Browne Jacobson LLP offers ‘a highly pragmatic, commercial approach’ and a full-service practice in the energy and infrastructure sector, working for a broad array of stakeholders in numerous sub-sectors, notably including the alternative energy space. Certain key areas for the firm include power generation, renewables, and nuclear, to name a few. The ‘exceptional’ Paul Hill helms the practice, with vast experience of numerous areas including project finance, and greenfield and brownfield projects. Zoe Stollard joined the firm from Clarke Willmott LLP in March 2022, bringing with her significant expertise in the field of nuclear and renewable energy, and with a broader focus on non-contentious work. Nick Smee further strengthens the team, with particular experience of the automotive, aerospace and manufacturing arenas.
Energy, project finance and PFI in West Midlands
Browne Jacobson LLP
Practice head(s):
Paul Hill
Other key lawyers:
Zoe Stollard; Nick Smee
Testimonials
‘Browne Jacobson is a strong practice with a highly pragmatic, commercial approach.’
‘Technically strong.’
‘Paul Hill is an exceptional banking lawyer who will work around the clock to deliver for his clients and does so with a high degree of professionalism.’
‘They provided innovative fixed-price billing based on discounted rates, which was helpful for a start-up company.’
‘I find them a diverse team with many interesting skill sets and sector interests, from IP through to nuclear energy and renewables.’
‘Paul Hill has been a hands-on and proactive client partner.’
‘Nick Smee was a knowledgeable IP partner overseeing the project.’
Key clients
Covanta
Suez SA
R Capital Partners
Welsh European Funding Office
Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Clean Power Hydrogen
Aceleron Energy
H2Go
PBE Group
hyperTunnel
British Gas
Acceleron
Onto Holdings
Ingersol Rand
Ferguson Advanced Composite
Work highlights
- Advised Suez and its shareholders GIP, Meridiam and CDG, on the agreement to acquire its former UK management business – Suez R&R UK – from French-headquartered business Veolia for an enterprise value of £2bn.
- Advised the Welsh European Funding Office on a tidal energy infrastructure project off the coast of Wales. This is designed to power more than 180,000 homes once fully operational and will be an infrastructure hub.
- Advised Rcapital Partners on the distressed acquisition of (and provision of finance to) Avonside Energy, a Leicestershire-headquartered Solar PV service provider. The deal will result in the continued operation of a national renewable energy-linked company, facilitating the UK’s strategy to decarbonise by 2050.
Gowling WLG
A team that is ‘supportive of client needs’, Gowling WLG routinely handles the financing, refinancing, development and expansion of projects situated in the infrastructure and energy markets. Recent areas of work for the team include battery storage, pumped storage, solar and hydrogen-related matters. The ‘unflappable’ practice co-head Stephen Kenny has notable expertise regarding UK government projects, often handling infrastructure and asset matters; Andrew Newberry jointly leads the team and is particularly experienced in energy and utility projects. Gus Wood bolsters the practice with his specialism in UK energy advice, while Elizabeth Williams focuses on defence and security work. Dominic Richardson leads on large-scale Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transactions in the infrastructure sector, whilst James Stanier is well-versed in energy sector legislation, industry codes and incentive scheme matters. Imran Mufti joined from Hogan Lovells International LLP in July 2022.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Kenny; Andrew Newberry
Other key lawyers:
Gus Wood; Paul Green; Elizabeth Williams; James Stanier; Dominic Richardson; Imran Mufti
Testimonials
‘Calmness, ability to manage billing and legal costs prudently and carefully, supportive of the client’s needs.’
‘Stephen Kenny is very easy to work with, totally unflappable and a safe and steady pair of hands. Always amenable and calm and collected.’
‘Dominic Richardson and the team are really knowledgeable about PFI agreements.’
‘They have worked really well with our internal legal and project teams.’
‘We feel totally confident that we can rely on their legal and strategic advice.’
‘Dominic Richardson has led the team and been very approachable and accessible.’
Key clients
Ministry of Defence
National Highways
AIB Group PLC
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Greenage Power Limited
Brockwell Energy Limited
Eelpower
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group (including Magnox, Nuclear Waste Services, Nuclear Transport Solutions…)
UK Health Security Agency
Department of Health and Social Care
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Exagen Group Limited
HydrogenOne Capital Growth plc
InfraCo Africa
Island Green Power
Magnum Utilities Ltd
Pacific Green Energy Storage
Alfanar Company
UK Power Networks Services Limited
The Organising Committee for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
Work highlights
- Advised National Highways on one of its flagship projects, the procurement of the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge) road/tunnel project. The project will involve a 1.8 mile (2.7 km) tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
- Advised the shareholders of FI1 Limited on the sale of their stake in the project companies that will construct and operate the first ever UK-Germany Transmission Link – the NeuConnect Interconnector Project (NeuConnect) – to TEPCO Power Grid (TEPCO PG).
- Advised the Ministry of Defence on its 11-year £695m investment to provide in-service support to the RAF’s fleet of Hawk T2 training aircraft and the Hawk T1 jets flown by the Red Arrows.
Freeths LLP
The ‘top-quality’ team at Freeths LLP advises on infrastructure funds, secondary market transactions and asset management, particularly in relation to Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and PPP transactions. The firm also has a dedicated waste and sustainability practice, often handling matters involving clean and smart energy technologies. Kirstin Roberts leads the waste and sustainability team, with notable experience of a range of areas that includes waste re-use, reduction and recycling. The ‘exceptional’ practice head James Larmour is experienced in infrastructure and project finance transactions, notably including PFI secondary market transactions, while ‘dedicated’ associate Reece Ballett strengthens the firm’s waste and sustainability practice, handling significant matters in this area.
Practice head(s):
James Larmour; Kirstin Roberts
Other key lawyers:
Reece Ballett
Testimonials
‘The advice provided was quick, creative and practical. This was needed in respect of a project with a very demanding timeframe and changing legislative requirements.’
‘Reece Ballett was extremely dedicated and committed to achieving our aims. Kirstin Roberts also provides sound advice to make sure that the project remained on track.’
‘What really sets Freeths apart from their competitors is their communication, which in my experience is the best in the industry. I have yet to work with another law firm whose partners make themselves so readily available and so easily contactable. I would not hesitate to use Freeths again.’
‘They deliver top-quality work, are capable of working to strict deadlines, and are good at managing difficult problems and people on the other side of the table. Partner James Larmour in particular stands out. James is extremely personable and a strong communicator.’
‘Freeths Projects and Infrastructure team offers a partner led and delivered service. Clients will secure the full benefit of the team’s experience, which is not always be the case with larger practices. The team is focused on delivery and achieving results for clients, with the minimum of “drama”.’
‘James Larmour is exceptional and fully deserves his recognition as a leading individual in PFI/PPP matters. His clients can have absolute confidence that he will get the job done for them and will have a proactive and sensible solution where any transactional challenges arise.’
‘James Larmour operates in a collaborative, constructive and friendly manner. I have rarely met another lawyer who is easier to get on with and more focused on client delivery.’
‘At the forefront of developments and good market knowledge.’
Key clients
Aldi Stores Limited
Amber Infrastructure
Biodiversify Ltd
Bio Dynamic Limited
Calisen
Centrica plc
CL:AIRE
Dalmore Capital
Daedalus Development Company Limited
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Equans
Equitix
Enovert Limited
FCC Environment
Greenshanks Limited
Hull Esteem Consortium LEP Limited
International Public Partnerships
Johnson Aggregates Limited
LNT Carehomes Limited
Nova Pangea Limited
Oasthouse Ventures
P&H
Plymouth Energy Community and Plymouth Council
Rochford District Council
SmartParc
Staffordshire County Council
Tarmac
Whites Generation Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Equitix on the refinancing of the Knowsley and Southampton Street Lighting PFI projects with a combined value in excess of £55m financed by Aviva.
- Acting in the new practice area of Natural Capital, advising property developers acquiring Bio Diversity Net Gain credits and Nutrient Credits and advising the creators of such credits and brokers of such credits. E.g. Greenshanks, Biodiversify and LNT.
- Acting for Aldi Stores Limited in connection with its joining a number of reuse and recycling schemes, including that of Podback.
Pinsent Masons LLP
A team commended for its ‘clarity of advice’, Pinsent Masons LLP addresses issues related to public sector investment, operating in decarbonisation and clean energy projects; for example, the firm is involved in the UK’s offshore windfarm projects. Nigel Blundell jointly leads the practice with Kultar Khangura, the former working on a variety of transactions related to building and infrastructure schemes and investment funds, as well as routinely handling transport matters. The ‘excellent’ Chris Haines handles decentralised energy and district heating matters, whilst Gemma Glasspole adds further value to the team with expertise in advising public authorities on the development and implementation of PPP projects.
Practice head(s):
Nigel Blundell; Kultar Khangura
Other key lawyers:
Gemma Glasspole; Chris Haines
Testimonials
‘The team have approached matters in a reasoned and practical manner, providing clarity of advice, and have been supportive to the council in the delivery of this project.’
‘Chris Haines has been an excellent person to work with throughout the development of this project.’
‘Chris offers a clear legal perspective and is very personable in his approach. He is a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Verkor SA
Volker Rail
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Cardiff Capital Region
FCC Environment
Viridor Limited
Ørsted
Hitachi Zosen Inova A E
Amber Infrastructure
Cory Riverside Limited
Enfinium Limited
Westminster City Council
Morgan Sindall
Work highlights
- Advising Verkor, a manufacturer of EV batteries in France and southern Europe, on its strategy to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and stationary storage in Europe, its project finance arrangements to support the establishment of a test facility in Grenoble and raising funds for the development of a Dunkirk GigaFactory.
- Advising Cardiff Capital Region on the purchase of a 489-acre decommissioned coal-fired power station at Aberthaw from site owners, RWE, located on the coast near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. The overall proposition is to remediate, redevelop and reposition the site as an exemplar £1bn+ green energy production park in the region.
- Advising the Durham County Council on the Seaham Garden Village Low-Carbon Minewater Heat Network which aims to deliver a low-carbon district heating network to serve the Seaham Garden Village Development in Durham.
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
Shakespeare Martineau LLP regularly handles matters for large energy and water companies, as well as advising on sub-sea interconnectors and distribution networks, amongst others. The practice, which provides ‘robust advice’, is headed by Andrew Whitehead, who specialises in energy regulation and contracts, often working with utility and developer clients.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Whitehead
Testimonials
‘The team really get to know your business so provide a well-rounded view and advice as to what is important to your business, whilst still leaving total autonomy to us, the client.’
‘The advice and guidance we receive is always robust, yet on a level that appreciates our existing knowledge.’
Key clients
National Grid Electricity Transmission / National Grid Electricity System Operator
Grain LNG
Cadent Gas
Npower (part of E.ON)
Last Mile Infrastructure Group (formerly Energetics)
Statera Energy
National Gas Transmission
Innogy e-Mobility
Severn Trent Green Power
Shell Energy Retail
Highway Stops Retail
Sustainable Energy First
Business Power & Gas
BritNed Development
Marble Power
FPC Electric Land
Electricity North West Limited
National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly Western Power Distribution)
Octopus Energy
Certas Energy
Coventry and Solihull Waste
South Staffordshire Water
Anglian Water
SUNEL UK
Whitetower Energy
rePLANET
Ripple Energy
Birmingham University
FW Thorpe Plc
Macquarie Bank
Utilita Group
Bryt Energy
FPC Electric Land Ltd
Packaged Energy Solutions Limited
Power Data Associates
Work highlights
- Advised the National Grid on the development of the new ‘demand flexibility service’ enabling households to be paid to reduce consumption in early evening periods, in parallel with advising on new contracts with coal power station operators to keep retiring coal units available to run if needed.
- Advised the Battery Storage Scheme developer on one of the largest battery storage developments in the UK to date.
- Advised one of the applicants on the High Court application and landmark joint administrators of Iresa judgement in 2022 which settled a key aspect of the process dealing with failed energy suppliers.
Bevan Brittan LLP
Bevan Brittan LLP‘s practice acts for both public and private sector clients, including project developers and sub-contractors, and work ranges from social infrastructure to waste. Kirtpal Kaur Aujla advises on PPP and PFI projects, with a focus on the education, leisure and health and social care sectors. Sarah Greenhalgh is experienced in corporate governance for registered providers of social housing and the team was bolstered in January 2022, with the arrival of associate Carrie Davies from Gowling WLG.
Practice head(s):
Nadeem Arshad (Bristol)
Other key lawyers:
Kirtpal Kaur Aujla; William Cursham; Sarah Greenhalgh; Carrie Davies
Key clients
Viridor
Equans
Welsh Government, Welsh Local Authorities and Welsh Further Education Institutions
Birmingham City Council
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Legal and General
Bank of Ireland
JFS School
Sheffield City Council
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS University NHS Trust
A London Borough Council
West Berkshire Council
Work highlights
- Advising Birmingham City Council on its £500 m new waste PPP project and delivery of its future waste management strategy.
- Advising Nottingham City Council on its Street Lighting PFI – LED Conversion Project.
- Acting for Boom Power Limited on the property aspects of its proposed 400-megawatt solar farm.