Full-Service Law Firm in Lodz, Poland

CGO Legal Counseling

Lakowa 3/5
Building 14, Office 31
Lodz 90-562
Poland

+48 42 663-65-03

www.cgolegal.com

Contact Mr. Michal Gawlak

Law Firm Overview

CGO Legal Counseling has been established to provide services for foreign clients who need legal support in matters concerning Polish law. We are a group of ambitious lawyers experienced in business relations with non native speakers. We provide services in four languages: Polish, English, German and Italian.

Complexity and high quality of services rendered alongside with cost effectiveness are the values regarded as most important at CGO Legal Counseling. Our business clients will have the most suitable form of conducting a business activity suggested, as well as assisted when establishing a company, purchasing a real estate and afterwards provided with ongoing legal services.

Our offer is addressed particularly to foreign small and medium entrepreneurs. We provide complex and tailor-made legal services which will satisfy the most demanding clients.

Year this Office was Established: 2010

Languages: Polish, German, Italian, English, Spanish.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Offshoring; Collective Redundancies; Individual Redundancies; Drafting Resolutions; Companies’ Transformation; Debt Collection.

Practice Areas Description

- Real Estate

Prior to an acquisition of a real estate in Poland we suggest conducting a complex analysis of its legal status, determining matters like: who is the proprietor of the estate and whether there are any doubts about the legal title of the entity figuring as the real estate owner, whether the real estate is encumbered with third party rights and whether there is any risk of reprivatization claims being raised. On the basis of gathered information we draw up a legal opinion concerning the eventual risk related to the acquisition of the particular estate.

- Formation of New Companies

A foreign entrepreneur who wishes to pursue an economic activity in Poland should be aware of legal risk connected with such undertaking. Forming a corporate structure should be processed carefully in order to avoid additional costs in future. Our offer covers virtually every aspect of running business in Poland – we help choosing a proper type of company, arrange accounting services and office for rental (including virtual offices), finally - deal with all formalities. For those of our clients who wish to start an economic activity promptly – we are able to provide an operating LLC within a week.

- Companies’ Transformation

Our lawyers possess sound practical and theoretical knowledge in counseling on commercial companies’ transformation. We advise our clients on how to optimally undergo the procedure both from tax and corporate point of view. If necessary we also prepare all documents concerned – plans of division or merger, resolutions, notification and motions to the National Court Register.

- Drafting Resolutions

For those of our foreign client who already have conducted business activity in Poland, we offer full corporate services which include: drafting resolutions and protocols such as appointment and revocation of the Members of the corporate bodies, raising the initial share capital as well as filing motions to the National Court Register.

- Merger and Acquisition

Our lawyers advise foreign clients who wish to acquire an already operating company. Such procedure requires significant amount of work comprising both a stage called “due diligence” and final closing part. We also help our client to decide whether to acquire an operating enterprise of to acquire shares in the company which owns the enterprise.

- Collective Redundancies

Having considered actual financial situation of many of the companies operating on the Polish market, we offer our clients who wish to pursue collective redundancies, a comprehensive advice on the process. Our help include preparation of time schedule of the process, estimate of costs, risks, information on consultation procedure with labor unions and drafting of all necessary documentation. We also advise in case of outplacements.

- Individual Redundancies

An employer engaging more than 20 employees, dismissing even one employee on the economic grounds, should follow the procedure stipulated in the collective redundancy act. Our law office will ensure that the statutory rules are observed and the termination procedure is not infringed.

- Offshoring

Our law office will provide you with an expert advice on how to legally deal with the offshoring process. We have rich experience in the subject matter, already having advised Italian, Middle East, German and Greek companies.

- Drafting and Verifying Contracts

While conducting business activity in Poland an entrepreneur will undoubtedly finalize numerous agreements drawn up in Polish or in other languages. Therefore, we offer professional translation (both Polish – English and English – Polish) of legal contracts and drafting opinions verifying legal risks of its conclusion. If it is necessary we can prepare a draft document of legal contract both in English and Polish, so that both parties to the agreement fully understand obligations being imposed.

- Drafting Legal Opinions

We offer our services concerning drafting legal opinions and memorandums on every legal aspect of your business activity. Our goal is to present a full and exhaustive counsel in an accessible and understandable manner.

- Administrative Proceedings

There are countless areas of commercial activity which cannot be undertaken without government consent. We help our clients obtaining licenses, permits and administrative decision necessary to conduct their businesses. For those of our client who are planning to start commercial activity in Poland, we provide detailed information on whether a given area of business is licensed and what prerequisites are to be met in order to receive approving decisions.

- Labour Law

It is necessary to properly draw up a labor contract in order to exactly define obligations of the parties to the agreement. A contract contrary to the law may result into employer's liability to compensate employees as well as constitute a criminal offense. Therefore among our services are: drafting labor contracts, including contracts with the members of the Management Boards of capital companies, verification of already concluded labor agreements and preparation of the documents necessary to enter and confirm a labor agreement before the public authorities.

- Copyrights

While conducting a business activity it is crucial to observe others copyrights. Our law office helps international clients analyzing whether a certain business project or undertaking infringes copyrights of Polish authors. We also provide advice on how to conduct copyright acquisition agreements in most optimized and secure manner.

- Protection of Trademarks

Protection of trademarks and other intangible rights (such as industrial patterns, unregistered trademarks, business names) is crucial for maintaining a strong position on the market. If you think that your rights have been violated, ask us for a legal examination of your case. It is likely that you may demand the violator to stop the infringements and pay a proper compensation.

- Registration of Trademarks

Should you need to register your trade mark before the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, please remember that it is always possible to get the EU effective protection in your country (provided it is a EU Member State) –ask us for more information about a Community Trade mark protection.

- Debt Collection

Aiming to minimize the costs of legal assistance, CGO Legal Counseling offers its help in resolving legal disputes especially through mediation, settlements and arbitration, without having to instigate court proceeding which may be costly and time-consuming. However, if the necessity arises to represent a client before a court of any type, we can organize legal representation before all courts and tribunals on the territory of Poland.

- Internet Law

CGO Legal Counseling makes an effort to stand up to the expectations of modern e-business representatives. Our law office will quickly and accurately prepare necessary website regulations or draft agreements of website's assignment.

- International Transactions Support

Establishing commercial relationships with foreign contractors is usually burdened with high risk. Entering into a contract, holding negotiations and making offers may be subject to foreign legal systems and thus the awareness of private international law and EU conventions may occur indispensable. Coming up to our clients expectations we offer services to support international transactions, including offer drafting, negotiation counseling and indications of risks connected with closing the contract.

- Verifying and Translating Contracts

While conducting business activity in Poland an entrepreneur will undoubtedly conclude numerous agreements drawn up in Polish or foreign languages. Therefore, we offer professional translation (both Polish – English and English – Polish) of legal contracts and drafting opinions verifying legal risks of its finalization. If it is necessary we can prepare a draft document of legal contract both in English and Polish, so that both parties to the agreement fully understand obligations being imposed.

- Services Concerning Work and Stay in Poland

Willing to start a business activity in Poland? We help non-Polish natives to understand and familiarize themselves with the reality of performing a commercial activity on the territory of Poland by explaining all the necessary theoretical and practical issues. Our professionalism and experience in cooperation with entrepreneurs allows us to provide services such as: choosing the most suitable legal form of a business activity; complex assistance in the procedure of registering commercial activity and receiving all necessary permissions; representation of a foreigner before Polish administrative bodies and third parties; ongoing legal assistance.

Lawyers

	Mr. Mateusz Bakowski Attorney Advertising, Agency and Distributorship, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Appellate Practice		Mr. Jakub Chajdas Attorney Administrative Law, Civil Rights, Tax
	Mr. Michał Gawlak Attorney Business and Industry, Communication, Intellectual Property, Labor		Mr. Piotr Owczarek Attorney Corporate Law, Internet Law, Tax