Rafał Kos, PhD, LL.M.

partner

At Kubas Kos Gałkowski since

1995

Rafał is very knowledgeable and always presents effective solutions

- Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: Arbitration 2024

Languages

English, German

Experience

Attorney at law. He has extensive experience in conducting cross border litigations and group proceedings. He is the Vice-President of the Confederation Lewiatan Arbitration Court in Warsaw (since 2014). Appointed as Permanent Arbitrator and Conciliator of the Arbitration Court at the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Poland (since 2020). Appointed as President and Judge of the Warsaw Stock Exchange Arbitration Court (since 2022). He was a member of the following: the Parliamentary Justice and Human Rights Committee on Class Actions (2009); the Minister of Justice Team for the Amendment of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Law (2012); the Minister of Economy’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Expert Team (2013); the Business Law Task Force at the Ministry of Economic Development (2015); the Corporate Law Reform Committee at the Ministry of State Assets, Group of Corporation Law (2020-2022). A member of the Polish delegation at the 73rd-78th sessions of UNCITRAL Working Group II: Arbitration and Conciliation/Dispute Settlement (2021-2023).

He has been recommended as a leading expert on arbitration in Who’s Who Legal, as well as on dispute resolution in Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and in the most prestigious Polish ranking of law firms conducted by the Rzeczpospolita daily. Member of The Board of Visitors at the Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America in Washington (since 2017). Deputy Supervisory Board Chairman of the PFR TFI (2018-2020). Member of the Supervisory Board of the PKO BP (2020-2024).

Honors and Awards

- Recommended lawyer in Lexology Index: Arbitration 2025 ranking

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders in Arbitration 2024
  "Rafał is very knowledgeable and always presents effective solutions"

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2024 ranking
  Litigation and Arbitration category – leader

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2024 and Chambers Europe 2024 ranking in Dispute Resolution (Band 3) and Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Band 2)

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2024 ranking

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders in Arbitration 2023

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2023 ranking
  Litigation and Arbitration category – leader

- Recommended lawyer in Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist - CEE Region

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2023 and Chambers Europe 2023 ranking in Dispute Resolution (Band 3) and Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Band 2)
  Rafał Kos possesses experience in representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings as well as acting as an arbitrator. "He was always accessible to us. He made sure the client got everything needed."

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2023 ranking in Global Leaders category

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2022 ranking
  Litigation (civil, penal, commercial, administrative) category – recommended lawyer

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2022 and Chambers Europe 2022 ranking in Dispute Resolution (Band 3) and Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Band 3)
  Rafał Kos possesses experience in representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings as well as acting as an arbitrator. Rafał Kos has a very good strategic mind and gets the issues very quickly, a commentator reports.

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2022 ranking in Global Leader category

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2021 ranking
  Litigation (civil, penal, commercial, administrative) category – recommended lawyer

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2021 and Chambers Europe 2021 rankings in Dispute Resolution (Band 3) and Most in Demand Arbitrators in Poland (Band 3)
  “Rafał Kos possesses experience in representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings as well as acting as an arbitrator.”

- Recommended lawyer in Leaders League 2021 ranking in Commercial Litigation (Excellent) and International Arbitration (Recommended)

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2021 ranking

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2020 and Chambers Europe 2020 ranking in Dispute Resolution – Most in Demand Arbitrators in Poland
  “Rafał Kos is increasingly recognised for his practice centred on arbitration. His grip of the particularities of each case is valued by sources, one expressing their preference for him „when it comes to disputes where the core is a legal question of Polish technicalities.”

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2020 ranking
  “Rafał Kos is commended by peers for as "extremely active and visible with a highly international practice" in the arbitration sphere.”

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2020 ranking
  Litigation (civil, penal, commercial, administrative) and Arbitration category – recommended lawyer

- Recommended lawyer in Best Lawyers 2019 ranking in Litigation

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2019 ranking
  Litigation (civil, penal, commercial, administrative) and Arbitration category – recommended lawyer

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2019 and Chambers Europe 2019 rankings in Dispute Resolution (Poland)
  “Rafał Kos is recognised by market sources to be an active litigator, with a track record in handling domestic and cross-border mandates.”

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2019 ranking

- Distinguished Recent Alumni Award 2018 awarded by the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

- Recommended lawyer in Best Lawyers 2018 ranking in Litigation

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2018 ranking
  Dispute Resolution & Arbitration category – recommended lawyer – 3rd place

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2018 and Chambers Europe 2018 rankings in Dispute Resolution (Poland)
  “Rafał Kos has a solid reputation as an active litigator and arbitration counsel.”

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2018 ranking
  Rafał Kos is a "key figure in the Polish arbitration community and draws widespread acclaim thanks to his vast experience conducting international arbitrations".

- Recommended lawyer in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2017 ranking
  Rafał Kos is a "tremendously active and always impressive member of the Polish arbitration community".

- Recommended lawyer in Best Lawyers 2017 ranking in Litigation

- Distinction in the Rzeczpospolita Daily 2017 ranking
  Dispute Resolution & Arbitration category – recommended lawyer – 1st place

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2017 and Chambers Europe 2017 rankings in Dispute Resolution (Poland)
  “(…) Rafał Kos is described as a "very reputable lawyer" who acts on litigation as well as international arbitration proceedings.”

- Recommended lawyer in Best Lawyers 2016 ranking in Litigation

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2016 ranking in Dispute Resolution (Poland)
  “Rafał Kos has a strong track record in local and cross-border litigation. Sources say he is a "tough, intelligent and hard-working litigator." He also advises on arbitration issues.”

- Recommended lawyer in Chambers Global 2015 ranking in Dispute Resolution (Poland)
  “Rafał Kos is widely regarded as an "outstanding" litigator and moves up the rankings as a result.”

- Honourary Badge of Merit in the Development of the Economy of the Republic of Poland awarded by the Minister of Economy, 2015

- Special diploma of the Minister of Economy in recognition for exceptional involvement in the works of the Team for systemic solutions in the scope of ADR methods in commercial disputes, facilitating the pursuit of business activities at the Ministry of Economy, 2014

- Commemorative medal “Merited for Justice" as members of the Minister of Justice Team for the Amendment of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Law, for the outstanding involvement in the team's works, 2014