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Karolina Wais

Partner | Advocate

I deliver long-term solutions that protect both your business objectives and personal goals. I prioritize clear communication, transforming complex legal issues into actionable recommendations.

With years of experience in international law firms, I have represented industry leaders across the energy, finance, real estate, mining, FMCG, automotive, and service sectors. I support my clients at every stage: from strategic day-to-day advisory and high-stakes negotiations to representation before common courts, arbitral tribunals, and the Supreme Court.

Since 2018, my litigation experience has allowed me to vet decisions and contracts for the specific vulnerabilities that often surface in court. I pinpoint critical risks at the earliest stages, enabling me to mitigate them effectively when planning business actions or drafting complex agreements.

I provide legal services in Polish and English.

Additional Activities

  • Recognized in The Legal 500 (2024)
  • Pro bono legal support to refugees from Ukraine and Belarus in cooperation with European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL) (2024)
  • Article: "Removing companies from sanctions lists remains a monumental challenge; much depends on the Supreme Administrative Court," Prawo.pl, co-author: Marek Neumann (2023)
  • Article: "Does the right of set-off preclude the right of retention when a loan agreement is declared invalid?", Monitor Prawa Bankowego (2022)
  • Polish translation of the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence, co-author: Marek Neumann (2022)
  • Finalist of the Lewiatan Arbitration Competition (2020)
  • Article: "Injunctions against bank guarantee payments based on court orders for the security of claims," co-author: Marek Neumann (2019)
  • Eric E. Bergsten Award – Team Orals, Vis Moot (2018)

Expertise

  • Litigation and arbitration
  • Drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and conducting legal audits of transactions and contracts
  • Advising on infrastructure projects at both administrative and judicial stages, disputes involving investors, contractors, or subcontractors.
  • Supporting the energy sector, including renewable energy sources (RES) during the construction and installation phases of industrial and generation infrastructure.
  • Consumer Law, B2C Relations, Unfair Contract Terms, Protection of Personal Interests
  • Combating Unfair Competition and Protection of Trade Secrets
  • Banking and Finance: Credit Products, Export Insurance, and Bank Guarantees
  • Insurance Law: Damage Claims, Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes
  • International Targeted and Sectoral Sanctions, Compliance
  • Family Law: Matrimonial Property, Divorce, Separation, Alimony, and Custody
  • Bankruptcy and Restructuring Law

Education

2022

Warsaw Bar Association (ORA Warszawa)

Advocate

2018

Jagiellonian University in Cracow

Master's degree, Law

Selected Experience

  • Advising international developers on construction and contract disputes, with a particular focus on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) projects.
  • Representing clients in arbitration and post-arbitration proceedings concerning damages, contractual penalties, and improper performance of lease agreements, including in project finance transactions.
  • Advising and representing an international reinsurer and a Polish general contractor in insurance and investment disputes concerning drilling projects.
  • Advising international energy sector companies on projects involving the construction and installation of wind farms carried out under FIDIC contractual conditions.
  • Representing a leading metal sector company in disputes concerning the liability of board members and inheritance proceedings.
  • Advising an international tourism group in disputes arising from franchise agreements.
  • Advising an international organization on issues related to climate change, security, and public policy.
  • Advising and representing clients in bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings.
  • Advising Polish and international companies on domestic and international sanctions against individuals and legal entities.
  • Advising banks in disputes over export credit insurance worth a total of several hundred million PLN.
  • Representing banks in over 200 disputes regarding foreign currency and PLN loans.