POLISH COMMERCIAL LAW AN INTRODUCTION LEWANDOWSKI R. Bankowa.pl

Polish Commercial Law: An Introduction to napisane w przystępnym języku ogólne wprowadzenie do polskiego prawa handlowego po angielsku. Poszczególne rozdziały zostały poświęcone analizie różnorodnych aspektów prawa handlowego. Pozycja jest niezbędną lekturą dla każdego studenta prawa, biznesu i ekonomii oraz nieocenionym przewodnikiem dla przedsiębiorców.

Dr Robert Lewandowski jest wykładowcą w Wyższej Szkole Przedsiębiorczości i Zarządzania im. Leona Koźmińskiego w Warszawie i adwokatem w Warszawskim biurze kancelarii Derra, Meyer & Partner.

254 stron, A5, miękka oprawa

The first general introduction to Polish Commercial Law in the English language. Written in an easily accessible style, this book devotes individual chapters to analyzing various aspects of this interesting subject. Polish Commercial Law: An Introduction is essential reading for any student of law, Business or Economic and is an invaluable guide to businesspeople.

Table of Contents

PREFACE .............................. XIX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................... XXI

ABBREVIATIONS ........................... XXIII

Chapter 1. COMMERCIAL LAW: DEFINITION, DEVELOPMENT, SCOPE & SOURCES .......................... 1

1. DEFINITION, DEVELOPMENT & SCOPE ............... 1

2. SOURCES OF COMMERCIAL LAW ................ 5

Chapter 2. AN ENTREPRENEUR: TO BE OR NOT TO BE .......... 7

1. OVERVIEW ........................... 8

2. BUSINESS ACTIVITY ...................... 8

3. LEGAL FORMS ........................ 10

4. THE “ON ITS OWN BEHALF” CRITERION ............ 11

5. “REGISTERED ENTREPRENEUR” STATUS ............. 12

6. COMMERCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND REGISTERED ENTEREPRENEURS: RELATIONSHIPS ................ 13

7. DEFINTION OF AN ENTERPRISE ................. 13

8. AUXILIARY PERSONS OF THE ENTREPRENEUR .......... 14

Chapter 3. BUSNIESS NAME ....................... 21

1. CREATION AND CONTINUED USAGE OF A BUSINESS NAME: RULES .............................. 21

2. PROTECTION OF THE BUSINESS NAME ............. 24

Chapter 4. REGISTRATION OF ENTREPREUNERS: RULES ......... 27

1. THE POLISH COURT REGISTER ................. 27

2. THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY REGISTER .............. 30

Chapter 5. FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS ........... 33

I. INTRODUCTION .......................... 33

II. PROPRIETORSHIP ........................ 34

III. PARTNERSHIP LAW ....................... 35

1. THE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP ................... 35

2. THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ................... 37

3. PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP ................. 39

4. LIMITED JOINT-STOCK PARTNERSHIP ............... 41

IV. COMPANY LAW ......................... 45

1. THE JOINT-STOCK COMPANY ................... 46

2. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY .............. 56

2.4. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION .............. 62

V. SUPRANATIONAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS ...... 63

1. THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUPING ....... 63

2. THE EUROPEAN COMPANY (S.E.) ................ 68

Chapter 6. FOREIGN ENTITIES DOING BUSINESS IN POLAND:

LEGAL ASPECTS ........................... 77

1. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND DEFINITION OF A FOREIGN ENTREPRENEUR ........................ 77

2. MEANS OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS .............. 78

3. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ................ 81

Chapter 7. POLISH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION LAW:

AN EU LAW CONTEXT ........................ 83

I. POLISH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION LAW ........... 83

1. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS .................... 83

2. SEAT THEORY ......................... 84

3. INCORPORATION THEORY .................. 85

II. EU LAW: FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT .............. 86

1. FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT: SIGNIFICANCE OF ‘COMPANIES OR FIRMS’ ...................... 86

(i) FORMATION OF “COMPANIES OR FIRMS” IN

ACCORDANCE WITH MEMBER STATE LAW .........89

(ii) REGISTERED OFFICE, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION

OR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ............ 90

(iii) THE “RESIDENT” CRITERION .............. 90

2. CONFLICT RULES OF INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW AS GROUNDS FOR CLAIMING FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT ..... 91

III. CONSISTENCY OF THE SEAT THEORY WITH FREEDOM

OF ESTABLISHMENT: JUDICIAL DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN

COURT OF JUSTICE ........................ 99

1. INTRODUCTION ........................ 99

2. THE ECJ’s “DAILY MAIL” JUDGEMENT OF 27 SEPTEMBER 1998 ... 100

3. THE ECJ’s “CENTROS” JUDGEMENT OF 9 MARCH 1999 ....... 101

4. THE ECJ’s “ÜBERSEERING” JUDGEMENT OF 5 NOVEMBER 2002 ... 103

5. THE ECJ’s “INSPIRE ART” JUDGEMENT OF 30 OCTOBER 2003 .. 105

IV. CONSEQUENCES OF ECJ JUDGEMENTS FOR POLISH LAW ..... 107

1. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS .................. 107

2. THE REAL SEAT PRINCIPLE AS INCONSISTENT WITH FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT .................. 108

Chapter 8. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF COMMERCIAL

CONTRACTS ............................. 115

I. INTRODUCTION ........................ 115

II. ACCEPTANCE OF A REVOCABLE OFFER .............. 117

III. PERMISSIBILITY OF ACCEPTANCE OF A MODIFIED OFFER ..... 118

IV. THE “LETTER OF CONFIRMATION” ................ 119

V. EXCLUSION OF THE AD PROBATIONEM FORM ........... 120

VI. RULES FOR MAKING AN OFFER IN ELECTRONIC FORM ....... 121

VII. THE CRITERION OF REQUIRED CARE FOR ENTREPRENEURS .. 122

VIII. EXCLUSION OF THE REVALUATION PRINCIPAL ......... 122

IX. CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS BY USAGE OF DIFFERENT STANDARD FORMS OF CONTRACTS ................ 123

X. SILENCE AS ASSENT ....................... 124

Chapter 9. PURCHASE AND SALE OF GOODS ............. 125

I. GENERAL CONTRACTUAL TERMS ................ 125

1. CHOICE OF LANGUAGE ..................... 126

2. PAYMENT CLAUSE ...................... 127

3. GOVERNMENT APPROVAL CLAUSE ............... 127

4. ARBITRATION CLAUSE .................... 128

5. FORCE MAJEURE ....................... 129

6. CHOICE OF LAW AND JURISDICTION .............. 132

7. PENALTY CLAUSE ....................... 132

II. NATIONAL TERMS OF DELIVERY AND PAYMENT ........ 133

1. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PURCHASER AND SALE AGREEMENT ........................... 133

2. TERMS OF DELIVERY ...................... 133

2.1. GENERAL PROVISIONS .................. 134

2.2. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ................... 134

(a) DEFAULT OF THE PURCHASER ............ 134

(b) LIABILITY FOR DEFECTS ................ 135

3. TERMS OF PAYMENT ...................... 136

III. INTERNATIONAL TERMS OF DELIVERY (INCOTERMS) ...... 137

1. EXW (Ex Works) ......................... 139

2. FCA (Free Carrier) ........................ 140

3. FAS (Free Alongside Ship) .................... 142

4. FOB (Free On Board) ....................... 143

5. CFR (Cost and Freight) ...................... 144

6. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) ................. 145

7. CPT (Carriage Paid To) ...................... 146

8. CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid to) ............... 147

9. DAF (Delivered at Frontier) ................... 148

10. DES (Delivered Ex Ship) ..................... 150

11. DEQ (Delivered Ex Quay) .................... 151

12. DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) .................. 152

13. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) .................. 153

IV. INTERNATIONAL TERMS OF PAYMENT .............. 155

1, “NET CASH” CLAUSE ..................... 155

2. “CASH AGAINST INVOICE” ................... 156

3. “CASH ON DELIVERY”/”PAY ON DELIVERY” .......... 156

4. “CASH AGAINST DOCUMENTS” ................ 156

5. CASH AGAINST A LETTER OF CREDIT OR DOCUMENTS

AGAINST A LETTER OF CREDIT .................. 157

V. INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW ................. 158

VI. EU LAW AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES OR CONVENTIONS .. 159

VII. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR

THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS (1980) ............ 160

1. INTRODUCTION ........................ 160

2. STRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL FEATURES ............ 160

3. CONDITIONS AND SCOPE OF APPLICABLITY .......... 161

3.1. CONDITIONS OF APPLICABLITY .............. 161

3.2. SCOPE OF APPLICABLITY ................. 162

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS .................... 163

5. OFFER, ACCEPTANCE AND FORMATION OF CONTRACT ..... 164

6. BASIC LEGAL REMEDIES ..................... 165

6.1. REMEDY TO REQUIRE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION

AND RATIFICATION OF SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY ......... 165

6.2. REMEDY AS RIGHT OF RETENTION ............. 166

6.3. CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION .............. 166

6.4. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT ............... 167

VII. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION ................. 167

Chapter 10. DANGEROUS PRODUCTS LIABILITY ............ 169

I. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS .................. 169

II. PRODUCER .......................... 170

III. PERSONS INJURED ....................... 170

IV. DANGEROUS PRODUCTS ..................... 171

V. SCOPE OF DAMAGE ...................... 172

VI. EXEMPTION OF PRODUCERS FROM LIABLITY ........... 172

Chapter 11. PURCHASE AND SALE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY .... 175

I. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS .................... 175

II. THE FUNCTION OF LAND REGISTER .............. 176

III. CONTRACTS FOR THE SALE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ..... 177

1. CONFLICT OF LAWS: PRINCIPLES ................ 177

2. FORMAL REQUIREMENTS .................. 177

3. CONTENTS OF A CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ............................ 178

3.1. MINIMUM CONTENT ................... 178

3.2. PARTIES TO A CONTRACT FOR SALE ............ 179

3.3. OBJECT OF SALE ...................... 180

3.4. PURCHASE PRICE .................... 180

3.5. HANDING-OVER DATE .................. 181

4. DEFECTS OF QUALITY AND DEFECTS OF TITLE ........ 181

5. PURCHASE PRICE AND MEANS OF PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE PAYMENT ....................... 183

IV. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC RESTRITIONS REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ............ 185

1. PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS .................... 185

1.1. INTRODUCTION ...................... 185

1.2. SCOPE OF THE ACT ON THE ACQUISITION OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BY FOREIGNERS, 24 MARCH 1920 .... 185

1.3. APPROVAL FOR THE ACQUISITION OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ........................... 186

1.4. EXEMPTIONS ...................... 187

1.5. TREATMENT OF NATIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM EEA MEMBER STATES ................... 188

2. PUBLIC RESTRICTIONS .................... 189

2.1. THE ACT ON THE SHAPING OF AGRICULTURE STRUCTURES, 11 APRIL 2003 .................. 190

2.2. THE ACT ON MANAGMENT OF AGRICULTURAL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY OF THE STATE TREASURY, 19 OCTOBER 1991 ...................... 191

2.3. THE ACT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY, 21 AUGUST 1997 .................. 191

Chapter 12. PURCHASE AND SALE OF AN ENTERPRISE (PRIVATE ACQUISITION) ....................... 193

I. PROCESS OF ACQUISITION OF AN ENTERPRISE ........... 194

II. ASSET DEAL ........................... 196

1. LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTEPRISE IN THE FORM OF AN ASSET DEAL ................. 196

1.1. INTRODUCTION ...................... 196

1.2. ARTICLES 551 AND 552 OF THE CIVIL CODE ......... 197

1.3. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTEPRISE ..... 197

2. WARRANTY CLAUSES IN THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTERPRISE WITH RESPECT TO AN ASSET DEALS .............. 198

2.1. PRELIMINARY EXPLANATION .............. 198

2.1.1. DUE DILIGENCE PRIOR TO CLOSING ........... 198

2.1.2. DUE DILIGENCE AFTER CLOSING ........... 199

2.2. WARRANTY PROVISIONS ................. 199

2.2.1. IN GENERAL ..................... 199

2.2.2. DEFECTS IN QUALITY OF AN ENTERPRISE ....... 200

2.2.3. DEFECTS IN TITLE OF AN ENTERPRISE ........ 201

2.2.4. DEFECTS OF AN ENTIRE ENTERPRISE AND DEFECTS OF SEPARATE COMPONENTS OF AN ENTEPRISE ...... 202

2.2.5. EXCLUDING THE SELLER’S WARRANTY ........ 202

2.2.6. BUYER’S CLAIMS BASED ON WARRANTY ......... 203

2.2.7. NOTICE OF DEFECT .................. 204

2.2.8. CESSATION OF WARRANTY CLAIMS BASED ON DEFECTS IN AN ENTERPRISE ................ 205

2.2.9. THE CONTRACTUAL MODIFICATION OF A SELLER’S LIABILITY FOR DEFECTS IN AN ENTERPRISE ......... 206

3. CONCEQUENCES OF THE ASSET DEAL TO THE LAW OF EMPLOYMENT ......................... 207

III. A SHARE DEAL ........................ 208

1. LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTEPRISE IN THE FORM OF AN SHARE DEAL ................. 208

2. WARRANTY CLAUSES IN THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTERPRISE WITH RESPECT TO SHARE DEAL ................ 209

3. RESTRICTIONS ON SALE OF SHARES/INTREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF COMMERCIAL COMPANIES CODE .... 209

4. CONSEQUENCES OF THE SHARE DEAL TO THE LAW OF EMPLOYMENT ......................... 211

IV. SOME LEGAL ASPECTS OF COMPETITION LAW WITH RESPECT TO ASSET AND SHARE DEAL TRANSACTIONS ............. 212

1. INTRODUCTION ........................ 212

2. NOTIFICATION OF CONCENTRATION ............. 212

3. EXCEPTIONS OF THE PROPOSED CONCENTRATION ...... 213

4. POWERS OF DECISIONS OF THE COMPETITION OFFICE ...... 213

V. ASSET DEAL TRANSACTION AND THE ACQUISITION OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY .................... 214

Chapter 13. INSOLVENCY ...................... 215

1. INTRODUCTION .........................215

2. APPLICABLITY OF THE INSOLVENCY AND REORGANISATION LAW ..................... 216

3. REASONS FOR ANNOUNCEMENT AND REASONS FOR REJECTIONS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS ......................... 217

4. REASONS FOR COMMENCING REORGANISATION PROCEEDINGS .......................... 219

5. PROCEEDINGS REGARDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF INSOLVENCY AND MAKING DECISION ............ 219

6. CONSEQUENCES OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF INSOLVENCY .. 220

7. ORGANS INVOLVED IN THE INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS ..... 222

8. PARTICIPANTS IN THE INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS ...... 224

9. COMMON REGULATION FOR INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS INCLUDING THE COMPOSITION AGREEMENT AND INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS INCLUDING LIQUIDATION ..... 226

10. INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS INCLUDING THE COMPOSITION AGREEMENT ........................... 228

11. INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS INCLUDING THE LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS .......................... 231

12. REORGANISATION PROCEEDINGS .............. 232

Chapter 14. ARBITRATION LEGISLATION .............. 235

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS .................... 235

2. ARBITRATION AGREEMENT .................. 237

3. COMPOSITION AND JURISDICTION OF THE ARBITRATION COURT ............................ 239

4. JURISDICTION OF THE ARBITRATION COURT ........... 240

5. CONDUCT OF ARBITRATION PROCEDDINGS .......... 241

6. THE AWARD AND TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS ....... 242

7. JUDICAL REVIEW OF ARBITRATION ISSUES ........... 243

INDEX ................................ 245

REFERENCES ............................. 251

Dr Robert Lewandowski is currently lecturer at the Koźmiński Academy in Warsaw and is an attorney at law with the Warsaw office of Derra, Meyer & Partners.

254 pages, A5, softcover

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