Administrative-law matters are also among the Firm's areas of specialisation. We represent clients from Warsaw and across Poland in proceedings before public and local-government authorities at every stage — from the first submission in the case, through the appeal, up to a complaint before the administrative court. Administrative law governs the relationship between the citizen or entrepreneur and the State, which is why the outcome of an entire case often depends on the quality of the pleadings and on observing procedural deadlines.
We provide our clients with comprehensive services, including:
- legal advice and analysis of the legal situation before proceedings are initiated,
- obtaining permits, authorisations, concessions and licences,
- representation in proceedings before government and local-government administrative authorities,
- conducting proceedings before the Voivodeship Administrative Courts and the Supreme Administrative Court,
- drafting pleadings, motions, appeals and complaints,
- preparing legal opinions, analyses and advice in the field of administrative law and public economic law.
The two-instance nature of administrative proceedings
As a rule, administrative proceedings are conducted in two instances. A decision of the first-instance authority may be appealed; under the Code of Administrative Procedure the appeal is usually lodged within 14 days of the decision being served. Meeting this deadline is crucial — exceeding it generally means the decision becomes final. We help assess the merits of a challenge, formulate the grounds correctly and file the appeal on time.
Complaint to the Voivodeship and Supreme Administrative Court
If a final administrative decision breaches the law, it may be challenged before the Voivodeship Administrative Court. The complaint is filed through the authority whose action is being challenged, within 30 days of service of the decision. An unfavourable judgment of the Voivodeship Administrative Court may be challenged by a cassation complaint to the Supreme Administrative Court, which must be drafted by a professional attorney. We represent clients at both stages of administrative-court proceedings.
The cases we most often handle
We support individuals and entrepreneurs in matters concerning, among others, zoning and building permits, environmental decisions, concessions and regulated-activity authorisations, as well as rulings of local-government authorities. The legalisation of foreigners' residence and work is also decided in administrative proceedings — if your case concerns residence in Poland, see also our offer for foreigners.
Support for entrepreneurs and administrative enforcement
We serve entrepreneurs in matters of public economic law — in proceedings for granting, amending or withdrawing concessions, authorisations and entries in registers of regulated activity, as well as in disputes with supervisory authorities. We also represent clients in administrative enforcement proceedings, including raising objections to enforcement and filing motions to suspend enforcement actions. We ensure that the authorities' actions remain within the limits of the law and that the obligations imposed on the client reflect the actual state of the case.
How we work together
We begin by analysing the documents and establishing the procedural deadlines, which in administrative cases cannot be restored without good cause. We then prepare a strategy, draft the necessary pleadings and represent the client before the authority or the court. We keep clients informed about the progress of the case and explain the meaning of each ruling. We provide consultations in eight languages, so foreigners living and doing business in Warsaw also benefit from our help.
Appealing an administrative decision — the 14 days that decide the case
As a rule, you have 14 days from delivery of a decision to file an appeal. Poorly drafted objections narrow your options at later stages, so we build every appeal with a possible court complaint in mind: we analyse the case file and evidence, then raise precise objections of substantive and procedural violations. We describe our approach in the article on our administrative law firm in Warsaw.
Complaints to the Voivodeship Administrative Court (WSA) and cassation to the NSA
We represent clients before the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw and the Supreme Administrative Court. We draft complaints against decisions and rulings, complaints against an authority's inaction or excessive length of proceedings, and cassation complaints, which require a licensed attorney. When an office stays silent for months, a well-prepared demand to act (ponaglenie) filed before the complaint often works on its own.
Extraordinary procedures — reopening proceedings and annulment of decisions
A final decision does not always end the case. We handle reopening of administrative proceedings — for instance when a party took no part in them through no fault of their own or new evidence has come to light — and annulment of decisions issued in gross violation of the law. These are demanding procedures: a careless attempt can close the path for years, so we build the argumentation precisely from the first letter.
Administrative fines and inspections
We defend businesses and individuals against administrative monetary penalties — from sanitary and environmental fines to sanctions imposed by supervisory authorities. Section IVa of the Code of Administrative Procedure provides real tools of defence: waiver of the fine, its reduction, limitation periods. We also support clients during inspections, before any ruling is issued.
Construction law and real estate
We advise on building permits and notifications, legalisation of unauthorised construction, zoning conditions and disputes with construction supervision authorities. We also handle property division and demarcation proceedings as well as adjacency and planning fees — wherever an administrative decision determines the value of an investment.
Services for businesses — permits, concessions and administrative-economic cases
We obtain permits, concessions, licences and entries in registers of regulated activity, handle administrative-economic cases and represent companies in disputes with regulators. Under ongoing service we watch deadlines and manage official correspondence via e-Doręczenia, reacting before a problem grows.
Legal opinions and administrative advisory
We prepare legal opinions on administrative law — before an investment starts, during proceedings, and for management and supervisory boards. A reliable opinion lets you assess a risk before it becomes a cost.
An administrative law firm in the centre of Warsaw
Our office is located in Śródmieście at Marszałkowska 7/10. We work daily with Warsaw's administrative authorities and courts — from the Masovian Voivodeship Office at pl. Bankowy 3/5 to the Voivodeship Administrative Court at Jasna 2/4. We handle cases for clients across Warsaw and all of Poland; consultations take place at the office or online, in eight languages.