Gowling WLG‘s real estate team advises throughout the lifecycle of numerous large projects, and the team has particular strength in advising on large mixed-use, retail, industrial, and regeneration development schemes. Alongside this, the group advises clients on energy and utility sector real estate matters, as well as large investment and asset management matters. Christopher Hunt leads the real estate team, with experienced support from John Burns and Richard Bate, who is a specialist in residential developments. Matthew Walker provides a variety of experience with a focus on the industrial and logistics sector, while Helen Emmerson leads the firm’s energy and utility sector offering. Key support in this area is provided by Arminder Dhillon and James Eddowes.
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Phone
+44 (0)121 393 0223
Email
Profile

Profile

Work Department
Energy; Real Estate; Asset Management; Retail
Position

Partner

Career

"I identify issues early and propose resolutions that strike an equitable balance between the various stakeholders, avoiding unnecessary and costly negotiation."

Helen Emmerson is a partner specialising in helping her clients develop, fund and invest in energy generation facilities, crossing a range of technologies. Her focus is on the acquisition of the necessary land rights and grid connection requirements, as swiftly and efficiently as possible, whilst always being mindful of the funding and investment perspective which sits alongside these developments, together with the regulatory challenges of the sector.

Helen has worked with many of her clients to develop streamlined precedents and working methodologies, providing a robust platform for taking their business forwards.

In addition, Helen supports some of our key corporate occupier and retail clients, on the acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold properties. Helen's understanding of the key business drivers for both landlords and tenants, together with her experience in a wide range of asset management work, means she understands how to maximise the value of real estate holdings. Helen also has considerable experience in managing a number of fast paced acquisition and disposal programmes.

Helen is known for identifying issues early and proposes resolutions that strike an equitable balance between the various stakeholders, avoiding unnecessary and costly negotiation. She is known for her sensible approach and client friendly manner.
Clients
Energy
Lightsource Renewable Energy, Partnerships for Renewables, Octopus Investments, Primrose Solar, Infinis and UK Power Networks.
Retail and Corporate Occupier
Nike, B & Q and Midcounties Co-op. Qinetiq and GKN.
Experience
Advising on the property aspects of E.ON's proposed Isle of Grain development of a 1200MW power station, together with the related gas and heat pipe easements and leases to allow the import of gas and the supply of heat and chill to the Grain LNG facility. This was a major piece of infrastructure development, requiring numerous complex legal arrangements to be put in place to ensure the successful operation of the project.

Working with a major Energy-from-Waste developer on the negotiation of documentation to secure land rights to permit the development of a commercial waste to energy project, including a heat supply network.

Supporting Partnerships for Renewables on the creation and negotiation of standard property documentation for the creation of a large portfolio of onshore wind projects on public sector land, together with the subsequent negotiation of that documentation across a wide range of sites, together with the associated title due diligence.

Advising on and negotiating options and leases for the development of a number of UK onshore renewable energy plants, including the drafting and negotiation of revenue sharing arrangements based on income from energy (and associated benefits).

Helping an offshore windfarm developer with ownership issues for land surrounding the foreshore, together with Crown Estate owned portions of land arising from the proposed connection arrangements for the project.

Advising a major landfill gas operator on leases of compounds and landfill gas collection networks across its extensive portfolio, including revenue sharing arrangements linked to electricity generation and/or injection of gas into the national grid

Acting on the acquisition of flagship retail premises for Nike to secure key presence for the London 2012 Olympics, together with dealing with the related branding and marketing issues presented by the unique challenge of the Olympics.

Advising on numerous leasehold acquisitions, at speed, for a major retai...

Languages
English

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team provides a focused approach for clients based on identifying and resolving the legal issues that lead to commercial value. The interface with the clients is always well managed, keeps things clear and simple, and is always solution-oriented. They deal with the technical legal stuff behind the scenes. They have a sufficient team size to jump on transactions and manage tight timescales.’

    ‘James Eddowes - Associate - Super organised and provides great clarity, simplifies and commercialises what can be complex legal points. Easy to work with and also fully solution-oriented.’

    'The team works very well together bringing different levels of capability experience and costs into a conjoined approach.'

    'See it as their responsibility to get a deal done, collaborative with client, practical in advice, show commercial acumen.'

Work highlights

Advised Vistry Homes on a £580m Build-to-Rent with Regis and Blackstone.
Advised Trive Capital on the £287m acquisition and private take of Ten Entertainment Group.
Advised Rigby Group Plc on the acquisition and development of the West Midlands Gigafactory at Coventry Airport.