Alicja Zielińska-Eisen

Alicja Zielińska-Eisen

Download CV

Contact

Bar admissions

  • Poland, Adwokat

Achievements

  • Lexology (former Who’s Who Legal) Thought Leaders Global Elite – Arbitration (2025, 2026)
  • Lexology (former Who’s Who Legal) Arbitration Future Leaders – Under 45 – Non-Partners (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • 1st Honorable Mention in Female Advocate of the Year issued by the Polish Bar Council (2023)
  • Laureate of the Rising Star Lawyers – Leaders of Tomorrow, organised by Wolter Kluwers and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna (2016)

Languages

  • English
  • Polish
Download CV

Overview

Alicja Zielińska-Eisen is a Partner at Queritius and an advocate (adwokat) admitted in Poland. Drawing on more than 15 years’ hands-on experience in complex dispute resolution, she acts before Polish courts and in domestic and international arbitration, including investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS), having successfully represented both foreign investors and the State.

In recent years, her practice has expanded to include broader commercial matters, particularly M&A-related and infrastructure disputes, as well as aspects of private international law. She acts as counsel before Polish courts, including the Supreme Court, and works closely with businesses to anticipate, manage, and resolve disputes – from early crisis management, through negotiation and mediation, to contentious proceedings and cross-border enforcement. She also regularly serves as arbitrator under the ICC, DIS, SCC, SA KIG, and Lewiatan Arbitration Rules, in cases seated in Poland, Germany, and Sweden.

Alicja combines her practice with an academic career, having served as Academic Coordinator of the International Dispute Resolution LL.M. at Humboldt University of Berlin, and continues to teach advanced courses. She is co-editor and author of International Arbitration in Practice (Wolters Kluwer, 2025).

She began her career advising on corporate, transactional, and environmental matters for companies in the mining and industrial sectors of Silesia, and later spent over a decade in the global dispute resolution and arbitration team of a Magic Circle law firm.

Alicja is a member of the ICC Poland Arbitration Committee and a former ICC YAAF Representative for Europe. She is an active supporter of initiatives for students and young professionals, frequently speaking at seminars and conferences on arbitration, ADR, and communication skills.

Alicja’s experience, combined with her thought leadership, makes her a respected and influential voice in the international dispute resolution community. For her pro bono work, she received the First Honourable Mention in the Female Advocate of the Year competition (2023), a nationwide initiative organised by the Polish Bar Council.

She holds an LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution from Humboldt University of Berlin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Negotiation, Mediation and other ADR from the University of Warsaw, and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Silesia.

Load more

Arbitration

Litigation

Publications and Professional Activities

Education

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

INVESTMENT TREATY ARBITRATION

  • Counsel to PL Holdings S.à r.l. in an investment arbitration against the Republic of Poland under SCC Arbitration Rules (PL Holdings S.à r.l. v Republic of Poland, SCC Case No. V 2014/163)
  • Counsel to the Republic of Poland in an investment arbitration commenced by a Dutch investor, Enkev Beheer B.V., under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules regarding the expropriation of a production plot

COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION

  • Counsel to a Polish bank and its affiliated leasing company in an ad hoc arbitration with a group of former directors concerning post-termination claims
  • Counsel to an FMCG company in a M&A dispute concerning the acquisition of a distribution company
  • Counsel to a consortium of engineering companies in a SCC arbitration against a public utility company in a dispute resulting from an EPC contract
  • Counsel to a European manufacturer in a multimillion-euro arbitration proceeding conducted under SCC Rules in connection with an international contract for delivery
  • Counsel to subsidiaries of a Dutch investor in multiparty ad hoc arbitration proceedings under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, seeking declaratory relief regarding a price adjustment mechanism in commercial agreements
  • Counsel to a global player in wind turbines manufacturing in international arbitration proceedings under ICC Arbitration Rules in connection with the exit conditions from an investment in Poland
  • Counsel to a UK investor in a complex shareholder dispute with minority stakeholders over control of a joint venture in Poland involving concurrent state court injunction proceedings and arbitration proceedings under SA KIG Arbitration Rules
  • Member of a team representing a Polish subsidiary of a multinational telecom in numerous recognition and enforcement proceedings across Europe and the USA concerning a multimillion-euro arbitral award
  • Counsel to a Polish manufacturer defending against a claim for payment of a contractual penalty resulting from an alleged quality defect of products in arbitration proceedings under SA KIG Arbitration Rules
  • Counsel to one of the biggest banks in Poland in arbitration proceedings under the Rules of Arbitration at the Polish Bank Association commenced by one of the bank’s business clients seeking a declaration of invalidity of an option scheme agreement
  • Counsel to a real estate investor in arbitration proceedings under SA KIG Arbitration Rules concerning obligations of the buyer of an office building under a master lease agreement
  • Tribunal Secretary to a three-member arbitral tribunal in a multiparty arbitration under ICC Arbitration Rules concerning a payment obligation under a turn-key agreement for drilling wells for hydrocarbon exploitation
  • Tribunal Secretary to a three-member arbitral tribunal in a multiparty ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in a dispute with a value exceeding PLN 1 billion

ARBITRATION APPOINTMENTS

  • Presiding arbitrator under SA KIG Arbitration Rules in a dispute between a Polish company and an SPV of major European investors concerning a warehouse development and contractual penalties stemming from a commercial lease agreement and their mitigation
  • Sole arbitrator in ICC Expedited Proceedings in a dispute between a German insolvent entity and Slovenian and Croatian companies concerning international distribution of goods
  • Presiding arbitrator under Lewiatan Arbitration Rules in a dispute between Polish companies concerning a major commercial lease agreement
  • Sole arbitrator under DIS Arbitration Rules in a dispute between German and Romanian companies concerning the international sales of goods
  • Sole arbitrator under ICC Arbitration Rules in a dispute between German and Nigerian companies in connection with a financial services agreement
  • Presiding arbitrator under SA KIG Arbitration Rules in a dispute between a shopping mall operator and a commercial tenant concerning the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on mutual obligations
Load more

LITIGATION

  • Counsel to a Polish bank and its affiliated leasing company in post-arbitration court proceedings against former directors concerning annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards following a multiparty arbitration
  • Counsel to a multinational electronics distributor in a dispute against companies from a global technology group concerning services under a distribution agreement.
  • Counsel to a Dutch company in connection with cross-border enforcement of an injunction granted by a state court in The Netherlands permitting attachment of shares in Polish companies
  • Counsel to an international investor in court proceedings requesting a substitute declaration by the court in connection with a private share subscription offer and seeking a court order on security
  • Counsel to a subsidiary of a Greek investor in multiparty commercial litigation related to a dispute triggered by legislative changes in the renewable energy sector in Poland and the claims under the agreements for the purchase of green certificates
  • Member of a team advising a European manufacturer in a series of litigation before commercial courts in the Russian Federation concerning the validity and operability of an arbitration agreement in a commercial delivery contract
  • Counsel to a UK-controlled real estate investor in a series of court disputes regarding the construction of a shopping park
  • Member of a team representing an SPV company in a series of court proceedings related to the performance of a contract for the construction of a stadium in Poland
  • Advisor to a Swedish company in relation to court proceedings before a Swedish court regarding a claim for damages arising from the failed negotiation of a sale of shares in a Polish limited liability company (culpa in contrahendo)
  • Counsel to a Swedish company in injunction and enforcement proceedings before Polish courts and a bailiff connected with a foreign court judgment ordering payment in favour of a Dutch company and enforced against assets in Poland
  • Counsel to a major infrastructure company in proceedings concerning a challenge to the company’s general meeting resolution
  • Counsel to a European supplier of snacks in litigations with its competitors regarding damages and other remedies for unfair competition acts
  • Counsel to a company operating in the energy sector in connection with a competitor’s commercial court action against the company’s director and a former management board member of the competitor for payment of damages as a result of unfair competition acts by the director
  • Member of a team representing a new-tech company in court proceedings against a Swedish company in a dispute resulting from a breach of a joint venture agreement
  • Counsel to a major bank in proceedings concerning a claim for payment by one of the bank’s business clients resulting from the invalidity of an option framework agreement
  • Member of a team representing one of the biggest banks in Poland in a series of litigation over damage claims brought by individuals alleging negligence in the provision of banking services to a company that offered sophisticated financial services
  • Advisor to a bank in setting aside proceedings concerning an arbitral award in which the tribunal modified the conditions of the contractual relationship between the parties, and at the same time preventing the enforcement of the arbitral award
  • Counsel to the alleged beneficiary of state aid in proceedings before Polish courts concerning the domestic enforcement of a European Commission decision on state aid and the implementation of the provisional recovery mechanism
  • Counsel to a Luxembourg company and its subsidiary in court proceedings before the Polish Administrative Supreme Court concerning a Polish Financial Supervisory Authority (KNF) decision regarding shareholding in a bank
  • Counsel to a leading international personal-hygiene company concerning a notification about product safety to the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and in a dispute with a retailer
  • Advisor to a chocolate manufacturer with regard to a dispute with a local producer of foodstuff on EU and Polish food-safety regulations

 

Load more

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Lotfi C., Sandler Obregón V. (eds.), International Arbitration in Practice, Wolters Kluwer, 2025, foreword by Gary Born
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Paschou M., Chapter 7: Submissions on Costs, in: Lotfi C., Zielińska-Eisen A. et al. (eds.), International Arbitration in Practice, Wolters Kluwer, 2025, pp. 89-100
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Paschou M., Chapter 63: Calculating the Cost of Arbitration, in: Lotfi C., Zielińska-Eisen A. et al. (eds.), International Arbitration in Practice, Wolters Kluwer, 2025, pp. 697-704
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Gore K.N., Module on Lis Pendens, in: Practical Insight, Kluwer Arbitration, 2024
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Menkes M., Paschou M., Can the Inability to Bear Arbitration Costs Render the Arbitration Clause Unenforceable? According to the Polish Supreme Court, It Can, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 21 March 2024
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Wiliński P., Protection of Entities of Strategic Importance for the State: Fragmentation and Interplay Between Regimes in Poland, in: National Security in International and National Investment Law: Dynamics in China and Europe, Li Y., Lin F., Bian C. (eds.), Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group), 2023, Chapter 10, pp. 214-240
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Korom V., Is the ECT an Obstacle to Energy Transition?, Arbitration Journal (Russian Arbitration Association), Vol. 27(3), 2021, pp. 13-21
  • Zielińska-Eisen A., Strecker T., Annex II: Report on Main Features of Declarations in Germany, in: Gessel-Kalinowska vel Kalisz B., The Legal, Real and Converged Interest in Declaratory Relief, International Arbitration Law Library, Volume 48, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2019, pp. 223-256
  • Zielińska A., Wiśniewski C., Who Should Know the Law: The Arbitrators or the Parties, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 3 October 2016
  • Zielińska A., Arbitral Secretaries – Responsibilities and Appointment, in: Arbitration Bulletin Young Arbitration, No. 24, April 2016, Court of Arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, pp. 9-21
  • Zielińska A., Sekretarz trybunału arbitrażowego – obowiązki i sposób powoływania, in: Arbitration Bulletin, No. 22, January 2015, Court of Arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, pp. 63-73
  • Zielińska A., Dziurda M., Prohibition on Surprise Decisions on Legal Grounds by Arbitrators, in: Liber Amicorum dedicated to Prof. Jerzy Rajski: The Challenges and the Future of Commercial and Investment Arbitration, May 2015, pp. 315-329

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC ACTIVITIES

  • Lecturer, LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (since 2018)
  • Member, ICC Poland Arbitration Commission (since 2018)
  • Volunteer and Member of the Organizing Committee, ICC Poland Charity Christmas Dinner, an annual event raising funds for NGOs supporting underprivileged children and young adults
  • DIS Regional Co-Chair for Berlin, overseeing initiatives and engagement in Berlin and surrounding areas (since 2024)
  • Member, Polish-German Group on Facilitating Cooperation in the Dispute Resolution Sector, under the auspices of SA KIG, Lewiatan, and DIS (since 2023)
  • Regional Representative for Poland and Member of the Regional Committee, Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (Europe) (since 2021)
  • Mentor, Mentor-Mentee Programme run by Moot Alumni Association (MAA) (since 2022)
  • Organizing Committee Member and Co-founder, Berlin Dispute Resolution Days (2022–2024)
  • Board Member, Moot Alumni Association (MAA) (2021–2024)
  • ICC YAAF Representative for Europe (2021–2024)
  • Academic Coordinator, LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (2018–2024)
Load more
  • ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy in Eastern Europe (2024)
  • LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution, Humboldt University of Berlin (2015)
  • Postgraduate Diploma, Negotiation, Mediation and other ADR, University of Warsaw (2014)
  • Advocate (Adwokat), Admission to the Bar Association (ORA) in Katowice (2013)
  • Master’s degree in law (Magister), University of Silesia in Katowice (2009)
Load more
Team Site