The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP handles transactional and regulatory matters in the conventional and renewable energy spaces. Highlights included Paul Glazener advising Nuon Energy on competition aspects of the sale of its Belgian operations to Eni, and Karine Kodde advising Vattenfall on the sale of Nuon Exploration and Production to Tullow Oil. Werner Runge advised lenders on financing the BARD Group and Typhoon Offshore wind farm development. Other clients include Delta, Eneco and TAQA. Counsel Coen Thomas is recommended for his ‘knowledge, pragmatic approach, friendliness and good value for money’.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is noted for its regulatory and litigation expertise, as well as its ‘good value for money’. Highlights included advising Electrabel in a contract dispute with Hitachi Power, and acting for TenneT on the Randstad 380kV electricity transmission project. Former practice head Rutger de Witt Wijnen joined Simmons & Simmons LLP, but remaining key partners Elisabetta Aarts, Marnix Leijten (‘very eloquent and highly responsive’), Nicolien van den Biggelaar (‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’), and Erik Pijnacker Hordijk are all recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s energy and natural resources group is led by Winfred Knibbeler, with other key lawyers including Onno Brouwer and Jan Willem van der Staay. It advised Siemens and Vopak on transactions and acted for Essent on post-merger integration. Other clients include Shell, Enexis, Total and Statnett, and the practice also has a focus on renewables, and is representing RWE in certain disputes. Counsel Paul Kreijger joined Linklaters in June 2011.

Bird & Bird’s team is led by regulatory expert Michelle de Rijke, who recently advised Tata Steel in a dispute with TenneT regarding electricity transmission tariffs, and Delta on issues regarding wind farm grid connections. The practice also advises industry associations EnergieNederland and NOGEPA, and undertakes transactional work for Statoil.

Clifford Chance’s capabilities include financing, M&A and regulatory advice, which are brought to bear on projects, transactions and disputes. Highlights included advising financial institutions on trade agreements, acting as project counsel to the ENECOGEN joint venture, and advising Abengoa on regulatory issues regarding a biofuel plant. Jaap Koster and Jelle Hofland are recommended.

Loyens & Loeff’s team has ‘in-depth knowledge of the energy sector and its recent developments’, particularly on renewables and tax regulatory matters. Highlights included advising on Oranje-Nassau Energie’s acquisition of Cirrus Energy Corporation, and on BARD’s winning bid to develop offshore wind farms in collaboration with investment firm Typhoon Capital. Corporate and regulatory expert Max Oosterhuis is recommended.

NautaDutilh ‘does a tremendous job combining its M&A expertise with energy sector knowledge’. Harm Kerstholt is the ‘strategic team leader and has very good market knowledge’: he advised Delta in dispute with RWE regarding ownership of the Borssele nuclear plant and in the subsequent share acquisition. Jaap Jan Trommel is ‘a first-rate and highly efficient dealmaker with an excellent commercial mind’. Trommel advised E.ON, Electrabel and GDF Suez on their carbon capture storage joint venture, and also advised Tullow Oil on acquiring Nuon’s North Sea upstream operations.

Norton Rose LLP’s practice is marked by ‘high-level industry knowledge and a flexible, proactive approach’. The practice advises a number of energy project developers, including the BritNed joint venture between Dutch and UK electricity operators, and is providing pro bono advice regarding a water purification development in Bangladesh. Practice head Weero Koster is ‘excellent’.

Stek is well known for its regulatory expertise, and clients include Alliander, DONG Energy and Eneco. It represented grid operators in litigation against the state and NMa over the new tariff regime. Jan Erik Janssen has ‘very good knowledge of the Netherlands’ regulatory regime’. Associate Martha Brinkman is also recommended.

Stibbe advised Eneco on the ENECOGEN project, its joint venture with DONG Energy. Martin In de Braekt leads the team, which includes newly promoted partner Kirsten Berger.