ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE
Think ahead. Change. Improve.
ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE
Think ahead. Change. Improve.
Because: If you do not move with the times, you will be left behind by the times. One area of action that is currently particularly important is energy. We are convinced that those who choose the path of responsible energy generation, procurement and supply lay the foundation for a successful future. rk partners is your partner for energy law and supports you on your path—and ours—towards the energy future.
One-stop shop
We help you navigate the legal frameworks in the energy sector. Our experts support you with project development, financing aspects, and issues to be considered at the interfaces between energy generation, energy procurement and energy supply. Unlike other business law firms, we offer our clients a holistic and comprehensive solution. This is made possible by our team, which brings together experienced lawyers and industry experts.
Our expertise in energy law
Do you need legal advice on implementing energy projects? Are you looking for legal counsel who thinks beyond the obvious? Do you want to set future impulses with alternative energy sources such as hydro, PV or wind? Do you need a top-tier firm as a partner for questions relating to energy and emissions trading? Then you have come to the right place. Numerous national and international energy companies, utilities, energy traders, grid operators, municipalities and banks rely on rk partners, and we look forward to advising and supporting you as well.
Our areas of expertise at a glance
As a one-stop shop for energy law, we support
you particularly in the following areas:
- Community energy projects
- Peer-to-peer agreements
- Structuring and setting up energy communities
- Renewable energy (hydropower, photovoltaics, wind power, biomass, biogas, etc.)
- Energy contract law
- Market entry in Austria
- Energy and emissions trading
- Energy regulation
- Corporate law and M&A
- Financing
- Power Purchase Agreements
- Energy communities in the real estate sector
- Environmental law
- Funding models
- Infrastructure projects
- Public law
- Real estate law
MARKET ENTRY AND INTERNATIONALIZATION
Your strategic partner for market entry, expansion and project implementation
With our many years of experience in energy law, comprehensive
industry knowledge and commercial understanding, we support
you from the initial market analysis through to the successful
implementation of your projects.
We analyze target markets and regulatory frameworks, identify opportunities and risks, and support you in developing and implementing viable market access and internationalization strategies.
For market entry in Austria, we offer you a holistic approach as a
one-stop shop, combining legal know-how with strategic and commercial expertise.
In addition, we support your internationalization
worldwide. Together with a strong network of international partners from business and politics, we help you successfully structure and implement your cross-border projects — with a special focus on Europe and the CEE region.
More information: www.xstoica.com
Austria
With our many years of experience in energy law, comprehensive
industry knowledge and commercial understanding, we support
you from the initial market analysis through to the successful
implementation of your projects.
rk partners offers you a holistic approach as a one-stop shop, combining legal know-how with strategic and commercial expertise. With a team of experienced lawyers combined with experts from business and technology, we support you in entering the Austrian market and provide comprehensive assistance with the planning, legal implementation and commercial optimization of your projects and partnerships
from concept development to successful realization.
CEE
For your expansion into Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), we work closely
with our strong partner XStoica. XStoica is a
leading international law firm with comprehensive expertise in
law, tax, corporate services and public affairs.
Together, we support you in successfully entering complex markets and achieving your international goals — with a special focus on the CEE region.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
As a complementary service, we support you in the purchase and sale of energy projects. We bring together the right contacts and guide you safely through the entire transaction process.
Community energy use
A future-proof model
Climate change. Resource scarcity. Unequal distribution. These are major social and economic challenges that call for the development and establishment of future-proof energy models. Energy must be generated, used and distributed more efficiently. And that is exactly what energy communities make possible.
The basic principle: generate energy together and use it together on preferential terms.
Imagine you are part of such a community. Solar energy is generated on the roof of your (company) building, and your partners generate energy from hydropower and wind power. This means any weather conditions can be used for energy production, ensuring a constant supply for all members or active customers. With the new Electricity Industry Act ElWG, additional forms of shared energy use beyond traditional energy communities are now opening up through the peer-to-peer contracts provided for therein.
The advantages are obvious: energy supply becomes not only more sustainable, but also more efficient, more autonomous and more regional. It is an attractive, but new, energy supply model whose planning, implementation and government funding raise numerous questions.
As experts in energy law, we are pleased to support you in developing your energy strategy via energy communities or peer-to-peer contracts.
Peer-to-peer contracts (P2P)
With the new ElWG, peer-to-peer contracts will also be enabled in the future. These allow self-generated electricity to be shared, directly between participants, gifted or sold on a contractual basis, without necessarily having to establish a separate energy community. In some constellations, this can make things easier, as no organizational entity needs to be established and maintained. As established experts, we support you with the legal structuring, contract drafting and implementation of such models.
Renewable Energy Communities (EEG) and Citizen Energy Communities (BEG)
EEGs are regional energy communities that rely exclusively on renewable energy sources.
BEGs are regional and/or supra-regional energy communities that generally allow a combination of conventional and alternative energy generation.
Together with you, we review the requirements, funding opportunities and the appropriate legal form, and establish an optimal, holistic model for you. We are also happy to support the integration of charging infrastructure (charging stations) for e-mobility as well as storage infrastructure (battery storage), with tax law questions, and with the planning and implementation of your project.
Energy communities in the real estate sector
rk partners supports you on the path to the “green property”.
The energy transition brings new opportunities for sustainable housing concepts. Despite the challenges, integrating photovoltaic systems and energy communities—by way of joint generation facilities (GEA), Renewable Energy Communities (EEG) and Citizen Energy Communities (BEG)—offers great potential to combine ecological responsibility with long-term benefits for residents and the environment, supported by attractive funding models.
Energy communities promote sustainable energy use, increase the attractiveness of housing offers and reduce electricity costs in the long term.
For a more advanced “green property”, the concept of a thermal energy community should also be considered. If you are planning a combined implementation of a thermal energy community with an electricity energy community, you have come to the right place.
Utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS)
Storage and flexibility solutions are coming even more into focus with the new ElWG. Utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) open up new opportunities for grid stability, load management, the optimization of self-generation and the development of new business models. At the same time, the regulatory framework is new and still needs to be fleshed out in detail in many areas. We support you with comprehensive expertise in the legal structuring, contract drafting, regulatory classification and implementation of your BESS project.
Power Purchase Agreements
Europe’s electricity market is facing major challenges: expanding renewable energy and the strategic phase-out of gas under the Green Deal are key objectives. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are proving to be an innovative solution to support this transformation. Drafting PPAs requires a precise balancing of factors such as contract term, pricing and electricity delivery. Contract templates such as the EFET master agreements serve as guidance. Nevertheless, companies must address regulatory requirements such as REMIT, EMIR and MiFID II, which were originally developed for the financial sector.
Despite these hurdles, PPAs offer numerous advantages: they ensure long-term price stability, minimize trading risks and enable verifiable sourcing of regional and green electricity. Particularly in bank project financing, careful drafting of the PPA is crucial. As experts in energy law and PPA structuring, we are pleased to support you. Together with our experienced of counsel, who have in-depth knowledge of the commercial and technical implementation of such projects, we ensure that your project is successfully realized.
Conventional Energy Supply
Security of Supply: Energy Supply in Transition
The energy transition is changing markets, business models, and regulatory frameworks. However, conventional energy sources such as natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum products will remain an essential component of global industrial, transport, and supply infrastructure for the foreseeable future.
Austria as a Hub for Conventional Energy
The Baumgarten gas hub and large storage facilities such as Haidach demonstrate that gas, oil, storage, and transport infrastructure continue to be of central importance for security of supply, market stability, and cross-border energy flows.
For companies, this means that energy-related transactions must be economically viable and structured in a legally secure manner in terms of regulatory and sanctions law. Gas and oil transactions regularly involve questions regarding supply and storage contracts, capacity bookings, payment channels, assignments of claims, financing and settlement structures, ultimate beneficial owners, circumvention risks, etc. Matters involving cross-border supply chains and third-country elements within a sanctions law environment are particularly demanding.
Advisory for Energy Trading and Infrastructure
We advise energy traders, utilities, industrial companies, investors, financiers, and operators of critical energy infrastructure on the legally secure structuring and implementation of projects. A particular focus lies on sanctions law issues in international energy trading as well as on sophisticated business, financing, and transaction models in light of current EU and international sanctions regimes.
Furthermore, we represent clients in disputes out of court, before state courts, and in international arbitration proceedings. In doing so, we combine economic understanding, regulatory know-how, specialization in sanctions law, and procedural strength. This enables us to help companies act with legal certainty, identify risks at an early stage, and consistently enforce claims.
Your contact
This is where you can find our experts and your energy solutions.
Dominik Kurzmann
Head of Energy
Dominik Kurzmann is a partner at rk partners, heads the Energy Desk and is one of Austria’s leading experts in energy law. With more than fifteen years of professional experience, he advises national and international clients comprehensively in the energy and financial services sectors. Among other things, he specializes in the development, implementation and financing as well as the purchase and sale of energy projects and energy companies, including the structuring of capital market products in the field of renewable and conventional energy. He supports clients with market entries, complex cross-border transactions and the design of electricity procurement strategies, for example via Power Purchase Agreements or energy communities. Dominik is the author of numerous specialist books and publications and teaches as a university lecturer at the University of Vienna on energy law and banking-specific topics. He and his team have made a name for themselves in international rankings such as JUVE, Chambers, IFLR 1000 and Legal500.
Team members
Victoria Fischl
Victoria Fischl is a partner at rk partners and an energy law expert. She advises national and international clients comprehensively on energy law, including corporate/M&A in the energy sector, banking and finance law, and regulatory matters. With a particular focus on manufacturing companies and the oil and gas industry, she supports M&A transactions on both the buy-side and sell-side. Victoria is the author of numerous specialist publications and regularly gives lectures on regulation and energy law.
Michael Binder
Michael Binder is an attorney at rk partners and an expert in capital markets transactions, securities law, banking law and their interfaces with energy law. He advises companies and financial institutions on the financing of energy projects, the structuring of complex transactions and compliance with regulatory requirements. With many years of experience as general counsel and as a lawyer in international law firms, he supports clients with securities issuances and the development of compliance measures.
Richard Schach
Richard Schach works as a legal associate at the Energy Desk of rk partners and contributes his expertise in European and national energy and environmental law. He supports the advisory work on complex legal issues, assists with the establishment and structuring of energy communities, and supports the implementation of sustainable real estate projects. With his solution-oriented approach, he makes a significant contribution to the development of innovative concepts.
Roland Kuras
Roland Kuras is Of Counsel at rk partners and, with over 30 years of professional experience, is one of the leading experts in energy procurement, sustainable energy systems and energy consulting. From 2011 to 2016, he was a member of the Commission of Energie-Control Austria for the regulation of the electricity and natural gas industries. He holds an exchange trader license at the European Energy Exchange (EEX) and serves on the scientific advisory board of Danube University Krems. His practice includes the planning of sustainable energy systems, energy consulting and the support of energy communities.
Horst Pichlmüller
Horst Pichlmüller is Of Counsel at rk partners and a leading expert in building services engineering and facility management, with a focus on energy efficiency, green building and air hygiene. From 2011 to 2012, he was President of the International Facility Management Association. He is a sworn and court-certified expert for building services engineering and facility management and is certified under VDI 6022 for air hygiene. In addition, he teaches at TU Wien (facility management and building services engineering).
Claus Wintersteller
Claus Wintersteller is an attorney at rk partners and, in the context of energy and infrastructure projects, supports clients in particular with the structuring of project companies, joint ventures and syndicate agreements, as well as share and asset deals—from analysis and due diligence through contract drafting and negotiation to closing. In addition, he brings experience in real estate law (lease, tenancy and purchase agreements incl. BTVG processing).
Franz Sterba
Franz Sterba is an attorney at rk partners and supports the Energy Desk with the contractual and corporate implementation of energy projects—from structuring project companies to drafting key project and procurement contracts. He also supports energy projects at the interface with real estate law, in particular energy communities and projects in existing buildings (e.g., usage, tenancy and lease models).
News
PUBLICATIONS
EU Sanctions Law in Banking Practice
- Lukas Röper, Viktoria Fischl
Control Concept in Citizen Energy Communities – Real Estate Developers Take Note!
- Dominik Kurzmann
RdU: Power Purchase Agreements – A Compelling Solution for the Future?
- Dominik Kurzmann
Rankings
JUVE | BANKING & FINANCE LAW
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Founded in 2023, the law firm rk partners has strategically expanded its banking and finance team and stands for modern, dynamic, and at the same time highly specialised advice. The success of the practice is based on its broad substantive scope while maintaining a focus on complex matters requiring a high degree of specialisation. In particular, the practice is recognised in the market for its particular strength in sanctions advice, in banking supervisory law, in bank M&A, and in the area of private wealth.
Among the experts most frequently recommended are, in particular, Dr Lukas Röper in banking supervisory law and Dr Dominik Kurzmann at the interface of banking and energy law.
JUVE | CORPORATE LAW / M&A
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rk partners is listed for the first time in the JUVE ranking for Corporate Law/M&A. JUVE recognizes our broad range of advisory services – from classic corporate housekeeping and structural measures to supporting sophisticated transactions.
Our regulatory expertise in the energy and banking sectors is highlighted in particular. This is exactly the combination that shapes many of our mandates: we support clients where corporate, transaction-related and regulatory issues intersect.
JUVE | PUBLIC LAW
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Since 2023, JUVE has particularly highlighted our successful integration of public law advice with transaction and financing expertise. Our energy law practice, led by Dr. Dominik Kurzmann, notably supports clients in sophisticated projects such as Wien Energie as well as ventures in the wind and solar sectors.
Dr. Lukas Röper is also recognized by JUVE for his profound expertise in sanctions law. Particular emphasis is placed on his advice to clients in Belgium and Germany regarding complex regulatory issues in connection with blocked assets and financial instruments.
IFLR1000 | BANKING AND FINANCE
rk partners is proud to have been recognized by IFLR1000 as a „Notable Firm“ in Banking and Finance. Since our establishment in 2023, our team, led by Dr. Lukas Röper and Dr. Dominik Kurzmann, has built a strong position in the financing industry. We sincerely thank IFLR1000 for this recognition and are highly motivated to continue providing our clients with excellent advice in Banking and Finance.
IFLR1000 | M&A
rk partners is proud to have been recognized by IFLR1000 as a “Notable Firm” in the field of M&A. Since our founding in 2023, our team, led by Dr. Lukas Röper and Dr. Dominik Kurzmann, has established a strong market position. We sincerely thank IFLR1000 for this recognition and look forward to continuing to support our clients with first-class expertise in M&A.
INFO
Sustainability at a glance
The Funding and Tax Guide
Topic pages
Also visit the website of our full-scope law firm.
Our ONE STOP SHOP for all your legal, financial, tax, regulatory, and business matters.
Visit our info page on sanctions.
Energy law
Energy law for energy communities
Since 2021, you no longer have to be a traditional energy supply company to produce electricity or even sell it. In so-called energy communities, citizens have the opportunity to join forces to flexibly produce, store, sell and consume energy. As experts in energy law in Vienna and throughout Austria, we provide comprehensive support in implementing your project. We represent national and international market participants, including energy companies, utilities, energy traders, grid operators, municipalities and banks.
