The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Energy: renewable/alternative power

The 'deeply knowledgeable' team at Winston & Strawn LLP handles project finance and development, commercial arrangements including power purchase and tolling agreements, and asset sales and acquisitions. The department is headed by San Francisco-based Joseph Karp, and includes senior counsel Jerry Bloom and Laurae Rossi, who are both in the Los Angeles office and specialize in wind, ethanol, solar and geothermal power projects. Also recommended is San Francisco-based Thomas Solomon, whom clients have described as 'not only exceptionally bright, talented, and experienced, but very efficient, diplomatic, and enjoyable to work with'. In the project finance, space, the team acted for Renew Financial Group in connection with its warehouse financing and securitization of more than $700m of PACE bonds and unbonded assessments, issued to provide financing to homeowners to install energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to their homes. Other key clients include Apex Clean Energy Holdings, Santander Bank and NRG. Also of note, the team has seen a number of new arrivals including Washington DC-based Neely Agin, and New York-based Patrick Groomes, Michael Loesch, Michael Pikiel and David Gillespie, all of whom joined from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP; Houston-based Douglas Atnipp, who joined from Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Washington DC-based Thomas Trimble from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; and Richard Shutran, who joined from O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is in the New York office.

Baker Botts L.L.P.’s global projects and renewable and clean energy department is jointly led by New York-based Michael Didriksen and Houston-based Elaine Walsh. Didriksen assisted The AES Corporation with the negotiation of a joint venture agreement with Siemens for the worldwide commercialization of battery-based energy storage systems, and Walsh is advising a private equity firm on its potential acquisition of certain solar assets. The firm has also been strengthened by a number of recent arrivals. San Francisco-based Jeffrey Kayes and New York-based Adam Griffin, both of whom joined the team from Morrison & Foerster LLP, acted for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure in connection with a $110m mezzanine loan for additional financing for 13 portfolios of residential solar assets. Additionally, special counsel Martin Menski joined the Washington DC office from Clifford Chance.

Foley & Lardner LLP has experience of a wide range of project finance and development mandates, and also advises prominent renewable energy companies on corporate transactions and commercial agreements. In the Los Angeles office, Jeffrey Atkin and David Markey advised NRG Energy on multiple debt and tax equity financing transactions for solar projects in Texas and Hawaii. Atkin also assisted John Laing Infrastructure Fund with its $65m acquisition of four solar projects in North Carolina. Additionally, Milwaukee-based Jason Allen advised Constellation New Energy Inc on its acquisition of PFMG Solar, and Washington DC-based John Eliason acted for project sponsors and lenders in several project finance mandates. ExGen Renewable Partners is another key client.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP advises utilities providers, power producers, project sponsors and developers, investment banks and private equity funds on M&A, project development, and large financing, capital markets and project investment mandates. The energy and infrastructure group is jointly led by Peter Hanlon and Nicholas Politan in the New York office. Further, the Washington DC office saw several new arrivals in 2018, including George Stamas, Mark Director, Andrew Herman and Alexander Fine, all of whom joined from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Robert Nelson, who joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP. Stamas, Director and Fine have been acting for Morgan Stanley in relation to SCANA’s pending $14.6bn sale to Dominion Energy. Other key clients include Carlyle Power Partners and Terna Energy.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has particular expertise in project finance, where it acts for commercial banks and institutional lenders, development finance institutions, export credit agencies and project developers. The renewable energy and clean power practice is jointly headed by Eric Pogue and David Lowman, who are both based in Washington DC and were instructed by two major investment banks in relation to a tax equity investment in the California Flats portfolio of solar projects, which has an aggregate nominal capacity of 280MW. Other key clients include Allianz Renewable Energy Partners of America, JPMorgan Chase and Duke Energy Corporation. Also of note, Myles Reynolds and Tab Urbantke joined the Dallas office from Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises developers, sponsors and institutional investors on all types of renewable energy transactions and developments involving wind, solar and energy storage projects. Recent highlights included Los Angeles-based Wayne Song advising Coronal Energy on a $235m tax equity financing for the largest combined portfolio of solar facilities on US Department of Defense property to-date. The wider project finance and infrastructure department is jointly headed by New York-based James Tynion and Boston-based Richard Filosa, and was strengthened by several new arrivals including Jeffrey Dinerstein from Jones Day and Sameer Mohan from Baker & Hostetler LLP in Houston, and Amy Maloney, who joined the Boston office from Latham & Watkins LLP.

According to one client, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has some of 'the market's most knowledgeable attorneys' and 'is able to always get deals done quickly and in a way that protects the client'. Jointly headed by San Diego-based Tony Toranto and Chicago-based Katherine Gillespie, the 'exceptional' energy department advises on tax equity financing, project development, regulatory compliance, power purchase and sales contracts, and corporate and M&A transactions. Acting alongside Chicago-based tax specialist Andrew Ratts, Gillespie assisted E.ON Climate & Renewables with the negotiation of commitment and credit support documentation and an operating agreement in relation to a tax equity investment facilitated by JP Morgan in the Bruenning’s Breeze 228MW Texas wind farm. Other key figures include San Diego-based Paul Kaufman and Chicago-based Laurette Petersen, who are rated as 'experts in their field, who consistently plan ahead to prevent issues from arising and are always able to quickly devise a solution that's palatable to all parties'. In the Washington DC office, Kenneth Wiseman and Mark Sundback joined from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, and Joseph LoBue joined from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, while Matthew Bonovich joined the Chicago office from an in-house role at Invenergy. Los Angeles-based Michael Distefano took a position at Avangrid Renewables.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acts for developers, borrowers, bank lenders and investors in solar, onshore and offshore wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass and nuclear power projects. The practice group is headed by Washington DC-based Lance Brasher, and includes Pankaj Sinha, who is also in the Washington DC office, and New York-based Julia Czarniak. Sinha and Czarniak have acted for Citibank and its affiliates in relation to a number of Puerto Rico-facing tax equity investment funds in solar energy facilities.

The team at Vinson & Elkins LLP is headed by Houston-based John Connally and Kaam Sahely, who have experience of energy and infrastructure project development and industrial investment mandates. Sahely and Dallas-based Peter Marshall advised affiliates of Global Atlantic Financial Group on the $1.2bn acquisition from Southern Power of a 33% minority interest in its solar portfolio. The duo also assisted Goldman Sachs' renewable energy fund with its $350m acquisition of Marina Energy's solar portfolio. Houston-based Jay Cucils left the team for White & Case LLP.

Allen & Overy LLP has particular expertise in project finance, where it advises lenders, developers and project companies on a range of alternative power projects. The department is headed by Washington DC-based David Slade, who has experience of project finance transactions involving private capital and also has expertise in projects in emerging markets. Also recommended are New York-based project finance lawyer Dorina Yessios, and Washington-DC based Sami Mir, who focuses on Latin America-facing matters, and recently advised IDB Invest on the $114m financing for the Naranjal and El Litoral solar PV projects in Uruguay, which are owned by Atlas Renewable Energy. Recent arrivals include Jillian Ashley from JP Morgan and Andrés Arnaldos from Milbank. Mitchell Silk took a position at the US Department of the Treasury.

Ballard Spahr LLP handles project acquisitions, construction agreements, and project development and financing arrangements for project developers and sponsors, tax equity investors, bank lenders and governmental entities. Philadelphia-based Patrick Gillard heads the practice group. Raymond Faricy joined the Minneapolis office as a result of the firm's merger with Lindquist & Vennum PLLP.

Fielding a team of 'true professionals', Dentons acts for a range of clients including public bodies and municipalities, utilities providers and clean energy companies. Headed by Washington DC-based Clint Vince, the team has 'unbelievable know-how' and 'a keen sense of strategy', which it brings to project finance mandates and energy-sector corporate transactions. Carl Steen, who divides time between New York and Los Angeles, advised Enbridge on the monetization of its interest in selected North American onshore renewable power assets and two German offshore wind projects through a joint venture with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Barry Cannaday joined the Dallas office from Gray Reed. City Council of the City of New Orleans, Colorado Springs Utilities and CPS Energy are also among the team's clients.

DLA Piper LLP (US) advises clients on energy asset transactions, in addition to the development, permitting and financing of power generation facilities spanning onshore and offshore wind, solar, biofuels and biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal projects. Jointly led by New York-based Joseph Tato, and Washington DC-based Gregory Smith and Timothy Moran, the team has 'a pragmatic approach' and is known for 'developing structures that help clients achieve a successful outcome'. Moran in particular has 'a good blend of legal expertise and commercial acumen', and New York-based Philip Corsello and Washington DC-based Vanessa Richlle Wilson also have 'serious expertise in the field'. Recent highlights have included the team acting for Exelon Corporation, as sponsor and borrower, in connection with an $850m senior secured credit facility to leverage its interest in a portfolio of 33 solar, wind and biomass utility-scale and distributed electric generation projects across 11 states in the US.

Eversheds Sutherland is instructed by developers, sponsors, lenders, private equity investors and utilities companies in various types of renewable energy projects. The practice is headed by Atlanta-based Dorothy Franzoni and also includes Houston-based Ram Sunkara, who advised Shell on its $217m acquisition of a 43.8% interest in Silicon Ranch Corporation, a US owner, developer and operator of solar plants. Other names to note include Thomas Warren, who practices in the firm's Atlanta office, and New York-based Madeleine Tan, who heads the transport and social infrastructure practice. Counsel Stephanie Kroger joined the Austin office from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

The team at McGuireWoods LLP advises energy companies and investors on a range of corporate, finance and project development mandates. Richmond-based Michael Woodard advises Coronal Energy on comprehensive development and transactional matters across its solar project portfolio, and Becky Diffen, who heads the practice from the Austin office, acted for Hill Country Wind Power in the development and sale of a 400MW wind farm in Texas. Also recommended is Chicago-based Timothy Callahan, who regularly acts for project sponsors and lenders in the financing and development of wind farms, solar plants and other renewables projects. Other key clients include Dominion Energy, Apex Clean Energy and Macquarie Capital.

Jones Day advises project sponsors and developers on the financing, development, and ongoing commercial and operational activity of renewable energy projects. Houston-based Jeffrey Schlegel heads the global energy practice, and is advising Southern Power Company on its $1.2bn sale of a 33% minority interest in its solar portfolio to Global Atlantic Financial Group. Key figures in Washington DC include Danielle Varnell, who has expertise in M&A and project development in the clean energy space, and Gerald Farano, who focuses on sale and purchase agreements involving a variety of renewable and conventional energy assets. Also of note, Elise Zoli joined the Boston office from Goodwin. NRG Energy, South Carolina Electric & Gas and Xcel Energy are among the team's longstanding clients.

K&L Gates is instructed by a wide range of market participants including project sponsors, developers and investors, export credit agencies and lending banks, landowners, contractors and equipment suppliers, which the team advises on project finance and development, corporate transactions and regulatory matters. The practice group is jointly headed by Seattle-based David Hattery, who focuses on project development and finance, and Washington DC-based William Keyser, who is active in the contentious and regulatory space. Also recommended is Portland-based William Holmes, who advised Brookfield Renewable Partners on the $5m construction and permanent financing of an 8.8MW battery power storage facility near Stratford, Ontario. Other key clients include Hydro One, Boralex and Centrica. Robert George joined the Houston office from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP.

Linklaters LLP has particular expertise in energy security, carbon reduction and environmental matters, but also has active transactional and development practices, which bring together skill sets in finance, M&A, project development, litigation and arbitration, tax and planning. The New York team is led by Vijaya Palaniswamy, who has experience of US and Latin American solar, wind and biomass projects, and has acted for financial institutions, utilities companies and project operators, sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms, and government bodies.

Mayer Brown provides comprehensive advice on solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels and biomass projects. Jointly headed by Houston-based Robert Goldberg and Washington DC-based Jeffrey Davis, the large multidisciplinary practice group has experience of project finance, asset acquisitions and disposals, commercial power and energy agreements, tax structuring, engineering and construction contracts, environmental regulations, international trade, M&A and dispute resolution.

Reed Smith LLP advises energy companies and project developers and investors on a variety of clean energy projects including solar and biomass, though the team is perhaps most active in the wind power industry. Names to note include Houston-based Craig Enochs, and Nicolle Bagnell, who practices in the firm's Pittsburgh office.

Troutman Sanders advises on project finance, environmental regulation, real estate matters, tax and restructuring mandates in relation to solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal and hydro projects. Key lawyers in the practice group include New York-based Hayden Baker, who joined the firm from Sullivan & Worcester LLP, and Orange County-based John Leonti and  New York-based Craig Kline, who jointly head the projects and infrastructure department. Kline acted for Consolidated Edison Development in its acquisition of a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, and Leonti advised Southern Power Company on a tax equity investment partnership concerning a wind generation facility in Texas. Other key clients include Wells Fargo Bank and BNRG Renewables.