Alicja Szczęśniak, Ph.D.
Biography
Alicja Szczęśniak is a skilled legal professional and an authority on post-M&A disputes, arbitration, ADR and cases before the Court of Justice of the EU. With a PhD in civil procedure and deep experience in arbitration, she has held notable positions as an arbitrator and lead counsel in complex disputes before various forums. Alicja organizes the Arbitration Lunch Match, which brings together professionals in the field to promote gender equality. She has authored articles on disputes and arbitration and is affiliated with legal institutions across Europe.
Practice Focus
Alicja focuses on post-M&A disputes, arbitration, complex litigation and ADR, in company law, commercial contracts, torts and unfair competition. She also has significant experience representing clients in court proceedings involving competition law and consumer protection matters. Serving clients in the Polish market, she handles cases before the Court of Justice of the EU. Her practice spans multiple jurisdictions, and she is influential in promoting gender equality within the arbitration field. Alicja works with diverse clients, from individuals to major corporations, ensuring effective legal solutions in high-stakes cases.
Representative Legal Matters
- Represented a state related entity in a complex multi-party dispute concerning the aftermath of Poland’s implementation of the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution framework, which was the first resolution carried out in the EU.
- Represented a client in a complex dispute in arbitration, connected litigations and criminal proceedings relating to the purchase of a controlling stake in a major Polish entity on the HR services market.
- Represented a bank in litigation relating to a guarantee issued in relation to a major Polish investment in the national security sector.
- Represented a client in the construction industry in a dispute over a wrongfully executed bank guarantee.
- Representing a Polish banking and financial services company in four cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) relating to consumer contracts, in connection with a challenge to terms deemed unfair under Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts.
- Representing a Polish multinational banking and financial services company in a case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in a matter that touches upon an issue of public and EU laws.
- Representing major Polish banks in five actions initiated by consumers disputing loan agreements based on the WIBOR (Warsaw Interbank Offered Rate) exchange rate.
- Assisted an insurer in a dispute concerning a claim under a Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) insurance policy.
Professional Honors
- Up and Coming, Arbitrators, Chambers Global 2026
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Polish Bar Association
- Court of Arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce, List of Recommended Arbitrators
- List of arbitrators recommended by Court of Arbitration Lewiatan
Admissions
- Poland (2014)
Education
- ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Eastern Europe (2014)
- Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PhD Civil Procedure) (2014)
- University of Vienna (LLM in International Legal Studies) (2009)
Languages
- English
- Polish
Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy sp.k. with its seat in Warsaw, registered office: Chmielna 69, 00-801 Warsaw, Poland, entered in the register of business entities of the National Court Register maintained by the District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw in Warsaw, XIII Commercial Division of the National Court Register, KRS 0000136677, NIP 5262656141.
Partners: Weronika Achramowicz, Marcin Chyliński, Marcin Fijałkowski, Łukasz Hejmej, Marcin Iwaniszyn, Katarzyna Kopczewska, Tomasz Krzyżowski, Piotr Rawski, Filip Uziębło, Baker McKenzie Doradztwo Podatkowe sp. z o.o.
Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy sp.k. is a member of Baker & McKenzie International.