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

Led by Arkadiusz Krasnodębski, the team at Dentons is noted for its expertise in public procurement and environmental law. The group assists energy generators, transmission system operators and energy traders on the full spectrum of issues, including transactions and regulatory matters; with counsel Michał Motylewski specialising in the EU's internal electricity and gas market.

Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka's energy and infrastructure department advises domestic and foreign companies as well as public sector clients on major projects in Poland. Areas of expertise include greenfield and brownfield power projects, domestic and EU regulatory advice, gas and energy trading matters and distribution and corporate issues. The group is led by energy expert Rafał Hajduk, and also fields Paweł Grzejszczak, who specialises in energy projects, and senior associate Grzegorz Filipowicz, who is an energy law specialist.

Clients praise the energy and climate team at Radzikowski, Szubielska i Wspólnicy sp.k. for its 'ability to anticipate the complex challenges', drawing on 'huge energy sector knowledge, experience and passion'. The group is co-led by energy sector specialist Igor Muszyński, who has experience in advisory and transactional work related to all energy sub-sectors and is also regularly instructed in energy litigation and mediation. Przemysław Kałek, who leads the team alongside Muszyński, focuses on regulatory matters and also has expertise in competition law, and regularly advises power and gas companies on anti-trust issues arising from distribution system operations. Joanna Nowak-Paradowska is a key name for energy project finance work.

Baker & McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa's team has a broad focus, advising on matters including energy, heat, oil and gas projects. Particular areas of expertise include offshore wind projects, power plant developments and waste projects, acquisitions of conventional and renewable assets, and new technologies including e-mobility and smart cities. The group is also well-versed in regulatory issues. Michał Piekarski, whose experience includes working in-house for an energy company, leads the team, and counsel Piotr Ciepiela is noted for his expertise in the regulatory aspects of transactions in the energy sector.

Led by counsel Paweł Puacz, under the supervision of corporate expert Agnieszka Janicka, the team at Clifford Chance leverages significant expertise in regulatory and contractual law, project finance and M&A transactions. The group has experience in renewables, power and heat units, airports, motorways and sea ports, with a client roster comprising industry associations, investors, contractors, lenders and funds.

The energy team at DWF Poland Jamka Sp.k was formed following the firm's acquisition of the Warsaw offices of K&L Gates in 2019. The group has developed a strong reputation for renewable energy expertise, assisting the Polish Wind Energy Association and the Polish Photovoltaics Association with legislative matters, in addition to advising a selection of energy-sector companies on their operations in Poland. The department, which is headed by Karol Lasocki, includes Oskar Waluśkiewicz, who takes the lead on conventional energy matters.

At Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak, the energy and natural resources team specialises in regulatory issues and energy infrastructure developments. It also advises clients on the exploration and production of natural resources and the production, transmission, distribution, storage and trade of electricity, gas and heat. The department is co-led by Krzysztof Cichocki, who has expertise in greenfield industrial projects, and Zbyszko Wizner, whose client base includes a number of German-speaking investors.

Areas of expertise for the team at Squire Patton Boggs Krześniak sp.k. include matters relating to conventional energy sources, renewable energy and the transmission and distribution of electricity; the team also advises clients on the full spectrum of transactional and regulatory work. The department is jointly led by transactional and project development experts Eligiusz Krzesniak and Paweł Magierowski. Igor Hanas, previously of counsel, left the firm in 2020.

The practice at WKB Wiercinski, Kwiecinski, Baehr handles electricity, gas, renewable energy, nuclear energy, oil and mining mandates. The group often works closely with other departments in the firm, which provide expertise in competition law, environmental regulation, M&A, public procurement and real estate issues. The group is also instructed in energy-related litigation and arbitration proceedings. Privatisation and anti-trust law expert Jerzy Baehr jointly leads the team alongside Maciej Szambelańczyk, whose clients predominantly consist of infrastructure companies, and contract law specialist Jakub Pokrzywniak.

BWW Banasik Wozniak i Wspólnicy Sp.K. stands out for its expertise in gas transmission work, with experience advising on the establishment of transmission system operators, asset transfers and cooperation agreements. The team is led by seasoned energy and infrastructure expert Małgorzata Banasik and regulatory specialist Łukasz Batory.

DLA Piper's group provides the full spectrum of legal and tax advice to clients in the energy sector. On the advisory side, the group has expertise in energy trading and environmental law. The group is also instructed on a number of M&A transactions and investments by domestic state-owned companies and international corporations. Counsel Łukasz Jankowski leads the team, and specialises in the electricity and natural gas market. Jacek Giziński handles matters involving the renewables sector, while Krzysztof Kycia is noted for energy sector disputes.

The infrastructure, real estate and energy department at Eversheds Sutherland Wierzbowski was launched in mid-2019, and draws on firm-wide expertise in energy, construction, public procurement and environment law. The government and energy practice is headed by Michał Drozdowicz, who joined from Dentons in 2019. Łukasz Petelski, who joined from Bird & Bird Szepietowski i wspólnicy sp. k. in late 2019, is the key energy contact and specialises in implementing projects, including energy financing work. Energy regulatory specialist Krzysztof Wierzbowski is also noted.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is regularly instructed on regulatory, environmental, corporate, real estate and finance matters relating to the energy industry. The team, which is led by Piotr Sadownik, has experience at all stages of energy and natural resource projects, including public procurement and financing mandates. It also assists companies with commodity trading and with the acquisition of existing projects in Poland. In late 2019, counsel Konrad Kosicki moved to Wolf Theiss.

The team at Kochanski & Partners has experience in electromobility and energy efficiency projects, as well as conventional and renewable energy matters. It is jointly led by regulatory expert Wojciech Wrochna, who is particularly focused on the capacity market, and Aleksander Galos, a go-to name for project-related financing, corporate and regulatory issues.

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for advising financial institutions on project finance matters in the energy industry. The group, which is led by counsel Tomasz Rogalski, is experienced in conventional energy and renewable projects, and is also instructed by utility companies in relation to regulatory issues.