Jakub Wołkowicz
Biography
Overview
Jakub Wołkowicz is a partner in the Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration practice with many years of experience in providing legal assistance to clients in arbitration. The cases he has dealt with include multi-million dollar construction claims, particularly in relation to substantial investments in power plants and processing facilities, post-transactional disputes, as well as various aspects of enforcement proceedings and recognition of arbitral awards. He has extensive experience in disputes over renewable energy sources, conventional energy, as well as nuclear energy and other infrastructure projects in Poland and around the world. He is actively involved in an unprecedented dispute over limiting carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere against one of Poland's largest conventional power generators. Jakub also advises on substantial disputes resulting from renewable energy projects. In recent years, he has been actively involved in several arbitration proceedings with a total value of several billion dollars.
In addition to working in White & Case's Warsaw office, he has gained experience in the firm’s offices in Paris and Geneva. He also regularly works with White & Case arbitration teams from other jurisdictions, including London, Sydney and countries in the Middle East.
Jakub is a member of the Arbitration Committee at the Lewiatan Arbitration Court, one of the two leading arbitration courts in Poland.
A prestigious legal ranking, The Legal 500, has repeatedly recommended Jakub for Dispute Resolution, and in its 2023 edition it ranked him as one of the select few “Leading Lawyers” in this field. Another prestigious international legal ranking, Chambers and Partners, has also ranked him in its latest edition for Dispute Resolution.
France
Experience
- A German energy company: representation of a German energy company in a series of interim measures and enforcement cases against a natural gas supplier across various jurisdictions.
- A leading engineering and construction company: representation of one of the world's leading engineering and construction companies in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of one of the largest biomass power plants in Europe.
- A consortium of construction companies: representation of a consortium of construction companies in a dispute with the Panama Canal Authority in connection with the expansion of the Panama Canal at a cost of USD 5.5 billion.
- A Japanese oil company: representation of a Japanese oil company in respect of numerous arbitrations and project completion issues arising out of the construction of an multi-billion onshore LNG processing facility.
- A large payments company: representation of one of the largest payments companies in Europe on a complex post-M&A dispute concerning a high-value transaction involving a company from the on-line payments sector. The parties are in disagreement about the effectiveness and valuation of the call/put option.
- One of the largest electricity producers in Europe: representation of one of the largest electricity producers in Europe on a complex dispute resulting from the purchase of a renewable energy project in Poland.
- A company from the services sector: representation of a company from the services sector, acting as the subcontractor, in a series of disputes with the general contractor for the construction of an ERTMS/GSM-R railroad system in Poland, aimed at improving the Polish railroad communication system, with the total value of approximately PLN 2.8 billion (EUR 590 million).
- A global engineering company: representation of a global engineering company with its registered seat in South Korea in a dispute with a consultant that arose in the context of our client’s bid for a contract to design, procure and construct a propane dehydrogenation plant in Poland. The consultant filed a request for pre-trial conciliation proceedings against our client, claiming his entitlement to a success fee in the amount of EUR 19.9 million.
- An international online store: representation of an international online store with its registered seat in the Netherlands in a multi-layered dispute with the general contractor employed by our Client to construct one of the biggest warehouses and logistics centers in Poland.
- PGE GiEK: representation of PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. in court proceedings initiated by ClientEarth, an NGO specializing in environmental protection.
- A Spanish contractor: representation of a Spanish contractor (claimant and counter-respondent) in ICC arbitration regarding a US$200 million dispute concerning the construction of a major project in Australia.
- A US contractor: representation of a US contractor (respondent and counter-claimant) in ICC arbitration relating to the construction of a strategic military project in north-western Poland.
- An investor: representation of an investor (respondent and counter-claimant) in ICC arbitration regarding an over €1 billion construction dispute concerning the construction of a nuclear power plant in Southeast Europe.
- A French corporation: representation of a French corporation in potential investment arbitration against a state in Central Europe.
- An Italian corporation: representation of an Italian corporation in potential ICC arbitration regarding an over €300 million project for the construction of a refinery.
- A French corporation: representation of a French corporation in VIAC arbitration regarding a post-M&A dispute.
- A Hungarian corporation: representation of a Hungarian corporation in Lewiatan arbitration regarding a €10 million post-M&A dispute.
- A Polish contractor: representation of a Polish contractor in parallel court proceedings relating to the construction of a coal power plant in Poland (€2.5 billion project).
- A Polish corporation: representation of a Polish corporation and its foreign parent companies in ICC arbitration regarding the rendering of services.
- A contractor: representation of a contractor (claimant and counter-respondent) in ICC arbitration regarding an over €30 million construction dispute.
- A consortium of contractors: representation of a consortium of contractors in KIG arbitration regarding a €30 million dispute concerning the construction of coal-processing facilities.
- A Polish municipal enterprise: representation of a Polish municipal enterprise in ICC arbitration against a Turkish contractor regarding a €1.5 million dispute concerning liability for subcontractors.
- A Macedonian contractor: representation of a Macedonian contractor in state court proceedings regarding a €55 million dispute concerning the construction of the A4 motorway in Poland.
- A contractor: representation of a contractor (a Polish company from a Spanish construction group) in a dispute related to the construction of the S6 national road in Poland (FIDIC Red Book).
- A consortium of major Polish contractors: representation of a consortium of major Polish contractors in claims relating to the A2 motorway in Poland (FIDIC Yellow Book).
- A contractor: representation of a contractor in a dispute related to the construction of the S7 national road (FIDIC Red Book).
- A global insurance company: representation of a global insurance company in various D&O insurance claims related to losses caused by entering into so-called "toxic derivative transactions".
- Various clients: representation of various clients in the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.
Jakub is the co-author of the following publications:
"State Immunity in Selected Countries in Central and Eastern Europe," European International Arbitration Review (EIAR), vol. 3, issue 1, pp. 37-132 (with Justinas Jarusevicius, Anastasia Rodionova and Artis Straupenieks)
"Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards – the European Perspective," Michigan International Lawyer, vol. 24, N° 3, Autumn 2012 (with Wanda Kudrycka)
"Jakub Wołkowicz is the highly talented lawyer you want on a complex case. Very committed to always delivering the best quality – not only of legal advice, but also in terms of project management."
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023 – Poland
"Jakub seemed very experienced in what he was dealing with and always felt very accommodating while developing the mandate."
Chambers Global, 2023 – Poland
"We appreciate his proposed solutions and the ease of communication to the company's management board."
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023 – Poland
"One partner who stood out in the case was Jakub Wołkowicz. Not only did he assume a phenomenal (!!) quantity of work, but the quality was always there too. He was particularly numerically literate which was very useful when having to delve into the nitty-gritty of poorly presented spreadsheets provided by the other sides' experts. Where it would have been very tough to explain without the usage of calculations and technical terms, he not only engaged but also helped uncover more issues and provide useful feedback. Thanks!".
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023 – Poland
"I have had the extraordinary pleasure of working with Jakub Wołkowicz. Outside of the qualities that every litigation lawyer should possess, Jakub is characterised by great creativity when preparing litigation strategies, remaining open to the arguments of those who co-operate with him. He is a person with whom one can always exchange thoughts on various legal issues that affect and influence business decisions."
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023 – Poland
