Legal Services in Poland – What Foreign Companies Need to Know

If you plan to do business in Poland, you need a lawyer who understands both the local legal system and your industry. Polish law is complex. The right choice of legal partner depends on certification, specialization, and the scope of support you actually need. Below you will find a practical breakdown of how legal services in Poland work — and what to check before you engage a law firm.

Who Can Practice Law in Poland

To become an attorney-at-law in Poland, a person must:

1. Graduate from a university law program.
2. Complete a legal apprenticeship (several years of supervised practice).
3. Pass a state examination.

After passing the exam, a lawyer obtains the title of barrister (adwokat) or legal adviser (radca prawny). The distinction between these two titles is historical — today both function as attorneys-at-law with the same professional standing.

Why Certification Matters

In Poland, many firms offer "legal counsel" services without holding the title of attorney-at-law. Using their services carries higher risk. Here is what a certified Polish attorney-at-law gives you that an uncertified person does not:

• Statutory confidentiality order — stronger protection than any NDA. It is built into the law, not a contract.
• Professional immunity — no government agency, tax office, or other authority can force the attorney to disclose information provided by a client.
• Mandatory civil liability insurance — if something goes wrong, there is insurance backing the lawyer's responsibility.

At our firm, you will find only state-certified senior lawyers.

How Legal Specializations Work in Poland

Polish lawyers do not acquire formal, officially recognized specializations (unlike, for example, doctors). Everything depends on their actual experience and practice area.

What this means for you:

• If you need an IT lawyer, look for someone who deals exclusively with IT matters — not a generalist.
• The differences between civil law, administrative law, and corporate law are significant. No single lawyer covers everything well.
• Judge a lawyer by their track record: past projects, industries served, published expertise.

What to Look For in a Law Firm

• A team of several (or more) lawyers covering multiple related specializations.
• Particular depth in one or two areas relevant to your business.
• A boutique structure — you do not need the largest network firm to get quality and reasonable pricing.

Our law firm serves IT and e-commerce companies. Our team includes lawyers who also cover contract law, corporate law, and labour law — all within the context of the IT and e-commerce industry.

What a Polish Lawyer Can Do for Your Company

A lawyer in Poland can represent you or your company in virtually any matter. You grant a power of attorney, and the lawyer acts on your behalf.

Typical scope of services includes:

• Company formation — executing the deed of incorporation, registering the company.
• Banking — opening a bank account on behalf of the company.
• Tax obligations — representing the company at the tax office and fulfilling registration duties.
• Ownership rights — voting on behalf of shareholders at shareholders' meetings.
• Employment matters — participating in hiring or dismissal of employees.
• Ongoing advisory — day-to-day legal support on how to run a business in Poland.

Our value lies in ongoing support and advice — not just executing single transactions.

How to Handle Business Matters Through a Polish Lawyer

You Do Not Need to Be Physically Present in Poland

Setting up a company and handling business matters in Poland is possible entirely remotely. Here is how the process works:

1. You grant a power of attorney — in your country of residence or stay (e.g., at a notary's office).
2. You send the document to Poland — our firm receives it at our Warsaw office.
3. The power of attorney is translated into Polish — a sworn translation is required.
4. Your lawyer acts on your behalf — using the power of attorney to represent you in all relevant matters.

Our firm assists from the very beginning: we prepare the power of attorney for you (in any language) and explain how to sign it.

Online Options

Some matters can be handled fully online — for example, establishing a basic limited liability company (sp. z o.o.). In this case:

• We prepare the appropriate forms in the relevant computer system.
• We assist you online in signing the documents.

No travel to Poland is required.

Legal Services for Foreign Companies

Full legal support matters most when foreign capital enters Poland. You need a partner who covers the entire process in a country that is unfamiliar to you.

What we provide for foreign clients:

• End-to-end support — from company formation through ongoing operations.
• Cooperation with lawyers in the EU, UK, and the US — if your matter requires international involvement, we organise collaboration with foreign lawyers so you receive a complete solution.

How to Choose the Right Law Firm

When selecting legal services for your company in Poland, check the following:

1. Does the firm understand your business? Good legal support starts with understanding the client's industry, operations, and risks — not just the law.
2. Does the team cover multiple specializations? Day-to-day business generates questions across contract law, corporate law, labour law, and more. A firm with several lawyers across related fields handles this better than a solo practitioner.
3. Is the firm experienced in your sector? Past work with companies similar to yours is the best indicator of quality.
4. Are the prices reasonable? Boutique law firms with a focused practice often deliver better value than large network firms.
5. Are all lawyers state-certified? Confirm that the team consists of licensed attorneys-at-law (adwokat or radca prawny).

Next Step

If you need legal services in Poland — especially in IT, e-commerce, or cross-border business — contact us. We will assess your situation and outline what needs to happen first.

FAQ

What's the difference between an adwokat and a radca prawny in Poland? The distinction between an adwokat (barrister) and a radca prawny (legal adviser) is historical — today both function as attorneys-at-law with the same professional standing. Both titles require graduating from a university law program, completing a multi-year legal apprenticeship, and passing a state examination.

Why should I choose a state-certified attorney-at-law in Poland instead of an uncertified legal consultant? A certified attorney-at-law in Poland gives you three protections that no uncertified consultant can offer: statutory confidentiality stronger than any NDA (it is built into the law, not a contract), professional immunity that prevents any government agency or tax office from forcing the lawyer to disclose your information, and mandatory civil liability insurance that backs the lawyer's responsibility if something goes wrong. Many firms in Poland offer "legal counsel" without holding the attorney-at-law title — using their services means you lose all three of these safeguards.

Can I set up and run a company in Poland without being there in person? Yes — setting up and running a company in Poland is possible entirely remotely. You grant a power of attorney in your country of residence (for example, at a notary's office), send it to your Polish law firm, have it sworn-translated into Polish, and your lawyer then acts on your behalf in all relevant matters. Some steps, like establishing a basic limited liability company (sp. z o.o.), can even be handled fully online without any travel to Poland.

What can a Polish lawyer actually do for a foreign company day to day? Once you grant a power of attorney, a Polish lawyer can represent you or your company in virtually any matter — from company formation and registering the entity, through opening a bank account, handling tax registration, voting on behalf of shareholders, and participating in hiring or dismissal of employees, to providing ongoing day-to-day legal advisory. For foreign companies, this extends to end-to-end support covering the entire lifecycle of your Polish operations, including coordination with lawyers in the EU, UK, and the US when cross-border matters arise.

How do I choose the right law firm in Poland for an IT, e-commerce, or cross-border business? Check five things: the firm understands your industry and operations (not just the law), the team covers multiple related specializations such as contract law, corporate law, and labour law, the firm has a track record with companies similar to yours, the pricing is reasonable (boutique firms with a focused practice often deliver better value than large networks), and every lawyer on the team holds a state certification as adwokat or radca prawny. A boutique structure with depth in one or two areas relevant to your business will typically serve you better than a generalist or oversized firm.