Clifford Chance has a strong practice in financing transactions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and auction processes for minority stakeholders. The team is led by Umberto Penco Salvi, who advises on transactions related to waste-to-energy, solar, biogas, PV plants, and biomethane projects, and he is ably supported by Michele Bernardi, who has experience in battery energy storage developments. Recently promoted Chiara Commis focuses on automotive batteries and gas and power supply matters. Additionally, Vittorio Novelli is recommended for his expertise in energy transactions, the renegotiation of energy service agreements, investments, and power purchase agreements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Clifford Chance team is truly remarkable and stands out for its unique combination of technical excellence and human qualities. What distinguishes the practice is not only its outstanding legal expertise and deep sensitivity to complex legal issues, but also its pragmatic approach, ensuring that advice is both sophisticated and actionable.'
- ‘The entire team is exceptionally competent and effective, consistently collaborating with clients’ internal structures in a timely manner and with great success. They are strongly results-oriented and highly reliable in meeting deadlines, which makes working with them both seamless and rewarding.'
- ‘Clifford Chance’s Energy team is distinguished by its global reach, deep sector expertise, and strong focus on the energy transition. Clients benefit from integrated legal support across renewables, oil & gas, hydrogen, and infrastructure, with a commercial approach that goes beyond legal advice. Compared to other firms, Clifford Chance stands out for its ability to deliver seamless, multi-jurisdictional service and thought leadership in emerging energy markets. This makes it a trusted partner for clients navigating the future of energy.’
- ‘The Partner Umberto Penco Salvi stands out for his strategic mindset, deep sector knowledge, and ability to manage complex cross-border transactions with clarity and precision. It is really appreciated that he has a business-oriented approach, negotiation skills in international contexts, and his talent for translating complex financial structures into effective legal solutions. The Senior Associate Vittorio Novelli brings rigour, reliability, and strong execution capabilities.'
- ‘Very well prepared team, reachable and available to the customer's needs.’
- ‘I would like to give special credit to the senior associate Michele Bernardi. Outstanding lawyer who really understands quickly how the business moves and reacts accordingly with the utmost level of competence.’
- ‘The professionals I worked with truly stand out for their exceptional availability and responsiveness. They are consistently present, approachable, and willing to provide guidance at every stage. Beyond this, their technical competence is coupled with remarkable coordination skills, ensuring that complex matters are handled seamlessly and with great efficiency.'
Key clients
- Edison
- Edison Next
- Enel
- Terna
- Eni
- Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A.
- Macquarie Asset Management’s Green Investment Group
- F2i
- Eiffel Investment Group
- EQT Infrastructure
- Encavis
- Vesper
- Zelestra
- SouthWestern Power Group
Work highlights
Assisted Saipem with its merger with Subsea7, aimed at creating a global leader in energy services.
Assisted a pool of lenders with the project financing for the construction of the Santa Palomba waste-to-energy plant in Rome, worth more than EUR1bn.
Advised Vesper Infrastructure on the acquisition of Bio Hold S.r.l. a key biomethane platform in Italy.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Umberto Penco Salvi
Other key lawyers
Chiara Commis; Michele Bernardi; Vittorio Novelli