Profile
Michał Fereniec is the Deputy Managing Partner in the Warsaw Office of Greenberg Traurig. He focuses his practice on information technology, media and new technology. He advises clients on legal issues concerning the implementation of IT systems, purchase of equipment, software and computer integration services, and outsourcing. Michał also handles matters related to sports law and provides advice to banks, telecom and energy operators.
Concentrations
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Privacy and Data Security
- Telecommunications
- Information Technology
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented CVC Capital Partners in connection with its launch of a tender offer for all shares in Comarch S.A.
- Represented Animex Foods Sp. z o.o. in connection with the acquisition of an 80% stake in DeVeris Polska.
- Represented Ekstraklasa S.A. on the sale of media rights to TV broadcaster CANAL+ relating to Polish premier football league 2023/2024 to 2026/2027 seasons.
- Represented Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. and Polkomtel sp. z o.o. (“Polsat Group”) in connection with the sale of a 99.99% stake in Polkomtel Infrastruktura sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of Polsat Group, to Cellnex Poland sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of Cellnex Telecom S.A., Europe’s leading operator of telecommunications infrastructure. The value of the transaction exceeded PLN 7 billion.
- Represented Ekstraklasa S.A. on the settlements with TV broadcasters, CANAL + and TVP, as well as on the sale of media rights relating to the Polish premier football league, to these broadcasters for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons.
- Represented Lee Hecht Harrison, an Adecco Group entity, on IP matters of related to the acquisition of the enterprise of Development & Business Consulting Gniazdowski i Partnerzy sp.k., which previously operated as a local representative of Lee Hecht Harrison. The transaction included the acquisition of the entire business operations.
- Represented Polsat Group in the acquisition of Interia Group.
- Represented Deutsche Bank AG in connection with the sale and demerger of Deutsche Bank Polska S.A.’s local Private & Commercial Banking business to Santander Bank Polska S.A. (formerly Bank Zachodni WBK).
- Represented BNP Paribas Group in connection with the acquisition of the core banking business of Raiffeisen Bank Polska S.A. by Bank BGŻ BNP Paribas S.A. for PLN 3.25 billion, and the related equity investment of PLN 430 million by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the acquisition of a circa 4.5 percent stake in BGŻ BNP Paribas from
- Raiffeisen Bank International AG and BNP Paribas SA.
- Represented Discovery Polska in connection with the execution of the Investment Agreement pursuant to which Discovery Polska acquired and subscribed for shares in Green Content.
- Represented Venture Fundusz Inwestycyjny Zamknięty, managed by TFI Trigon S.A., in relation to its first Series A Investment in a Delaware corporation, Seed Labs Inc.
- Represented Alior Bank in an agreement to acquire Bank BPH’s core business from affiliates of GE Capital.
- Represented Brokton Investments, a company controlled by Mr. Zhu Jiman, in its acquisition of a significant block of shares in Bioton S.A. on a regulated market.
- Represented MP&Silva in connection with the sale of media rights relating to the Polish Premier League (Ekstraklasa) in seasons 2015/2016 to 2018/2019 to the broadcasters nc+ and Eurosport. It was the largest contract ever concluded within the Polish sports media industry.
- Represented PZU SA Group in connection with a tender for the implementation, maintenance and development of a new payroll system, which included the preparation of agreements and negotiations with bidders.
- Represented Orange Poland in connection with an agreement with mBank to create a mobile retail bank.
- Represented Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe "Puławy" S.A. in connection with establishing a joint venture with KGHM S.A. for the exploration of natural resources.
- Represented TP S.A. in connection with the sale of the Wirtualna Polska portal to the private equity fund Innova Capital. The value of the transaction was PLN 375 million.
- Represented Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. and Polkomtel S.A. in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in Midas S.A. in a public tender offer.
- Represented TP S.A. in connection with the sale of Wirtualna Polska portal to a private equity Innova Capital. The value of the transaction was PLN375 million.
- Represented Ekstraklasa S.A. in the negotiation of a media rights transfer agreement with nc+ Group.
- Represented Zakłady Azotowe Puławy S.A. in its consolidation process with Zakłady Azotowe Tarnów-Mościce, and the creation of Grupa Azoty. The consolidated group is the second largest player in the fertilizers market in Europe.
- Represented Spartan Capital Holdings in its PLN 18.1 billion acquisition of Polkomtel.°
- Represented Raiffeisen Bank International AG on the acquisition of a 70% share in Polbank EFG.°
- Advised TP S.A. on various IT related transactions, including agreements for the implementation of CRM and billing systems, vendor consolidation and television projects.°
- Advised telecom operators and financial institutions in IT proceedings.°
- Advised BZ WBK AIB group companies on projects in connection with the implementation of IT systems.°
- Advised MetLife on telemarketing and call center related issues, including distribution of insurance products via a telecom operator network.°
- Advised TP Group on IT consolidation projects and outsourcing projects, i.e. Desktop Management System.°
- Advised Intralot S.A. in connection with the provision of an IT system in Totalizator Sportowy.°
- Advised Deutsche Bank PBC S.A. on consumer related e-banking, structured deposits and foreign exchange transactions.°
- Advised KS Widzew Łódź S.A. in connection with sports law issues and investment in infrastructure.°
- Advised KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. on restructuring its telecommunication assets (Polkomtel S.A., Telefonia Dialog S.A.).°
- Advised PGNiG S.A., Polish Oil and Gas Company, on a EUR 600 million loan from a consortium of banks.°
- Advised several clients on the privatization of numerous state owned enterprises.°
- Supervised legal due diligence of various companies, including a pre M&A review from the banking sector.°
- Advised on innominate contracts, sponsoring, investment agreements, joint venture and shareholders agreements.°
- Advised on tax and financial aspects of loan instruments, as well as on organizing various forms of financing, including Eurobonds.°
- Advised on forming and operating a telecom company, establishing its network and financing, including vendor financing.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Fereniec prior to his joining GREENBERG TRAURIG Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński sp.k.
Recognition & Leadership
- Chambers FinTech: Notable Practitioner (2020-2021)
- Chambers Europe: Band 4 in TMT (2021-2022); Band 3 in TMT (2017-2020, 2008-2014); Band 2 in TMT (2015-2016); Band 4 in Private Equity (2014-2016); Band 4 in Corporate/M&A (2009-2010); Recommended in Corporate/M&A (2008)
- EMEA Legal 500: Recommended in TMT (2014-2024), Private Equity (2024) and Commercial, Corporate and M&A (2021)
- Chambers Global: Band 4 in Corporate/M&A (2009-2010); Recommended in Corporate/M&A (2008)
- Best Lawyers: Recommended in IT, M&A, TMT, Corporate (since 2010)
- One of the top 10 Polish lawyers in “Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers – Technology, Media & Telecommunications” 2015 by Expert Guides
- Member, Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law
Credentials
Education
- Attorney-at-Law, 2001
- Judge's Examination, 1997
- Master of Law, Warsaw University, 1995
Clerkships
- Court Internship, Judge Exam, Warsaw Court of Appeal, 1997
Admissions
- Poland
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Certain partners in GREENBERG TRAURIG Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński sp.k. are also shareholders in Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Languages
- English, Fluent
- Polish, Native