Aequo has ‘a truly excellent team – highly professional, innovative and not afraid of tackling complex projects’. The firm provides a broad range of services to energy companies, and is notably strong in litigation, though its work on M&A, finance, regulatory and project matters is also highly regarded. Denis Lysenko leads a group whose work spans oil and gas, power, nuclear, petrochemical and renewable energy projects. Litigator Pavlo Byelousov, corporate partner Anna Babych and head of the antitrust, competition, trade and environment practices Mariya Nizhnik are among the many standout practitioners.

The energy and natural resources group at Asters is a key adviser to developers, private equity funds, lenders, contractors, suppliers, project companies, energy traders and government departments/agencies on the development, financing, construction and operation of conventional and renewable energy projects. Senior partner Armen Khachaturyan has ‘deep expertise, knowledge of the energy industry and absolutely tremendous ability to make the right strategic decisions’. Yaroslav Petrov, who is closely involved in electricity, renewable energy and oil & gas projects is ‘results-oriented and very client-centric’.

At Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office, lead partner Serhiy Piontkovsky has a long track record in privatisation projects in the power, steel, mining and industrial sectors, and is a key source of regulatory advice for domestic and international energy clients. He recently assisted with the privatisation of a majority stake in one of Ukraine’s largest power-generation companies. Emerging partner talent Andrii Moskalyk focuses primarily on energy infrastructure projects, PPPs, corporate and regulatory matters, and M&A transactions.

The energy and climate change practice at CMS remains a key player in the local market, bringing to bear a full-service offering that encompasses corporate, M&A, governance, competition and employment advice, as well as work on major energy projects. Financing and regulatory specialist Vitaliy Radchenko and renewable energy expert Maria Orlyk are the key contacts. Radchenko advised a Swedish onshore wind farm developer on the acquisition of a stake in a Norway and Ukraine-focused renewables developer. Anna Pogrebna departed the firm.

Dentons maintains a strong local presence through Maksym Sysoiev, who has substantial expertise in the renewable energy sector, and managing partner Oleg Batyuk, who frequently assists international and domestic clients with inbound investments, joint ventures, loan arrangements, banking regulations and capital markets transactions. Sysoiev recently assisted a co-investment facilitator on the development of a 30 MW wind farm, and supported a Ukrainian oil and gas company in a solar project. Adam Mycyk is now based in Warsaw, but remains active in domestic projects.

At Integrites, lead partner Oleksiy Feliv is a recognised expert in renewable energy, which is the firm’s strongest focus in the energy market, though it also handles transactions and disputes in the oil and gas sector. The firm ‘excels in its deep expertise and innovative approach’, and clients appreciate Feliv’s ‘international development experience coupled with in-depth local knowledge’. The firm has a seven-partner climate change task force, in which Oleh Zahnitko provides regulatory and finance advice on energy transactions. The firm recently hired real estate and construction specialist Anna Pogrebna from CMS.

At Redcliffe Partners, ‘the team is highly skilled, extremely knowledgeable about the energy sector in Ukraine, and very responsive’. The ‘responsive, flexible and accommodating’ Dmytro Fedoruk and Albert Sych have an extensive track record in representing prominent foreign and domestic oil and gas companies, and are well versed in PSAs, M&A deals and joint ventures. Fedoruk also leads a strong renewables and electricity group, which handles equity financing, construction and regulatory matters. Of counsel Volodymyr Kolvakh is a highly regarded energy specialist.

Sayenko Kharenko has a multidisciplinary energy and natural resources practice that is a key adviser on regulatory matters, inbound investment and cross-border corporate transactions. Banking, finance and capital markets expert Nazar Chernyavsky and cross-border finance and renewable energy specialist Igor Lozenko are the key contacts. Lozenko recently acted for noteholders in a consent solicitation by Ukraine’s largest state-owned national oil and gas company, to amend and extend the terms of $335m in outstanding bonds.

Avellum has notable strength in regulatory, financial, capital markets and project finance matters in the energy sector, though it also handles corporate transactions, project development and contentious matters. The lead partners are finance expert Glib Bondar, who is ‘immensely knowledgeable and responsive’, and energy and infrastructure specialist Maksym Maksymenko. They are supported by a strong associate team with in-depth knowledge of real estate and construction issues. The firm is particularly well regarded for renewable energy projects.

EY Law provides ‘the highest level of diligence, integrity and timeliness’. A frequent adviser to public bodies, IFIs and domestic energy companies, the firm is skilled in dealings with regulatory bodies, government departments and TSOs. Lead partner Borys Lobovyk and senior associate Andrii Pryimak, who exhibits ‘exceptional professionalism and expertise’, are the main contacts. They recently assisted a renewable energy company with the implementation of the Energy Security Project legislative initiative.

Clients are impressed by GOLAW‘s ‘deep sector expertise, practical approach and commitment to delivering results’. Highly regarded M&A and financing specialist Sergiy Oberkovych and renowned litigator Valentyn Gvozdiy work closely with corporate partner Oleksandr Melnyk, who frequently handles contractual matters that arise during the construction of industrial projects, to advise investors, developers, EPC contractors, green energy producers and financial institutions on the regulatory framework for major green energy projects.

Recognised as one of the country’s leading litigation firms, Ilyashev & Partners is predominantly involved in energy disputes. Founding partner Mikhail Ilyashev and counsel Oleh Trokhymchuk, who ‘grasp the technical and industry aspects’ of any matter, are the key contacts. They recently handled a claim for compensation for damages caused by an alleged illegal regulatory act of the state regulator concerning renewable energy tariffs.

Kinstellar is a key adviser on regulatory reform, privatisation projects and major projects in the conventional and renewable energy sectors, as well as energy-related disputes. Its work spans PSAs, joint ventures, exploration and development agreements, and PPPs. On the contentious side, it handles international investment and commercial arbitration, as well as domestic disputes. Litigator Olexander Martinenko leads the practice, which includes co-head of the firm’s ESG practice Olena Kuchynska, and finance and capital market specialist Illya Muchnyk.

LCF Law Group climbs the ranking having cemented its place as an outstanding advisor on renewables projects. Much of its work focuses on regulatory advice, for which practice head Ivan Bondarchuk is highly regarded, though it also handles corporate, construction, projects and finance work in the energy sector. Bondarchuk is a board member for Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, and chair of the Energy, Oil and Gas Committee of Ukrainian Bar Association. He recently assisted with the commissioning of a EUR 70m wind power plant.

Antika Law Firm frequently assists companies with exploration activity in Ukraine, though it is also involved in energy-saving projects and sector-related litigation. Senior partner Oleksiy Kot leads the natural resources and subsoil use group, while senior associate Oleksander Tretiakov is head of the energy efficiency and energy saving practice. Kot recently assisted an overseas investment group with a EUR 21m project to deliver energy efficiency improvements in public buildings in two cities.

Arzinger handles a broad scope of work for clients in the energy sector, including antitrust investigations, litigation and arbitration, electricity and coal exports matters, power trading, M&A transactions and regulatory advice. The team is overseen by head of real estate and construction Timur Bondaryev and corporate partner Iaroslav Cheker. Anzhelika Livitska brings extensive experience in land and environmental law, mining, construction and real estate issues.

EVERLEGAL provides a range of specialised services for renewable energy initiatives and provides extensive corporate and regulatory advice on the development of wind farm projects. Yevheniy Deyneko and Andriy Olenyuk are key advisers on the development, financing and operation of renewable energy projects, and have in-depth knowledge of domestic and international compliance matters, as well as environmental law, tax incentives and IP protection.

KPMG Law in Ukraine has a long track record in corporate matters, M&A and advice on compliance issues for clients in the energy sector. Among them are international oil and gas companies seeking advice on market entry and developers of renewable energy projects. Head of legal services Yuriy Katser is a key adviser on projects under the Energy Security Project, notably on issues concerning cross-border forward capacity allocation, and the operation of balancing and ancillary services under domestic market rules.

Sokolovskyi and Partners Law Firm is a key adviser to companies engaged in the production, transportation and supply of electricity. The team is led by Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, who is closely involved in the renewable energy sector. Tetiana Lysovets specialises in defending criminal cases within the energy sector. Newly promoted partner Ivan Balytskyi, who leads the bankruptcy and anti-crisis asset management practice, also has in-depth knowledge of energy law.