The transfer of ownership and operation of essential public assets and services from the public to the private sector is internationally recognized as a way for governments to raise capital and harness private finance, innovation and efficiency. Developed economies are now looking to privatization to deliver debt and deficit reduction. In the new resource-rich economies, privatization often occurs as the economy matures and diversifies, and is an instrument that can stimulate and expand private sector involvement. Developing economies use privatization to unlock private capital, often with the support of multilateral agencies, avoiding use of the government balance sheet.

Privatization raises fundamental economic, political and social issues, mainly involving questions of the appropriate market structure for an evolving privatized industry and how to regulate the industry to protect the public interest. Public interest regulation seeks to balance investors' interests with those of the public's demand for service quality and continuity, affordability, stability of tariffs and control of monopolies.

Governments wanting to unlock these benefits and secure regulatory factors need lawyers who really understand and can help design markets, write laws in common law and codified legal systems, and develop regulatory systems that work in different cultural, business and legal environments. Governments need lawyers who know how regulation should work. Investors in new privatizations need lawyers who can rapidly and sure-footedly navigate new market structures and uncover risks and opportunities. Whatever your role in energy privatization, you need Dentons.

We have advised over 50 governments and hundreds of investors and lenders on market design and privatizations in the most sophisticated and emerging economies across the globe. Dentons' lawyers have privatized or advised first-buyers of businesses and assets in industries as diverse as energy, transport, infrastructure, health care, telecommunications, water and other utilities. We bring a confident assurance of how to design privatization programs and markets; we get deals done and secure the public interest. Investors can rely on our deft understanding of government objectives and constraints. Our razor-sharp market and industry analysis delivers extra value.

Recognition

Maksym Sysoiev promoted to partner in Dentons' Energy practice in Kyiv

June 24, 2020

Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has strengthened its Energy practice with the promotion of Maksym Sysoiev to partner.

Insights

On the Horizon: GB Energy Market, 2024-2025

March 25, 2025

United Kingdom: On 12 February 2025, our UK Projects team gave a breakfast seminar providing an overview of recent and forthcoming developments in UK energy law and policy.

Namibia and South Africa's Electricity Plans

March 27, 2024

Namibia and South Africa: As countries sharing borders, histories, and growth objectives, the energy sectors in Namibia and South Africa are transforming concurrently.

Ukrainian law on extension of pre-PPAs for wind projects, lifting restrictions on CPPAs, CfDs, GOs for RES producers, net billing and other important changes for renewables in Ukraine took effect

July 31, 2023

Ukraine: On 30 June 2023, Law of Ukraine No. 3220-IX On introduction of changes to certain laws of Ukraine as to recovery of energy safety and green transformation of the energy system of Ukraine was adopted in the second hearing in its entirety.

View all insights for Energy Privatization

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Maksym Sysoiev elected Co-chair of the ACC Energy Committee

April 2, 2021

Maksym Sysoiev, a partner in Dentons’ Kyiv office, was elected as Co-Chair of the Chamber Energy Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Ukraine for 2021. This is the second year in a row that he has been elected to this position.

Maksym Sysoiev promoted to partner in Dentons' Energy practice in Kyiv

June 24, 2020

Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has strengthened its Energy practice with the promotion of Maksym Sysoiev to partner.