In this year’s 14th edition of the ranking, prizes were awarded to leading Polish tax advisory companies. Bird & Bird’s Warsaw office was recognised for innovative solutions and financial success.
"This is the first time we took part in the ranking. Therefore, we are very pleased with being awarded first place, which was due to our revenue increase of 122 percent. 2019 year was a very good year for companies providing tax advisory services. Apart from the good economic situation, it was influenced by numerous tax changes. Some entrepreneurs felt lost in the maze of the new regulations, or simply wanted to be sure that their business models do not any entail legal or tax risks, which translated into increased demand for tax advice. The beginning of 2020, due to the situation with COVID-19 is a big challenge. However, in my opinion, tax consultancy should be the last area of law in which entrepreneurs will or should try to save on" - says Bartłomiej Sikora, head of Tax practice at Bird & Bird.
Bird & Bird’s Warsaw office was also recognised in the "Innovative Solutions" category for creating the Copyright Checker computer program. As many as 26 tax advisory companies submitted their innovative solutions for the ranking. This tool automates the process of evaluating works within the meaning of copyright created by employees. It helps to decide whether an employee can apply 50% tax deductible costs pursuant to the Personal Income Tax Act. The tool releases the employer from the obligation to evaluate all works created by employees. In return, the employee independently assesses the work in terms of the conditions specified in the Act on Copyright and Related Rights, and the provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act.
As emphasised by Prof. Ryszard Sowiński, a member of the ranking jury - "This is a relatively simple solution, but it brings very specific, measurable business benefits for clients. Thanks to it, the work is shifted from accounting and legal departments to the creators themselves, who takes much less time. He adds: What I also like is that Bird & Bird not only advises on "what is to be done", but also how the client can implement the proposed solution using the IT tools he already uses, which also partly enters into business process design".
The originator of the Copyright Checker is Tomasz Zalewski, and the tool was co-created with Zuzanna Morawska-Zakroczymska, Bartłomiej Sikora, Mateusz Bednarski, Karolina Stawicka and the Warsaw office Employment team.
