The Legal 500

Andrékó Kinstellar’s ‘very quick’ team has ‘excellent contractual knowledge’, and enjoyed a remarkable year for energy work as it brought in a number of new clients including BorsodChem, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. The Hungarian government and MVM Group recently instructed the team to advise on the state’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) derogation application. Kristóf Ferenczi’s team remains heavily involved in gas-fired power plant projects and also in renewables, where it has been advising K&H Bank and the Hungarian Development Bank on regulatory matters relating to a biomass power plant. Zsolt Csanádi was recently promoted to managing associate.

‘Very strong and respected’, Faludi Wolf Theiss fields a ‘top-tier’ energy practice. It was instructed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Fuel and Energy to help harmonise certain aspects of Ukraninan energy legislation with EU law. Name partner and group head Zoltán Faludi advised MVM on energy trading regulations, and László Kenyeres represented a major chemicals company in an emissions dispute.

Oppenheim attracted a number of new clients, including China Longyuan Power Group and OMV Exploration. Gergely Légrádi advised another new client, TIGÁZ, on gas procurement, and the team represented Korlea Group in a number of disputes. The practice demonstrated significant regulatory aptitude when it advised OMV Trading and Interenergo on their respective entries into the Hungarian energy trading market.

Réczicza White & Case LLP’s ‘thorough understanding of the specialised power sector’ has earned it a stellar client list including some of Hungary’s key energy players. The team, which has a ‘high level of proficiency’ and ‘comprehensive industry knowledge’, recently advised MVM on a potential energy trading strategy and represented GE Hungary in a dispute with one of Greenergy’s subsidiaries. Counsel Emoke Kovács and regulatory expert István Réczicza jointly lead the group.

Péter Simon – an authority in the renewables space – leads the team of six at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, which delivers ‘practical and consistent legal advice’. The team recently advised Siemens and Advanced Power AG on an 800MW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Szeged, and assisted Magyar Telekom with its entry into the gas and electricity markets.

Horváth & Partners DLA Piper senior associate Gábor Simon played a key role in advising the Hungarian government on its €1.8bn acquisition of a 21.2 % stake in MOL. Managing partner András Posztl recently advised a public sector client on energy trading regulations.

Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie’s energy team has ‘a transactions-based background and a solutions-oriented attitude’, and shows ‘strong drafting skills’. It earns repeat instructions for AES Hungary, and most recently assisted the electricity giant on a sale of distressed energy assets. Pál Takács heads the group, which gained MVM as a new client.

Siegler Law Office/Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ impressive client list includes government bodies and leading energy companies. Working closely alongside Czech colleagues, the team of five recently acted for CEZ on a joint venture with MOL. The group also advised on regulatory issues relating to a 800MW power plant. Other clients include the Hungarian Ministry of National Development and MVM Trade Villamosenergia Kereskedelmi. László Nagy leads the team.

János Burai-Kovács’ energy group at Burai – Kovács & Partners has a wealth of experience in the oil and gas sectors, and regularly advises on supply contracts, mining and financing. ExxonMobil is a key client.

In a move to ratchet up its energy practice, Gide Loyrette Nouel hired senior associate Eszter Kamocsay-Berta and two junior associates from Lakatos, Köves and Partners. In addition to acting for the firm’s French clients (such as GDF Suez) the team has increasingly focused on attracting locally sourced mandates, and advised OTP in connection with a hydro power plant at Békésszentandrás.

Gobert & Partners Attorneys-at-law / Taxand assists foreign entities with inward investment in the natural resources sector, and advises on establishing renewable energy companies. Dr Arne Gobert is the key contact.

Under the stewardship of Richard Lock, Lakatos, Köves and Partners’ energy group advises European entities on their Hungarian operations and related contractual issues. Clients include Suez Environnement and Cobra Industrial Plants. The group retains a close relationship with Clifford Chance.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law played a key role in the privatisation of gas and electricity suppliers in Hungary (advising one of the successful bidders) and represented Pannon Pellet in arbitration with its electricity supplier. Katalin Grósz heads the team.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm’s four-strong team has seen an uptick in instructions since it joined the Energy Law Group. Zoltán Forgó advised DRB on a biogas project and also handles a broad range of matters for Mechel Services Hungary.

Morley Allen & Overy Iroda has a solid track record of project finance in the energy sector, and has advised EBRD on wind farm projects across CEE. Banking lawyer James Graham oversees this work.

Reti, Antall & Partners advises on exploration matters in the oil and gas sector; on electricity supply contacts; and carbon trading.

Name partner Tamás Sándor leads the energy group at Sándor Szegedi Szent-Ivány Komáromi Eversheds, which handled construction of a power plant in northwestern Hungary for Siemens and advised Hungarian Development Bank on the South Stream pipeline project.