Winston & Strawn LLP‘s energy and infrastructure practice has a robust offering which covers the acquisition and disposition of single and portfolio assets, transaction structuring, and joint development, as well as power purchase agreements, sales of renewable energy certificates, and joint bidding. The team regularly advises developers, power producers, financial investors, and energy and infrastructure funds on high-value and high-profile transactions which continue to attract clients to its roster. Co-chairing the department are Houston-based Mike Blankenship and Mike Pikiel, who is based in New York. They are supported by New York’s Jonathan Birenbaum who stands out for his ’excellent pulse on the sector.’ He concentrates on acquisitions and dispositions, financing transactions, and M&A. Other key practitioners in the team include New York-based Jason Lewis and Washington DC’s Tom Millar.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Winston & Strawn never wavers.'
- 'Very good expertise in energy contracts.'
- 'The working relationship is exceptionally professional.'
- 'Jason Lewis's work product is meticulous and dependable.'
- 'Jonathan Birenbaum's team is extremely well integrated. His transactional team and specialist colleagues work seamlessly together behind the scenes to provide cohesive client deliverables in an efficient manner.'
- 'Jonathan Birenbaum has an excellent pulse on the sector and an extensive network. He excels at reading his client, connecting people to each other, and connecting to people on a personal level, a skill that serves him well when it comes to handling awkward situations tactfully.'
- 'Jonathan Birenbaum's experience, intellect, and personable demeanor are highly recommended for clients who are serious about closing deals efficiently.'
Key clients
- Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP
- Capital Power Corporation
- Enfinity Global Inc.
- Hecate Energy LLC
- John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)
- Manulife Investment Management Private Markets (US) LLC
- MJE-Loop Capital Partners
- ProEnergy Holding Company
Work highlights
- Represented Capital Power in connection with its US$1.1B acquisition of the 1,062 MW La Paloma natural gas-fired generation facility in Kern County, California, and together with an affiliate of a fund managed by BlackRock’s Diversified Infrastructure business, of the 1,092 MW Harquahala natural gas-fired generation facility in Maricopa County, Arizona from CSG Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corporation.
- Represented Basalt Infrastructure Partners in connection with the sale of a 35-project portfolio (Project Hyperion) of solar projects totaling approximately 121 MWdc to Altus Power Inc.
- Represented ProEnergy Holding Company, Inc. in the sale of the cCompany to Energy Credit Partners at an enterprise value of US$1.2B.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Mike Blankenship; Mike Pikiel
Other key lawyers
Jonathan Birenbaum; Jason Lewis; Tom Millar