Full-service legal support for foreign entities investing in, or planning to start, business in Poland.
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POLISH · ENGLISH · RUSSIAN · UKRAINIAN · ARMENIAN
Your interests in the hands of experts
Our practice areas
Our lawyers speak Polish, English, Armenian, Ukrainian and Russian. We provide comprehensive legal services in matters handled under Polish jurisdiction and across borders.
What you gain by working with us
We represent the interests of foreign entities that operate in Poland or plan to. We know which questions come up first and which problems only surface years later. That lets us offer legal support matched to the real life cycle of a foreign investment.
One legal partner instead of five
Under one roof we combine advice on civil, commercial, tax and commercial criminal law as well as immigration law. The client does not have to coordinate the work of several separate providers.
Service in the client’s language
We handle matters in Polish, English, Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian — from the first conversation to court filings. No translation intermediaries and no risk of meaning lost in translation.
Knowledge of both markets
We advise entities for which Poland is the entry point to the European Union market, as well as those running operations from Poland into Eastern markets. We understand the realities on both sides of a transaction.
Preventive advice
We provide legal support already at the investment-planning stage, before the first problems appear. Legal prevention costs many times less than litigation and criminal proceedings.
Litigation experience
We represent clients before the common and administrative courts, before law enforcement agencies and in enforcement proceedings. We have experience in highly complex matters.
Network of business contacts
We are members of organisations such as the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and ICC Armenia. We work with foreign lawyers, which allows us to handle cross-border matters end to end.
Poland as a business base for Eastern investments
A growing number of foreign entities operating in Eastern European markets choose to set up a company in Poland and run operations covering Ukraine, the South Caucasus and other countries of the region from Polish territory. Below we set out the most important reasons why this is an advantageous solution from a legal, tax and operational standpoint.
European Union membership
Poland provides full access to the European Union single market. A company registered in Poland benefits from the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, which significantly eases expansion into the other member states.
Stability of the legal system
The Polish legal system rests on a civil-law codification harmonised with EU law. The predictability of court rulings and the protection of property and freedom of contract are a significant advantage over the jurisdictions of non-EU states.
Favourable double-taxation treaties
Poland has an extensive network of double-taxation treaties, including with Eastern states (Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan). This allows for efficient tax planning of cross-border transactions.
Legal security for board members
When business is run directly in Eastern European states, board members are exposed to the regulatory risks of those legal orders. Running a company based in Poland reduces exposure to these risks.
Access to the Polish and EU banking system
A Polish company can use the banking services of institutions operating under the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the payment services covered by SEPA, which considerably streamlines settlements with counterparties across the EU.
Option to legalise the owner’s stay
Running a company in Poland can serve as grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit for the owner or a board member. This is a significant advantage over structures that rely solely on offshore jurisdictions.
Operational and logistical proximity to Eastern markets
Poland borders Ukraine and has an extensive network of road and rail corridors. According to government data, about 30% of all European Union exports to Ukraine currently pass through Poland. This is a real operational tool, not a brochure talking point.
Usługi
We tailor the service package to the stage the client is at — from the first question to the ongoing support of an operating business.
Setting up a company in Poland
Registration of a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.) or a branch, obtaining the KRS, NIP and REGON entries and opening a bank account — fully available to a foreigner who holds no residence permit.
Legalising the owner’s stay
Obtaining a residence permit on the basis of business activity, a business visa, and aligning the immigration track with the business track.
Cross-border contracts
Drafting and negotiating contracts with counterparties from Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and other states — with proper safeguards on the choice of governing law and jurisdiction.
Due diligence and M&A
Legal audit of a Polish company before acquisition, negotiating the transaction terms and closing the deal — from the foreign buyer’s perspective.
Protection of board members
Preventive advice and courtroom representation in commercial criminal and fiscal criminal matters, including those concerning liability for the company’s obligations.
Relocating a business from Ukraine to Poland
End-to-end support for the process — in its legal, tax, residence and operational dimensions. For companies changing their seat and for new investments.
Sanctions analysis and compliance
Verification of counterparties and beneficial owners, export controls and dual-use goods checks, and documenting due diligence — the precondition for safe operations in Eastern markets.
We are not afraid of difficult matters
For the past two decades Poland was described as the gateway to Europe. Today, for the foreign investor, it is something more: a stable, EU-based platform from which one can safely enter the markets of the East — including the largest reconstruction project in the continent’s post-war history.
We write this from the perspective of a firm that has for years advised entrepreneurs from Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom. We see Europe’s investment map changing — because we watch it not in reports but in conversations with clients who, every month, ask the same thing: how to enter the East without losing control of the risk.
We combine knowledge of the Polish legal order with experience in handling cross-border matters involving Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and the European Union states. We work with foreign lawyers and institutions in each of these jurisdictions.
What we offer:
- market analysis and assessment of the legal risks of the planned investment
- preparation of complete transaction documentation
- carrying out a cross-border transfer of the company’s seat
- transfer of company assets between jurisdictions
- relocation of employees or hiring of new staff in Poland
- tax advice on cross-border transactions
- registration of changes with the courts and public administration authorities
- obtaining the required approvals, permits and licences
- setting up new business entities from scratch, whether or not affiliated with existing foreign companies
The scale of the opportunity: rebuilding Ukraine
According to the RDNA5 assessment (February 2026), Ukraine’s reconstruction needs over the decade reach nearly USD 588 billion — with the greatest needs in transport, energy, housing, industry and agriculture. The EU’s Ukraine Facility instrument is worth up to EUR 50 billion and is intended to mobilise additional private capital. In June 2026, Gdańsk hosts the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026).
A proven entry model: a parent (holding) company in Poland as the contracting and financial centre, plus a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) in Ukraine to deliver a specific project — this structure separates project risk from the investor’s assets.
A guide for foreign entrepreneurs
We regularly publish material on the questions foreign clients raise most often about doing business in Poland – follow us on Facebook to stay up to date!
Entering the Polish market
Setting up a company, the available legal forms of business, registration with the KRS, NIP and REGON, and obtaining licences and permits.
Legalising residence
Residence permit on the basis of business activity, business visa, long-term resident status, citizenship.
Day-to-day business support
A company’s reporting obligations, taxes, social security (ZUS), labour law, personal data protection, and inspections by the authorities.
Crisis situations
Corporate disputes, business criminal proceedings, tax proceedings, restructuring, bankruptcy..
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own a Polish company without a residence permit?
Yes. Nationals of practically any country can hold shares in a Polish limited liability company without needing a residence permit. A residence permit does become required, however, where the owner also intends to run the business personally from Polish territory or to act as a board member performing work in Poland.
How long does it take a foreigner to set up a limited liability company?
Through electronic registration (the S24 system), from a few to about a dozen business days. Through the traditional route, with a notarial deed, usually two to four weeks. To this you should add the time needed to open a bank account, which for an entity with a foreign shareholder can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the bank and the client’s profile.
Can running a company in Poland serve as grounds for legalising residence?
Yes. Running a limited liability company or a sole proprietorship can serve as grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit in Poland. Each case, however, requires an individual analysis of whether the statutory conditions are met — in particular those relating to the company’s income, employment and how long the business has been operating.
What legal risks does a board member of a foreign-owned company bear?
Board members may bear criminal liability for, among other things, failing to file a bankruptcy petition within the statutory deadline, acting to the company’s detriment, or fiscal offences. In civil terms, board members may be personally liable for the company’s obligations under Article 299 of the Commercial Companies Code if enforcement against the company proves ineffective.
Does the firm handle contracts with companies from the South Caucasus?
Yes — it is one of the areas the firm has specialised in for years. We handle matters in the languages of the region, we know their regulatory realities, and we maintain ongoing cooperation with lawyers in the individual jurisdictions. In the contracts themselves we secure the choice of governing law, jurisdiction and the dispute-resolution mechanism.
In which languages does the firm handle matters?
We handle matters in Polish, English, Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian.
Is the initial consultation paid?
Yes, the initial consultation is paid. Filling in the contact form, however, is not. We encourage you to use the form — it lets us review your matter and determine whether the firm can offer effective assistance.
Can I invest in the reconstruction of Ukraine while holding a company only in Poland?
Yes. The typical model is a Polish parent company as the contracting and financial centre, together with a special-purpose or subsidiary company in Ukraine to deliver a specific project. This separates project risk from the investor’s assets and lets you operate within the EU’s legal and financial environment.
Are investments in Ukraine subject to sanctions?
Ukraine is not subject to sanctions — it is a partner and a beneficiary of EU support. EU and US sanctions, by contrast, target Russia and Belarus. That is why every transaction is preceded by a sanctions analysis and export-control review (verification of counterparties, ownership structure, goods and payment routes).
How much does setting up a company cost, and how long does it take?
The minimum share capital of a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.) is PLN 5,000. Through the electronic route (S24), registration usually takes about a week; through the notarial route (via the Court Registers Portal), roughly up to about a month. The start-up budget should also factor in accounting, any sworn translations and powers of attorney.