Michał Barłowski
attorney-at-law, senior counsel
Restructuring, transactions, bankruptcy—25 years of experience serving clients
Michał Barłowski handles a broad range of commercial law matters. He advises on restructuring, including situations where there is a threat of insolvency or bankruptcy. He advises capital groups operating in Poland and elsewhere in the EU.
In 2005–2009 he led the first cross-border bankruptcy of a Polish company under the EU’s Insolvency Regulation (1346/2000), leading to removal of the company from the register. In 2009 he advised on one of the first cross-border mergers under the Polish Commercial Companies Code, and in 2011 he represented one of the parties before the Court of Justice in C-116/11 Christianapol.
He served in two expert groups at the European Commission, drafting the recast Insolvency Regulation (2015/848) and the proposal for a Directive on preventive restructuring frameworks, second chance and measures to increase the efficiency of restructuring, insolvency and discharge procedures and amending Directive 2012/30/EU (proposal approved by the Commission in November 2016).
He joined Wardyński & Partners in 1999 and was a senior partner in 1999–2014 heading the M&A and Bankruptcy practices.
Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw (1990)
International Relations Department, London School of Economics (BSc in Economics, 1985)
Qualification courses for members of supervisory boards of national investment funds and state-owned companies
He was a founder, partner and management board member of Amhurst Brown sp. z o.o., the Polish office of the British law firm Amhurst Brown Colombotti (1991–1998).
He serves on supervisory boards of public and private companies.
Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law
Polish Association of Restructuring Professionals (management board member)
International Bar Association
Allerhand Institute
International Insolvency Institute
Chambers Europe (2013 – 2019), Restructuring/Insolvency
The Legal 500 EMEA (2014 – 2017), Restructuring and insolvency
Who’s Who Legal 2020, Restructuring & Insolvency (Thought Leaders)
Best Lawyers® 2014, Insolvency and Reorganisation
“A fresh take on restructuring,” 2016 Yearbook
Company formation: A practical global guide (3rd ed.) (co-authored chapter on Poland), Globe Law and Business 2015
“Restructuring beats the bankruptcy blues,” 2015 Yearbook
“The saviour of failed rescues: A new attempt at defining who can be saved from the shoals of insolvency,” 2014 Yearbook
“Solvent and insolvent at the same time?” 2013 Yearbook
“French reorganisation proceedings recognised in Poland under the EU’s Insolvency Regulation” (co-author), 2012 Yearbook
“Easier to file for bankruptcy,” 2011 Yearbook
Editor for Poland of International Corporate Rescue, published by Chase Cambria (since 2005)
Entrepreneurship
Books
The series of publications marking the 30th anniversary of Wardyński & Partners offers a concise cross-section of texts summarising and synthesising our first 30 years of practice. Drawing from our experiences, we present visions and solutions for the future. The fourth volume is devoted to entrepreneurship.
Set-Off Law and Practice: An International Handbook
Books
The guide covers the application and practice of the law of set-off in over 30 jurisdictions spanning Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each chapter explains the principles of the law of set-off, including in situations of insolvency, in the jurisdiction concerned, and provides a comparative guide for banking and finance lawyers wishing to establish the […]
Company Formation
Books
Legal Risks in M&A Transactions
Books
The fourth joint project of Wardyński & Partners and LexisNexis Polska.
Civil and Commercial Disputes. Examples from Practice
Books
This book was released by LexisNexis Polska as the second volume of its “Law in Practice” series. It was written by legal practitioners at Wardyński & Partners especially for other practitioners in Poland—legal advisers, advocates, and trainees.
M&A Transactions
Books
The first book in a new series from LexisNexis Polska addressing the practical aspects of application of law. The authors focus on practical application of specific legal instruments used in mergers and acquisitions. The book as a whole may also function as a roadmap to a typical transaction of this type.
