CMS haves off finance team from Baker McKenzie in Poland

CMS haves off finance team from Baker McKenzie in Poland

The German law firm consolidates its offering in the crucial Central and Eastern Europe region

The Frankfurt-based international law firm CMS has announced the arrival of four –lawyer team from Baker McKenzie in Poland to boost its finance offering in the crucial Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region.

The four lawyers joining CMS at its Warsaw office is led by partner Rafał Zakrzewski. Other members of the team include senior associate Przemysław Karolak and lawyers Marcin Krzemień and Michał Horelik.

Zakrzewski, who specialises in international transactions governed by English law, become the fourth partner in CMS' 35-strong banking and finance team in Poland.

Zakrzewski was associated with Baker McKenzie's English law desk in Warsaw as head for two years. He had spent over a decade with Clifford Chance specialising in corporate finance before joining CMS.

At CMS, Zakrzewski advised financial institutions and investors on transaction and project financings with a particular focus on the energy, oil and gas and real estate sectors.

"CMS's strong position in the CEE region allows us to handle even more transactions for existing clients and to support new clients in their cross-border investments governed by English law. Brexit has not affected the main strengths of this legal system. Just as the English language dominates international business, English law remains globally applicable," Zakrzewski said.

According to CMS managing partner in Poland Andrzej Pośniak, Zakrzewski's arrival reflects the firm's continued growth efforts in Poland and its commitment to providing CEE and international clients with international transaction financing advice.

"Having Rafał join our team as a very experienced international lawyer is another step towards implementing our business strategy in Poland and in CEE/CIS," Pośniak said.

Some of Zakrzewski's recent transactional work at CMS includes advising on the European Bank for Reconstruction (EBRD) and Development's acquisition of an equity stake in Black Sea Oil & Gas in Romania, as well as the EBRD's $350 million financing provided to integrated steelmaker Arcelor Mittal Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine.

CMS has been on a hiring spree in Poland to bolster its offerings of late. Earlier this year it hired the services of Wladek Rzycki as a partner from Miller Canfield. Last year, it had hired a group of private equity lawyers from Clifford Chance.

With more than 150 lawyers in its fold in its Warsaw office, CMS has become Poland's second-largest law firm following Dentons.