The Legal 500

Andrékó Kinstellar’s five-fee-earner team, under new group head Kristof Ferenczi, continued to advise Matrai power plant, and also advised the Regional Development Corporation, a rising entity in both Hungary and Romania, on regulatory and public procurement issues.

The ‘excellent’ Zoltan Faludi at Faludi Wolf Theiss is noted for his expertise in the oil and gas industry. The team recently advised a major bank and a number of high-profile oil and gas companies.

Gergely Légrádi’s energy team at Oppenheim worked on several high-profile matters. It advised Essent Trading International SA and Essent Energy Trading Hungary Kft in obtaining a trade licence, and also represented RWE Group in high-profile litigation before the Hungarian Supreme Court. E.ON Földgáz Storage Zrt also instructed practice, on a matter involving supply agreements.

Réczicza White & Case LLP’s eight-fee-earner energy practice, led by name partner Istvan Reczicza, advised clients such as the GDF Suez group and the former Hungarian Ministry of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy.

The ‘creative and commercially sophisticated’ energy team at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, led by Péter Simon, has seen a lot of renewable energy work of late, including advising Raiffeisen Energy Services Kft on its purchase of several renewable energy projects. It also advised Iberdrola on the development of two wind parks, and handled some significant licensing work for Magyar Telekom.

Horváth & Partners DLA Piper has been active on several ongoing large-scale deals. The team advised OMV on the sale of its stake in MOL plc, and also advised IMI International. The team of seven fee-earners provides an ‘excellent service with good response time and acceptable pricing’. The ‘very good and professional’ Gabor Simon is a valuable member of the team, which is led by Andras Posztl.

The energy team at Kajtár Takács Hegymegi-Barakonyi Baker & McKenzie has an excellent relationship with MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas, and continues to advise it on matters including its strategic alliances. Zoltán Hegymedgi-Barakonyi, Péter Vörös and Pál Takács play key roles.

The ‘well-prepared’ and ‘punctual’ energy team at Siegler Law Office/Weil, Gotshal & Manges continues to receive mandates from MOL, and also recently advised Greenergy, a company belonging to the Global Environmental Fund; and MVM, the Hungarian Electricity Works. Konrád Siegler led a team in advising on a major MKB Bank Zrt brownfield power plant investment.

Burai – Kovács & Partners’ energy team, led by the highly regarded János Burai-Kovács, continues to advise some major international and domestic clients in the oil and gas sector, including advising ExxonMobil on a gas exploration project.

Gobert, Fest & Partners Attorneys-at-Law / Taxand is experienced in assisting clients in the oil and gas sector to set up and maintain new businesses in Hungary, and in advising international syndicates. It also assists multinational companies on cross-border deals.

Kõvári and Tercsák – Salans Ügyvédi Iroda’s energy team advises major oil and gas companies on Hungarian gas exploration matters.

Lakatos, Köves and Partners’ team, led by Richard Locke, maintains a good relationship with Clifford Chance, and benefits from some major referrals from the firm. Clients include Toronto company Falcon Oil & Gas, and Spanish giant Cobra Industrial Plants.

With a focus on litigation, Szecskay Attorneys at Law is well respected for its cross-border work.

Led by Ákos Eros, the team at Erös Üqyvédi Iroda / Squire Sanders & Dempsey (US) LLP focuses on regulatory as well as transactional work, and is also noted for its privatisation experience.

In a year that saw the firm’s entry into the European Energy Law Group, Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm’s energy practice, led by Zoltan Forgo, won new mandates from several notable clients. It advised Mechel, the Russian mining and steel giant, on corporate matters, and Firth Rixson in a dispute with EON.

Gide Loyrette Nouel took steps to develop its energy practice with the hire of Istvan Kovari, formerly of CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. The firm advised GDF Suez on its establishment in Hungary.

Morley Allen & Overy Iroda’s energy practice works closely with the firm’s banking and finance team, and has experience in cross-border deals.

PRK Partners acts for clients in the Supreme Court, and counts Toreador Hungary Oil and Gas as a client.

Réti, Antall & Madl Landwell works on regulatory matters as well as drawing up major supply contracts for oil, gas and electricity companies.

The energy practice at Sándor Szegedi Szent-Ivány Komáromi Eversheds is led by managing partner Tamás Sándor. It has been assisting the Hungarian Development Bank in €10bn negotiations with Gazprom.