The GNZ LEGAL law firm is very active in the Polish sector of commercial ground-mounted photovoltaics (PV). GNZ LEGAL’s partners and lawyers advise investors, developers and financing entities (lenders) in the solar industry basically from the moment when this sector began to experience dynamic growth as a result of the introduction of the feed-in premium support system for commercial photovoltaic sources in Poland in 2015 (effectively launched in 2016).
We have advised on many M&A transactions and financing transactions in the photovoltaic (PV) sector, we have conducted numerous due diligence analyses in the solar energy industry, advised developers on contracts related to the construction and development of photovoltaic farms, and advised on the creation of holding structures related to PV sector operations of international investors. We have also represented Clients in proceedings before the President of the Energy Regulatory Office, both in licensing cases and in relation to a number of regulatory issues that arose in connection with the Act on Renewable Energy Sources.
GNZ LEGAL provides a full range of legal services in the Polish photovoltaic sector , from advising at the project development stage (including obtaining the necessary administrative permits and contracts needed to secure the legal title to real properties) and support for investors who acquire PV projects or operating installations in Poland (due diligence analyses and full range of transaction advisory), to advising both banks and borrowers in financing or refinancing transactions related to construction of photovoltaic installations.
Jakub has advised clients in the energy sector since 2007. Alumnus of energy sector departments at international law firms such as CMS and Garrigues. Later, Jakub worked for several years as Head of Legal at Wento, a major Polish wind and PV development platform. He has advised on a multitude of M&As and JVs in the RES sector, as well as several financing transactions (where he has advised lenders, but also borrowers). He has also been engaged in and has supervised numerous legal due diligence analyses of RES projects and enterprises. Jakub has negotiated high-value RES industry contracts, incl. EPC, O&M, TSAs, BoP, etc. He has advised several international and domestic RES developers on their existing development of large (utility-scale) solar energy or wind farm projects. Jakub also possesses substantial litigation experience in the energy sector, including both commercial as well as regulatory disputes. He has also served as an arbitrator in disputes regarding renewable energy assets.
Apart from renewables, Jakub is an experienced attorney in the oil and gas sector. For several years, he advised mainly large international oil and gas corporations on a variety of matters (contractual and transactional) in their upstream (exploration and production) operations in Poland, including representation before the regulator (in licensing or so-called pre-qualification proceedings).
Andrzej has advised energy sector clients since 2006. Alumnus of energy sector departments at WKB, CMS and Bird & Bird where he was in charge of the energy & utilities practice in Poland. Advised on a multitude of due diligence analyses, M&A and project finance transactions in the Polish renewable energy sector, primarily in the PV industry, but also in the wind farm business. He has also advised on a number of conventional energy projects, including coal-heated power plants or CHP generation sources. He has advised energy and/or gas trading companies on a variety of regulatory issues and has represented them in proceedings before the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. Andrzej also has extensive experience in the gas sector, where he has advised on, among other things, complex E&P operations related to unconventional gas plays (shale and tight gas), but also on landmark projects such as the Baltic Pipe. In the past, he worked for four years as the Head of Legal and Compliance at the Polish affiliate of BNK Petroleum Inc., a U.S. stock-listed oil&gas company. For several years, he was a member of the Law and Regulations Committee of the Polish Exploration and Production Industry Organization and is currently an advisor to the board of the Polish Solar Energy Association. Andrzej is recognized among leading Polish energy sector lawyers by Chambers Europe (2019 and 2020 editions) and by the 2019 edition of the “Rzeczpospolita” ranking.
Bartłomiej has advised clients in the energy sector since 1998. Alumnus of energy departments of major international law firms such as Hunton & Williams, Dentons and CMS. Bartlomiej has advised on a multitude of M&A transactions and financing transactions for RES generation assets. He has also been engaged in and has supervised numerous legal due diligence analyses of RES projects and enterprises. Bartłomiej has worked for many years on RES project developments, including advisory on all legal aspects of the investment process, as well as on industry contracts required to bring early stage development processes to successful operation (EPC, O&M, BoP). For several years, he held the position of General Counsel at Enern, a Czech wind farm investor and owner of wind farm assets in Poland.
Apart from renewables, Bartlomiej has worked for a number of CHP and heat distribution clients, where his advisory encompassed both regulatory work (tariff advisory, representation before the President of the Energy Regulatory Office, etc.) as well as, for instance, off-take contracts. He has also gained substantial experience in the petroleum industry, where he has advised on greenfield investments and acquisitions on the Polish market.
Bartłomiej is an experienced advisor to infrastructural companies, whom he has advised mainly on projects related to road and highway construction as well as construction of industrial parks.
