Get to know Mr. ... Rafał Kolano (WOLEP member, Poland): „Business is moving to the internet / The future will come whether we like it or not. Let's make sure that there is a place for lawyers in it”

WOLEP: From your bio on WOLEP, as well as your website, you come across as a practical-minded lawyer, who provides customized legal solutions. How do you ensure that you fully understand and address the needs of each individual Client?

Rafał Kolano: We don't advise, we solve problems. This is our motto. We approach the client comprehensively, remembering about an exhaustive analysis of his problem. Possible advice must also consult non-legal problems: sociological, tax and other.

A good lawyer should know and understand the client and their business and human situation. The volatility of the current situation requires an agile approach to subject, but also constant improvement of legal processes.

WOLEP: What are some of the current trends or changes in the legal scene in Katowice / Poland, particularly in regards to commercial law and commercial transactions?

Rafał Kolano: First of all, everything sped up. Second, business is moving to the internet. Human relations suffer from this, and sometimes it causes misunderstandings between the parties. Another issue is the dynamism of changes in the law. One cannot forget about the dynamic development of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence. It is a revolution in the application of the law.

WOLEP: How do you anticipate the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacting the field of Intellectual Property law, particularly in regards to copyright and trademark infringement, patentability, and ownership of AI-generated works?

Rafał Kolano: Revolutionary. The idea that only human beings can be entitled to copyright is already being abandoned. And artificial intelligence can be the author of works, e.g. images, songs, etc. This creates a great field for analysis and interpretation to what extent these works are innovative, and to what extent artificial intelligence uses software.

Artificial intelligence learns on its own.

WOLEP: How has the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of AI technology affected your legal practice in recent years, and what are some of the key lessons you have learned during this time?

Rafał Kolano: Everything has become possible remotely. And at what pace. Relations with clients, offices and banks.

The key lesson is to be open, flexible, what was yesterday may be out of date today. The future will come whether we like it or not. Let's make sure that there is a place for lawyers in it.

WOLEP: As a legal professional, how do you encourage collaboration and teamwork among lawyers in your office, and what benefits do you believe this approach brings to both Clients and individual lawyers in terms of professional development and growth?

Rafał Kolano: I treat them as partners. I care about balance. I try to understand the needs. Require but give. This is probably the most difficult element in the work of the boss - a lawyer.

WOLEP: Can you please provide more information about the lecture you recently delivered at the University of Silesia? What topics did you cover and how was the experience for you? Additionally, do you enjoy being involved in academic settings and engaging with students and faculty in this way?

Rafał Kolano: I like working with people. The lecture was about copyright and the Internet.

The greatest astonishment of the listeners was caused by the issues of protection of personal rights on the Internet. There is still a misconception that the internet is a place out of control. Misunderstood online freedom.

WOLEP: What do you consider to be the most significant benefit of being part of the WOLEP international community of lawyers, and what specifically drew your attention to it? In what ways do you believe that participating in WOLEP can enhance your legal practice, and what opportunities do you hope to pursue as part of this global network of legal professionals?

Rafał Kolano: Together we are stronger. We can support each other. International investments currently impose such solutions directly in connection with the internationalization of business.

On the other hand, the strength of WOLEP is the lack of formalism, and thus the dynamics of cooperation.

WOLEP: Would you like to convey a message of collaboration to your fellow lawyers at WOLEP?

Rafał Kolano: Do you have a matter in Poland? Call us! We are a large law firm, working with business and offices.

We don’t advise, we solve problems.

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