DLA Piper welcomes Jennifer Wnek to the Projects and Energy practice

DLA Piper continues to expand its Project & Energy practice with the addition of Philadelphia-based partner Jennifer Wnek. 

Wnek’s practice focuses on advising clients in all aspects of the acquisition, disposition and financing of energy transition projects and businesses. She brings almost 20 years of experience representing clients in the energy and transportation sectors, the majority of which have been devoted to furthering the road to net zero. She represents domestic and foreign sponsor and investment side clients in structuring and negotiating transactions that maximize the available capital stack and optimize the tax, economic, social and other benefits derived from energy transition projects. 

Before returning to private practice in 2018, she spent 8 years leading the legal department for the renewables, gas and electric commodity trading, generation, transportation and other non-utility business of a publicly traded energy holding company. She is known for her creative and commercial approach in developing financing and corporate legal solutions that effectively allocate risks while meeting or exceeding key business objectives. She is often seen on the front lines of first-of-its-kind transactions. 

Wnek has done ground-breaking work advising clients on qualification requirements for new and expanded federal income tax credits available pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as on the application of the IRA’s transferability provisions for renewable energy tax credits. Some of her most recent notable experience includes developing compliance programs for the IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements and working to craft new insurance products covering tax credit adders. She has closed several billion dollars of renewable energy tax credit transfers of both production and investment-based tax credits generated through multiple technologies. 

“We are excited to welcome Jennifer to the firm, as she increases the depth of our energy sector offerings and provides support to the demands of our clients,” said Robert Gruendel, global co-chair of DLA Piper’s Energy and Natural Resources sector and chair of the US Project Finance practice.

“Jennifer is a talented energy practitioner with deep knowledge and experience in the renewable energies market, and she will be an immediate asset to our clients,” said Fahd Riaz, office managing partner of DLA Piper’s Philadelphia office. 

In 2023, DLA Piper was ranked in the “Renewable/Alternative Power” category by The Legal 500 US and was ranked by The Legal 500 Green Guide as a “Featured Law Firm.” In addition, for third consecutive year, DLA Piper’s renewable energy team was named the number one global renewable energy legal advisor by inspiratia. 

DLA Piper's Energy lawyers represent companies, developers, financial institutions and other investors and other participants in the renewable, power, oil and gas, nuclear, energy trading, climate change and water markets.