The full-service Ukrainian law firm Asters historically fields recognized energy practice handling significant projects spanning electricity, renewable energy, oil and gas, as well as energy trading and transmission. The team is preferred by developers, private equity funds and equity investors, lenders, contractors, project companies, traders, government and its departments/agencies. With its noteworthy expertise in Production Sharing Agreements (PSA), the firm continues to support their implementation in Ukraine. Over the research period the scope of work encompassed M&A transactions in the renewable energy field, general regulatory, support with construction and land issues, contractual affairs, crisis management work, advising on alignment with EU acquis. The practice team leverages GR capabilities, being involved in analysis of legislation and subsequent initiatives. Among ongoing public highlights is advising Fenix Repower AS, a full-scope renewable energy developer, on concluding an agreement with Arise AB, under which Arise acquires 70% of Fenix and will finance Fenix’s project development activities in Ukraine and Norway, with subsequent coverage of antitrust, energy and regulatory matters. Other recent advisory areas include bioenergy, nuclear regulations, including small nuclear reactors technologies. Disclosable clients include, among others, Arawak Energy Ukraine B.V., Modus Group, Naftogaz Group, VR Capital Group. The practice is led by two partners – Yaroslav Petrov (currently focuses on bioenergy, attracting finance, international client relationship work, and gaining experience in offshore wind power projects), and renowned Armen Khachaturyan (guiding oil and gas clients). Marta Halabala, counsel, is highly visible in the market, received peers’ appraisal, heads the ESG practice.[1]

Baker McKenzie is highly sought after by major international and domestic market players, as well as by state authorities, international banks and investment institutions. Among the standout features of its energy, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure practice group are working on multi-jurisdictional energy deals, advising the latest PSA oil and gas projects. The Kyiv team continues advising Aspect Holdings, a US-headquartered oil and gas upstream company, on its implementation of an existing PSA in relation to the Varvynska block; acts for EP Ukraine, a subsidiary of Czech EPH and Slovak NAFTA a.s., on various key operational matters of the Hrunivska PSA and Okhtyrska PSA in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion; advises management of JSC United Mining and Chemical Company on available options to expand the resource base of the company by pooling together its existing production assets with those of several other state-controlled enterprises. The office advises energy and infrastructure clients on mitigation strategies in connection with the full-scale military Russian invasion, particularly on the Ukrainian rules pertaining to war-caused force majeure events. The firm’s renewable energy expertise spans project finance, M&A, regulatory. With its expertise in nuclear power projects in Ukraine, the firm advises on construction, servicing and operation of nuclear plants and units, nuclear liability exposure and risk management during wartime. Other clients of the team include Hitachi Energy, Bayerische Landesbank, the State Property Fund. Highly appraised in the oil and gas and energy infrastructure field Andrii Moskalyk was promoted to partner, and actively advises clients in the context of extraordinary market disruptions. Partner Serhiy Piontkovsky guided major privatization projects carried out in Ukraine within the power, steel, mining and industrial sectors, and provides energy regulatory advice. Victoria Ischenko, senior associate, is involved in significant renewable energy projects, energy and electricity, and project finance. 

The energy practice of Dentons customarily enjoys a following of international energy majors, affording the firm’s presence in upstream oil and gas, mining, renewables, trade, and energy infrastructure. The office continues advising energy majors on entry into the Ukrainian gas and power markets. In 2023, the firm advised RWE Supply & Trading on regulatory matters in connection with Naftogaz insolvency risks under EFET documentation. The renewable energy practice continued to gain assignments in connection with the construction of solar and wind power plants in Ukraine, as well as M&A in this field. In particular, the firm provides legal advice and support to Helios Strategia in connection with its intentions to conclude a co-development/shareholders’ agreement to develop a solar project. Another highlight in the biomethane area is advice provided to Hlobynskyy Pererobnyy Zavod LLC in connection with the development of a biogas project. Other notable clients take in DTEK, Misen, ENGIE, TIU Canada. Partner Maksym Sysoiev leads the energy and natural resources team with active involvement and support from the other partners, Oleg Batyuk (known for representing investors in international arbitration) and Adam Mycyk (seen in corporate and M&A).

Highly-praised for its long-term presence in energy practice, EVERLEGAL is well-equipped to collaborate with national and international clients on various legal issues related to the energy business during the martial law period in Ukraine. The firm historically displays strong credentials in the renewable sector. In 2023, the team rendered support to solar energy and wind energy infrastructure development projects, cross-border acquisitions and project finance. For example, the firm provides comprehensive legal advice to Hero Future Energies in relation to operation and development of three solar power plants with a total capacity of 52 MW in Dnipropetrovsk Region. The team acted in the historic first pilot geothermal energy project in Ukraine, having advised Triosan, a Hungarian company that develops geothermal energy projects. In addition, the team possesses expertise in oil and gas, power and utilities. Among current assignments is acting in a first-of-the-kind energy project, namely construction and connection of combined heat and power plant to a coal mine’s electrical grid for production of electricity for the coal mine’s own needs. Main Group Europe, Altostrata Energy Limited and UDP Renewables are among its other clients. The practice has two partners on board. Andriy Olenyuk maintains his focus on project development in a wider renewables sector, including green hydrogen. Yevheniy Deyneko guides client work in oil and gas, geothermal energy projects and demonstrates continuous involvement in wind energy projects. Olha Horodniuk and Lidiia Vatutina are among the team’s rising stars.

As a seasoned player in the Ukrainian energy market, EY Law provides reliable legal and tax structuring support to both foreign and Ukrainian extraction companies in the oil and gas industry. Its integrated energy team is a point of choice for international development agencies implementing projects in the energy sector. Substantial workflow of assignments comes from the Energy Security Project implementation funded by the USAID and implemented by Tetra Tech ES, Inc. For instance, EY worked on the project for Consulting Services for Development of Methodology for Calculation of Penalties for Violations of Legislation and Licensing Terms; provided systemic analysis for the Gas Transmission System Operator of the physical balancing and commercial balancing in the natural gas market from the start of 2022, and particularly since the introduction of martial law; provided an overview of Ukrainian legislation, EU acquis and European practices governing the forward contracts trading and defining the powers of the energy and financial regulators, as well as respective recommendations, and other projects. The team is retained for provision of legal services for LDK Consultants SA related to the EU-financed Better Services for Consumers in the Reformed Energy Markets project. EY is known for its unique expertise in handling PSA projects in Ukraine. For example, it assisted WelCo, a Ukrainian gas production company, the investor that was the first in the history of Ukraine to reach the production stage, in drafting amendments to its PSA in the context of practical challenges of applying certain Ukrainian tax and regulatory provisions in light of the start of the gas production. Another landmark client, Ukrgasvydobuvannya, the largest national gas producer, is provided with comprehensive advisory support. Iryna Kalyta, associate partner, is recognized for her extensive experience in advising clients within the oil and gas sector. Borys Lobovyk is another lead partner.

INTEGRITES is acknowledged for its established eminence in the renewable space, project finance and development, regulatory mandates, and GR capabilities. The firm is also traditionally well-placed to advise clients from the mining, oil and gas sectors. Being consistently present in large-scale wind energy projects, the firm continues advising Emergy AS (Norway) and Total Eren (France) on land, tax, insurance law issues, currency regulations and potential disputes related to the 250 MW Syvash Wind Farm, also representing clients in various private and public claims during martial law in Ukraine. During the occupation of the site by Russia the team continues to provide ongoing advice to Emergy AS on the Zophia Wind Farm project, including force-major issues. In addition, the firm maintains development projects in its pipeline, notably continued supporting Notus Energy on the development of three wind farms with a total capacity of 300 MW in Odesa Region, and has been advising newcomers to Ukraine – Goldbeck Solar on acquisition and development of solar plants. The dispute resolution team represents high-profile energy clients in relation to damage recovery caused by the full-scale invasion, handles regulatory disputes and disputes arising from operations in Ukraine. In 2022 the finance team, as led by Igor Krasovskiy, advised JSC Naftogaz of Ukraine on a loan of up to EUR 300 million loan arranged by the EBRD to finance gas purchases and compensate for the loss of natural gas production following the invasion of Ukraine. The firm’s managing partner, Dr. Oleksiy Feliv, is noted for active project work in renewables and driving green hydrogen initiatives. Market sources single out Serhii Datsiv as a visible team member. Dr. Oleh Zahnitko renders advice to state institutions, focusing on regulation of storage and maneuverable capacities of electricity market. Dispute resolution partner Serhii Uvarov is highly involved in complex disputes in the area of energy.

Over 2023 – 2024, LCF Law Group has been demonstrating broadening of its energy practice scope spinning regulatory, project development, corporate transactions, sector competition, GR mandates at the electricity market, as well as contentious matters. The dedicated energy team displays solid renewable energy expertise, especially its solar projects record, with the notable recent extension of wind and biomethane projects over the research period. For example, the team advised Dnistrovska Wind Powerplant (owned by Elementum Energy LLC) on development of the 60 MW wind power plant; advises Spanish developer Capital Energy S.A. on project development and market entry to develop wind energy projects. The group advises national biomethane project developer BIOGAS-KYIV LLC, subsidiary of South-Kyiv Agrarian Holding, on development of two biomethane projects, including relevant national and EU regulations of bio-methane, bio-LNG production, storage and distribution, use of guarantees of origin, offtake contracts and operation within natural gas market. Renowned for its strong litigation capabilities, the firm possesses a notable portfolio of energy-related disputes. Among others to note is the recent representation of national solar powerplant operator Solar Kvant Energy LLC in the case v. NEURC on recovery of damages caused by a regulatory decision in 2021. During the research period a substantial area of the energy team’s work included representing companies whose assets have been affected by the occupation of part of Ukraine by Russian troops, as they are located in temporarily occupied territories or have been damaged as a result of hostilities, and pro bono support in projects on the recovery of energy facilities. The client roster includes SCATEC Solar Solutions Ukraine and Scatec affiliated project companies, Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy (UARE), Ukrainian Wind Energy Association (UWEA), UDP Renewables, Real Finance s.r.o, MCL GROUP, etc. Practice head Ivan Bondarchuk is one the most visible in the energy community, and received professional appraisal by forces on the market. In April 2024, he was promoted to partner.

Redcliffe Partners is known for its steadfast involvement in significant hydrocarbons exploration projects in Ukraine, renewable energy and project finance work. Most recently the firm provided legal and tax advice to Seven Energy regarding storage of natural gas in gas stores belonging to Ukrtransgaz with further re-export to the EU; renders ongoing advice to one of six “oil majors”, namely Eni, on all legal matters arising out of its operations in Ukraine. In May 2023, the firm won a large multi-year public tender conducted by Ukrgasvydobuvannya (UGV), the largest gas producer in Ukraine, and started working to provide comprehensive energy law support, with a wide legal (transactional, corporate, commercial, contract, regulatory, etc.) and tax mandate. Possessing unique PSA experience, the team is a point of choice for international players, rendering ongoing legal and tax support to Nafta RV regarding a production sharing agreement with the Ukrainian Government; continued to advise Aspect Energy on various legal and tax matters in connection with post-signing of the PSA. In addition, the firm is assigned by foreign renewable energy players on their operations in Ukraine, as well as project financing and subsequent restructuring mandates. In 2023, the finance team advised the FMO and Green for Growth Fund as lenders and EksFin providing a partial unfunded credit guarantee to FMO, on restructuring of an up to EUR 37.8 million loan financing for the construction, maintenance, and operation of a 54 MW solar PV plant in Bohuslav, Kyiv Region. The big practice has three partners on board. Dmytro Fedoruk and Albert Sych lead the oil and gas and mining team, with Vlad Zakon playing a key role as an associate. The power generation team is overseen by Albert Sych and Svitlana Teush. In August 2023, Volodymyr Kolvakh, formerly with CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, joined as a senior associate. He is referred for expertise in PSA, oil and gas, gas trading.

Sayenko Kharenko is sought after by big international energy companies, domestic majors, banks and international financial institutions. The firm is a point of choice for handling high-profile acquisitions, finance and restructuring work, advice on subsoil use, oil and gas processing, as well as guiding renewable energy projects, energy efficiency workload, electricity market regulation. In 2022, the firm acted as legal counsel to Millstone Group in relation to the acquisition of the entire shareholding in European Lithium Ukraine LLC; acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Elementum Energy Limited on the acquisition of a majority stake in Lymanska Vitroelektrostantsiia (WPP) from Ukraine Power Resources. The finance practice team advised ad hoc committee of holders of Ukraine’s Naftogaz notes due 2022, and continued advising one of its long-standing clients, NEFCO, on financing projects in various cities in Kyiv Region. The international arbitration team has a strong track record in energy dispute resolution, securing notable victories. The litigation team represents the interests of Ukrtatnafta in 12 legal disputes initiated by former shareholders regarding the restoration of control over the company. Nataliia Hutarevych, senior associate, was referred for her regulatory expertise in our poll. Partners involved in leading the projects in the sector are Igor Lozenko and Nazar Chernyavsky (finance), and Vladimir Sayenko (competition).[2]

Altelaw is a domestic energy law boutique with full-circle offering in renewable energy, electricity market regulation, and electricity trade. The team supports the construction of five solar power plants with a capacity of up to 1 MW in Uman; and is also experienced in advising outbound investments in the development of solar energy projects in Romania. Most recently the team has been fundamentally defending the interests of 23 renewable energy producers in the courts in the context of appealing against restrictions on payments established by the Ministry of Energy, debts of the Guaranteed Buyer, and the issue of collecting damages for imbalances. Given the team’s consistent presence in the Ukrainian energy community, it possesses strength in drafting legislative improvement and GR. The firm is enlisted by the UNDP as consultants on the implementation of guarantees of origin of electrical energy. Highly-active managing partner Olga Savchenko received market praise for her “in-depth expertise in renewables”.

ANTIKA Law Firm excels in comprehensive legal support for natural resources and subsoil exploration companies, having a market legacy in advising on joint exploration, development and operation. In addition, the firm is sought out for handling energy efficiency projects. It works, in particular, in the team of consultants in support of the NEFCO’s financed projects related to energy efficiency improvements in public buildings in the cities of Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. AWT Bavaria, a longstanding client of the firm, was supported in the process of setting up a rooftop solar power plant at its importer center. Litigation and arbitration in the energy sector is another highlight of the team’s work. The firm represented the Utility Enterprise of Thermal Networks Cherkasiteplokomunenergo of Cherkasy City Council in litigation on debt recovery under supply agreement – the cost of lost thermal energy during its transportation; advises GHG Emissions Traders and Consultants Ltd regarding its claims to Ukrainian companies about the payment for natural gas supplied to Ukraine. The practice is headed by Dr. Oleksiy Kot, senior partner, with contribution from another partner, Maksym Korchahin.

Established at the beginning of 2022, the AZONES law firm possesses the experience of an inhouse team with deep expertise in retail petroleum, gas and LPG market. The firm represents SOCAR Petroleum in challenging the Antimonopoly Committee’s decision accusing it of manipulating retail prices for A-95 petrol in 2017; SOCAR Trading SA, providing legal support to the company in the process of protecting its rights to oil and financial claims in respect of oil. Within the pipeline of the team are contractual affairs, debt recovery, tax matters. The firm acts for Lux Kraina LLC in a claim against the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for debt recovery under a supply contract of oil and distillates. Mykhailo Tretiakov, managing partner, is the main point of contact.

Foreign energy companies prefer ETERNA LAW for navigating their entry into the Ukrainian market, seeking advice on regulatory matters and business structuring. The firm maintains its presence in renewables, in particular, handles projects related to the construction of solar power plants. Among other recent mandates was advising ALBA Polska Sp. z o.o. in relation to a PPP project and its implementation in Ukraine for the construction of a waste processing plant on the territory of Vinnytsia Region. In the research period the firm concentrated on resolving disputes related to supply contracts, contractual litigation, enforcement of arbitration awards. For example, the firm represents Alcodis SA in enforcing the ICC arbitral award in Ukraine after the decision in the client’s favor against a Ukrainian-based trader arising out of the shipment of bioethanol. The practice has three partners on board. International arbitration partner Eugene Blinov leads subsequent energy disputes, while Oleh Beketov acts as a lead partner in contractual litigation and shareholders disputes. Practice head Oleh Malskyy, corporate and M&A partner, is present across investment affairs.

Substantial multi-stage energy disputes are the calling card of Ilyashev & Partners. The firm boasts expertise in mining, gas supply and distribution, energy industry construction and utilities, renewables and bioenergy. The precedent-setting recent highlight is successful representation of Resursekoenergo LLC, a Ukrainian producer of electrical energy from renewable sources, in a dispute challenging the financial burden imposed on electricity producers due to the new formula introduced by the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Utilities (NERC) for resolving electricity imbalances. A substantial share of assignments is induced by wartime consequences. The firm acted for Gals Agro, one of the largest players on the bioenergy market in Ukraine, on cancellation of the claims of the gas distribution system operator for the services of regional gas companies for the distribution of natural gas to the enterprises of Gals Agro, which ceased their activities on 24 February 2022 due to the full-scale invasion. Among restructuring highlights was acting for Prydniprovska Biotes, a biothermal power plant in the city of Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Region, in the course of restructuring of loan obligations to Ukreximbank. The energy team extends its scope of regulatory assignments and energy infrastructure mandates. The firm handles representation of KMC, a Bulgarian company specializing in the field of repair and construction and installation works in the field of energy, in State Enterprise National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom for the purpose of assessing KCM as a supplier. Furthermore, the firm advised an established client, Ferrexpo Belanovo Mining, on the technically complex project of the transfer (change in the height) of electricity transmission lines for building a technological railway and automobile routes in Poltava Region. Other clients include JKX Oil & Gas, Ukrenergozbut, Spetsmekhservice, Energiya Karpat, Group DF, Waste Treatment Technologies, Solar Light. Oleh Trokhymchuk, counsel, who was involved in the resolution of the most complex disputes, became the head of the energy practice. Experienced in international arbitration, Mykhailo Churakov joined the practice from Naftogaz of Ukraine. Mikhail Ilyashev, the firm’s managing partner, provides general practice guidance.

Kinstellar has expertise in the energy, natural resources and project development sectors, providing expert guidance on diverse regulatory issues, privatization, project finance, transactions, and has a long-standing commitment to strategic dispute resolution, in particular, international investment and commercial arbitration matters. The firm has been advising the Supervisory Board of National Power Company Ukrenergo, the national transmission system operator for energy, on electricity market regulations since 2019. The team vividly acts in the renewable energy sector, being mandated for significant M&A, joint ventures and project finance assignments within 2022 – 2023. Notably, the firm has a vast following of governments and organizations to advise on legislative initiatives. For example, the firm recently advised Tetra Tech Inc and the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine on analysis of the status of transposition of EU energy acquis to Ukrainian legislation, identifying gaps and providing recommendations on their further transposition into the domestic law as required by the Association Agreement and Energy Community. The wide practice enjoys three partners on board. Olena Kuchynska is the firm-wide head of ESG, focuses on energy, oil and gas and environmental sectors. Renowned for his “high level view of representation” Olexander Martinenko, head of the firm-wide dispute resolution, is also acknowledged for his role in strategic energy cases. Illya Muchnyk heads the local banking, finance and capital markets, leads structuring complex energy matters, M&A and debt financing in renewables field.[3]

KPMG Law is a well-established legal presence in the energy sector, being retained by oil and gas and trading companies, electricity and renewable market stockholders, as well as international development agency projects. The practice’s remit traditionally covers tax and regulatory affairs, corporate and M&A, compliance. In a recent highlight the dedicated team represented Bristlecone A.S., a Czech-based company that specializes in oil and gas business, and conducted complex pre-investment due diligence of entities developing seven plots in Ukraine with the plan for extracting hydrocarbons, all at different stages of development. The workflow encompasses advising on PSA and joint venture arrangements, a wide range of contractual affairs, trade and procurement, energy construction projects, projects related to acquiring renewable energy source production businesses. KPMG acted in a number of USAID-funded projects, specifically supported Ukrenergo and the energy regulator in developing regulations regarding joint cross-border capacity allocation procedures; developing primary and secondary regulations related to the cross-border exchange of balancing and ancillary services. With over 20 years of experience in energy, Yuriy Katser, head of legal, is an active figure on the market.

Established in December 2021[4], the primary focus of Pragma Consulting Group is on the field of GR and regulatory consulting. The firm is preferred by investors in subsoil use (gas and oil, ore minerals, including critical minerals, and minerals of local importance) and is deeply engaged in regulatory consulting in mining and advisory in specific investment mining cases. The team’s recent assignments include supporting the cancellation of local self-government approval for special permits on subsoil use, advocating for automatic extensions of permit time limits during martial law, supporting the possibility of selling special subsoil permits and streamlining access to land plots for subsoil use. Additionally, the team has expertise in waste management issues, including activities as experts in the APENA 2 project – an EU project aimed at  supporting Ukraine in approaching European environmental standards. The firm’s partner Alyona Shulima is widely known for her profound GR expertise and deep involvement in drafting regulatory provisions in the mining sector. Other important team members are the counsel, Olena Yaliieva, and the executive director, associate Natallia Hannytsia.

Shkrebets & Partners, a Kharkiv-headquartered law firm, is traditionally instructed by power generation and distribution companies in north-eastern Ukraine. The team has an extensive track record of representation in high-profile natural gas disputes – recovery of receivables for natural gas supplied, recovery of the cost of daily natural gas imbalances and the cost of natural gas balancing services, recovery of receivables for natural gas transportation services on the country’s main gas pipelines. It represented Kharkiv Power Plant No. 5 in a case against Naftogaz of Ukraine for recovery of gas supplied as a supplier of last resort. The workload of energy disputes is managed by partner Andriy Syvak. Attorney Maksym Shypenko handles a substantial share of representations.

Sokolovskyi & Partners customarily has an active energy practice advising on renewable energy, in particular solar power projects, electricity regulation, contractual affairs in the power sector. The team supports the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, most recently initiated and supported the procedure for making changes to the Rules of the retail electricity market. The firm handles representation of creditors – owners of domestic SPPs in various regions of Ukraine in matters of debt collection for purchased electric energy at the “green” tariff and represented clients in their regulatory disputes with the National Commission carrying out state regulation in the spheres of energy and public utility services. Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, managing partner, continued to act as an energy law expert in an investment arbitration dispute. Another key team member is Ivan Balytskyi, who advises energy companies operating on the wholesale electricity market.

In response to incoming energy projects requests, ADER HABER has opened a separate practice as led by the firm’s partner Tetiana Daniltseva. The multi-disciplinary team has clients involved in the extraction and processing of energy resources, waste management, and the generation of heat and electricity. The firm recently provided corporate advice to the Ukrainian establishment of SCATEC’s business, the Norwegian energy group. The litigation practice team guided by partner Andrii Hvozdetskyi traditionally handles energy disputes in the sector. Among recent cases is representing Kyivgazenergy, a natural gas supplier, in the commercial case under the claim of Naftogaz Trading on debt recovery under a natural gas sales contract; acting for Kyivgaz JSC, a natural monopolist in providing natural gas distribution services in Kyiv, in a claim by the Operator of Gas Transmission System of Ukraine sued for charging the payment of the daily imbalance; represents LLC EURO-Reconstruction, a company that generates electric power and heat and supplies thermal energy and hot water in Kyiv in five litigations related to payment for transportation of thermal energy in favor of the Municipal Enterprise Kyivteploenergo.

Ukrainian law firm Gramatskiy & Partners specializes in various aspects of energy law, including subsoil use, mining, regulatory matters, renewable energy. The firm has a strong track record in contractual affairs, particularly for clients from engineering and utilities fields; energy efficiency and modernizations assignments; investment structuring, and is also well-versed in fuel trade. During the research period the team supported Samurai Communications LLC on critical imports of petrol and diesel into Ukraine in bulk trucks for gas station systems to overcome the fuel crisis; acted for SNT Group LLC on the import of electricity generators from the EU. The established flow of clients’ requests consists of supporting modernization of burner devices on boiler units used in industry. The renewable projects highlights included support to VELTA OMEGA LLC with the installation of solar power plants; advising Fabios Solar LLC on property damage recovery to a solar power plant in Zaporizhzhia Region. Among other clients of the firm are VPG Agro Plus, KS Group, City Capital Group, Promkabel Electrica LLC, Caspiy Group LLC, Oil Truck Logistics Ltd, etc. Ernest Gramatskiy, the firm’s founder, heads the practice.

Lexwell & Partners has nurtured enduring relationships with mining corporations and industrial groups, providing legal assistance across mining and extraction operations, licensing, permissions, and regulatory compliance. The firm acts as legal counsel to the CRH Group (Podilsky Cement Plant) in connection with an expansion of the mining area of key minerals, which are required by the plant for producing cement, as well as other necessary permits/approvals. In 2023, the firm advised the CRH Group (Mykolaiv Cement Plant) in connection with potential splitting/separation of the existing quarry (mining area of raw materials for production of cement) due to planned industrial construction nearby. Andriy Kolupaev, Igor Nagai and Zhanna Goriacha are the main figures.

In the past two years Wolf Theiss Kyiv possessed active projects and infrastructure practice. For example, in 2022 the firm advised KKR, a global investment firm, on the Ukrainian part of a multinational transaction and the acquisition of Ukrainian subsidiaries of Hero Future Energy which own solar power generating facilities in Ukraine. Ongoing advice is being provided to EP Commodities, a group of companies specializing in trading energy commodities, transit, and storage capacities, in connection with its operations in Ukraine. Taras Dumych, office managing partner, is traditionally present in the sector.

Our market research reveals the presence of law firms and professionals that have not submitted information for the current research. We provide a brief overview based on conducted analysis and interviews, as well as public sources.[5]

Full-service law firm AEQUO* is known for its consistent expertise in resolving strategic energy disputes, actively participating in significant international and domestic cases. Among recent public highlights is successful representation of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, the company operating the national pipelines, in its ensuring natural gas transmission to Ukrainian and EU customers, before the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. During the research period the firm was also noted for its presence in oil and gas projects as well as mining.

Arzinger* is known for extensive retention of renewable energy producers, advising on power regulations, antitrust and compliance natters. Managing partner Timur Bondaryev is traditionally seen across the professional community. Anzhelika Livitska, a renowned expert in construction and environmental matters, joined the team as a partner.

Ukrainian law firm AVELLUM* is noted for its strong transactional experience in the sector, working on comprehensive finance and restructuring projects, capital markets, and M&A.

For over a decade now, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang* has been the preferred choice for international energy majors for regulatory guidance, structuring oil and gas projects, energy trading, energy infrastructure, and the development of the renewable sector. Public highlights include advising FAS Energy on the acquisition of a solar power plant being developed in Kyiv Region, with an expected capacity of 112 MW, from a Ukrainian developer. The Kyiv team possesses versatile expertise, as led by renown energy lawyer and office managing partner Vitaliy Radchenko. Counsel Maryna Ilchuk is another known practitioner.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz*, as headed by Maria Orlyk, is known for advising on complex corporate governance issues and European energy laws, regulatory matters and compliance, corporate structuring. 

Imepower, energy consulting firm, is highly referred by market participants for several years in a row for its sector-focused investment and legal expertise.

[1] Counsel Anzhelika Livitska and partner Tamara Lukanina left the firm.

[2] In April 2022 counsel Maryna Hritsyshyna left the firm for Hydrogenious LOHC.

[3] Oleksandr Kurdydyk, partner, energy and natural resources, departed in June 2023.

[4] The firm was established by professionals in regulatory and public affairs spheres – Oleksandr Ilkov and Alyona Shulima, who previously had more than 20 years of professional experience in legal and leadership positions in the Government, GR-boutique, and Strategic Communication practices. In March 2022, Oleksandr Ilkov joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and then, from December 2022, served in the legal service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In June 2023, he was appointed to the position of General Director of the Governmental Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

[5] The firms marked with asterisk (*) have not submitted information for the current research.