Working with a Polish law firm
If you run a business in Poland from abroad, or you are just entering the market, dealing with Polish lawyers can feel like a black box. It does not have to be. Here is how it actually works with us, in plain terms, and what Polish law gives you that you may not expect.
Four steps, no surprises
First conversation
We meet in our Warsaw office or on Teams, in English or German. You tell us what is going on, in your own words. We listen and ask about things you might not think to mention.
Diagnosis and plan
We tell you straight: whether you actually have a legal problem, what your options are and which one we would pick. You get a plan and a cost estimate before anything is signed.
We act
Once you give the go-ahead, the matter is ours, drafting, talking to the other side, court or authorities. You always know where things stand, without being buried in statute numbers.
We stay
After the matter is closed we do not disappear. Some clients come back with the next thing, others keep us on as their legal department on call.
Everything you tell us stays between us
Under Polish law, an advocate (adwokat) and an attorney-at-law (radca prawny) are bound by professional secrecy, the Polish equivalent of attorney-client privilege. Everything you share in connection with our advice is confidential by law. The duty has no expiry date, it survives the end of the engagement, and a lawyer cannot be forced to disclose it, save for very narrow, court-controlled exceptions. It protects you exactly the same whether you are a Polish company or a foreign one.
Who you actually work with
Poland has two regulated advocacy professions: adwokat (advocate) and radca prawny (attorney-at-law). Since 2015 both have full rights of audience, so either can represent you before any court, including in criminal matters. Tax is a separate regulated profession, doradca podatkowy (tax advisor). At HWW you get all three under one roof, so a corporate deal with a tax angle does not mean coordinating three firms.
In your language, not just translated
We advise in English and German directly, not by running Polish through a translator. Contracts, correspondence and calls happen in your language, while the legal substance stays anchored in Polish law.
A regulated, insured profession
Every adwokat and radca prawny in Poland belongs to a regional bar, is bound by a code of professional ethics, and carries mandatory professional liability insurance. You are dealing with a regulated profession, not a consultancy.
Clear price, before any work
A first business meeting about an ongoing arrangement is free, we keep specific legal questions for a proper consultation. A consultation is paid: PLN 600 net (around EUR 140), known up front. Once we take on the work we agree how we bill, an hourly rate by default, or a flat fee covering a set number of hours plus the hourly rate beyond it. No surprises on the invoice.
- Free business meeting on cooperation
- PLN 600 net per consultation
- Hourly rate or flat fee, agreed up front
Example prices for cross-border work
A selection of the services foreign clients ask about most, with indicative starting prices. Every price is a 'from' figure for a typical, standard scenario, hover the info icon to see what case it assumes. The final quote depends on the scope and complexity of your matter.
Corporate
Setting up a limited company (sp. z o.o.)
Setting up a limited partnership (sp.k.)
Investment agreement
Energy & RES
Generation licence, installations up to 1 MW
Generation licence, installations 1-10 MW
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
RES project legal due diligence (up to 1 MW)
Tax
VAT registration in Poland (incl. EU VAT), also for foreign entities
Tax residency review
Transfer pricing obligations analysis
Prices assume a small or medium-sized business and a matter of standard scope and value. For larger entities, a higher matter value or complex structures we quote individually. This price list is informational, not a binding offer, we confirm a firm quote before we start.
Prices are net, in EUR. VAT depends on your status and place of establishment.
Typical reasons clients come to us
- Setting up or restructuring a Polish company
- Entering the Polish market
- A dispute with a contractor or an unpaid invoice
- A decision from a Polish authority (tax, social security, a regulator)
- Buying real estate or a company in Poland
- An energy or renewables (RES) investment
Questions foreign clients ask
Do I need to be in Poland?
No. Most of what we do works remotely, by video and e-mail. We meet in person when it genuinely helps.
Can you represent a foreign company?
Yes, routinely. We act for foreign businesses and individuals all the time, the confidentiality and the process are identical to those for Polish clients.
Will I understand what is going on?
That is on us. We explain in plain English or German and leave out the statute numbers unless you want them.
What does a consultation cost?
PLN 600 net (about EUR 140), known up front. Any further work is quoted before it starts.
Start with a conversation
Tell us what is going on, we take it from there. The first consultation is a paid, honest read on whether and how we can help.