Team size: Ten

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

REN has been reinforcing its commitment to clean energy and sustainable development and the legal team has been an important part of such a process. This means that the legal team has been closely assisting the board and the business teams in various matters, such as those relating to the solar energy auctions, the H2 development of the grid, the successful issuance of on green bonds and the development of the “Speed-E” – a grid connection solution that makes it possible to charge electric vehicles directly from high-voltage lines.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Being a successful in-house lawyer in the energy industry requires a combination of legal expertise and industry-specific skills. The energy sector is interdisciplinary, involving aspects of energy regulatory, M&A, disputes, finance… Adaptability and a willingness to learn are valuable qualities for success in this field. Also, client communication abilities are key to liaising with all stakeholders: effective communication with board members, other internal clients and colleagues is essential. Energy lawyers often work closely with project managers, engineers, and business executives thus clear communication helps bridge the gap between legal complexities and practical business decisions. Finally, understanding the energy industry’s dynamics, market forces, and financial implications is crucial: energy lawyers need to align legal advice with business goals and risk management strategies.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

The legal team has a strong relationship with our business counterparts. All members of the team understand the company’s business objectives, industry dynamics, and operational challenges and the members of the legal team internally discuss these topics in the team meetings. Also, the Group has now a culture of involving the legal team early in the process so that when legal issues arise the risk has been decreased, which prevents legal issues and ensures informed decision-making. This culture arose from a collaboration on solutions rather than the legal team imposing legal decisions and we made proactively made an effort in the last years to educate business counterparts about legal risks, compliance requirements and best practices.