to limit the activities of people who have been gifted the work of an artist even after the artist's death, especially in the case of a close personal relationship between the artist and the beneficiaries.
Simple joint stock company introduced to Commercial Companies Code
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Company & Commercial
- Poland
- 07 October 2019
Parliament recently introduced the simple joint stock company to the Commercial Companies Code. This change aims to provide a simpler and cheaper option than standard joint stock companies regarding company formation, operation and liquidation and a more modern and flexible company model with a legal personality that will be particularly attractive to start-ups. However, the introduction of this new type of company has provoked divergent opinions.
Supreme Court comments on anti-competitive vertical agreements
Schoenherr- Competition & Antitrust
- Poland
- 26 September 2019
The Supreme Court recently explained that the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection does not have to identify all of the parties to an anti-competitive vertical agreement in decisions issued in such cases. This matter has been the subject of debate in Poland for some time, with some commentators viewing it as a possible violation of an organiser's right to a defence. It is evident from this judgment that such arguments will be unsuccessful in the courts.
ICC award set aside for failure to admit further expert evidence
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Arbitration & ADR
- Poland
- 05 September 2019
A recent Supreme Court case touched on the obligations of an arbitral tribunal which cannot base its award on party-appointed experts' opinions. In a controversial decision, the court clarified that in such cases, when both parties request a tribunal-appointed expert, the tribunal should allow such a motion and cannot merely decide against the motioning party, as this may cause it to violate its obligation to consider the case, which – according to the Supreme Court – is part of public policy.
My Electricity – new PV programme introduced
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Energy & Natural Resources
- Poland
- 26 August 2019
The prime minister and the minister of the environment recently presented a new programme called My Electricity, which aims to promote the use of photovoltaics. The introduction of My Electricity is one way to achieve the government's renewable energy target (ie, 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020); however, additional programmes that support renewable energy production are needed.
Award vacated for ultra petita decision regarding interest
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Arbitration & ADR
- Poland
- 01 August 2019
It is obvious to arbitration practitioners that an arbitral award cannot deal with claims not brought before a particular tribunal. However, it is also clear that vacating an award due to a violation of public policy should be an exceptional measure. The Supreme Court recently dealt with these two principles and leaned towards the former, setting aside a domestic award granted for interest for a different period than the one demanded by the claimant in the proceedings.
E-financial statements are first stage of digital revolution in Polish corporate law
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Company & Commercial
- Poland
- 29 July 2019
The legislature recently introduced a regulation on e-financial statements. As a result, all financial reports submitted by Polish companies (with the exception of entities preparing financial statements in compliance with the international accounting standards) must be drawn up electronically using files with an '.xml' extension as defined by the Ministry of Finance. Polish companies should take appropriate steps to mitigate the potential risks and comply with this revolutionary regulation as soon as possible.
Special rules of representation for limited liability companies
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Company & Commercial
- Poland
- 08 July 2019
The Commercial Company Code allows representation by a supervisory board or proxy appointed by a resolution of a shareholders' meeting in contracts or disputes between companies and their management boards. In this context, the Supreme Court recently examined whether a limited liability company should be represented by a general partner or its management board when amending a limited partnership agreement, despite the fact that the limited partner was a member of the company's management board.
President of Energy Regulatory Office's term of office comes to an end
Kubas Kos Gałkowski- Energy & Natural Resources
- Poland
- 01 July 2019
Maciej Bando's five-year term of office as the President of the Energy Regulatory Office recently came to an end. A new head of the regulatory body may lead to a change of method in the execution of some competences under its administrative discretion. This change of method may be particularly visible in network and supply activities, as most of the regulations in this regard are developed by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office and other administrative bodies in the European Union.
Constitutional Tribunal finds undertakings have right to appeal against consent to conduct searches
Schoenherr- Competition & Antitrust
- Poland
- 13 June 2019
The Constitutional Tribunal recently analysed regulations regarding dawn raids carried out by the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection and ruled that the respective law is not in line with the Constitution insofar as it excludes the possibility to challenge rulings allowing searches to be conducted. As a result, the Competition Act will be amended to provide searched undertakings with the possibility to appeal against Circuit Court consent to conduct searches.
