Polish attorney-at-law · Poznan

Legal help in Poland,
explained clearly in English.

Marcin Butkiewicz is a Polish attorney-at-law (radca prawny) based in Poznan, advising private clients, entrepreneurs and companies on matters governed by Polish law. The Law Office serves international clients from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the European Economic Area, and Polish citizens living abroad.

For more than twenty years the office has supported clients in family, inheritance, criminal, compensation, business and investment matters — from early-stage advice and contract drafting to representation before Polish common courts, administrative courts, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Tribunal and the European Court of Human Rights.

A law office for matters that need context

Each case is analysed individually, never templated

Legal problems rarely fit neatly into one category. A divorce may involve company shares, real estate and cross-border parenting arrangements. An inheritance case may include debts, hidden assets or urgent statutory deadlines. A commercial dispute may need negotiation today and court protection tomorrow.

This is why the Law Office does not work from one-size-fits-all templates. Each matter is examined on its own facts: what is at stake, what evidence is available, what statutory deadlines apply, which institutions are involved and what realistic outcomes are possible. Where a case requires specialist input — for instance taxation in cross-border inheritance, criminal-law expertise in white-collar matters or technical assessment in medical claims — the office draws on a network of trusted advocates, accountants and experts.

The office advises private clients, entrepreneurs, management boards, shareholders and public-sector entities. Depending on the matter, support may include one-off legal advice, document drafting, negotiation, litigation strategy, court representation or ongoing legal service for a business. The work model is set before cooperation begins and the scope, expected steps and fee structure are explained openly so the client can make informed decisions throughout the case.

Who typically contacts the Law Office in English

  • Polish citizens living abroad dealing with inheritance after a relative's death in Poland, divorce involving property in Poland, or family matters with cross-border elements.
  • British, Irish, US, Canadian and Australian nationals with property, shares, business interests, family connections or claims in Poland.
  • EU citizens who relocated to Poland for work and now need legal support in employment, family, immigration, criminal or commercial matters.
  • Foreign companies entering the Polish market, acquiring Polish entities, recovering debts from Polish counterparties or facing litigation in Polish courts.
  • Investors and founders negotiating term sheets, conducting due diligence, structuring share deals or building shareholder agreements for Polish companies.

A specific question?

A brief telephone consultation is often enough to clarify whether the Law Office can help, what the realistic next step is and whether deadlines apply.

+48 603 778 887
Areas of practice

Comprehensive legal services under Polish law

The Law Office handles seven principal areas of practice. Each combines court representation with advisory work and is supported by detailed legal guides written in English.

01

Divorce, maintenance & family law

Advice and representation in Polish divorce proceedings, child and spousal maintenance, parental authority, contact with children, division of marital property, and cross-border family matters under Brussels II ter Regulation.

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02

Inheritance & estate matters

Confirmation of inheritance, estate division, forced heirship claims, inheritance debts, rejection of inheritance, wills and disputes between heirs — including cases with foreign heirs and assets in multiple jurisdictions.

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03

Criminal law & defence

Defence in criminal proceedings, representation of injured parties, detention and pre-trial arrest matters, white-collar cases, and private prosecution. Early legal involvement during police questioning is critical.

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04

Personal rights & defamation

Civil and criminal protection against defamation, online hate, image violations, deepfakes, privacy intrusion and damage to business reputation. Evidence preservation, identifying anonymous authors and removal requests.

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05

Compensation claims

Personal injury and property damage claims after road accidents, medical malpractice, insurance disputes, lost income, treatment costs, pain and suffering, and disability-related claims under Polish law.

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06

Business & commercial matters

Commercial contracts, B2B debt recovery, company disputes, shareholder matters, management board liability under Article 299 of the Polish Commercial Companies Code and ongoing legal service for companies and entrepreneurs.

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07

Investments, term sheets & M&A

Legal support for investment rounds, term sheet review, legal due diligence, shareholder agreements, share purchase agreements (SPA), SAFE notes, convertible loans and post-closing matters in Polish transactions.

Read the full guide →
Not sure which area applies to your situation? +48 603 778 887
How we work

Four principles, applied consistently

Clear terms from the start

Before work begins, the scope, expected procedural steps, communication rules and fee model are agreed in writing. The client should understand not only what will be done, but why each decision matters and what the next decision point may be. This is particularly important in cross-border cases, where a small early choice — for example whether to file in Poland or in the client's country of residence — can shape the entire case.

Careful case analysis before strategy

The first legal task is rarely litigation. It is usually a careful review of facts, documents, deadlines and procedural risks. In many cases, the first decision — whether to negotiate, file a claim, seek interim protection, file with a different authority or wait for an event — has more impact on the final outcome than any later argument before the court.

Discretion and professional secrecy

Legal matters often involve sensitive family, financial, corporate or personal information. Professional secrecy is a basic condition of trust under Polish law, not an additional service. Communications between client and attorney-at-law are protected from disclosure to third parties, courts and authorities, with very narrow statutory exceptions.

Result-oriented representation

A legal matter should lead somewhere: a settlement, a judgment, a secure transaction, an enforceable claim, reduced exposure or a clear legal position. The aim is not to prolong the dispute, but to move it toward a practical and verifiable outcome — and to explain to the client when continuing is no longer in their interest.

Tell us what happened

The first conversation is used to identify the legal problem, assess available options and decide whether the Law Office can help — at no obligation.

+48 603 778 887
Experience that shapes legal judgment

Twenty years of court practice, advisory work and legal writing

The Law Office's professional record covers litigation before all levels of Polish common courts, regional and Supreme Administrative Courts, arbitral tribunals and the highest national institutions, as well as matters involving European legal standards. Selected aspects of professional experience include:

  • cases with complex factual backgrounds and strategic litigation elements;
  • proceedings connected with constitutional and human-rights issues;
  • representation and advice in matters reaching the Supreme Court of Poland (Sąd Najwyższy), the Constitutional Tribunal and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg;
  • legal opinions and regulatory work connected with European Union law;
  • legal support for new technology implementation, public procurement and EU-funded projects;
  • lectures, professional training and specialist publications in legal, business, tax-accounting and technology press.

This combination of court practice, academic engagement and legal writing is reflected in the office's day-to-day approach: precise documents, disciplined argumentation and clear explanation of legal choices that the client must ultimately make.

Fee models

Predictable billing, agreed before work begins

The fee model is selected according to the nature of the matter. Before cooperation starts, the client receives a written explanation of the proposed billing structure — including any expected court fees, official charges and out-of-pocket expenses.

Fixed fee

Used when the scope of work is predictable: a defined procedure, a document package, a stage of representation or a specific transaction milestone. The client knows the exact cost in advance.

Hourly rate

Appropriate for ongoing advice, complex disputes, transactions and matters where the workload cannot be assessed accurately in advance. Time records and estimates are provided regularly.

Monthly retainer

A practical model for companies that need regular legal support, priority response time and a predictable monthly legal budget. Suitable for businesses with recurring contractual or compliance work.

Mixed fee

A combination of base remuneration and a success-related element, used in selected debt recovery, compensation or financial-value matters where permitted by Polish professional rules.

Frequently asked questions

Working with a Polish attorney (lawyer) from abroad

Can I instruct a Polish attorney-at-law if I live in the UK, US, Canada or Australia?

Yes. Polish attorneys-at-law (radca prawny) regularly act for clients living abroad. Most work — case analysis, drafting, correspondence with courts and authorities — can be carried out remotely after a power of attorney is signed and notarised (with apostille where required by the receiving authority).

Court appearances may sometimes require a local visit, but for many civil matters the court can be asked to allow remote participation, or an authorised representative can appear on the client's behalf. For inheritance and estate matters, the client's physical presence in Poland is rarely necessary.

Is a Polish radca prawny equivalent to a UK solicitor or US attorney?

A radca prawny is a fully qualified Polish lawyer with rights of audience before all courts in Poland, including the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy) and the Constitutional Tribunal (Trybunał Konstytucyjny), and in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Functionally, the profession corresponds to a solicitor with full higher rights of audience in England and Wales, or to an attorney admitted to a US state bar. The professional title in Polish is "radca prawny"; in English it is rendered as "attorney-at-law" or "legal counsel".

What languages does the Law Office work in?

Legal services are provided in Polish, English, German and French. Documents may be reviewed and explained in any of those languages, and consultations may be conducted in English without an interpreter.

For court documents in Polish, certified translations may be required. The office can coordinate with sworn translators when needed.

Does Polish law apply if neither party lives in Poland?

It depends on the type of matter:

  • Inheritance: the deceased's habitual residence and the location of assets are decisive under EU Regulation 650/2012.
  • Divorce: EU rules (Brussels II ter Regulation) and Polish jurisdiction rules apply. Either spouse's habitual residence in Poland may give Polish courts jurisdiction.
  • Property and business matters: for real estate located in Poland, Polish substantive law usually governs. For commercial contracts, the parties may choose applicable law, but Polish mandatory rules can still apply.
  • Criminal law: jurisdiction is generally based on where the offence was committed.

A short consultation usually clarifies which jurisdiction applies and which court has authority to decide.

How are fees structured for international clients?

The Law Office offers four fee models: fixed fee for predictable scope, hourly rate for ongoing work, monthly retainer for businesses, and mixed (base plus success-related element) for selected debt recovery and compensation matters where permitted by Polish professional rules.

The model and approximate cost are agreed in writing before work begins. Court fees, official charges and translation costs are itemised separately.

What documents should I prepare before the first consultation?

Whatever is available and relevant: contracts, court letters, prosecutor or police correspondence, insurance documents, medical records, marriage or divorce certificates, wills, property documents, invoices, emails, and identity documents.

Even partial documentation allows an initial assessment of the situation, jurisdiction and realistic options. If you are not sure what is relevant, send what you have — it is easier to identify what is missing once the available documents are reviewed.

Is the first call confidential?

Yes. Polish attorneys-at-law are bound by professional secrecy under the Polish Act on Attorneys-at-Law of 6 July 1982 and the Code of Ethics of the Polish Bar (KIRP). Information shared during a consultation cannot be disclosed to third parties without the client's consent.

Communications between client and attorney are protected from disclosure to courts and authorities, with very narrow statutory exceptions (for example, suspected money laundering must be reported under EU AML rules — but this rarely arises in private consultation).

Cross-border legal matter?
One conversation often clarifies the path.

If your situation involves Polish law and you need legal advice in English, a brief telephone consultation helps identify jurisdiction, deadlines, required documents and realistic next steps. The Law Office assists clients from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, the EEA and Polish citizens living abroad.

+48 603 778 887 or write to biuro@poznan-kancelaria.pl · contact page