Direct cooperation with counsel
We invite advocates, legal advisers and law firms to cooperate on individual cases and ongoing referrals. We agree organisational communication, participants, document handling and the meeting schedule at the outset.
IN PERSON IN KRAKÓW · ONLINE ACROSS POLAND
A mediation partner for your law firm.
Mediation in Kraków and online for clients of advocates, legal advisers and law firms. Work with Vadym Rekel, a permanent mediator, and the Fundacja Mediacji Sądowej i Pozasądowej on civil, family, commercial and criminal cases in Poland.
An established mediation approach
Vadym Rekel combines his permanent mediator registration with postgraduate mediation studies and further training. Our approach includes preparation, impartiality checks, clear discussion rules and careful recording of the outcome. Qualification documents are available on this website.
Clear roles and efficient organisation
Counsel advises and protects the client’s interests; the mediator remains impartial towards all participants. We aim to arrange contact and meetings promptly, with dates agreed around the parties’ availability and procedural deadlines. No settlement or fixed completion time is guaranteed.
Whom should you nominate?
Civil, family and commercial cases: name the mediator
Under Articles 183¹ § 3 and 183² § 1 of the Polish Code of Civil Procedure (KPC), the parties may agree the individual mediator or how that person will be chosen. You may propose Vadym Rekel, a permanent mediator on the list maintained by the President of the Regional Court in Kraków. If the parties have not chosen a mediator, the court appoints one under Article 183⁹ § 1, giving priority to permanent mediators with suitable knowledge and skills.
The Foundation provides the organisational setting and contact point. In civil proceedings, the appointed mediator is a natural person: naming the Foundation alone does not identify that person. Counsel can state Vadym Rekel’s name and add the Foundation’s contact address. A proposal from one party requires agreement or the relevant procedural decision; it does not itself appoint the mediator.
KPC — art. 183¹ § 3, 183² § 1, 183⁹ § 1Criminal cases: an authorised institution or person
Article 23a KPK and § 8 of the Regulation of 7 May 2015 allow the competent authority to refer a case to an authorised institution or person. The Fundacja Mediacji Sądowej i Pozasądowej is entered in the Kraków Regional Court’s register of institutions authorised to conduct mediation in criminal proceedings. Counsel may request referral to the Foundation; the authority decides, with the accused person’s and injured party’s initiative or consent as required by law.
Where the Foundation is appointed, the mediation is conducted on its behalf by a representative who meets § 4 points 1–7 and holds written authorisation (§ 10). Permanent civil mediator status and eligibility for criminal mediation are distinct: a civil list entry alone does not establish criminal mediation eligibility.
KPK — art. 23a Dz.U. 2015 poz. 716 — §§ 8, 10Suggested wording in Polish
Civil case — proposal of an individual mediator
Criminal case — proposal of the Foundation
These are starting phrases for counsel to adapt to the case, procedural stage and the parties’ position. They are not a complete court application and do not replace the authority’s decision. Confirm availability and any conflict of interest first.
Conditions for criminal mediation
The Foundation’s office at ul. Kielecka 2/53 in Kraków provides premises suitable for criminal mediation and a confidential setting for discussions. Before arranging meetings, we agree practical contact and attendance arrangements with the participants. The legal requirements concern the institution, the mediator and the way the proceedings are organised.
An authorised institution and representative
Under § 3, an institution needs appropriate statutory purposes, organisational conditions, qualified mediators and entry in the register. The representative must meet the personal requirements in § 4 points 1–7: the specified citizenship or EU-law employment entitlement, full public rights and legal capacity, age of at least 26, spoken and written Polish, no final conviction for an intentional criminal offence or an intentional fiscal offence, mediation and interpersonal skills, and assurance of proper performance. The exclusions in Article 23a § 3 KPK and § 5 also apply.
An appropriate, neutral venue
Under § 13, mediation is not held in buildings occupied by authorities empowered to refer the case. As a rule it is also not held in premises occupied by the participants or their families; a justified exception to that second rule requires the participants’ consent. The regulation does not prescribe a minimum room size, separate entrances or a mandatory number of rooms. Privacy and suitable organisation still have to be ensured in practice.
Joint or separate discussions
Preliminary meetings may be individual or joint (§ 14). If a direct meeting between the accused person and the injured party is not possible, § 15 permits indirect mediation: the mediator conveys proposals and positions concerning a settlement. Tell us beforehand if you do not want direct contact; we will agree whether separate appointment times and indirect communication are appropriate. Participation remains voluntary throughout.
Confidentiality with stated legal limits
We provide confidential and impartial mediation. Article 178a KPK prohibits questioning the mediator as a witness about facts learned from the accused person or injured party during mediation, subject to the exception for offences listed in Article 240 § 1 of the Criminal Code. The result must still be reported to the referring authority, and a signed settlement is attached if reached. Confidentiality does not mean that the authority receives no information at all.
Controlled access to case documents
Only the necessary part of the case file is made available, subject to the exclusions in § 12. Copies, extracts and notes must be protected against access by outsiders and returned to the referring authority after the mediation. Initially, send a short organisational description and the case reference; agree a suitable method before transferring substantive files.
Voluntary participation and realistic timing
Before consent is obtained, participants receive an explanation of the process and their right to withdraw consent until it ends. Criminal mediation should not exceed one month under Article 23a § 2; that is a procedural timetable, not a promise to conclude an agreement within a month. Where justified, the referring authority may extend the deadline on the mediator’s request under § 17. Suitability and safety are assessed before choosing a meeting format.
From referral to the outcome
Describe the matter
Provide the type of case, stage, reference number if applicable, counsel’s contact details and any urgent dates. Avoid sending the complete case file in the initial enquiry.
Agree the framework
We check impartiality, the referral or consent route, costs, language, participants and the scope of any representative’s authority. Counsel retains responsibility for advice and procedural deadlines.
Arrange the discussions
We agree a meeting at the Kraków office or a suitable remote format. Separate or indirect discussions can be considered where appropriate; arrangements are confirmed before participants attend.
Record the outcome
The applicable record or report is prepared and any settlement is signed in the required form. Counsel can review the wording and advise the client on approval, enforceability and further procedural steps.
Legal basis and registers
Polish law checked on 23 October 2026. The official registers and published qualification documents support the registration and education information.
Let’s talk
Start with a short conversation.
Tell us the general nature of the dispute. We will explain the process, meeting options and how fees are agreed.
Prepare an enquiryA general outline is enough for your first enquiry. Agree a suitable method before sending documents or particularly sensitive information.
Call us
The address is revealed on request to reduce automated harvesting.
Tuesday–Thursday, 10:00–16:00
Visits by appointment.
Polish · English · Ukrainian · Russian