Lawbalization Episode 2: Poland’s Tech and Legal Landscape and Eastern Europe Business Trends with Katarzyna Szczudlik
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Episode Summary
Jonathan Bench speaks with Katarzyna “Kasia” Szczudlik, a Warsaw-based lawyer and partner at Schoenherr, about the evolving legal and business landscape in Poland and Central Europe. Kasia shares insights on MiCA delays and their impact on crypto, renewed U.S. tech interest in the region, and the growing role of defense investments. They also explore how financial institutions, startups, and regulators are navigating AI, data privacy, and overregulation in a rapidly changing European market. You can connect with Kasia on LinkedIn by clicking here.
Kasia shares insights on the Polish and Eastern European business landscape, highlighting three major trends:
- The delay in MiCA regulation pushing crypto firms out of Poland.
- A resurgence of U.S. IT and cybersecurity investment in Poland.
- A boom in defense-sector investments from Asia.
She discusses the challenges of overregulation, the funding gap driving Polish tech talent abroad, and the difficulties of navigating GDPR, AI Act, and AML rules. Kasia also explains how Polish banks and insurers are embracing blockchain and AI, often outpacing more conservative European peers.
On data privacy, she emphasizes Poland’s unique enforcement quirks, the misuse of GDPR by clients, and the importance of clear, empathetic communication. For cross-border M&A, Kasia warns that many targets are noncompliant with EU regulations, making regulatory due diligence critical.
The episode concludes with a look at the future of legal practice, where AI will make technical work easier, but soft skills and client trust will matter more than ever.