Utilities and Energy law firm

Experts and specialists in utilities and energy law

Blake Morgan’s Utilities and Energy lawyers advise a wide range of clients in these highly regulated industries. We support private sector companies, joint venture vehicles, funders or landowners, to maintain their reputation and further their commercial objectives.

The Utilities and Energy specialists are in at the start of significant regeneration projects, support on land, equipment, construction, sub-contracting, financing and commercial arrangements; procurement and state aid; acquisitions, joint ventures and outsourcings; and environmental and regulatory concerns as well as business as normal matters such as contracts, employment, pensions, IT/IP ownership and management and dispute resolution.

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Main Areas Of Practice


Blake Morgan's utilities and energy lawyers help clients navigate legal and regulatory requirements to achieve their business objectives whilst maintaining brand value.

Organisational structure

Structural reorganisation can be key to gaining efficiencies, especially if you are looking to expand or enter a new market. Our utilities and energy lawyers advise on the most effective way to structure organisations.

Statutory obligations

Our utilities and energy lawyers have vast experience within this area of law and can advise on statutory obligations. This includes historic private law acts imposing obligations prior to the Water Industry Act 1991.

Acquisition of buildings near rivers

We advise firms purchasing buildings bordering rivers, such as the Thames. This includes energy saving schemes, Landlord and Tenant fit out with associated rental allowances, flexible working capabilities, community access arrangements and revised basement pumps to alleviate flooding.

Commercial property advice

Our property experts advise on lease renewals; access rights; solar panel leases; dilapidations; acquisitions and disposals; advice on deed of easements (including electricity easements); license to assign; development works; license renewals for fishing rights; access agreements; and land investigations.

IP, data protection & tech

We have advised an energy provider on a new online app and service. Brought into the project early, we were able to influence design to incorporate data protection compliance and policies into the app to improve user experience, as well as drafting privacy notices. We identified issues with data sharing that were readily adjusted at the early stage and avoid more complex concerns.

Regulatory advice

As a utilities and energy law firm, we support on regulatory matters, such as advising on dealings with Ofwat and Ofgem who has enhanced oversight and enforcement powers. Our team have expertise in environmental law and industry regulations for the utilities and energy sectors.

Procurement

We advised on procurement in a wide range of projects, including facilities management services, energy procurement and discrete project procurement. We help in the production, negotiation and development of agreements in accordance with legislative requirements.

Acquisitions & divestitures

We have significant experience in auction and negotiated sales for both buyers and sellers, and have teams well versed in both buyer and seller due diligence. A significant number of our utilities and energy lawyers regularly work on cross-border and international transactions, and we are therefore well-suited to handling acquisitions and divestitures in nearly any jurisdiction, in conjunction with local counsel as needed.

Financing and development

Our Project Development and Finance team includes lawyers with extensive experience of working with funders, developers, utilities, operators and other stakeholders in the relevant industries and are supported by lawyers from our highly-rated planning and construction practice group.

Refinancing

We have experience in advising funders on refinancing of renewables projects, for example, advising a major bank on review of project document structure and terms on refinancing portfolios of solar panel farms.

Feed-in Tariffs and licensing

The team have advised a number of energy providers in relation to Electricity Act licences and negotiating agreements with National Grid. We have also advised on feed-in tariffs (FITs) as part of energy projects and project due diligence.

Dispute resolution

Our dispute resolution team includes lawyers who are experienced in conducting proceedings in the London Commercial Court, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the International Chamber of Commerce, among other forums. Our lawyers have particular experience in litigating disputes in the energy sector.

Our Clients


Blake Morgan is a Utilities and Energy law firm, with experts in these areas of law advising a number of clients such as major water companies, domestic energy suppliers and working on huge renewable energy infrastructure projects.

Highlights


We are sole legal advisor for a major water company, providing regular support in the production, negotiation and development of agreements in accordance with legislative requirements, and providing legal advice to the Finance and Regulations Director and members of the management and procurement teams.


We are the primary legal advisor to a domestic energy supplier, providing regular support to the in-house lawyer and members of the senior management team on a wide range of corporate and commercial issues, including corporate acquisitions and restructuring; commercial support including high value IT service contracts; network supply arrangements; infrastructure procurements for electricity and gas; consumer terms and conditions; advertising & marketing, data management including data protection; and employment advice to the internal HR function.


Blake Morgan is involved in major renewable energy infrastructure projects, such as advising Tidal Lagoon Power on land ownership and property matters related to their planned £1.3BN pathfinder Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project. Acting for Tidal Lagoon Power in relation to the negotiation of option agreements with private and public sector landowners for the grant of leases, licences and easements required for the six lagoon projects proposed for the UK. The negotiation of this documentation required an in depth knowledge of the DCO process and conditions so that the terms of the option agreements were aligned with the same. The documentation also included extensive decommissioning provisions and calculation of lease rents by reference to revenue.


Our Experts


Penny
Rinta-Suksi
Partner

Oxford

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Edward
McMullen
Partner

Southampton

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Alexander
Shirtcliff
Partner

London

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Kath
Shimmin
Chair

Southampton

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Zoe
Wright
Partner

Reading

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Awards, Accolades and Accreditations


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