There are positive signs that the Polish government will not enact plans to introduce a cap on legal fees, it has emerged, following the visit of a UK delegation to the country earlier this month.


The group - including a representative from the Law Society, the managing partner of Clifford Chance's Warsaw office and the Lord Mayor of London - met Poland's deputy justice minister, Malgorzata Manowska, to express their concerns about proposed legislation that would limit the amount charged by lawyers based there to about £40 an hour (see [2007] Gazette, 12 July, 5).



The plans, which would also impose a schedule of fixed fees for certain types of work, form part of the government's wider legislative agenda aimed at tackling the problem of access to justice.



Critics have warned that the proposals, if implemented, could lead to an exodus of international firms from Poland.



Nick Fletcher, managing partner of Clifford Chance's Warsaw office, said: 'All international firms practising in Poland, as well as leading Polish firms, are in favour of increased access, but it is not appropriate to tackle it through a fee cap.'



He said the delegation had received positive feedback from Ms Manowska and he hoped the government would re-think its proposal. If it did not, he said his firm would have to review how it operated in the Polish capital.



Law Society President Andrew Holroyd said: 'Although this meeting was helpful, there is still a long way to go. The Law Society will maintain the pressure on the Polish government to ensure this draft proposal is reconsidered.



'We remain greatly concerned that if the proposals go through, the effect on international law firms practising in Poland will be catastrophic - not to mention the negative impact on wider economic development from reduced access to expert legal services.'



Catherine Baksi