New York, NY – February 23, 2005 – LAWFUEL – The international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP today announced that Igor Muszyński, previously the head of White & Case’s energy practice in Warsaw, will be joining the Firm as an international partner in its Polish partnership. Three associates are also joining Chadbourne with Mr. Muszyński.
The group joins Chadbourne’s internationally prominent project finance practice, which ranks among the handful of leading project practices in the world. The Firm has worked for more than 20 years on regulatory matters, transactions, litigation, restructurings, and construction financings and refinancings. Clients include major power and industrial companies, financing sources, and government entities in the development and financing of energy and other infrastructure projects, the sale or acquisition (including privatizations) of energy-related assets or industrial companies, and the financial engineering that improves the value of these assets in the U.S. and abroad.
“The addition of this team to our project finance group will allow us to focus on the further growth of our practice especially in view of Poland’s accession to the European Union and future developments in the Polish economy,” said Gabriel Wujek, managing partner of Chadbourne’s Warsaw office. “The group brings a dedicated projects capability and extensive practical knowledge and experience in the energy sector. This will further enhance what we offer to clients not only in Poland, but throughout Central Europe, and will add to the already high caliber of our Warsaw practice.”
Mr. Muszyński, 37, previously was head of White & Case’s energy practice in Warsaw. He is an international expert in legal regulations of infrastructure energy projects. Mr. Muszyński has advised Polish and foreign energy companies, local governments and customers of electrical energy and fuels. He specializes in regulatory issues and in providing advice in connection with project finance and privatization.
Mr. Muszyński also has handled work for the Ministry of Industry and Trade advising on the restructuring and liberalization of the Polish energy sector, creation of Energy Law, and was involved in the process of conforming the Polish energy law to EU standards.
Chambers Global 2004-2005 – The World’s Leading Lawyers guide reports that Mr. Muszyński is a “brilliant regulatory expert with an impressive privatization track record.”
Mr. Muszyński received his LL.M. from Warsaw University.
The three associates are Tomasz Chmal, Karol Lasocki, and Joanna Nowak.
Mr. Chmal, 31, offers expertise in providing legal advice to clients in the energy sector. He has advised the largest energy distribution companies in Poland in connection with litigation and administrative disputes with electricity customers. Mr. Chmal participated in the privatization of one of the biggest lignite-fueled power plants in Europe and a lignite mine, as well as major combined heat and power stations; and has advised Polish several heat and power producers and electricity distribution companies in regulatory matters involving tariff application licensing and client relation affairs. He has assisted a number of energy companies in proceedings between Polish energy regulatory authority and antimonopoly matters. Mr. Chmal graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Adam Mickiewicz University.
Mr. Lasocki, 26, handles matters dealing with EU law, civil law, commercial and administrative law, with particular emphasis on energy law. He advises Polish and foreign power generation and distribution companies, as well as electricity customers. Mr. Lasocki also acts as counsel in connection with project finance. He received his master of law degree, with honors, from Faculty of Law and Administration of the Warsaw University.
Ms. Nowak, 28, specializes in energy law advising on such issues as: electricity trading, gas and heat supply agreements, tariffs; transmission services agreements; regulatory disputes before the President of the Energy Regulatory Authority and renewable energy-related issues. She received her master of law degree from Faculty of Law and Administration of the Gdańsk University.
“Our project finance practice throughout Europe continues on a strong growth trend and underscores Chadbourne’s long-term commitment to the energy sector in Poland,” said Charles K. O’Neill, Chadbourne’s managing partner. “This group will add to our already impressive team, and will significantly enhance our capabilities in developing and structuring sophisticated financings for our clients throughout Central Europe.”
The Warsaw attorneys counsel clients on a wide range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, securities, capital markets, venture capital, energy, telecommunications, privatizations, joint ventures, foreign investment, tax, corporate restructuring, litigation, intellectual property and technology, labor and employment, insurance, real estate development, environmental, trade (import/export), customs and duties, and governmental matters. Their clients include multinational corporations and other western investors, Polish state-owned and private companies, and Polish government departments such as the Ministries of Economy (previously of Industry and Trade), Privatization, Foreign Economic Relations and Finance.
About Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Chadbourne & Parke LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City, provides a full range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, project finance, corporate finance, energy, telecommunications, commercial and products liability litigation, securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, white collar defense, intellectual property, antitrust, domestic and international tax, reinsurance and insurance, environmental, real estate, bankruptcy and financial restructuring, employment law and ERISA, trusts and estates and government contract matters. The Firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Moscow, Kyiv, Warsaw (through a Polish partnership), Beijing and a multinational partnership, Chadbourne & Parke, in London. For additional information, visit www.chadbourne.com.
