Energy Transition
Sustainable Future
The energy transition is one of the greatest industrial challenges of the 21st century.
In order to achieve net-zero carbon targets, massive structural changes will be needed across the global energy value chain.
The world’s energy transition is vital for achieving ambitious climate change goals, but for it to be successful there will need to be considerable technological advancement, significant private and public sector investment, and the buy-in of the global population.
Freshfields can support you through your entire journey as you navigate these critical changes. We advise the world’s leading companies and investors on the key issues in their transition to a more sustainable future.
With a wealth of experience across sectors, practices and jurisdictions, we provide strategic legal advice to support clients through their most critical changes.
Helping them seize opportunities and manage risks as they transition to a more sustainable and profitable future, we handle everything from complex corporate transactions and multi-jurisdictional regulatory processes, to some of the highest-profile energy disputes in the world.
Exploring Energy Transition
Blogs
Transactions
The investment in renewable energy and emerging technologies will involve collaboration with joint venture partners, including financial sponsors, renewable operators, tech companies/founders and vehicle manufacturers. Our strengths across complex M&A, major projects and strategic joint ventures means we are well placed to advise on the unprecedented nature of the investment needed across multiple sectors.
Regulation
Our teams regularly run parallel multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance processes, with sector, merger control and, increasingly, foreign investment regulators, where co-ordination and efficiency are critical in ensuring joined-up messaging provides the best chance of efficient clearances. Our Antitrust, Competition and Trade group collaborate with agencies globally to shape law and policy (in respect of merger control and collaborations) which can help companies and organisations bring about more sustainable outcomes.
Litigation
Freshfields’ dispute resolution practice boasts in-depth experience in energy disputes, both in litigation and arbitration. We regularly advise on a wide range of disputes, from pricing, volumes, and claims of hardship and changed circumstances, to cost recovery and end-of-PSA issues, investment protection and jurisdictional disputes. Moreover, our teams have specialist knowledge of the rapidly emerging litigation trends and market practice in the areas of climate change litigation, investor activism, regulatory and shareholder disclosure obligations, along with softer law concepts of business and human rights.
Finance
The energy transition requires increased spending on infrastructure projects and supply chains across multiple regions to ensure carbon targets are met. Transforming the energy sector and boosting investment in efficient use of clean electricity are key pillars of sustainable development. From planning and structuring to procurement, construction, operation and decommissioning, we can help you navigate risks covering the whole lifecycle of your energy investments projects across the private and public sectors.
Sustainability
The operating environment for multinational companies is more complex than ever. Rising wealth inequality, the fallout from the pandemic, and climate change have put pressure on the relationship between business and society. By drawing on our experience across practices, sectors and jurisdictions, we provide strategic legal advice to support clients transition towards a more sustainable and profitable future. We help them seize the opportunities and manage the risks of their environmental, social and governance performance, handling everything from advanced due diligence around corporate transactions to some of the highest-profile climate change-related lawsuits in the world.
Experience
SSE Renewables, a leading developer, owner and operator of renewable energy, on an agreement with Pacifico Energy, one of Japan’s largest developers of renewable energy, to create a joint ownership company that will pursue offshore wind energy development projects in Japan
Li-Cycle on multiple transactions as they position their businesses around EV battery supply chains
Labora on its acquisition of Segen, the leading global wholesale distributor of solar PV, energy storage systems and electric vehicle charging components.
Volkswagen Group on its strategic partnership with 24M Technologies, Inc.
SSE on the sale of its 50% share in its energy-from-waste Multifuel Energy joint venture with Wheelabrator Technologies to First Sentier Investors (formerly First State) for £995m;
CPP Investments on its acquisition of a 75 per cent. stake in the Indian business of SB Energy from SoftBank.
SB Energy owns and operates some of the largest solar, wind and hybrid renewable power plants in India;
Eurus Energy, the leading Japan-based renewable energy investor and a joint venture of the Toyota Group; and the Tokyo Electric Power Company;
RWE AG in its transition to become a leading European electricity producer by means of renewable energy;
Our team
Graham Watson Partner
London
Vanessa Jakovich Partner
London
Erin Miller Rankin Partner
Dubai, Singapore
Olivier Rogivue Partner
Paris
Dr. Ralph Kogge Partner
Munich, Düsseldorf
Dr. Natascha Doll Partner
Hamburg, London
Philip Morgan Partner
Singapore
Nicholas Lingard Partner
Singapore, Tokyo
Gabriel Mpubani Partner
London
Richard Thexton Partner
London
Melissa Raciti-Knapp Partner
New York
Kyle Lakin Partner
New York
Matthew Bruce Partner
London
Jonathan Isted Partner
London
Jochen Ellrott Partner
Tokyo
Alon Gordon Partner
London
Mirko Masek Counsel
Hamburg, Düsseldorf
Katie Palms Counsel
London
Samira Afrasiabi Partner
London
Dr. Ulrich Scholz Partner
Düsseldorf
Enrique Dancausa Counsel
New York
Sylvia Noury KC Partner
London
Brock Dahl Partner, Head of U.S. Fintech
Washington, DC, Silicon Valley
Stephanie Brown Cripps Partner
New York
Dr. Juliane Hilf Partner
Düsseldorf