Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance leads LGBT groups to victory in Poland

International law firm Clifford Chance has won a legal victory in Poland on behalf of LGBT groups. The firm successfully brought a motion to a Polish court which ordered the conservative newspaper Gazeta Polska to halt the distribution of "LGBT-free zone" stickers. Partner Marcin Cieminski and Advocate Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram led the pro bono team in the case, with the support from Advocate Monika Kozieł and Counsel Michał Drwal. Clifford Chance Warsaw is cooperating in this matter with Advocate Michał Wawrykiewicz.

Marcin comments: "We are delighted with the court's decision to withdraw the supplement to Gazeta Polska and a two-week deadline has been set to file a lawsuit against the publisher of the newspaper for violation of the applicant’s personal rights."

The court stated that the applicant managed to substantiate the existence of his claim in the form of a violation of his personal rights: dignity, sense of security, acceptance, social belonging to minorities and the right to participate in social life, inter alia by creating a sense of threat and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Sylwia says: "The court ruled that the publication of the sticker 'LGBT free zone' may cause far-reaching effects in the form of exclusion of the applicant and other persons belonging to the LGBT community from the public sphere, as well as further harassment and discrimination."

The court stated that art. 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland establishes the requirement of equal treatment and the corresponding prohibition of any discrimination, including due to one’s sexual orientation.

Global Director of Inclusion Tiernan Brady said "We are really proud of Sylwia and Marcin using their legal expertise to champion our values. We understand in the firm that for us to truly uphold our commitment to inclusion we have to be prepared to use these skills to drive change."