Leveraging its roots in a strong PFI/PPP projects practice, Walker Morris LLP has built a dedicated energy and projects team in the Yorkshire market, offering a broad, full-service practice spanning the entire lifecycle of major infrastructure and energy projects. The group demonstrates a strong focus on projects supporting decarbonisation and low-carbon energy generation. Practice heads Ben Sheppard, Tim Jackson-Smith, Laura Gordon, and Shane Toal provide key leadership to the team. Sheppard is particularly noted for his expertise in energy-from-waste and biomethane projects. Gordon further strengthened the team, having recently joined from DLA Piper in January 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The team at Walker Morris has a very good understanding of our needs.
- Tim Jackson-Smith (corporate partner) led the transaction for us, and he was very commercially aware and reacted quickly. Tim was very easy to work with and also made the transaction progress smoothly. Will Oakes (corporate associate) managed the due diligence process and had a great handle on the details across all disciplines. Shane Toal (real estate partner) and Aleksandra Pitula (real estate associate) provided us with pragmatic advice on some challenging property issues.
- The WM team is very responsive, adaptable, and proactive. There was very good depth and experience across the team, with other specialists involved as required at the appropriate time. The right level of resources was put on each part of the project, with little in the way of overlap or duplication, but with the partner maintaining a very good level of oversight and control.
- Tim Jackson-Smith was outstanding from us developing the concept through to securing an equity investment.
Key clients
- National Grid
- FCC Environment
- British Steel
- Drax Group
- SmartestEnergy
- Kier Group
- Octopus
- DZ BANK
- Hargreaves
- Harworth Group plc
- Homes England
- Kanadevia Inova
- MVV Environment
- Net Zero Marine
- Endolys
- Seras
- Trina Solar
- Grissan Renewable Energy
Work highlights
Advised Endolys on a deal to finance and develop a £120 million large-scale 'first in kind' pyrolysis oil production facility at the former Cleveland Bridge site on Teesside.
Advised MVV Environment on a 50MWe merchant energy-from-waste, combined heat and power (CHP) project at Medworth involving an EPC contract with Kanadevia Inova.
Advised METLEN on a deal with Schroders Greencoat to monetise a multi-site portfolio of solar power projects in the UK.
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.
Laura Gordon
Practice head
Ben Sheppard; Tim Jackson-Smith; Shane Toal; Laura Gordon
Other key lawyers
Lee Gordon; Sophie Linnell; Helen Robinson; Jake Smith