The mining industry in Western Europe has a long history of development. Deposits of natural resources in the region, which are diverse from country to country, have been significantly depleted. The region is rich in coal and certain types of ores; however, oil and natural gas deposits are limited, and these minerals are predominantly imported. Shale gas reserves are available in the region.

The industry is technologically very advanced in order to meet the demand for sustainable production as well as stringent environmental standards, although constant upgrading and maintaining of infrastructure can be time and investment consuming.

Capital constraint, increasingly complex regulations—in the business of mining, these are just a few of the challenges you may face every day.

Our lawyers offer you industry specific expertise from mine exploration, project development and finance, to production. We help you navigate through the complex environmental assessment and permitting process.

Rely on our expertise in the successful development of resource projects in the region and globally. We cover:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Mining licensing and permitting
• Environmental law
• Exploration agreements, production sharing agreements, concessions
• Joint ventures
• Project and trade finance, capital markets
• Dispute resolution
• Public law and regulation

Leverage our knowledge of law as well as our technical expertise in mining projects for successful strategic planning of investments and operations in Western Europe, as well as in the different realities of operating within the CIS and the CEE.

Insights

The impact of COVID-19 on the performance of obligations by subsoil users in Kazakhstan

April 1, 2020

Kazakhstan: In our note of March 27, we discussed the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures taken by the state to counteract against its impact, on the performance by the parties of their contractual obligations.

An Introduction to Business Structures as contained in the Revised Uniform Act relating to Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups

March 29, 2016

The OHADA laws have simplified the various vehicles available to persons doing business in West and Central Africa. The article provides a basic overview of the business structures available to investors, as well as the benefits of each structure, as contained in the revised Uniform Act relating to commercial companies and economic interest groups.

EU Commission launches consultation on Transparency Register

March 1, 2016

The European Union is contemplating mandatory registration of lobbyists and increased regulation of their activities through the introduction of a mandatory register in Brussels. The changes currently contemplated will have a direct impact on all interactions with the EU. Dentons’ Political Law team is well placed to assist clients around the world to influence the outcome of this important new European Commission policy proposal.

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News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on acquisition of US-based Blackhawk Mining

June 2, 2020

Dentons has advised international energy group Sev.en Energy on its strategic acquisition of US-based metallurgical coal producer Blackhawk Mining, LLC. C. The transaction comes on the heels of Sev.en Energy’s acquisition of a 17% ownership interest in Corsa Coal in May 2020, further reinforcing its access to the metallurgical coal mining industry in the US market.

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on strategic acquisition of shares in Corsa Coal Corporation

May 15, 2020

Dentons has advised Sev.en Energy, a major player on the Czech energy market, on strategic acquisition of a 17.1% share in Corsa Coal Corp., a US-based metallurgical coal producer with mines in Pennsylvania and Maryland, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Advising the Rio Tinto mining group on the sale of its Dunkirk plant to GFG Alliance

January 22, 2018

We advised the Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto on the sale to GFG Alliance of its Dunkirk plant, Europe's largest aluminum smelter with an annual capacity of 280,000 tons, 570 employees and an annual turnover of approximately €500 million. The purchaser is the Gupta Family Group (GFG Alliance) managed by the Anglo-Indian billionaire Sanjeev Gupta.

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