Dominic O’Brien
Osborne Clarke LLPLed by the Bristol-based Matthew Lewis, Osborne Clarke LLP’s energy and utilities team handles a range of power sector projects and transactions, covering M&A, financing, and regulatory work. Key workstreams include advice on electricity generation and supply, power trading arrangements and nuclear power matters. Project finance specialist Dominic O’Brien is a key contact, advising on the gamut of energy and infrastructure projects and corporate financings for utilities, developers and energy providers, while Hugo Lidbetter is noted for his expertise in project development work in the nuclear sector. Hannah Roscoe assists with M&A, joint ventures, commercial contracts, and restructurings. The ‘superb’ Emily Van Schalkwyk is highly praised by clients for her knowledge of complex disputes in the energy sector. Deborah Harvey left to join Freeths LLP in February 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Really impressive. Completely on top of the law, completely on top of the relevant facts, and able to identify how best to use both to get their clients what they want.'
- 'Emily Van Schalkwyk is superb. Fiercely intelligent, and a pleasure to work with.'
- 'Unparalleled experience and knowledge of this sector in particular for telecoms, CPO and utilities.'
- 'Emily Van Schalkwyk is the complete package - excellent technical skills, brilliant client handling, attention to detail and clear strategic advice.'
- 'A highly commercial set of lawyers, who bring wide and varied experience to their practice. We use them for M&A, financing, PPAs, regulatory and structuring advice, and across the team they provide invaluable support.'
- 'Hannah Roscoe is the stand-out partner for us - she provides honest, specific and highly commercial advice, and is always on hand to help us out where needed. Her wide and varied experience in this sector means she is invaluable to our business.'
- 'Excellent all round team with capabilities spanning development, construction, operation and financing. Very good experience in offtake arrangements and early recogniser of the intersection of IT and power markets.'
- 'Really, really impressive. Completely on top of the law, completely on top of the relevant facts, and able to identify how best to use both to get their clients what they want.'
Key clients
- Ameresco
- Conrad Energy
- PX
- SNRG
- Statera
- Foresight
- Macquarie
- Yü Group plc
Work highlights
- Advised Ameresco on its successful bid to act as strategic partner to Bristol City Council on Bristol City Leap: a pathfinding project to deliver low carbon energy infrastructure (LCEI) across the city of Bristol, expected to bring in £1 billion of investment in low-carbon energy infrastructure over the next 20 years.
- Advised UK flexible generators Conrad on the Pathfinder project to provide grid stability and voltage support, to help to ensure a reliable electricity network.
- Advised PX, an asset management company in the energy sector, on supply and offtake arrangements to power purchase agreements, and financial and regulatory matters.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Hannah Roscoe
Osborne Clarke LLP
Emily Van Schalkwyk
Osborne Clarke LLPPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Matthew Lewis