Mrs Katarzyna Zawadzka-Wochyń
Attorney at Law
Director of Transport and Logistics Department

The Transport and Logistics Department advises clients on the legal issues in relation to all aspects of transport and logistics. We have dedicated transport and logistics team, people familiar with an intimate knowledge of our clients’ businesses and with a problem-solving approach.

In the times of globalization and constant changes of international commerce we are prepared to deliver fast, bespoke solutions to the most high-profile problems with our group of innovative lawyers, experts and international reach through our net of Polish branch offices and international partners.

Our approach is to help clients to achieve their business goals. We work to protect our clients’ profits and minimize commercial risk.

We set ourselves high standards and we are committed to excellence. Our aim is to provide clear, jargon-free and exhaustive legal advice underpinned by sound commercial judgement.

The Transport and Logistics Department offers a full range of transactional legal services and disputes resolution to companies operating, buying, selling and insuring logistics and multimodal transport services and businesses:

• providing legal advice to buyers and suppliers of logistics services on the development of best class contracting arrangements in relation to forwarding, liner and contract logistics arrangements; drafting and negotiating especially clauses dealing with management reporting, insurance, liquidated damages, performance measurement and liability,
• comprehensive assistance in launching logistics business in Poland – counselling in corporate transactions and employment issues together with the firm’s mainstream corporate and labour practices, assessment of the risks involving undertaking logistics business, supply chain management, technology development and customs management; handling transactions involving warehousing, distribution centres, ports, and offices premises; legal trainings of employees on the effects of theirs activities and statements to the limits of theirs employer’s commercial liability,
• handling claims arising out of port-to-port and multimodal bills of lading; advising on interactions of bills of lading with international conventions; advising on letters of credit and other financial instruments; advising on cargo claims arising out of bills of lading and on other complex claims like when cargo has been accidentally released without a bill or when claims have been lodged solely against a Polish maritime agent of a carrier by cargo interest,
• drafting standard documents and adjusting existing documentation, general terms and conditions of contracts to Polish laws requirements,
• assistance in matters associated with shipbuilding, shipfinancing, registration of newbuildings, mortgages, enforcement of mortgages, vessels’ arrest; drawing up affidavits, issuing legal opinions on undertaken security measures and binding rules of law on bankruptcy and rehabilitation,
• assistance to crewing agents in meeting criteria for making personal data processing in computer systems lawful – notification of processing operations of personal data to the Data Protection Officer, legal assistance in implementation of appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect these data; counselling on avoidance of double-taxation of seamen; handling seamen’s claims for damages connected with accidents at work,
• detailed and complex counselling in the sphere of statutory regulations, international conventions of rendering transportation services (i.a. CMR Convention, COTIF Convention, Warsaw-Hague-MP 4 Convention, Hague-Visby Rules) and on the problems of conflicts of laws,
• representation of clients in litigation, alternative dispute resolution and arbitration proceedings,
• managing and resolving worldwide disputes – ability to tackle complex muliti-jurisdictional disputes through our extensive network of legal contacts and partners.