Lawyers
Our team comprises a total of 30 people of permanent staff, consultants and of counsel. See below for brief resumes on some of them:
Romuald Jacek Merski
A legal counsel, founder and manager of our firm. Specialities: banking law, contract law, employment law. Managing Partner and General Partner. Languages: English.
contact: rjmerski@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- developed a document flow, work archiving and customer relationship system called Repertorium®
- implemented ISO 9001:2000 in the firm
- developed complete documentary frameworks (by-laws, standard terms of contract, etc.) for various business lines, products and processes in banks
- created innovative banking products (multi-purpose and multi-currency line of credit)
- drafted non-standard contracts for the banking business (escrow agreements, syndicated loans, complete documentation for the factoring function)
Ewa Kozioł – Brączkowska
A legal counsel and a limited partner, Ewa has over seven years' experience in employment law practice. She heads the firm's Employment Law Department and provides comprehensive consulting on labour matters, managing numerous labour court cases and getting involved in the development of our clients' human resources policies. She shares her knowledge and customer service experience, gained mainly with large enterprises, by frequently providing training on employment law (including collective bargaining) and promoting mediation in employment relations.
contact: ekoziol@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- negotiated collective bargaining agreement
- represented employer during collective bargaining
- supported M&A processes
- provided comprehensive legal due diligence audits of personnel procedures and company-internal regulations and decisions
- developed and implemented a modern anti-harassment policy in one of the leading retail chains, including comprehensive anti-harassment education for all levels of management
Aleksandra Horbatowska
An advocate and a limited partner, Aleksandra focuses in her practice on banking law and business law. She advises banks and businesses both on a daily basis and in project work as well as supporting them in criminal law issues. But her main speciality is litigation. Dealing with difficult cases, she has gained a wealth of experience in non-routine litigation. She shares her legal knowledge providing numerous training courses. Languages: English and Spanish.
contact: ahorbatowska@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- developed and implemented litigation strategies for banks in derivatives cases
- developed documentation for implementation of sales and customer relationship management software in energy undertakings
- was involved in drafting and negotiating contracts to secure a bank in connection with expected corporate split of its customer
Jakub Jurasz
A legal counsel, Jakub specialises in employment law (both individual and collective relations), including trade unions law, and in personal data protection law. He represents our clients as employers in many proceedings before labour courts across the country and advises them on a daily basis. Jakub is also experienced in broad medical law and healthcare regulation. He provides employment law and unions law education to employers. Languages: English.
contact: jjurasz@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- was involved in negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with representatives of a country-wide trade union organisation
- was involved in legal support for a retain chain acquisition
- provided a full employment law audit of a leading country-wide retail chain
Bartłomiej Ramotowski
A legal counsel, Bartłomiej specialises in banking law. He provides comprehensive advisory on banking law, business law and copyright law. Bartłomiej also manages a lot of high-value or complicated litigation. Languages: English.
contact: bramotowski@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- drafted and audited standard terms of contract for banking business
- conducted a legal due diligence of a public limited company operating in the energy sector
- provided legal support in the state aid process (EU funds)
- developed documentation for implementation of sales and customer relationship management software in energy undertakings
Michał Bartkowiak
A legal counsel, Michał specialises in business law and conveyancing (real estate law). He represents clients in numerous cases before courts and public authorities of all instances and in mediation procedures. Languages: English.
contact: mbartkowiak@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- provided legal support in the state aid process (EU funds)
- was involved in legal due diligence audits of companies
- took part in work related to administrative and tax aspects of infrastructure projects (matters of zoning/land use law, building law and real estate management law)
- provided training on contracts under civil law
Joanna Jędrzejewska
A legal counsel, Joanna specialises in employment law and trade unions law. She has experience in both individual and collective labour relations and has represented our clients in many court cases. Joanna provides employment law education. She is also experienced in broad corporate law and administrative law. Languages: English.
contact: jjedrzejewska@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- prepared and provided (as one of the instructors) a series of training sessions for management of one of the leading retail chains
- provided support to client and was involved in implementing a scheme of voluntary redundancies and group dismissals
- prepared and conducted a legal due diligence of real estate
Beata Marciniak
A legal counsel as well as a doctoral student at the Chair of Civil, Commercial and Insurance Law in the Department of Law and Administration of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She specialises in banking law, derivatives and legal aspects of collateral on amounts owed to banks. Beata also renders advice on legal aspects of our clients' every-day business. She has authored several articles in legal journals. Languages: English.
contact: bmarciniak@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- developed system concept, drafted standard terms of contract and implemented a new financing scheme for dealers of a leading car brand
- drafted plan to solicit and maintain stable debt funding
- conducted audits of loan documentation and contracts relating to payment cards
- provided legal support for an Indian multinational corporation's greenfield project in a special enterprise zone
Katarzyna Żyrko
A legal counsel, Katarzyna specialises in real estate transactions and business law. Her practice focuses on business lawyer services for various firms including public companies. She provides client representation in courts of all levels and in mediation. Language: English.
contact: kzyrko@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- drafted standard-form bank guarantees for one of the banks
- prepared and conducted a real estate due diligence review
- provides comprehensive advice and client representation in litigation involving insurance companies
Przemysław Stróżyk
An apprentice advocate, Przemysław focuses his professional practice mainly on everyday services to entities in the banking sector. In addition, he is involved in business litigation services and client representation during contract negotiations or litigation-related negotiations. Przemysław is experienced in bankruptcy procedures and has a proven track-record in judicial review proceedings in cases involving restitution of properties taken over by Poland pursuant to post-war decrees of the then Polish authorities (PKWN). Languages: English.
contact: pstrozyk@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- conducted audits of loan documentation (agreements, by-laws, contracts creating collateral) for banks
- was involved in debt restructuring negotiations based on a currency swap, drafted documents to secure the restructuring
- developed and pursued litigation strategies for banks in numerous disputes relating to currency options
- developed and pursued successful administrative litigation strategies in disputes relating to restitution of manors from Polish authorities
Marta Gałka
An apprentice legal counsel, Marta specialises in employment law, including both individual and collective relations. She provides client representation in employment litigation before labour courts across Poland. Languages: German, English.
contact: mgalka@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- involved in a legal audit of HR procedures and internal policies
- involved in legal assistance during unbundling of internal employer
Alicja Myśluk
An apprentice legal counsel, Alicja specialises in employment law, including both individual and collective relations. She provides client representation in courts across Poland. She is also engaged in mediation as a qualified mediator and provides employment law education. Languages: English, Russian.
contact: amysluk@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- prepared and provided (as one of the instructors) a training programme for the management of a leading retail chain
- involved in legal assistance during unbundling of internal employers
- involved in legal assistance during liquidation of a supermarket owned by a leading retail chain
- represented an employer in a collective bargaining process
Michał Szablewski
An apprentice legal counsel, Michał focuses on business lawyer services for banks and firms. He renders commercial negotiation assistance and issues legal opinions on business documents and contracts. Michał is experienced in bankruptcy proceedings and in proceedings relating to revision of annual fee for perpetual usufruct. Language: English.
contact: mszablewski@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- negotiated and opined general conditions of purchase between a major Polish packaging manufacturer and a leading European producer of electronic equipment
- developed and implemented a relationship model between a bank and a leading wholesaler to offer personalised banking products to wholesaler's customers
- conducted a complete operational audit of one of the units of a leading European energy company
- conducted negotiations in relation to cooperation between heavy industry manufacturers on implementation of a railway parts export project
Marcin Muchowski
A tax advisor and a doctoral student with the Chair of Financial Law in the Department of Law and Administration of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Marcin is also a lawyer and a graduate of Romanesque studies. He specialises in tax law and civil law. His work involves advising businesses on everyday tax matters, including in relation to employment, and work under civil law contracts. Marcin is experienced in state aid issues including regional aid programmes. Languages: French, English.
contact: mmuchowski@merski.pl
Major projects within the firm:
- legal assistance in tax ruling procedures
- legal assistance in administrative proceedings relating to employment of expatriates
- legal support in administrative processes involved in property development (including local land use plans)
Mariusz Bystrzycki
A legal counsel and a statutory auditor, Mariusz is also of counsel to our firm. He specialises in business law and tax law as well as in civil procedure. His knowledge of borderline issues in business law, tax law and accountancy can hardly be overestimated. Languages: English.
contact: mbystrzycki@merski.pl
Waldemar Modzelewski
A tax advisor and specialist in income taxes, Waldemar is of counsel to our firm as well as working as a lecturer for the Polish Academy of Accountancy. He co-authored many publications in this field and has rich experience representing clients in tax litigation at the stage of both administrative proceedings and judicial review. Languages: English.
contact: wmodzelewski@merski.pl
