The ECM and DCM teams at CMS benefit from the firm’s wide expanse of international offices, enabling the smooth coordination of multi-jurisdictional projects. On the ECM side of the practice, the group supports clients with their IPOs, secondary public and and private placements and delistings, while the DCM team advises issuers, investors, investment banks and financial institutions on bonds, bank securities, covered bonds and bills of exchange. Having joined the firm from Deloitte Legal, Gizicki i Wspólnicy sp.k. in March 2024, Ryszard Manteuffel now heads up the ECM practice, within which the chair of the M&A practice, Sławomir Czerwiński, is also a key name. Michał Śmiechowski sits at the helm of the DCM team, and leader of the banking and finance group Michał Mężykowski is also active in this space.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team has extensive practical knowledge. Not only do they have expertise in legal provisions, but also market practice. They pay attention to details and seek solutions to meet the client needs. They are responsive, available, they communicate well even in complicated matters. I strongly recommend this team.’

  • ‘Michał Śmiechowski is an outstanding lawyer in capital markets. We appreciate his extensive knowledge and experience in different deals. He is proactive, helpful. Seeks solutions, provides alternatives and other possibilities to achieve a goal when needed. Listens to clients' needs. His personal skills are extensive. Available, engaged, trustworthy.’

  • ‘Competent people looking for solutions, with extensive knowledge and experience.’

  • ‘The team understands the product (bonds) and the specifics of the entire financing process through these instruments very well. Not only the legal aspects and conditions but also important business issues.’

  • ‘Both Michał Śmiechowski and Przemysław Kopka have specialist knowledge in the field of financing through corporate bond issues.’

  • ‘Commitment, high-quality advice, short turn-around times.’

Key clients

  • InPost S.A.
  • Grupa Azoty S.A.
  • Grupa Azoty Zakłady Chemiczne „Police” S.A.
  • A&R Investments Limited
  • Dom Development S.A.
  • Oponeo.pl S.A.
  • Drozapol-Profil S.A.
  • mBank S.A.
  • Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
  • Bank Pekao S.A.
  • PKO BP S.A.
  • ING Bank Śląski S.A.
  • Volkswagen Financial Services Polska Sp. z o.o.
  • Haitong Bank S.A., Warsaw Branch
  • Tramwaje Śląskie S.A.

Work highlights

  • Advised the main shareholders of Oponeo.pl S.A. on increasing their stakes in Oponeo through a public acquisition of Oponeo’s shares.
  • Advised Drozapol-Profil S.A. on the ongoing tender offer and delisting from the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
  • Advised Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego on its JPY 93bn issuance of samurai bonds in Japan, intended to finance the Support Fund for Ukraine, managed by BGK.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ryszard Manteuffel, Michał Śmiechowski

Other key lawyers

Sławomir Czerwiński, Michał Mężykowski, Magdalena Zmysłowska, Łukasz Duchiński, Marcin Krzemień, Przemysław Kopka