ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
The Energy and Natural Resources sector is characterised by a return of investment over long periods of time. Here, more than almost any other sector, you need a team who not only understands the regulations and their implementation, but also knows intimately the market drivers and its risks. Due to the direct industry background of our lawyers, many of whom have worked for major international energy companies, we understand the commercial drivers in the sector and can offer you not only technically excellent advice but also industry insight and recognition of business objectives.
We can advise you on all issues that may arise during the life cycle of large-scale energy or mining projects, including their development, financing, construction and operation as well as acquisitions and disposals. You can rely on our strategic advice for planning, development, financing and permitting matters, as well as M&A, corporate transactions and restructurings. We can also assist you in legislative, political and regulatory questions, as well as with tax issues. Let us help you manoeuvre through the labyrinth of regulations which are not always entirely clear in our developing markets. Quite often, we are pioneers in terms of getting projects through the regulatory process.
We aim to mitigate risk but sometimes disputes are unavoidable; we can support you in all administrative, litigation and arbitration proceedings including investment protection and disputes brought under the Energy Charter Treaty. Given the recent trend toward enhanced regulatory compliance, you can turn to us for advice and representation in handling difficult and sophisticated government investigations, as well as for assistance in developing compliance training programmes.
Oil & Gas
You benefit from our lawyers' specialist knowledge and experience, gained through working on major and ground-breaking projects in the oil & gas sector. We can help you with:
- fuel, gas, pipeline throughput, aviation, lubes and specialties;
- bunkering;
- concessions;
- exploration, production and storage;
- upstream, midstream and downstream;
- offshore construction, permitting and development;
- environmental law.
Renewable Energy
Whichever stage of your project, we can assist you with all issues from development and financing to construction and operation. Our guides on renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste to energy provide unique insight into the national legislations of the CEE/SEE region. We advise on a wide range of green energy projects, including:
- photovoltaic;
- wind;
- hydroelectric;
- geothermal;
- biofuels;
- biomass;
- waste to energy;
- energy efficiency;
- transmission and smart grid;
- carbon trading.
Nuclear Energy
With direct industry experience, we have the necessary skills and hands-on experience to know what you are up against in developing and running a nuclear power plant. Our lawyers have worked in-house at nuclear power plants, while others worked on large-scale project developments from ground-breaking through to completion. We can help you with the regulatory and transactional issues of existing facilities, as well as assist you on the application for, securing of, or challenges to the regulatory approvals and permits required for new operations in the nuclear energy sector, including
- construction and operation of nuclear plants;
- decommissioning of nuclear plants;
- transportation and disposal of nuclear fuel.
Utilities
Whichever part of the utilities sector you belong to, we offer legal expertise combined with industry-specific knowledge of electricity, gas, district heating, water, waste water and waste management. We can help you with:
- power construction;
- pricing and tariffs,
- power supply and purchase agreements;
- trading agreements and balancing groups;
- licensing.
Mining
Mining and exploration laws have become increasingly complicated in recent years and cases often involve cross-border issues. Whether you are a mining company, exploration service company, drilling service company, investment house or an individual investor, you benefit from our experience of representing clients in numerous local and international mining and minerals projects throughout the CEE/SEE region. We can advise you on:
- mining operations;
- analysis of legislation concerning mining and exploration;
- obtaining exploration licenses and mining concessions;
- environmental issues;
- funding mining ventures and projects.
Regulatory
Recent years have seen increasing economic regulatory requirements at European and local levels, in terms of both formal legal requirements and less formal "soft law". The states themselves (EU members or not) have enacted rigorous, complex regulations regarding procurement and the awarding of concessions or PPP contracts for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of power plants, as well as commodity trading, promoting renewable sources and energy efficiency. We can advise you on all permitting and licensing issues relating to the construction and operation of energy assets, including unbundling aspects and compliance with market rules. By maintaining excellent contacts with the relevant authorities and regulators, you benefit from our representation in all kinds of administrative proceedings. Our guide on electricity trading provides unique insight into the local licensing procedures in the CEE/SEE region. Learn more about our Regulatory & Administrative Law Practice.
Environmental
Considering environmental issues at an early stage of planning is essential to save time, money and nerves. The provisions of environmental law play an important role in acquisitions, as well as in the planning, implementation, development and licensing of energy and other natural resource projects, and are crucial for their rapid and efficient implementation. A multitude of national and European laws and regulations makes it increasingly difficult to obtain a clear and comprehensive picture of the legal requirements. Through their years of experience in this field, our environmental law specialists are ideally equipped to filter out and handle the relevant issues for you. Learn more about our Regulatory & Administrative Law and our Environmental & Planning Law practices.
