Gowling WLG

Energy; Corporate, M&A & Capital Markets; Projects; Real Estate; Energy; Private Equity; LLPs & Partnerships; United States

Partner

"I focus on keeping things simple and getting the job done."

Gareth Baker has been helping clients invest in the energy sector for nearly a decade.

Whether it's M&A overseas, investing in new technologies in the UK or undertaking cross-border collaborations, Gareth helps clients to navigate a path through the structural, regulatory and commercial challenges of working in the energy sector. Gareth immerses himself in projects at all levels and enjoys advising clients at every part of the value chain to unlock issues, stay on timetable and maximise value.

The energy sector presents constant challenges and changes. Gareth brings core M&A and project finance experience to advising developers so that the projects are ready for the later stages of investment. He enjoys learning about the emerging technologies in one sub-sector and helping clients by applying lessons learned from other sub-sectors.

Recent examples of experience include working with Primrose on the roll-out of solar developments across the UK.

Experience Oil & Gas/biofuels/chemicals Helping BP to take overall control of the Nerefco refinery in the Netherlands through a 1 billion euro acquisition of Chevron's Benelux refining and renewables assets and agreeing a long-term offtake supply arrangement with Chevron, linked to the divestment of Chevron's Benelux marketing assets Advising BP in relation to a US$400 million biofuels investment joint venture with Associated British Foods and DuPont to form Vivergo Fuels to construct a new bioethanol plant built at Saltend, Hull Supporting BP in relation to its biofuels innovation programmes through advising on a 50/50 UK consortium with DuPont to build a butanol facility in the UK, as a forerunner to a US butanol commercialisation joint venture (on which he also advised) Nuclear Helping AMEC in relation to the largest European procurement programme at the time, by advising in relation to its consortium arrangements with URS Washington Division and Areva to decommission the Sellafield nuclear facility Advising AMEC, Atkins and Rolls Royce in relation to consortium arrangements bidding to decommissioning the Magnox reactors as well as on the terms of the bid Solar Helping Primrose Solar to grow from 0 to more than 100 MWs of generating capacity in under a year by advising on, amongst other transactions, the acquisition of solar farms will add 38 MW to the grid, enough to supply around 11,500 homes and save up to 16,400 tonnes of CO2 annually Advising a group of investors on the disposal of two operational solar parks to John Laing plc for £36m, realising approximately £13.5m for our clients Onshore wind Advising Infinis, the largest independent renewable energy generator in the UK in relation to various matters, including a £75 million project finance facility with National Australia Bank to construct and operate five onshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 52.5 megawatts Peaking power Helping to "keep the lights on" by advising Carron Energy, part of Welsh Power Group, on its disposal of three power response businesses to Alkane Energy PLC for £12M

English, German