Vincent Zabielski is recognised as one of the Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for Energy and Natural Resources Law. His practice focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including providing strategic advice related to new-build EPC contracts, power purchase agreements, operation and maintenance, fuel supply chain, liability issues, international treaties, mergers and acquisition, dispute resolution and export controls. 

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Vincent was senior nuclear counsel for the UAE nuclear new-build program, where he was responsible for integration of nuclear licensing strategy with the largest-ever public financing of a public works project.

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Vincent also served as associate general counsel-nuclear at Public Service Enterprise Group in New Jersey, advising the operators and owners of the Salem/Hope Creek Generating Stations regarding all aspects of nuclear operations. In this role, Vincent was responsible for all commercial contracts and routinely served as the legal interface with regulators.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Vincent was an engineering manager at a large nuclear facility in the United States. He has particular experience in crafting integrated solutions for new-build projects that leverage his legal, business and engineering experience to deliver maximum value for the client.

Representative Experience

Advised:

  • China Nuclear Power Engineering on delivery of section of Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in the UK and the ITER fusion project in France.
  • Slovenské elektrárne regarding fuel procurement strategy and contracts for uranium concentrates, conversion and enrichment services, enriched uranium and fuel fabrication.
  • Nuclear fuels matters for TEPCO, Slovenské elektrárn, Kazatomprom, ENEC, and many U.S. nuclear utilities.

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  • New nuclear fourth generation reactor suppliers including Newcleo, X-Energy, Terrapower and Moltex regarding various matters, including business structure and strategy, M&A, export controls and nuclear fuels. Also advise General Fusion on a construction project in the UK.
  • Served as a senior advisor for the Horizon Power in the United Kingdom in its development of 5,400 MW of new nuclear capacity at Anglesey and Oldbury in Wales.
  • Counselled regarding strategy for Akkuyu Nükleer in Turkey with regards to development of four 1,200 MW VVER units and co-drafted EPC contract for same.
  • Counsel Electric Power Research Institute regarding various domestic (U.S.) and international energy and commercial issues, including international transportation of irradiated material samples.
  • Regarding nuclear due diligence of acquisition of the largest medical radioisotope supplier in Europe, as well as investments in major nuclear companies, including NuScale, Westinghouse, Terrapower and others.
  • Construction contracts for nuclear and non-nuclear infrastructure projects, including hotels, desalination plants, hydro plants, semiconductor factories, and many others.
  • Export controls and nuclear non-proliferation matters for Moltex, Newcleo, and others.
  • U.S. government contracting and CFIUS issues for European and UK-based suppliers.
  • Large construction projects dispute resolution.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognised as one of the Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for Energy and Natural Resources Law.
  • Winner of the Legal 360 2018 Burton award for Excellence in Legal Writing
  • Worked as senior nuclear counsel for the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation in Abu Dhabi, responsible for advising on legal matters related to the construction, licensing, operation and financing of the four Barakah nuclear power plants currently under construction.

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  • SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
    • GAR Live Energy, Disputes Nuclear Projects Panel, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2022. Participant.
    • Letter: Nuclear Plan Is Eight Steps Forward, Six Steps Back, Financial Times, April 12, 2022.
    • Europe/The Growing Split between Pro and Anti-Nuclear, NucNet (by-lined article), April 20, 2020.
    • Managing Risks at the Frontier – Contractual, Structural and Intergovernmental Arrangements for Nuclear Power Projects in Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries, 2018 Nuclear Inter Jura Congress, November 5, 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
    • Financial Times/Ocean Nuclear Financing Summit, June 7, 2018, London UK. Speaker.
    • Mitigating Risks in Nuclear New-Build, The Fourth Arab Forum on the Prospects of Nuclear Power for Electricity Generation and Seawater Desalination, October 10 – 12, 2017, Ammon Jordan.
    • Mitigating Risks in Nuclear New-Build – Considerations for Vendors and Host Counties, Asia Nuclear Business Platform 2017, May 18, 2017, Shanghai, China. Presenter.
    • Key Issues and Lessons Learned: Development of Nuclear Power Plants in Turkey, training provided to State Nuclear Power technology Corporation LTD. “SNPTC,” May 15, 2017, Beijing, China. Presentation by Vincent Zabielski and Jeffrey Merrifield
    • Avoiding a Crash Landing for the UK Nuclear Industry, The ENDS Report, April 13, 2017, bylined article.
    • The Power of Brexit, Nuclear Engineering International, January 18, 2017, bylined article.
    • Ensuring a 'Soft Brexit' for the UK's Nuclear Industry, World Nuclear News, November 24, 2016, bylined article.
    • Alternative Financing Models for New Nuclear, WNA Lawyers Working Group, September 14, 2016, London, UK. Presenter.
    • Project Finance Structures for Nuclear Power Plants, 2016 New Nuclear International conference, June 2016, Warsaw, Poland. Presentation by Vincent Zabielski and Jason Crowell.
    • Cybersecurity: Retaining the Power, 16th February 2016, Nuclear Engineering International online, February 16, 2016, bylined article by Vincent Zabielski and Will Fork.
    • Cybersecurity in the Nuclear Industry, Nuclear Engineering International, January 2016, bylined article by Vincent Zabielski and Will Fork.
    • In Perspective: Lessons Learned for Nuclear New-Build, Nuclear Intelligence Weekly, November 6, 2015, bylined article by Vincent Zabielski and Elina Teplinsky.
    • New Challenges for Nuclear New Build Financing, Nuclear Future, September/October 2015, bylined article by Vincent Zabielski and Elina Teplinsky.
    • Securing Finance for Nuclear Projects, Project Finance International, May 20, 2015, bylined article by Vincent Zabielski and Elina Teplinsky.
    • Hinkley – Lessons Need to Be Heeded in Using First-Of-A-Kind EPR Technology, Power Engineering International, May 11, 2015, interview with Vincent Zabielski.
    • Managing Licensing Risk in New-Build Construction Contracts for Emerging Markets, WNA New Build Licensing Conference 2015, April 21, 2015, Prague, Czech Republic.
    • Seminar on Nuclear Procurement, Contracting and Financing, Rosatom Corporate Academy, July 7, 2015, Moscow, Russian Federation.
    • Financing Requirements for Nuclear New-Build – Designing Success from the Start, 2nd MENA Nuclear Energy Summit 2015, June 9, 2015, Istanbul, Turkey.
    • House of Lords Library Note, Leaving the European Union: Euratom, May 2017, Vincent Zabielski quoted as expert.
    • Going Nuclear: A Question for Head or Heart?, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, Victoria Judd, 06/01/2021.
    • Euratom: The Brexit Hostage, Nuclear Future, Vol. 15, No. 2, Authors: Vincent C. Zabielski, 04/30/2019.
    • Regulated Asset Base: A Model for the Nuclear Future?, Power Engineering International, Authors: Vincent C. Zabielski, 04/24/2019.
    • Energizing Development, Nuclear Engineering International, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, August 2018.
    • Whatever Happened to the Nuclear Renaissance?, The Energy Industry Times, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, October 2017.
    • Managing Supply Chain Risk, Nuclear Engineering International, Authors: Vincent C. Zabielski, 10/04/2017.
    • The Power of Brexit, Nuclear Engineering International, Authors: Vincent C. Zabielski, 01/18/2017.
    • Cybersecurity: Retaining the Power, Nuclear Engineering International, Authors: William E. Fork, Vincent C. Zabielski, 02/16/2016.
    • New Challenges for Nuclear New-Build Financing, Nuclear Future, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, 11/16/2015.
    • Securing Finance for Nuclear Projects, Project Finance International, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, 05/20/2015.
    • Blog post: “Point Taken: The UK Supreme Court Finally Confirms the General Law of Liquidated Damages (LDs),”Pillsbury’s Gravel2Gavel, March 21, 2022.
    • The UK Hydrogen Strategy, Authors: Sheila McCafferty Harvey, Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, Victoria Judd, Meghan Claire Hammond, 08/23/2021.
    • UK Issues Draft Regulations Governing Nuclear Propulsion Systems for Commercial Ships, Authors: Sheila McCafferty Harvey, Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, Meghan Claire Hammond, 08/12/2021.
    • EU Takes Key Step in Taxonomy Rollout, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, Victoria Judd, 04/22/2021.
    • EU Returns to Science-Based Decision-Making in Landmark Nuclear Report, Authors: Elina Teplinsky, Vincent C. Zabielski, Victoria Judd, 04/07/2021.
  • Honours & Awards
    • Recognised as one of the Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for Energy and Natural Resources Law (2022).
    • The Legal 500 UK, recognized for Emerging Markets (2019 – 2020).

Education

  • J.D., Rutgers University Law School, Camden, 2005

    B.S.M.E., Drexel University, 1990

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

    District of Columbia