Ballard Spahr LLP

Business and Transactions

Partner

Dirk Michels is one of the leading energy technology and renewable energy attorneys in California. He represents energy technology and renewable energy companies, as well as investors, developers, lenders, and equipment vendors, in developing and financing solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, transmission, storage, smart grid, and other energy projects in M&A, debt, PACE, equity, and tax equity financings, joint ventures, and other strategic alliances within the United States and abroad.

During a 20-year career practicing law in California and Germany, he has advised publicly traded and privately held clients in venture funding, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and project financing transactions worth billions of dollars. A recognized leader in the domestic distributed solar energy industry, Dirk has been at the forefront of representing solar, wind, and energy storage projects involving collaboration between U.S., German, and Canadian companies.

Admissions: California, Germany

French and German

Co-Chair, National Renewable Energy Lab's Solar Access to Public Capital Committee's Contract Standardization Subcommittee

General Counsel, Solar Energy Finance Association

American Bar Association, International Section

Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Community

German-American Business Association

Founding board member, German-American Business Association of California

University of San Diego School of Law (LL.M. 1996)

University of Hamburg School of Law (J.D. 1988)

University of Hamburg (B.S. 1986)