Promotions at GESSEL

As 2021 gets underway, GESSEL is proud to announce the implementation of personnel changes at our firm. Three of our experienced colleagues have now become partners: 

Michał Bochowicz, advocate, specialises in M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions in the tech, media and telecoms (TMT) and renewable energy sectors, and also in day-to-day business law advice. He was has worked, on the buyer as well as seller sides, on some of the biggest deals in the Polish tech sector. His Clients include Polish and international private equity and venture capital funds, payment processors, e-commerce entities, software suppliers (also in the SaaS model), and green energy firms. Michał also brings his talents to pro bono work, helping startups and young entrepreneurs with their first steps in business. He is lauded for his ability to understand the needs of his Clients and the specific traits of their operations as well as for his proactive, creative approach. In his new role at GESSEL, Michał will co-lead an interdisciplinary team focused on the new tech sector.   

With GESSEL since 2015.

Adam Kraszewski, attorney, head of GESSEL’s employment law, life sciences and intellectual property practice. Often called upon to advise on projects which require not only legal knowledge, but also creativity and sensitivity. Adam has a long track record advising on employment law in its individual as well as collective variants; he has been instrumental in devising effective employment models and incentive schemes (also for senior management), drawing up internal regulations for employing establishments, and resolving disputes. His labour law expertise is often tapped by other departments within our firm, e.g. as regards the passing of employees to new employers in the context of M&A deals. Adam also advises on copyright, trademarks, and legally protected personal interests. Finally, he is an expert in pharmaceutical law, successfully navigating the legal path to inclusion of new drugs in national reimbursement schemes. He has published extensively on his area of expertise.

With GESSEL since 2006.

Karol Sokół, advocate, specialises in M&A transactions in the private and public markets, structuring of transactions, and on legal aspects of business financing, including credit facility agreements, private bond issues, and investment funds.
Cooperates with Polish and international funds and banking houses and advises on all stages of complex deals (on the buyer and seller sides) on share deal and asset deal transactions and on corporate restructuring. Also advises Polish and international companies. Repeatedly demonstrated his talent for negotiating complex transaction elements on behalf of the seller as well as buyer sides and in preparing shareholder agreements. His restructuring projects included buying up of bank receivables and leveraged buy-outs as well as devising representations and warranties liability mechanisms – also ones relying on W&I insurance, a novelty in the Polish market. Recommended, among other rankings, in IFLR 1000.

With GESSEL since 2010.

Apart from that, four of our legal professionals will now be assuming the role of managing associate: Dr Joanna Kisielińska-Garncarek, attorney with the arbitration practice led by Dr Beata Gessel- Kalinowska vel Kalisz, Karolina Krzal-Kwiatkowska, advocate and Krzysztof Jasiński, attorney from the M&A team led by Marcin Macieszczak, and Marta Grabiec, advocate at the employment law, life sciences and intellectual property practice led by Adam Kraszewski.

Marta Grabiec, advocate, specializes in intellectual property law, new technologies law, combating unfair competition, media law, and protection of personal rights. Her experience comprises legal advice and negotiations with respect to copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, patents and combating unfair competition. Advises also in respect of media law, press law and protection of personal rights of natural and legal persons. Her Clients include entities from the biotech, TMT, e-commerce, media, entertainment, and fashion industries. At the procedural level, represents Clients before civil courts, criminal courts, administrative courts, arbitration tribunals and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland. Supported Clients in cases concerning trademark registration and defamation in various media and publications.

With GESSEL since 2012.

Krzysztof Jasiński, attorney, specialises in M&A transactions, banking and finance, and company law. Advises private equity and venture capital funds, sectoral investors, and business founders, also contributes to due diligence studies. Before joining GESSEL, spent six years with a number of recognised law firms, working in the fields of business and companies law. Regularly publishes articles on business and civil law, among other periodicals in Przegląd Prawa Handlowego and Przegląd Sądowy.

With GESSEL since 2016.

Dr Joanna Kisielińska-Garncarek, attorney, specializes in litigation, arbitration. Her practice focuses on various disputes with business law aspects, including ones arising from M&A transactions and from construction and infrastructure projects. Represents Clients before the general courts and in arbitration proceedings (at, among other forums, the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, the International Arbitration Association, the Arbitration Court of the National Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, and the Arbitration Court of Lewiatan Confederation, and also in ad hoc proceedings). Also serves as secretary to Polish and international arbitration tribunals. Successfully participated in international moots in the fields of human rights and commercial arbitration; more recently, she contributed to such events in the role of judge / arbitrator. Author of publications in the realms of arbitration, law of obligations, and comparative law.

With GESSEL since 2015.

Karolina Krzal-Kwiatkowska, advocate, specialises in competition law, M&A transactions in the private market, and company and business law. Advises on merger control, unfair competition, and collective consumer interests; represents Clients before the antitrust authorities. In her M&A work, advises private equity and venture capital houses, drafting and negotiating transaction documentation and managing due diligence projects. Her extensive experience with the legal aspects of business operations leaves her well placed to assist Clients with current issues (e.g. reviewing commercial contracts) as well as more unusual undertakings (e.g. restructuring and retrenchment). Contributed to a number of books of relevance to her fields of practice, speaker at conferences.

With GESSEL since 2011.