Energy and utility markets around the world have felt the full force of privatisation, liberalisation, deregulation and new regulation and globalisation in recent times – leading participants first to expand, and then to consolidate, as investment costs have spiralled and competition has intensified.
Bird & Bird’s involvement in the energy sector is longstanding and broad-based. Our international client base includes a large number of companies, funds, financial institutions and governments, many of who are developing or investing in projects and technological solutions to the challenges presented by the combined forces of climate change and energy security. Our clients choose Bird & Bird as we have a genuine understanding of the key business technologies, processes and regulatory frameworks that underpin the sector.
With over 80 lawyers across our offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we have an in-depth understanding of both local law and EU policy and regulation, offering local expertise in a global context. Our lawyers regularly advise on the legal issues surrounding; electricity generation, energy trading, electricity transmission and gas transportation, electricity and gas distribution and supply, water and sewerage, renewable energy, cleantech and climate change, and Oil and Gas.
Through our heritage and expertise in IP and a genuine understanding of the energy and technology sectors, we have developed a strong reputation for our work in Cleantech and Renewables. Our advice has included: financing wind and solar plants, carbon credits, emissions trading schemes and other support/market mechanisms, unbundling of European energy supplies, and protection and exploitation of IP assets.
As Bird & Bird is a full service commercial law firm, our International Energy & Utilities Group provides a full range of corporate, commercial, finance, IP, regulatory and competition advice to clients; drawing on market-leading expertise in procurement, outsourcing, anti-trust, and IT.
Areas of expertise in the Energy & Utilities sector
- Carbon Capture and Storage
- Climate Change and the CRC
- Commercial Contracts
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Disputes
- Energy and Carbon trading
- Energy from Waste
- Energy regulation and competition
- Intellectual Property
- Interconnectors and Transmission systems
- Project Investment and Financing
- Smart metering / Smart Grids
- IT requirements and Systems Integration
Heads of Group: René Voigtländer