Gleiss Lutz recently added international infrastructure funds to its client roster, which also includes energy companies, network operators and energy-intensive industrial companies. Co-practice head and M&A expert Cornelia Topf advises funds and energy companies on transactions, which constitute a key advisory focus. Growth areas are e-mobility and the hydrogen economy, as was recently demonstrated in the advice on a cross-border joint venture related to sustainable aviation fuel. Another key area is the regulatory workload, where the team assists with issues pertaining to the coal phase-out, gas sector regulation as well as contract drafting. The regulatory division is headed by co-practice head and public law specialist Jacob von Andreae, who also advises on EEG-related issues and renewable energy projects.

Hengeler Mueller offers comprehensive energy law expertise in transactional and regulatory matters. The practice regularly cooperates with a best friends network as well as the Energy Law Group, thus covering relevant matters in Germany and Europe. Among the key topics are future technologies such as the hydrogen sector, battery storage and e-mobility, where clients are assisted with the development of business models and contract drafting. In the transactional arena, Nicolas Böhm, Jens Wenzel and counsel Andreas Breier recently advised on some of the largest deals in the German energy market, particularly in the offshore wind sector. In addition, domestic and foreign energy suppliers, investors and energy-intensive companies were advised on investments with a special focus on renewable energies, including hydrogen, photovoltaics and wind energy. The team also assists with regulatory issues, where Dirk Uwer and Moritz Rademacher (both public law) as well as Jörg Meinzenbach and Daniel Zimmer (both antitrust law) regularly take the lead in proceedings before the courts and authorities, including matters pertaining to grid expansion, network fees as well as landmark proceedings. This is complemented by expertise in corporate PPA and regulatory changes to the expansion of renewable energies, particularly hydrogen energy.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH comprehensively advises energy companies (including conventional energy suppliers as well as onshore and offshore wind farm operators), suppliers, energy consumers and grid operators on energy law with a focus on international arbitration proceedings, regulatory issues and transactions. Most recently, the team represented some of the largest energy suppliers in Europe in arbitration proceedings against states before the ICSID regarding the coal and nuclear phase-out. Practice head and antitrust law expert Holger Stappert frequently takes the lead here, he has additional expertise in merger control proceedings. Gerd Stuhlmacher is a key contact for transactions, while regulatory specialist Angelo Vallone advises on matters pertaining to the growth area energy trading; he is also experienced in contentious energy law issues. Tobias Leidinger (energy, environmental and planning law) is another key contact.

Noerr ‘s client base consists of state and federal ministries as well as energy suppliers from the onshore and offshore wind, solar and geothermal energy sectors, which benefit from the team’s expertise at the M&A, corporate and tax law interface. The firm’s renowned dispute resolution practice assists with proceedings such as ICSID  arbitration proceedings – Christian Alexander Mayer is a key contact here – as well as proceedings before the courts. Tibor Fedke and Christoph Spiering cover matters at the M&A interface, while Cornelia Kermel is an expert in concession procedures; she also regularly advises on traditional energy law and regulatory issues, where she frequently joins forces with Martin Geipel. Among the client portfolio are many players from the renewable energy sector, which the team advises on projects, including related acquisition and financing transactions, as well as matters pertaining to the growth area mobility such as electric vehicles and CO2 pooling by car manufacturers. Christof Federwisch (project work, including acquisition and financing) heads the practice, which welcomed  associate partner Carsten Bringmann (environmental and planning law) in January 2022, he joined from Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Allen & Overy LLP ‘s team demonstrates its strength in sector-specific transactional expertise and recently advised some of the largest energy suppliers and investors. The group is well versed in transactions in the renewable energy sector, including onshore and offshore wind, photovoltaics and hydrogen. This focus is not least due to the expertise of practice head Nicolaus Ascherfeld, who also heads the corporate law and M&A team and is supported by Max Landshut (M&A, joint ventures, restructuring). Another central pillar of the practice is financing and refinancing advice, which is further complemented by experience in conflict resolution, where arbitration expert Anna Masser regularly advises energy suppliers in cross-border commercial arbitration proceedings.

Boutique Becker Büttner Held, Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater focuses on energy and infrastructure law and follows an interdisciplinary approach in advising federal states, federal ministries, associations and project developers. The team handles all regulatory issues as well as planning and approval procedures, as was recently demonstrated in the assistance with the construction of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and a network of hydrogen filling stations for heavy commercial vehicles. The team also advises energy suppliers and investors on transactions as well as project developers in the founding phase. In addition to e-mobility and hydrogen, recent prominent topics include PV, environmentally friendly heating methods and climate neutrality. Among the key contacts are Christian Theobald (grid access), Christian Held (hydrogen sector), Christian Thole (gas and hydrogen sector) and Ines Zenke (compliance, dispute resolution).

CMS recently assisted with matters in the hydrogen, offshore wind and e-mobility sector. The workload consisted primarily of transactions, the establishment of joint ventures and project work, including approval and planning procedures. Fritz von Hammerstein and practice head Ursula Steinkemper (both environmental and planning law) are key contacts for the latter segment. In addition, Hammerstein is known for his expertise in mining law, where he advises on exploration permits and natural gas production projects. Recently, the practice’s project work covered grid expansion (including hydrogen), offshore wind farms and photovoltaic systems. Renowned antitrust law expert Rolf Hempel represents clients from the energy sector in antitrust and merger control proceedings before the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission.

Linklaters' renowned transaction practice is regularly instructed by investors, project developers and energy suppliers in connection with renewable energies, particularly offshore wind and solar, as well as conventional power plants. In addition to traditional M&A advice, including relevant financing matters, the team also advises on sector-specific joint ventures, investments and restructurings; practice head Thomas Schulz is a key contact here. This offering is complemented by regulatory expertise in EEG conversions and energy audits, as well as experience in future technologies such as hydrogen, e-mobility and battery storage systems.

Baker McKenzie‘s Energy, Mining and Infrastructure division specialises in project work and transactions with a particular focus on onshore and offshore wind and PV, although the team increasingly advises on hydrogen, battery storage and e-mobility matters. The transaction work frequently relates to grids and covers regulatory aspects such as unbundling regulations as well as relevant financing issues. In addition, the team is experienced in advising on power plants. The practice is jointly led by Claire Dietz-Polte (M&A transactions, joint ventures, projects and financings in the energy sector) and counsel Holger Engelkamp (M&A, PE and VC).

Hamburg boutique Chatham Partners LLP recently advised numerous companies in the hydrogen and wind sector on large-scale German and international projects. Practice head Felix Fischer‘s expertise in regulatory matters and public commercial law is of advantage here. He frequently assists energy suppliers and producers, project developers and investors with energy regulation, energy supply and service agreements as well as clients’ representation in regulatory proceedings before the authorities. In addition, the team is well versed in transactions, where Fischer is regularly supported by Marieke Lüdecke, who also focuses on project work. Former co-head Carmen Schneider (energy contract and energy trading law) joined Oppenhoff in March 2022.

Dolde Mayen & Partner 's team is renowned for its expertise in plant construction and advises on power plants, energy lines and wind parks from the planning phase (including planning approval procedures) through to licensing procedures. Bernd Schieferdecker is a key contact for hydropower plants and representing hydropower operators in water law proceedings, while grid access is a core strength of both Christian Stelter and the team. This is complemented by expertise in environmental law, where clients are represented in proceedings pertaining to nature and water conservation. This approach is mirrored in the capacities of practice head Winfried Porsch and Moritz Lange who both advise on planning procedures and environmental law matters. Klaus-Peter Dolde and Markus Deutsch are also part of the core team and are well versed in planning law.

In July 2021, GvW Graf von Westphalen welcomed the energy law team from ADVANT Beiten, consisting of Toralf Baumann, Antje Baumbach, Reinald Günther, Dominik Greinacher, Sebastian Rohrer, Guido Brucker and Maximilian Emanuel Elspas and thus significantly strengthened its team and regulatory capacities. The team advises on emissions trading, EEG levies, supply contracts and grid expansion projects as well as contentious energy law issues. German and international project developers, grid operators and energy suppliers also benefit from cross-practice cooperation, where the team covers matters at the interface with environmental, planning and construction law. Additionally, the practice handles insolvency-related matters and offers assistance with transactions. The latter constitutes a key strength of practice head Helmut Kempf.

Led by Sönke Gödeke,  Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB ‘s energy practice focuses on the interface between energy and corporate law, which includes cross-border transactions, market entries and the introduction of new business models. The latter primarily pertains to the hydrogen sector, while the advice offering covers all renewable and conventional energies as well as matters in connection with Smart City projects. The regulatory capacities were strengthened with the partner appointment of Valerian von Richthofen in May 2022, he is also well versed in energy tax law and clients' representation before the authorities and courts.

Taylor Wessing focuses on transactional and financing matters, primarily in the sectors onshore wind and photovoltaics. In the plant construction sphere, the team mainly advises on offshore wind with additional expertise in other power plants. Carsten Bartholl and Tillmann Pfeifer in Hamburg are key contacts for transactional support, including advice on investments in technologies to avoid or reduce CO2 emissions. This is complemented by regulatory experience, where salary partner Markus Böhme in Düsseldorf is a key contact.

Ashurst LLP recently demonstrated particular strength in advising domestic and foreign funds on the acquisition and sale of energy portfolios, which reflects the practice’s focus on transactions. Practice head Maximilian Uibeleisen regularly advises foreign energy suppliers on German market entry as well as project developers on the construction, acquisition and sale of power plants, predominantly in the renewable energies sector such as PV and geothermal energy, as well as on regulatory issues.

Boutique LEITFELD Rechtsanwälte, which specialises in the regulated industries and launched in September 2021, has strengthened its advisory capacities with the arrival of antitrust law expert Konrad Riemer and conflict resolution specialist Stefan Tüngler (both previously at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer) in January 2022. The advice offering is tailored to the regulatory requirements of gas and electricity suppliers, regional and municipal suppliers, energy-intensive industries and public sector clients. In addition to Riemer and Tüngler, the other key contacts are Thilo Richter (public commercial law, energy contract law, antitrust and state aid law), Christoph Sieberg (public commercial law, energy contract law) and Margret Schellberg (energy and regulatory law, public procurement law).

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte is well versed in contentious matters and fields practice head Markus Köhler, who is a renowned expert for mass and model proceedings; he also assists with arbitration proceedings. Andreas Hahn and Martin Fink complement this offer with expertise in contentious energy matters under antitrust law and merger control proceedings. The team also advises on transactions, e-mobility and regulatory issues.

Redeker Sellner Dahs primarily focuses on renewable energies and advises on grid access and price regulation issues, here, antitrust expert and practice head Stephan Gerstner is the key contact. Further mainstays are regulatory proceedings and the interfaces with construction and planning law. The strategic partnership with Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP is utilised in matters pertaining to the US and the UK.

Rittershaus advises on the entire value chain of energy projects, including construction, operation and sale with a focus on the renewable energies sector. Wind and photovoltaic matters are frequently covered by practice head Wolfgang Patzelt (construction law and project work, including approval procedures and clients’ representation in court); he joined the firm with Ulrich Loetz (power plant projects) and other lawyers from Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein in October 2021.