
Clifford Chance has been involved in some of the largest transactions in the German energy market in recent years, including a large green hydrogen project related to hydrogen storage. Mathias Elspaß is at the helm, and is skilled in mandates at the intersection of energy and environmental law. The group is equally adept in regulatory matters, particularly in the form of Björn Heinlein, who is highlighted by clients for regulatory matters, such as advice on tenders, and in particular matters in the natural gas sector. Other mainstays of the group’s mandates are infrastructure projects such as wind farms as well as power and gas plants due to its clients’ increasing willingness to invest in power and gas infrastructure in Germany. The team is also regularly instructed by energy suppliers and grid operators in relation to approval procedures for a range of asset classes within energy, notably TSOs (transmission system operators) in the scope of M&A transactions and financings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Björn Heinlein deserves to be mentioned for his exceptional expertise in regulatory matters, in particular in the natural gas sector.'
- 'Very good expertise in energy regulation.'
- 'Deep market knowledge.'
- 'Björn Heinlein really knows renewable energy.'
Key clients
- Ärztliche Beteiligungsgesellschaft ("AEBG") EnBW Enertrag Gen2Energy German LNG Grenergy Renovables HH2E IONITY Iqony Kansai Electric Power MB Energy Holding (fka Mabanaft) Nofar Energy Reventus Power SunCo Capital Vattenfall VINCI Xlinks Germany
Work highlights
Advising a consortium of international Financial Investors on the recently initiated acquisition process related to TenneT Germany.
Advised Kansai Electric Power on the acquisition and financing of a 49% stake in the Windanker offshore wind farm project in the Baltic Sea. The seller is the Spanish Iberdrola Group.
Advising MB Energy (fka Mabanft) on the planning and development of a large-scale plant for the import and storage of green ammonia in the port of Hamburg.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head
Mathias Elspaß
Other key lawyers
Björn Heinlein; Anselm Raddatz
