The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Poland > Energy and natural resources

CMS's clients praise the team, which includes lawyers specialising in regulation, projects and environmental law, for its 'vast' expertise across the spectrum of energy-sector issues and ability to communicate with industry clients. Department head Tomasz Minkiewicz advised CalEnergy on its Baltic Gas Project joint venture with Lotos Petrobaltic. 'Brilliant lawyer' Iga Lis (noted for her 'outstanding technological understanding') is advising Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne on a public procurement tender for the delivery and implementation of an IT system for the Electricity Balancing Market in Poland. Piotr Ciołkowski assisted The Association of Polish Power Generators with a comprehensive legal analysis of the European Commission's Clean Energy For All Europeans legislative proposals. Counsel Agnieszka Skorupińska leads on environmental protection matters. Łukasz Szatkowski was a new arrival from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in July 2019.

At Dentons, clients include energy generators, transmission and system operators and energy traders. The 'very professional' team handles matters relating to public procurement, public-private partnerships and environmental protection in the renewable, oil and gas sectors. Arkadiusz Krasnodębski leads the firm's energy and natural resources team in Poland, CEE and Europe, and is advising EDF Group on the disposal of all Polish conventional energy assets to PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. Counsel Michał Motylewski specialises in the EU's internal electricity and gas market, while Ewa Rutkowska-Subocz and Aldona Kowalczyk are other key names. In August 2018, Tomasz Janas left the firm for an in-house position in Finland.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka advises clients in the conventional, nuclear and renewable energy sectors, in addition to companies involved in cogeneration and heating. The group is led by Marcin Krakowiak, while Rafał Hajduk heads the energy advisory team. Hajduk is assisting Enea, Grupa Lotos and Tauron Polska Energia with a variety of investment matters. Together with Paweł Grzejszczak, Krakowiak is representing Naftogaz of Ukraine in its application for annulment against a European Commission decision that exempted the Opal pipeline from the requirement of third-party access and tariff regulation. Grzegorz Filipowicz is another key name.

At Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp.k., Igor Muszyński draws on vast experience to lead the energy and climate change practice. He successfully appealed a penalty before the Supreme Court for Zespół Elektrowni Pątnów Adamów Konin in a dispute with the Energy Regulatory Office regarding failure to maintain fuel stocks. Przemysław Kałek is advising Innogy Group on various matters relating to gas and electricity supplies, trading on the Polish Power Exchange, operating and developing wind farms and regulatory issues.

Rymarz Zdort's team handles major energy-sector transactions, projects, contracts and disputes. The group is led by Marek Durski, who is advising PGNiG on various liquefied natural gas purchase projects, including a new long-term project with Qatargas. Other work includes assisting Elektownia Ostroleka with an engineering, procurement and construction contract with the Polish State for a new power plant in Ostroleka. Lukasz Szatkowski joined CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang Posniak i Sawicki sp.k. in July 2019.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa advises clients in the conventional, renewable and nuclear energy sectors, as well as heat, oil and gas. Agnieszka Ferek is advising Suez Zielona Energia on all regulatory and contractual issues relating to a £3.5bn waste-to-energy plant project in Poznań. Practice head Michał Piekarski provides Elgas Energy with operational support services and representation before the Energy Regulatory Authority in a number of matters. Marcin Gmaj is also recommended.

The team at Clifford Chance handles all matters related to energy assets, including regulatory and contractual law issues, project finance and M&A. Department head Paweł Puacz has a particular focus on the renewable energy sector, as well as environmental regulation and real estate matters. He is currently advising Ørsted Wind Power on its entry into the Polish offshore wind power sector, and issues including grid connection agreements. Grzegorz Namiotkiewicz is advising Elektrownia Ostrołęka on the financing of the Ostrołęka power plant project. Managing partner Agnieszka Janicka is representing Neas Energy in various administrative proceedings before the Energy Regulatory Authority concerning licensed activity on the Polish natural gas market.

Paweł Magierowski leads the energy department at Squire Patton Boggs Swiecicki Krzesniak sp. k., which has a particularly active renewable energy practice. Historic highlights for the group included advising Acciona Energia on key project contacts and permits, construction and energy regulatory matters in relation to its wind farm projects in Poland. Of counsel Igor Hanas is another name to note.

WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr's team works closely with the firm's disputes, corporate and environmental departments to provide clients across the spectrum of energy sectors with a full service. Jerzy Baehr, Jakub Pokrzywniak and Maciej Szambelańczyk advise PGNiG on day-to-day legal matters relating to grid operation, pricing policies and a variety of disputes.

Receiving praise from one client for its 'deep, practical understanding of the natural gas business', BWW Banasik Woźniak i Wspólnicy Sp.K. 's team specialises in energy and environmental law, with particular expertise in public procurement. Founding and managing partner Małgorzata Banasik advised Gaz-System on drafting and negotiating an Inter-Transmission System Operator (Inter-TSO) agreement with three other TSOs from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and subsequently assisted the client with a connection agreement. With expertise in administrative law, senior associate Katarzyna Korszewska is another key name alongside gas regulatory expert Łukasz Batory.

Highlights for Gide Loyrette Nouel's practice head Piotr Sadownik included advising PGNiG on a potential expansion abroad. Konrad Kosicki is assisting Tauron Polska Energia with compliance issues relating to the EU directive on markets in financial instruments II and all associated legislation. Grzegorz Banasiuk is recommended for public procurement and privatisation matters.

Kochanski & Partners' team is noted for applying 'international quality standards', particularly in relation to cross-border energy-sector deals. Team leader Aleksander Galos provides comprehensive legal advice to Energa, including in relation to its electricity supply operations. Lukasz Wolk and Pawel Gunia transferred over to new firm Zieba & Partners in January 2019.

Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly strong in relation to advising banks and energy companies on project financing and corporate matters. Of counsel Tomasz Rogalski leads the team. Grzegorz Dyczkowski is another names to note. Paweł Bajno joined Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. in January 2019.

Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak's team specialises in energy and natural resources regulation and projects. Team head Krzysztof Cichocki represented Enea in a dispute with the Energy Regulatory Authority before the Supreme Court, in a challenge to a fine related to the purchase of co-generation electricity; a case which has now been referred to the EU Court of Justice. Senior counsel Tomasz Młodawski is noted for his expertise in electricity and gas regulation.

Michał Zieniewski leads the department at White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy - Kancelaria Prawna sp.k. following Tomasz Chmal's appointment as general counsel to the Republic of Poland in September 2018. The team advises a range of clients in the natural resources and energy sectors, focusing on project finance, privatisation, M&A, corporate and regulatory issues.

The team at Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. stands out for its gas sector expertise and for its experience in handling commercial solar mandates. Highlights for practice head Andrzej Nentwig included advising PGNiG on various matters pertaining to contracts, tariffs and regulations. He also advised the joint venture of Sun Investment Group and E-Energija on the acquisition of a portfolio of 43 photovoltaic projects in Poland. The group was greatly boosted by the arrival of Paweł Bajno from Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2019. Łukasz Petelski, formerly an associate with the firm, joined Wierzbowski Eversheds Sutherland, in November 2019.

DLA Piper's energy team is led by Łukasz Jankowski. Andrzej Balicki is advising Enoi on matters related to the international trade in natural gas, including permits, ongoing obligations and gas storage. Real estate lawyer and managing partner Jacek Giziński is also recommended. Former head Krzysztof Wiater left the firm to found NGL Wiater sp.k. in July 2018. Of counsel was a new arrival from Wierzbowski Eversheds Sutherland in September 2019.

Project finance expert Andrzej Wysokiński leads the energy and natural resources department at Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak sp. k., which handles a variety of corporate and M&A mandates for energy-sector clients. Marek Kozaczuk is advising PGE Energa Odnawialna on tax issues in relation to its wind farm real estate and investment in assets in the Baltic. Jarosław Grzesiak and Rafał Baranowski are also recommended.

Eversheds Sutherland Wierzbowski is a panel firm for Shell and Tauron. The team has expertise in the electricity, gas and renewable resources sectors. The team advised Energa on a public tender for upgrading its customer relationship management and billing systems. Krzysztof Wierzbowski and counsel Maciej Jóźwiak are recommended. Łukasz Jankowski joined DLA Piper in September 2019. Senior associate Łukasz Petelski was a new arrival from Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. in November 2019.