With ‘strong emphasis on construction within the energy sector,’ the non-contentious construction team Watson Farley & Williams LLP is spearheaded by Martin Lucas, who specialises in international offshore wind construction and project development. Barry Hembling negotiates contracts for major development projects in the Middle East, and also regularly provides domestic corporations with advice regarding real estate portfolios and assets. Emmanuel Ninos assists with advising developers and contractors in renewable energy projects, while Jamie Bell is another key contact in the team, advising on remedial works in the real estate sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The non-construction team at WFW have in depth power, market experience, and a highly commercial approach to negotiations.' 

  • ‘Emmanuel Ninos is a highly engaged in the sector and always provides highly commercial and practical advice. He is very responsive, conscious of any timing and cost constraints and very personable.' 

  • ‘Barry Hembling provides a very personal service, always seems to be available, and nothing is a problem. A credit to Watson Farley & Williams.'

  • ‘Barry Hembling is excellent. Reasoned, considered, thoughtful, accurate advice, always. Always available. Always on time and responding in good time. Very supportive attitude. Open and honest at all times.'

  • ‘Detailed sector knowledge and expertise. Good communication skills, collaboration and client focussed with commercially sensible solutions. The team provides a sense of trust, collaboration and they truly care about the client and understand the client's needs. They are a pleasure to work with.’

  • ‘Barry Hembling possesses outstanding sector knowledge, great communication, problem solving and a strong client focus. His solutions are commercially orientated and he is very pleasant to work with.'

  • 'Jamie Bell demonstrates robust sector legal knowledge, good communication skills, client focus, polite, and is highly professional to work with.’
  • ‘Erudite knowledge of subject matter coupled with easy access to it from enthusiastic counsel make this practice a must.’

Key clients

  • Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm
  • Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm
  • Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm
  • Vattenfall
  • Equinor
  • Envision Energy International Trading Limited
  • Zaha Hadid Architects
  • TEPCO
  • Statkraft
  • Gravis Capital
  • Hitachi Zosen Inova
  • Anglesey Land Holdings

Work highlights

  • Advising the special purpose vehicles, initially set up by SSE plc and Equinor that is developing the three offshore wind farms known as Dogger Bank A, Dogger Bank B, and Dogger Bank C in the North Sea, on all the construction elements for the redevelopment of those wind farms .
  • Advising Vattenfall as projects counsel on the development of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.
  • Advising a global clean energy developer and contractor on their turbine supply and subsequent services in relation to a 2.2GW wind farm that will be part of a 4GW renewable energy plant.  

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Martin Lucas

Other key lawyers

Barry Hembling, Emmanuel Ninos, Jamie Bell