The best firms in Poland and the Nordics: who will win at The Lawyer European Awards?

Which firms in Poland and the Nordic countries had the best year in 2017? The shortlist for The Lawyer European Awards gives you a good idea.

The Nordics

In Norway, Thommessen Krefting posted strong financial growth over 2017, its third consecutive year of record turnover. The Oslo-headquartered firm is also continuing to invest in London, while closer to home it established a female lawyer committee. Clients include Telenor, Statoil, Seadrill and DONG Energy.

For Copenhagen-headquartered Kromann Reumert, 2017 was all about digital focus, from technology investment – including a new knowledge platform – to online dispute resolution. The firm continued to consolidate its 2016 opening in London. Clients include DONG Energy Nordea Bank Danmark, Danske Bank and Carlsberg.

Stockholm-based Lindahl saw 8 per cent revenue rise to approximately €68.5m in 2017. The firm undertook a serious consultation with all its staff on culture and gender issues sparked by the global #metoo campaign, and it also has a well-developed technology strategy that includes investment in AI, implementing both in-house and external solutions. Clients include H&M, Microsoft, Starwood Capital, the Russian Federation and the Swedish Central Bank.
Finland’s Borenius is reaping financial rewards from a strategy reset in 2016, with 2017 revenues up 20 per cent. It collaborates closely with Shearman & Sterling on international capital markets, with a string of IPOs including DNA and Terveystalo. Clients include Nordea, Danske Bank, Citycon, Morgan Stanley and OP Bank.

Oslo-based SANDS repositioned itself in 2015 and has subsequently embarked on an intensive lateral hire programme, bringing in 15 partners in two years. This culminated in a rebrand in 2017 and an international push on Africa and China. Clients include Salmar, Ansaldo, DHT, VINCI and Philips.

Helsinki-headquartered Roschier, which also has a substantial Stockholm office, made a series of hires in 2017 in tax, finance, disputes and IP and kicked off an internal focus on talent and training, with diversity and equality its main focus area. Clients include Fortum, Nokia, Telia, Finnair, Nordea Bank and Pfizer.

Norway’s Wiersholm grew 12 per cent in revenues in 2017 and has focused strongly on digital transformation, with investment not only in internal digital processes but also on client offerings such as a GDPR suite. Clients include Altor Equity Partners, Statoil, DNB, Pareto Securities and EQT Equity Partners.

Poland

Kochanski Zieba & Partners saw rapid growth over the past year, with turnover up 24 per cent and significant investment in its Krakow office and new hires for its energy, technology and private equity practices. The firm has set up three satellite consultancy ventures in accounting, quasi-investment bank advisory and legal training. Clients include PGNiG, Tauron Polska Energia, LOT Airlines, Kingfisher and SKANSKA Group.

Wolf Theiss continued to build out in Warsaw, particularly in banking and finance and is exploring opportunities with legaltech companies with a series of pilot projects focusing on business efficiency. Clients include PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, Peek & Cloppenburg, Raffeisen Bank International and Canon Polska.

Drzewiecki, Tomaszek & Partners, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017, built out regionally with new offices in Gdansk and Krakow, giving it the largest network of regional office in Poland. The Gdansk operation now gives the firm a foothold in maritime law. Clients include Philip Morris, Visa, Coty, BGZ BNP Paribas, Unilever and Volkswagen.

Kopec Zaborowski Adwokaci was set up in early 2016 and has grown to 25 lawyers. Specialising in defence, shipbuilding and construction, clients include Polish Armaments Group, Energopol-Szczecin, Polish LNG, all of which it has been advising on significant projects such as the first LNG terminal in Poland.

Tech-focused Maruta Wachta saw unprecedented growth in 2017, with both headcount and turnover up by a third. The firm invested strongly in internal training last year and has partnered with leading universities to create postgraduate IT law programmes. Clients include T-Mobile, RWE/Innogy, Cisco Systems and Konica Miolta.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka continued to develop its infrastructure and energy business along with building a white-collar crime practice. It also launched a new service line in life sciences work. Internally, the firm consolidated its internal training programme, the DZP Academy. Clients include Getin Bank, Teva, MSD Polska, Polish Railwy PKP and Toyota.