Gowling WLG's cross-disciplinary team, which is led by Gus Wood, John Cooper and Helen Emmerson, provides full-service support encompassing advising private and public sector clients on market transformation programmes, regulatory issues, M&A, structured finance work and energy supply and trading issues. Energy specialist Wood acts for developers and funders on power purchase agreements, particularly for large offshore wind projects. Cooper is the key figure for regulatory reform projects in the utilities sector, while Emmerson focuses on real estate matters. Other key lawyers include Dominic Richardson, who handles defence and infrastructure projects, and Paul Green, who assists with mandates involving wind and solar farms, CCGT power stations and nuclear plants. Associate James Stanier is recommended for commercial contracts.
Energy, project finance and PFI in West Midlands
Gowling WLG
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Brockwell Energy Limited
AMEA Power
Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
Statkraft Markets GmbH
GuarantCo
Armpower CJSC
EOG Resources, Inc
Work highlights
- Advised Co-op Energy and Flow Energy on a deal to create a new strategic joint venture with Octopus Energy to invest in the development of community-generated energy in the UK.
- Advised Statkraft on a number of optimisation power purchase agreements for flexible electricity, including on its landmark 15-year strategic partnership with Statera Energy to develop 1 GW of UK battery storage and flexible gas- powered generation.
- Advising Highview on its development of the UK’s first large-scale commercial cryogenic energy storage facility, a 50 MW/250 MWh project.
Pinsent Masons LLP
The Birmingham-based energy group at Pinsent Masons LLP is led by PPP specialist Didar Dhillon, who is involved in the emerging privately financed merchant EfW market, as well as structuring partnering issues and joint ventures around the delivery of public sector assets and services. The firm is praised for its 'excellent knowledge of the energy industry', especially in relation to the district heat and waste sectors. Nigel Blundell and Satwinder Ubhi specialise in transactional work and real estate mandates. Senior associate Gemma Glasspole is recommended for energy-from-waste and ESCO Projects.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very knowledgeable team that have worked closely with us as part of a multi-disciplinary project team to make significant progress in project development. Excellent knowledge of the energy industry and in particular the district heating sector.’
‘Didar Dhillon has provided excellent support and integrated with other consultants and the client’s project manager to form an excellent multi-disciplinary project team driving forward the project.’
Key clients
E-on
Hitachi Zosen Inova AG
FCC Environment Limited
Amber Infrastructure
Orsted
Volker Rail
Morgan Sindall
Work highlights
- Advised FCC Environment on the development of the new £500m merchant energy-from-waste facility in Lostock, Cheshire with Copenhagen Investment Partners.
- Advising Tees Valley Combined Authority on the procurement of a district energy network, which will span across Middlesbrough Town.
- Advising Amber Infrastructure on its investment into and formulation of an ESCO solution for a significant phased residential development scheme in Clapham, London.
Freeths LLP
With 'responsiveness, knowledge and experience and value for money', Freeths LLP advises leading infrastructure investors including Dalmore Capital, Equitix and Engie Services on PFI, PPP and refinancing transactions. Stoke-based group head James Larmour is a key name for PFIs, PPPs, joint ventures, outsourcings and M&A deals relating to offshore transmission and battery storage projects, energy efficiency matters and smart power issues. In the Birmingham office, Jason Richards and Kirstin Roberts focus on renewable energy matters, energy supply issues, grid support services and the deregulation of the water market.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent group of lawyers who work together as a great team and provide extensive skills across a broad spectrum of areas -very friendly and approachable.’
‘Responsiveness, knowledge and experience and value for money.’
‘James Larmour – very client focused, receptive to feedback, addresses issues (if any) promptly, very responsive and can offer out-of-ordinary solutions.’
Key clients
Amber Infrastructure/International Public Partnerships
Dalmore Capital
Equitix
Engie
Transmission Investment
National Exhibition Centre Limited
Connected Kerb Limited
Work highlights
- Advised four PFI SPVs owned by International Public Partnerships Limited on the refinancing of four PFI projects; Blackburn BSF (Phase 1), Blackburn BSF (Phase 2), Durham BSF and Ealing BSF.
- Advising Engie Services on the FM Contracts in respect of phases 1 and 2 of the Rochdale BSF project, which have been re-let following the collapse of Carillion.
- Advised National Exhibition Centre on a 25-year contract with Centrica for the provision of onsite generation facilities (combined heat & power, and gas power generated units) and two associated leases.
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
Andrew Whitehead leads the energy practice at Shakespeare Martineau LLP, which focuses on renewable mandates, particularly solar and battery projects, and gas and electricity matters. The group counts the National Grid, Grain LNG and Last Mile Infrastructure Group among its clients. Whitehead has 'great insider industry knowledge' along with Andrew Adams and Peter Dilks, who are recommended for their expertise in dispute resolution and real estate matters, respectively. The team bolstered its bench strength in energy construction with the arrival of Ian Griffiths in late 2019 from an in-house position at Horizon Nuclear Power.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Andrew Whitehead – great insider industry knowledge.’
‘The practice were able to draw on highly qualified resources to meet our needs in a most pragmatic and cost-effective way.’
Key clients
National Grid
UK Battery Industrialisation Centre
Grain LNG
Cadent Gas
Npower
Last Mile Infrastructure Group (formerly Energetics)
Statera Energy
Certas Energy UK
British Independent Utilities
Work highlights
- Supporting the National Grid on developing and drafting the contractual arrangements between the National Grid and its European counterpart, Elia Group for a new interconnector between UK and Belgium, the Nemo Link.
- Advising Grain LNG on regulatory matters following its launch of the open season process to invite global gas companies to submit tenders to secure long-term contracts for increased capacity.
- Advising Saltholme North Ltd and Saltholme South Ltd on the construction of two 50MW gas peaking reserve power plants connecting into the high pressure gas mains.
HCR Hewitsons
Harrison Clark Rickerbys' team, which is led by Harriet Murray Jones in the Wye Valley office, focuses primarily on the renewable energy sector, advising on a range of issues encompassing corporate structuring and finance work, EPC and operations and maintenance issues and decommissioning, real estate and construction projects. On the contentious side, Hefin Archer Williams and Andrew James in Worcester are key names to note.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers: