Inna Pletukhina

Inna’s practice focuses on nuclear power projects, including traditional and advanced reactor technologies.

She brings to the firm extensive experience in the international nuclear sphere, including her most recent tenure at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the IAEA’s Office of Legal Affairs, Inna executed the IAEA’s first-ever international conference on nuclear law, facilitated establishment of the university partnership programme on nuclear law with six universities worldwide, and guided publication of the IAEA’s first ever book on nuclear law, Nuclear Law: Global Debate. Previously, Inna has served as a communications officer in the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security and has written numerous articles on nuclear security. She collaborated with operators, regulators, and national governments’ stakeholders around the world on nuclear security, while at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. In 2021, Inna was featured in Women Leading the Way by the International Journal of Nuclear Security; and in 2023 received a European Women’s International Leadership Award for her work in the international nuclear sphere.

• Represented a state-owned nuclear energy company in connection with a complex and highly bespoke engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for refurbishment of a nuclear power plant in Europe.
• Represented a project company in connection with deployment of a Small Modular Reactor in Europe.
• Supported governments in developing new national nuclear power programs, including tender and procurement processes, as well as drafting and negotiation of contracts for the development, construction, financing, fuel supply, operations, and maintenance.
• Provided guidance to newly established national regulatory authority on the regulation of nuclear new build programs and the country’s first nuclear utilities, including drafting and reviewing national nuclear legal and regulatory frameworks and advising on their alignment with international conventions and international good regulatory practices.
• Provided private and public entities legal and practical guidance on national and international regimes on civil liability for nuclear damage.
• Advised foreign governments on issues in connection with a potential bilateral agreement on cooperation with the United States concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, and related legal matters concerning export controls.
• Advised a nuclear power utility on nuclear fuel supply contracts, covering conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication services.
• Advised international finance development institution on risk allocation and models for financing new nuclear power construction projects as well as developments in the international nuclear industry around the world.
• Advised a project company on various aspects of deployment and commercialization of an advanced reactor technology in the United States, including for industrial applications.
• Represented an investment and asset management firm on the acquisitions of multiple project assets in various states for development of the solar photovoltaic power generation and energy storage development projects.
• Delivered lectures as invited industry expert on nuclear law and contracting, including at the annual iterations of the World Nuclear Association’s World Nuclear University Summer Institute, various IAEA missions to newcomer countries, and other national and international capacity-building programs.

• Awarded the European Women’s International Leadership Award, 2023