The Legal 500

Chadbourne & Parke LLP has a particularly strong position in the wind power sector, but also advises on a wide range of other energy matters. It acted on two substantial gas-fired projects recently, advised on energy trading and price control matters, and has recorded wins in energy regulatory cases and court litigation. Warsaw energy practice leader Igor Muszynski is strongly recommended.

Norton Rose Piotr Strawa and Partners LP advised Vattenfall on the divestment of its Polish assets, including the PLN4.6bn sale of GZE, Poland’s fifth-largest electricity distributor and supplier, and the PLN3bn sale of VHP, one of Europe’s largest heat producers. It also acted for EnerCap regarding wind farms. The ‘deeply committed’ Rafal Hajduk is recommended.

Salans has ‘good industry knowledge’. The team represented GDF Suez on the acquisition of wind farms, and acted for PSE Operator on the construction of a power grid interconnection with Lithuania. Arek Krasnodebski heads the overall practice, counsel Aldona Kowalczyk leads on public procurement, and counsel Ewa Rutkowska-Subocz, who joined from WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr, heads the environment protection team. Associate Zbigniew Stasiak is the former head of legal at the Energy Regulatory Office (Poznan branch).

Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k. advised Penta Investments on the acquisition of Vattenfall’s assets in Poland, and advised Fortum Power and Heat Polska on a new 400MW gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Wroclaw. Pawel Magierowski is ‘very much hands-on’, and Slawomir Chmielewski is also recommended. The practice was joined by a team from CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa, led by ‘excellent lawyer’ Kamila Tarnacka.

CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta Spólka Komandytowa endured Marek Durski leaving to become a board member of Ki Energy, as well as Kamila Tarnacka joining Baker & McKenzie Krzyzowski i Wspolnicy sp.k.. The practice continued to advise Électricité de France on a new coal-fired power plant in Rybnik. Karolina Siedlik is the new practice head.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr’s Jerzy Baehr ‘understands how business requirements and constraints are shaped by the legal environment’. The practice acted for PGNiG on its PLN1.9bn joint venture with Tauron to build a gas-fired CHP unit in Stalowa Wola, including advising on tariffs, the possible impact of the Third Energy Package regulations and the rules governing transmission and distribution grid codes. The team also represented PGNiG in proceedings before the Polish Energy Regulatory Office.

Allen & Overy, A. Pedzich sp. k. advised the European Investment Bank on the financing of a new 120MW wind farm, the largest in Poland to date. Tomasz Kawczynski, Jacek Michalski and senior associates Kamil Jankielewicz and Dan Cocker are the key contacts.

Clifford Chance’s corporate head Agnieszka Janicka and counsel Tomasz Janas mainly deal with M&A and regulatory work in the conventional and renewable energy sectors, whereas Marcin Bejm specialises in infrastructure, public procurement and project finance work. The team advised a consortium in the procurement process to select a private investor who will finance, build and maintain an incineration plant in Poznań. Daniel Kopania leads the real estate, construction and infrastructure side, and specialises in structuring projects and EPC contracts.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Grzesiak SP.K. advised Saponis Investments on the extraction of shale gas in Poland, and investment funds on the acquisition of Polish coal mines. Andrzej Wysokinski is the key contact.

Gide Loyrette Nouel has been involved in numerous energy privatisations and acquisitions, and provides day-to-day assistance on the trade in energy and heat. Highlights included advising Dalkia Polska, an energy company in the Veolia Group, on the acquisition of 85% of SPEC-Warsaw Thermal Energy Company from the City of Warsaw, which was the largest privatisation of a municipal company in Poland. Robert Jedrzejczyk and Piotr Sadownik are the key contacts.

Linklaters advises on energy sector M&A and asset transactions, project finance, electrical power market regulation and energy trading. The team acted for Enel-controlled Slovenske Elektrarne on establishing and developing its trading activity in Poland. Corporate head Jolanta Tropaczynska is the principal contact.

Piotr Tomaszewski and managing partner Pawel Rymarz jointly head Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ energy team, which advised GE Hitachi on its participation in the Polish nuclear power programme, and assisted ENERGA Elektrownie Ostroleka with the EPC contract for the construction of new power units in Ostrolek. Senior associate Lukasz Szatkowski is experienced in energy regulatory issues.

White & Case – W. Danilowicz, W. Jurcewicz i Wspólnicy Kancelaria Prawna sp.K’s highlights included advising EBRD on the PLN1.4bn financing of the construction and operation of a combined-cycle gas turbine unit, and representing SwePol Link in successfully implementing a market-coupling mechanism for the Nordic and Polish energy markets. Team head Tomasz Chmal, Alina Szarlak and Michal Zieniewski are the key figures.

DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. advises on regulatory issues, agreements relating to gas and liquid fuels, the financing and implementing of renewable energy and biofuel production projects, and the trading in greenhouse gas emission allowances and energy guarantee certificates. The practice also represents energy businesses in litigation. Country managing partner Krzysztof Wiater ‘impresses with his professional attitude and leadership’.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka’s team head Pawel Grzejszczak joined from DLA Piper Wiater sp.k. in August 2010 with a small team. The practice represented the SPV responsible for the preparation and construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant, and Bartosz Marcinkowski advises wind farm operators. Marek Swiatkowski is also recommended.

K&L Gates LLP advised EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg on a legal study for an energy generation project, and Element Power on the acquisition of three wind farms. Tomasz Dobrowolski heads the team, which also includes of counsels Bogumila Ozarska-Karbowiak and Dominika Mizielinska.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak’s team advises companies – producers, distributors and traders in electricity, gas and heat – on energy law and energy infrastructure projects. Clients include ENEA, RWE Group, PGNiG and PSE Operator. Krzysztof Cichocki and Przemyslaw Kalek are well respected.

Wardynski & Partners’ ‘advice is always to the point’. The team advised PGE on an electric power transmission project in eastern Poland, and acted for Starke Wind Polska in the disposal of wind farms. Weronika Pelc is ‘hands-on with the issues’.