Elina Teplinsky

Elina advises clients on all aspects of the transactions, including: project strategy, structuring and risk allocation; drafting and negotiation of EPC, equipment and fuel supply agreements; mitigation of nuclear liability risk; adherence to multilateral and bilateral treaty requirements; and addressing nuclear trade and investments restrictions. She has advised several governments and government-owned organizations on the drafting and implementation of nuclear legislation and regulations. Elina has also advised organizations on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibilities associated with the energy sector. 

Elina has vast experience in nuclear export control matters and is currently advising dozens of U.S. and global companies on all aspects of compliance with U.S. DOE regulations at 10 CFR Part 810, U.S. NRC regulations at 10 CFR Part 110 and the Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations, including structuring and implementation of export compliance programs and addressing potential violations and securing licenses and advisory opinions.

Elina also advises a number of small modular reactor and advance reactor companies on commercialization of their designs, including securing investment and entry into strategic partnerships.

Elina is a co-chair of the World Nuclear Association’s Law Working Group and is a frequent lecturer at the World Nuclear University. She has been recognized as an expert nuclear advisor by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) and Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). Elina is also a consultant to the Clean Air Task Force, a leading NGO focused on deep decarbonization, on nuclear energy strategy and global nuclear deployment. In addition, she serves as a member of the MIT-based Advanced Nuclear & Production Experts Group (ANPEG), a global consortium dedicated to developing low-carbon energy systems based on a “plug-and-play” nuclear micro reactor.  

• Represented a nuclear project developer in the implementation of new nuclear projects in South America and Africa.
• Representing several nuclear engineering and construction companies in formation and execution of nuclear export compliance programs across several jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada and the European Union, and securing export licenses and authorizations from multiple government agencies.
• Advising a nuclear fuel trading company with respect to the drafting and negotiation of U3O8 supply agreements with all of its customers.
• Advising a multinational consortium of investors on corporate, tax, policy, antitrust and CFIUS matters with respect to an investment into a nuclear hydrogen project.

• DC 30 Under 30 Award, Legal Bisnow (2008)
• Profiled as a key member of Pillsbury’s Latin Lawyer 250-ranked practice in the region
• Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association
• Publications
  • “The Global Race for Advanced Nuclear is On,” The Third Way, October 24, 2024. Co-author.
  • “Nuclear Power Is Critical for the World’s Climate Crisis,” Bloomberg Law, February 2022. Co-author.
  • “Considerations for Bringing New Suppliers into the Nuclear Supply Chain,” ANS Transactions, June 2020, Vol. 122 No.1. Co-author.
  • “DOE Proposes Procedures for the Imposition of Civil Penalties for Violations of Part 810,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, January 2020, Vol. 20, No.1. Co-author.
• Speaking Engagements
  • “Scaling Advanced Nuclear for Net Zero: Harnessing AI Innovation, Policy Mandates and Legal Developments,” September 23, 2024.
  • “Investing in Green Hydrogen,” Investing in Hydrogen Global Summit, London, September 2, 2024.
  • “Nuclear Export Controls in the Age of Advanced Technologies,” Global Nuclear Energy Trade Policy Forum, May 16, 2024.
  • Investing in Advanced Nuclear Energy: Meeting Clean Energy Needs Across the Economy, March 30, 2023.
  • Featured on Euronews about the vote on the inclusion of nuclear and gas in the EU Taxonomy, July 7, 2022.
  • “Next Generation of Hydrogen Technology Development,” The Future of Global Energy, Webinar, June 30, 2022.
  • “Climate-Scale Solutions with Nuclear-Produced Hydrogen: Net-Zero Carbon Synthetic Fuels,” Webinar, June 29, 2022.
  • “Financing new nuclear power plants in Bulgaria,” Bulgarian Atomic Forum, June 23, 2022.
  • “International Workshop on the Role of Low Carbon Hydrogen for a Net Zero Energy System,” International Atomic Energy Agency, June 23, 2022.
  • “The United Nations Industrial Development Organization Expert Group Meeting,” June 22, 2022.
  • “Economics of Hydrogen Production,” A Video Series of Key Issues Driving Green Hydrogen, March 28, 2022.
  • "Green Hydrogen Master Class,” Webinar, July 20, 2021.
  • "The New Nuclear Watch Institute Hydrogen Webinar,” Webinar, December 17, 2020.
  • “Unlocking Hydrogen Markets with Low-Cost Nuclear Production,” Webinar, December 2, 2020.
  • "Episode #18: The Energy Transition," The Pillsbury Industry Insights Podcast, September 23, 2020.
  • “World Nuclear Association’s Launch Event: The World Nuclear Supply Chain: Outlook 2040,” Webinar, September 23, 2020.
  • "Competition, Partnerships, and Export Opportunities in the Asian Nuclear Energy Market: Geopolitical, Legal, and Export Control Perspectives,” USNIC-GABI Virtual Workshop – Nuclear Energy Market in Asia, Webinar, July 28, 2020.
  • Key Note Speech, Nuclear Industry Summit Latin America 2019, Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 5, 2019.
  • “Development Financial Institution Financing for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Projects: A Mechanism to Address Climate Change Crisis and Meet Sustainable Development Goals by Facilitating SMR Deployment in the Developing World,” International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power, Vienna, October 8, 2019.
  • "Legal and regulatory framework: challenges and lessons learnt," presented during the "Nuclear infrastructure development as a necessary pillar for nuclear projects sustainability" Roundtable at the IAEA Nuclear Energy Management School for Managers in Nuclear Organizations, in conjunction with the ATOMEXPO, Sochi, April 16, 2019.
  • “Building Nuclear Infrastructure as a Key Component for the Sustainability of Nuclear Projects” Roundtable moderator at the 11th International Forum ATOMEXPO, Sochi, April 15, 2019.
  • “Economic viability of emerging reactor concepts under uncertainty. Access to finance,” panel discussion participant at the Technical Meeting on Costing Approaches for Nuclear Technology Developers, Vienna, March 27, 2019.
  • “Structuring and Financing SMR Development: Key Considerations and Models,” presented during the Technical Meeting on Costing Approaches for Nuclear Technology Developers, Vienna, March 27, 2019.
  • "United States nuclear liability law & case law," presented at the 6th Certificate Course on "Nuclear Energy and Law" at the Teri School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, March 6, 2019.
  • “Challenges for a Robust and Secure Nuclear Supply Chain: Globalisation, Localisation, Oversight and Safety Culture,” presented at the VI International Nuclear Power Plants Summit, Istanbul, March 5, 2019.
  • "Contracts, Insurance, Liability; Legal Aspects of Radioactive Waste Management," presented to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Abu Dhabi, November 13, 2018.
  • "Managing Risks at the Frontier – Contractual, Structural and Intergovernmental Arrangements for Nuclear Power Projects in Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries," presented at the 2018 Nuclear Inter Jura Congress, Abu Dhabi, November 5, 2018.
  • "Financing New Nuclear Projects," presented at the Nuclear Industry Summit Latin America 2018, Buenos Aires, March 19-20, 2018.
  • "Development of Nuclear Projects in Emerging Nuclear Nations: Key Issues," presented at the Istanbul International Nuclear Power Plants Summit," Istanbul, March 8, 2016.
  • "Managing Licensing Risk in Nuclear Construction," presented at the Latin America Nuclear Summit, Buenos Aires, January 27, 2016.
  • "Global Nuclear Energy Development Outlook," presented at the 4th Annual Nuclear Energy Development Summit, Istanbul, October 1-2, 2015.
  • "Incorporating Lessons Learned into Nuclear Contracting," presented at the Asia Nuclear Business Platform, Hong Kong, April 23, 2015.
  • "Considerations in Structuring Bankable Nuclear Projects," presented at the New Nuclear International Conference, Dead Sea, Jordan, February 25, 2015.
  • "New Reactor Licensing Structures: Issues for Consideration for Emerging Nuclear Countries," presented at Nuclear Power Asia, Kuala Lumpur, January 26, 2015.
  • "New Nuclear Procurement: Evolution of Project Structures and Contracting Mechanisms," presented with Li Zhang at the Asia Nuclear Business Platform, Hong Kong, February 20, 2013.
  • "Latest Trends and Developments for Small Scale Nuclear Reactors," presented at Synergy's 4th Nuclear Power Asia 2013 Conference, Kuala Lumpur, January 15-16, 2013.
  • "Nuclear Export Controls 101,". presented at the 4th Annual Pillsbury-NEI Export Controls for the Nuclear Renaissance: Hot Button Issues and New Developments, Washington, DC, November 29, 2012.
  • "Harnessing the International Nuclear Market for National Nuclear Success," presented at the World Nuclear Association's 37th Annual Symposium, London, September 13, 2012.
  • "Complying with Restrictions on Foreign, Dual and Third Country Nationals and Visitors," presented at the American Conference Institute's 2nd National Advanced Summit on Complying with Nuclear Export Controls, Washington, DC, March 27, 2012.
  • "Nuclear Project Risk Profile and Mitigation," presented at Synergy's 3rd Nuclear Power Asia 2012 Conference, Kuala Lumpur, January 31 – February 1, 2012.
  • "Key Issues in Nuclear Export Controls," presented at the 3rd Annual Pillsbury-NEI Export Controls for the Nuclear Renaissance: Hot Button Issues and New Developments, Washington, DC, December 8, 2011.
  • "Global Perspective on Nuclear Power Reactors: Globalization of the Nuclear Industry, Trends and Related Legal Issues," presented at the 2011 North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN) Annual Conference, Washington, DC, May 9, 2011.
  • "Nuclear Export Controls," presented during a Two-Part Series Webinar hosted by the American Bar Association Section of International Law, Washington, DC, March 15, 2011.
  • "Nuclear Export Controls 101," presented at the 2nd Annual Pillsbury-NEI Export Controls for the Nuclear Renaissance: Hot Button Issues and New Developments, Washington, DC, November 2010.
  • "Import/Export Regulation of Nuclear Fuel and Related Technology," presented at the Nuclear Energy Institute Nuclear Fuel Supply Forum, July 2010.
  • "DOE's Part 810 Regulations," presented at the Pillsbury-NEI Export Controls for the Nuclear Renaissance: Hot Button Issues and New Developments, Washington, DC, November 2009.
  • "Controlling the Trade in E= mc2: Export Controls at the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," presented at the Practising Law Institute Coping with U.S. Export Controls 2009, Washington, DC, December 2009.
  • "Nuclear Export Controls: DOE Part 810 Regulations," presented at the Department of Energy Contractor Attorneys' Association (DOECAA) 2008 Fall Conference, Chicago, November 2008.