Karolina Wais

Karolina Wais, advocate, senior associate in Dentons’ Warsaw office, is a member of the Litigation and Arbitration team. She specializes in civil and commercial matters, representing financial institutions and corporate clients at the pre-trial stage and before courts, including the Supreme Court and arbitration courts.

Her experience spans legal advice on commercial contracts, contract law, claims for damages, FIDIC contract disputes, project finance disputes, consumer protection, unfair market practices, domestic and international sanctions, export and foreign currency bank loans, and unfair competition. She has advised companies in various industries, including energy, finance, electronics, services, food, tourism and real estate.

Experience

International corporations: Advising and representing in arbitration proceedings regarding foreign project financing, master agreements and general terms and conditions.
Polish and international companies: Advising on domestic and international sanctions against individuals and legal entities.
Multinational corporation: Advising and representing in complex enforcement proceedings before courts (including the Polish Supreme Court), regarding an award issued by a foreign arbitration court.
International companies in the energy sector: Advising on wind farm installation and development projects, conducting due diligence reviews.
Banks: Advising on disputes regarding export credit insurance claims with a total value of several hundred million zlotys.
Banks: Advising and representing banks in more than 200 disputes concerning domestic and foreign currency loans.
International developers: Advising on construction and contractual disputes, including student housing projects.
International metal sector company: Advising and representing the client in disputes concerning claims and board members’ liability.
International travel company: Advising the client on disputes regarding franchise agreements.
International organization: Advising on climate change, security and public policy issues.

Recognition

Second place in the national Lewiatan Arbitration Competition, Warsaw, 2022.
Second prize for the best statement of claim in the national Lewiatan Arbitration Competition, Warsaw, 2022.
Eric E. Bergsten Award, 25th Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Vienna, 2018.

Insights

Co-author, „Wykreślenie z listy sankcyjnej to dla firm na razie Himalaje, dużo będzie zależeć od NSA – podsumowanie praktyki stosowania polskiej ustawy sankcyjnej po półtora roku jej obowiązywania” (Eng. “Removal from the sanctions list poses insurmountable problems for companies; the Supreme Administrative Court will have a casting vote — an overview of practical issues regarding the Polish sanctions law after one and a half years in force”), prawo.pl, December 2023
„Czy w razie stwierdzenia nieważności umowy kredytu możliwość skorzystania z prawa potrącenia wierzytelności wyklucza wykonanie prawa zatrzymania?” (Eng. “If a bank loan agreement is declared null and void, does the right of set-off preclude the right of retention?”), Monitor Prawa Bankowego, September 2022
Co-author, “Polish translation of the commentary to the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration”, International Bar Association, June 2022
Co-author, „Zakaz wypłaty świadczenia z gwarancji bankowej na podstawie postanowienia sądu o zabezpieczeniu roszczeń” (Eng. “Prohibition on payments under bank guarantees under freezing order”), Monitor Prawa Bankowego, April 2019

Activities and Affiliations

Presentations

Speaker, “Polish and EU sanctions against Russia regarding aggression in Ukraine,” Warsaw, December 2022
Panelist, “What has the pandemic taught us? Changes introduced in the recent years in legislation, the practice of courts and attorneys,” 12th Conference of the Court Watch Poland Foundation, Warsaw, September 2022