Interview with Michal Dudkowiak: Building One of Poland’s Leading Law Firms for International Investors
How Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm combines international recognition, Polish legal-market rankings, English-language service and fast response for foreign companies doing business in Poland.
For foreign investors entering Poland, choosing the right law firm is often one of the first strategic decisions. International companies need more than technical legal advice. They need a Polish legal partner that understands business, speaks clear English, responds quickly and can guide them through corporate, employment, tax, regulatory, real estate, litigation and operational matters.
Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm has built its position around precisely this type of support. Over the years, the firm has grown from a boutique legal practice in Zielona Góra into one of the larger independent business law firms in Poland, with more than 100 team members, 11 departments and a comprehensive legal, tax, payroll and accounting offer for investors.
The firm has been recognised in international and Polish legal-market rankings, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Rzeczpospolita. It has also been listed for many years as the largest law firm in Lubusz Voivodeship and one of the larger law firms in Poland.
In this interview, Michal Dudkowiak, Managing Partner of Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm, discusses the firm’s growth, its investor-focused strategy, its English-language culture, its strongest departments and why international corporations often choose an independent Polish law firm instead of a global legal chain.
Q: Michal, how would you describe Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm today?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm is an independent Polish business law firm focused strongly on foreign investors, international corporations and companies doing business in Poland.
Today, we are one of the larger law firms in Poland. We have more than 100 team members, 11 departments and a comprehensive offer that covers almost every legal and business-support need of investors in Poland. This includes corporate law, M&A, employment, commercial contracts, litigation, tax, accounting, payroll, regulatory matters, real estate, construction, immigration, fintech, aviation, transport, defence and many other areas.
But if I had to describe the firm in one sentence, I would say this: we are a Polish law firm built for international clients. We understand what foreign companies need when they enter Poland, and we know how to guide them through the market.
Q: The title of this interview refers to “one of Poland’s leading law firms for international investors.” Is that how you see the firm?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Yes, that is the position we are building and the standard we work toward every day. We want Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm to be seen as one of the best Polish law firms for international investors, English-speaking clients and foreign corporations doing business in Poland.
Of course, this should never be only a slogan. Such a reputation must be supported by real work, rankings, clients, growth and service quality. In our case, we can point to several objective elements: our size, our growth, our international client base, our recognition in Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Rzeczpospolita.
For decade we are ranked as the largest law firm in Lubusz Voivodeship. In 2026 by Rzeczpospolita daily we were ranked as:
- 12th biggest Polish Law Firm amongst independent law firms - i.e. not being part of international chains;
- 21st biggest Polish Law Firm by number of attorneys and barristers (this position includes international giants Firms).
But the most important proof is the type of work we do every day. We support global corporations, financial institutions, technology companies, manufacturers, defence companies, transport companies, insurers and many medium-sized and smaller foreign investors entering Poland. We know their problems because we have worked with foreign companies for years, in many areas for decades.
Q: How did the firm start?
Michal Dudkowiak:
The story is very personal to me. The firm was founded over 35 years ago by my father as a boutique law firm in Zielona Góra, a city of around 120,000 inhabitants. From the beginning, litigation was important for the firm because it was founded by lawyers with strong judicial experience. That litigation background has remained part of our DNA.
The biggest transformation happened during the last 15 years. Fifteen years ago, the firm worked from an office of around 60 square metres. Today, our largest office occupies an entire floor of a skyscraper, with around 1,000 square metres of space. We also operate nationally, with offices and service capacity in key Polish business locations.
This transformation - from a small boutique practice to one of the larger independent business law firms in Poland - is something we are very proud of.
Q: What triggered the firm’s growth?
Michal Dudkowiak:
If I had to identify the main reasons, I would point to communication, English-language skills, a young proactive team and speed of response.
From the beginning, we were very focused on English-language communication. We wanted to make sure that there was no communication gap between foreign clients and Polish lawyers. A client should not feel that something is lost because the matter is handled in Poland. The client should receive clear English, practical advice and direct communication with lawyers who understand international business.
The second factor was our team. We have always invested in young, energetic lawyers. We train them, we expect very good English, and we expect them to be straightforward. Clients like to work with proactive lawyers who look for solutions rather than produce complicated legal theories.
The third factor, and probably the most important, is speed of response. From the very beginning, the 24-hour response rule was almost a holy rule in our firm. We wanted to be one of the quickest law firms to respond. Even if a matter is complex and cannot be solved immediately, the client must know that the matter is under control, what the next step is and when the answer will come.
I believe this culture of fast, clear and practical communication is one of the main reasons for our growth.
Q: You mentioned growth. How significant has it been?
Michal Dudkowiak:
The firm has developed very quickly. Over the last five years, we have achieved approximately 45% median turnover growth. This reflects the development of our departments, the growth of our international client base and the increasing demand for comprehensive investor services in Poland.
Growth is important, but for us it is not only about numbers. It is about building departments, attracting strong lawyers, investing in technology, expanding services and making sure that a foreign investor can come to us with almost any business-law issue in Poland.
Q: Why do you say that international corporations choose Dudkowiak & Putyra instead of an international legal firms?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Well, I say what I experience everyday. International customers approach us and say that they prefer to work with strong local law firms rather than international law firms.The reasons for that are quite obvious. You can also verify what I say on objective figures. According to the most prestigious Rzeczpospolita Daily Ranking of Law Firms in 2026 our attorneys/barrister team in Poland was bigger or even much bigger than most of the international law firms.
Just as an example - Dudkowiak & Putyra - was listed as bigger than Rödl, Wolf Theiss, White & Case, Schoenherr, Ernst & Young Law, Andersen. If I remember correctly we are twice the size of the Polish branches of Norton Rose Fulbright, Osborne Clarke, Clyde, Baker Tilly and Grant Thornton.
Q: So what are the reasons why do major international corporations choose an independent Polish law firm instead of an international legal chain?
Michal Dudkowiak:
The reason is quite simple. International corporations do not always need a global brand for local legal work. Very often, they need the best local partner - a firm that knows the Polish market, communicates in English, responds quickly and has a practical approach.
We combine international service standards with local independence. We are not part of an international chain, and this gives us flexibility. We can offer competitive fees, direct partner attention and very fast decision-making. In my opinion, we often provide better practical service for a lower fee than many of the largest international law firms.
We have had opportunities to join international structures or accept investment offers, but we decided to remain independent. For our clients, independence means flexibility, responsibility and value. We are able to adapt quickly, structure fees more reasonably and remain close to the client.
Q: Which international clients has the firm worked with?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Over the years, we have worked with many international and recognisable companies. These include, among others, British American Tobacco, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Philips, Xiaomi, Chubb, AXA, AIG, Shell, Uber, Saab, Chiquita, CBS Europa, Skanska, Constellis, Chemonics, Sharp, Invectronics, HelloFresh, Glovo and Maersk. We work with a couple of top world airlines that are listed in SkyTrax.
We have also advised financial institutions, insurers, major employers, transport companies, technology companies, defence and security companies, foreign governments and international investors from many jurisdictions.
The important point is not only the names. The important point is that these clients operate at a very high standard. Working with them teaches a law firm how to communicate, how to report, how to respond and how to provide advice that international business can actually use.
Q: What is the firm’s main specialization?
Michal Dudkowiak:
At the firm level, our main specialization is servicing foreign investors and foreign corporations doing business in Poland.
We often say: we know what you don’t know. Foreign investors entering Poland face questions they may not even know how to ask. They need to understand company law, tax, VAT, payroll, employment, regulatory issues, licensing, leases, real estate, construction, banking, litigation risk and many other matters.
Because our lawyers have worked with foreign companies for years, we usually recognise these issues immediately. We do not need to discover the problem together with the client. In many areas, we already know the problem, we have seen it before and we have ready solutions.
This is one of our key advantages over firms that mainly serve domestic clients. We are specialised in navigating foreign corporations through Poland.
Q: What does full investor support look like in practice?
Michal Dudkowiak:
We can support an investor from the first planning stage to full operation in Poland.
At the beginning, we help with the investment plan, contact with Polish institutions, and where needed, coordination with PAIH or other public institutions. Then we incorporate the company, help with bank accounts, VAT registration, accounting setup and connection with the investor’s international reporting systems.
We help with location, office lease or purchase, land acquisition, construction of a plant or facility, tax incentives, corporate structure, employment structure, regulatory requirements and licences. In parallel, our payroll and accounting company can take care of payroll, accounting and tax-compliance support.
In practice, we try to provide everything an investor needs under one umbrella: legal, tax, accounting, payroll, employment, regulatory, real estate and corporate support.
Q: Does this also apply to smaller and medium-sized investors?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Yes, very much. Some of our clients are the largest corporations in the world, but we also support medium-sized companies, entrepreneurs, family businesses and smaller foreign investors entering Poland.
For a medium-sized investor, comprehensive support may be even more important because they often do not have large internal legal or tax departments. They need one trusted partner in Poland who can explain everything clearly, coordinate different areas and provide practical solutions.
We want to be a strong choice not only for global corporations, but also for ambitious medium-sized and smaller investors who want to operate safely and efficiently in Poland.
Q: You often mention English-language service. Why is it so important?
Michal Dudkowiak:
English is essential for international clients. Many foreign investors do not speak Polish. Their board, shareholders, management, banks or foreign legal counsel usually work in English. If the Polish lawyer cannot communicate clearly in English, the client loses time, confidence and sometimes also business opportunities.
For us, English-language legal service is not translation. It is a way of working. Our lawyers must be able to explain Polish law in a way that foreign clients understand. They must know not only the legal rule, but also how to present the risk, the options and the recommended solution.
I believe this is one of the reasons why clients choose us. They feel that they can speak with Polish lawyers directly and receive clear, practical advice in English.
Q: What makes your lawyers different?
Michal Dudkowiak:
We hire many young lawyers and train them internally. We expect them to have excellent English, to communicate directly and to provide solutions rather than long legal essays.
What we do not accept is slow communication, unclear answers and purely theoretical legal analysis. These are the things that make us most dissatisfied internally. A client should not receive an answer that is technically correct but useless in business. A client should receive a practical recommendation.
We built a culture where the client should never feel ignored. The 24-hour rule is part of that culture. Straightforward communication is part of that culture. Practical advice is part of that culture.
Q: The firm has 11 departments. Which departments are you especially proud of?
Michal Dudkowiak:
We are proud of many departments. At the firm level, our strength is that the departments work together and create a comprehensive offer for investors. But if I had to mention several, I would definitely speak about employment law, corporate and corporate secretarial, litigation, tax, immigration, white-collar crime, fintech, aviation, transport, construction and commercial contracts.
Some of these teams are, in my opinion, among the best in Poland in their fields, especially when it comes to servicing foreign clients.
Q: Why is the employment law department so important?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Employment law is one of the departments we are most proud of. It is not only employment advice. It is a comprehensive service covering employment law, HR guidance, training, payroll, payroll tax, accounting support and employment litigation.
The team works with some of the largest international companies, banks, financial institutions and employers hiring thousands of people in Poland.
Foreign clients value this department because it explains Polish employment law clearly in English. Polish labour law can be very different from what international companies know from their home jurisdictions. Our employment lawyers understand these differences and can translate them into practical HR and management decisions.
Q: What about corporate and corporate secretarial services?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Our corporate and corporate secretarial department is one of the most digitalised parts of the firm. It is also one of our largest and strongest practices.
We have automated forms, internal tools and processes that allow us to incorporate companies quickly, often fully online and within one or two days. We can prepare corporate secretarial documents within minutes. This is very important for international companies, because they often need fast, repeatable and reliable corporate support in Poland.
The department services hundreds of clients and works with major global corporations. It combines corporate experience with a level of digitalisation that is still unusual in many traditional legal services.
Q: You also mentioned litigation. How does that practice fit into the firm’s identity?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Litigation has been part of the firm’s identity from the beginning. The firm was founded by lawyers with strong judicial experience, so dispute resolution was always one of our recognised strengths.
Today, our litigation department works for international insurers, transport companies and major corporate clients. We have litigated for companies such as AXA, AIG, Maersk and other international businesses.
What makes this department different is that we do not build it around small claims. We focus on larger, more serious disputes where we can assign a proper team. Depending on the case, the team may be supported by researchers, detectives, engineers or other technical experts. Litigation is not only legal writing. It is strategy, facts, evidence and preparation.
Q: The tax department is newer. Why is it important?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Our tax department is one of the newest practices, created in 2021, but it has already become one of the departments we are very proud of.
The team includes six tax advisors, and multiple financial advisors and accountants. Many of them came to us from Big Four firms. They advise on corporate income tax, VAT, transfer pricing and other tax matters relevant to international companies.
In tax, we are not a small boutique and we are not the Big Four. We are something in between, closer to large firms in quality and scale, but more flexible, more direct and more communicative for the client. This is a very attractive position for many foreign investors who want high-quality tax advice but also close cooperation and reasonable fees.
Q: What other departments are important for international clients?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Immigration is very important, especially for employers. It is connected with employment law, but it is also a separate specialization. We support companies with immigration processes, work and residence issues, and citizenship matters.
White-collar crime is also important for business clients, because corporate, tax, employment or regulatory issues can sometimes create criminal-risk exposure for management or companies.
We also have strong teams in commercial contracts, construction, aviation, transport, fintech and regulatory matters. These areas are particularly relevant for foreign investors because they often combine local Polish law with international business expectations.
Q: Which industries does the firm serve?
Michal Dudkowiak:
We serve many industries. Because we are one of the larger law firms in Poland, our sector coverage is broad.
We work with aviation, fintech, financial institutions, payment services, crypto services, defence and security, space, shipping, mining and commodities, IT and telecommunications, manufacturing, production, construction, transport, insurance and many other sectors.
In recent years, some of the fastest-growing areas have been fintech, crypto services, payment services, defence and security, and IT. These sectors require lawyers who understand regulation, technology, foreign ownership, licensing and the practical needs of international companies.
Q: Defence and security is a very specific sector. What is your experience there?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Defence and security is one of the areas where we believe we have a particularly strong position for foreign clients. I do not have official statistic but I believe we have the biggest defense attorneys team in Poland with various defense industry certifications and approvals incl. access to non-public information.
We advise foreign governments, global arms and armaments producers, importers, exporters and entities operating in highly sensitive regulated environments. We have also advised one of the largest Polish armaments producers, including audit work.
This is a sector where legal advice must be practical, confidential, precise and regulatory-aware. Clients need lawyers who understand not only contracts, but also public procurement, export controls, security issues, licensing and the realities of international defence business.
Q: You also mentioned IT and software companies. Why is this sector important for the firm?
Michal Dudkowiak:
IT has been one of our long-standing strengths. For around 20 years, we have helped establish Polish subsidiaries and software houses for international technology companies, especially from the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.
We have probably helped set up around 100 or more software houses in Poland. This became a very typical investment trend because developers from Poland and the wider region are highly skilled, and many international IT companies want to build development teams here.
For software companies, we are often ready with everything: company incorporation, bank account support, VAT setup, employment contracts, IP-transfer provisions, handbooks, corporate documents and other templates in English. This allows the client to start quickly and safely.
Q: You also prepare many English-language legal guidebooks. Why?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Because foreign investors need knowledge. Over the years, we have prepared extensive English-language materials and guidebooks for many legal areas relevant to doing business in Poland.
These include investment, corporate law, contracts, employment, IP, accounting, tax, regulatory matters and other fields. Some of these materials are over 100 pages. They help clients understand Polish law before they even ask the first detailed question.
This is part of our specialization. We do not want foreign clients to feel lost in Poland. We want them to understand the market, the legal system and the practical steps they need to take.
Q: What role does technology play in the firm?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Technology helps us deliver speed, consistency and efficiency.
We use automation, software and internal tools in different departments. Corporate secretarial work is highly digitalised. Employment law uses many ready materials, tools and AI-supported solutions. For investor onboarding, we use templates and processes that allow us to move quickly.
Technology does not replace lawyers, but it makes good lawyers faster and more consistent. It also helps us provide better value to clients.
Q: How do you compete with the largest law firms in Poland and international firms?
Michal Dudkowiak:
We compete through value, speed and practical service. The quality of advice must be very high. That is obvious. But the difference is that we can often provide this quality with better communication, faster response and more flexible fees.
I believe our service value is very strong. In many cases, our fees may be significantly lower than those of the biggest international law firms, while the client receives direct access, English-language communication, a practical approach and a comprehensive umbrella of services.
This is why many international companies choose us. They receive international-standard service from an independent Polish law firm that remains flexible and close to the client.
Q: What is unacceptable in your firm’s service culture?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Unclear answers, slow communication and non-practical advice. These are things we strongly dislike. A lawyer should not hide behind complicated language. A lawyer should not disappear when the client needs an answer. A lawyer should not provide a long legal analysis without a practical recommendation.
Our lawyers are trained to be clear, fast and solution-oriented. We want clients to feel that they have a legal partner who is taking responsibility for the matter.
Q: What does “best law firm” mean to you?
Michal Dudkowiak:
For me, the best law firm is not necessarily the one with the most famous name. It is the one that gives the client the best combination of quality, speed, communication, practical thinking, value and trust.
For foreign investors in Poland, I believe the best law firm is one that understands international business, speaks excellent English, responds quickly, provides integrated services and knows the problems that foreign companies face before they even ask about them. This is exactly the type of law firm we are building.
Q: What is your long-term vision for Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm?
Michal Dudkowiak:
Our long-term vision is to continue developing Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm as one of Poland’s leading legal partners for international investors, foreign corporations and English-speaking clients.
We want to be one of the natural choices for companies entering Poland, acquiring Polish businesses, opening subsidiaries, hiring teams, building plants, applying for licences, resolving disputes or needing ongoing legal, tax, accounting and payroll support.
We want clients to associate Dudkowiak Putyra Law Firm with English-language excellence, quick response, practical solutions, strong departments, integrated service and very good value. That is the reputation we are building, and that is the standard we want to keep improving.