With significant specialisation in the energy transition space, Burges Salmon LLP stands out in the renewable energy sector for handling high-value and often cross-border projects. The team advises a deep roster of clients in the industry, providing strategic counsel on M&A, financings, project developments as well as consenting and regulatory matters related to various renewable energy sources, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, geothermal energy, and green hydrogen. Practice head Ross Fairley is recognised for his work on a wide range of projects, including solar, battery, offshore and onshore wind, electric vehicle, tidal, and hydrogen. Notably, he is involved in developing innovative approaches to trading green electricity in the UK. Nick Churchward is a leading expert in waste-to-energy, biomass, and renewable energy trading arrangements and regulation, while Euan Bremner specialises in advising developers, investors, and debt funders on renewable energy and infrastructure projects throughout the UK, including wind, solar, and battery storage initiatives. Camilla Usher-Clark and James Phillips are also key contacts for renewable energy projects and transactions. Emma Andrews, meanwhile, is highly recommended for finance transactions, particularly in the renewables, clean heat, waste, and energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Great team. Very commercially aware.'
- 'Very strong on maintaining working relationships. Of note is Euan Bremner.'
- 'They know what they talk about. Business minded legal advice.'
- 'Great team, always ready to help and support. They contribute a lot to the success of a deal, and have high knowledge and experience of the renewable sector.'
- 'A pleasure to work with the team. They are friendly, knowledgeable and prompt in responding to queries. James Phillips is great in coordinating the rest of the team.'
- 'The individuals across the different teams communicate well with each other and seem to understand how one area impacts upon the other. They have been able to propose innovative approaches in one discipline, which will benefit us in another. This has often put us in a strong position in negotiations and also saved on fees.'
- 'In the projects team, I particularly enjoyed working with Nick Churchward and Emma Andrews, both of whom go the extra mile for us to deliver high-quality work but with a personal touch.'
Key clients
- Blue Gem Wind/A JV between Total and Simply Blue
- Green Investment Group/Macquarie
- Atrato Onsite Energy PLC (listed fund)
- Drax
- BayWa r.e. UK Limited
- Octopus Energy (listed funds)
- Ocean Winds Offshore
- ENGIE
- Equans
- Equinor
- RWE
- EDF
- European Marine Energy Centre
- MeyGen Tidal
- West Somerset Tidal Lagoon
- Nova Innovation
- ESB
- Protium Green Solutions
- Aggregate Industries
- ERG
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Eden Geothermal
Work highlights
- Advised DESNZ on the Route to Market workstream of the Heat Network Zoning Transition project.
- Advised Protium, a specialist hydrogen development company, on a project to decarbonise heavy goods vehicles using the M4 Motorway. The project is a collaboration between Protium and Marubeni and aims to source green hydrogen which will be produced by both parties and to set up hydrogen refuelling hubs located near the M4.
- Advised Atrato’s listed ROOF fund on the entirety of their renewable project portfolio.
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Practice head
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Ross Fairley