Attorney-at-law in the Litigation and Arbitration Team, the Infrastructure Team.
He has been involved in some of the largest court disputes in Poland regarding issues such as contract termination, contractual penalties and remuneration indexation (before common and arbitration courts). Author of a strategy for court proceedings and main counsel in several disputes encompassing a large number of separate court cases. Clients also entrust him with handling appeal and cassation proceedings.
Wojciech provides day-to-day legal advice on large-scale infrastructure and construction projects (e.g. roads, airports, waste incineration plants, energy facilities) and contracts for the supply of technologically advanced machines (production lines and industrial robots). His experience also includes representation in disputes heard by international arbitration courts (e.g. a dispute before the ICC concerning a project carried out for an Asian counterparty on the African continent), including investment disputes (BIT).
He represents clients in proceedings regarding declaring judgments issued by foreign arbitration and common courts enforceable. He was the main counsel in proceedings covering claims with a total value exceeding PLN 600 million; thanks to his active involvement the case was concluded with a favourable settlement agreement. In 2016 he was a laureate of the prestigious competition “Rising Stars Lawyers — leaders of tomorrow”; in 2023 he was recognised in the ranking “50 lawyers worth following on LinkedIn”.
Selected projects
- representation of general contractors (international concerns and Polish listed construction companies) in court trials against GDDKiA and PKP PLK regarding settlement of contracts for Polish largest road sections and railway lines, and payment of contractual penalties (the value of some disputes exceeded PLN 200 million; FIDIC standards);
- representation of clients in complex court disputes including over ten parallel proceedings;
- legal advice and representation regarding the extension of two largest airports in Poland;
- legal advice and representation of manufacturers of complex machines, robots and railway vehicles;
- representation of clients in court proceedings after withdrawal from contracts;
- representation of a global clothing manufacturer in seeking debt claims from Polish counterparties (court proceedings, bankruptcy and enforcement proceedings);
- member of the team representing a foreign investor in investment arbitration against Poland (ICC Rules);
- representation of general contractors (the largest international and Polish listed construction companies) in court proceedings concerning unlawful call for payment of funds under the guarantee by a contracting authority (so-called proceedings blocking the use of a guarantee);
- representation of clients in court trials concerning payment demands based on a promissory note.
Professional experience
- since 2015 JDP DRAPAŁA & PARTNERS, since 2021 Partner
- 2011–2014 Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak
- 2011 Zhonglun W&D, internship
Education
- 2013–2016 Warsaw Bar Association, advocate trainee
- 2007–2012 Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Faculty of Law
- 2010–2011 The School of American Law at Chicago-Kent Law School
