Team size: 41 

What significant projects or deals has the legal team worked on in the past year? Can you provide examples of successful outcomes or major accomplishments?

One of the most significant projects was definitely the (i)Queens Medical Centre, in Nottingham: Enabling the UK’s second largest hospital to meet its ambitious goals of achieving net zero for heating and cooling emissions by 2040, represents the largest publicly funded hospital project in the UK; (ii) battery storage project: joint venture to develop and build two independent battery projects sharing single transmission connection requiring substantial legal and regulatory support for novel partnering structure – first of its kind for E.ON in the UK; (iii) green power for B2B customers: collaboration deal with RWE for E.ON’s B2B customers to benefit from PPAs for renewable energies via one of the largest and growing renewable generation portfolios in the UK.

Can you sum up the team culture/ethos in one sentence? 

Enabling delivery of the E.ON strategy of a sustainable energy transition to Net Zero by finding commercial legal solutions and working efficiently as a seamless team with our colleagues. Two examples: new panel and Team Day. 

We moved from sole supplier model (had been in place for 10 years) to panel of three firms. To ensure efficiencies, an online platform was created giving visibility of total spend per firm, category and business, with additional benefit of reducing the administrative burden as also used for billing and payment processes. Some collaborative projects with the panel on AI and new regulatory regimes have been kicked off this year. 

The team delivered its own away day centred on personal and professional development. An initial benchmarking survey informed its design, which embedded key behaviours like self-reflection, curiosity, and innovation. This concept was taken to the next step in our 2024 team day, which included our CEO as a guest speaker sharing his expectations for how the team enables our growth objectives.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives? 

All the company’s ESG initiatives, including being one of the first teams to implement its plan for Climate Action and preparing regular newsletters on the topic. 

We also supported local charities, in 2023 this involved spending a full day at Guy’s Cliffe in Warwickshire to support renovation of a historic site. 

The general counsel of the team is a regular speaker on ESG topics at conferences, and recently won an Award by Legal 500 for Women in Law, supporting women in their careers and raising menopause awareness. 

Additionally, we contribute to internal D&I teams, by either sponsoring or being part of the steering committees of our various networks, including racial equality, supporting women, fertility and menopause.