Energy & Utilities
Legal insight for a fast-changing energy landscape
Energy and utilities businesses operate at the point where critical infrastructure, public policy and commercial pressure meet. Shifts in regulation, volatility in commodity markets, decarbonisation targets and rapid technological change all create both risk and opportunity.
We work with traditional and renewable energy providers, utilities operators, infrastructure funds and technology businesses involved in power, gas, water, district energy and emerging clean technologies.
Our role is to help you structure bankable projects, navigate sector regulation, protect critical assets and resolve high-stakes disputes – so that you can focus on security of supply, profitability and the transition to low-carbon models.
Our expertise in energy and utilities
Transactions and project development
We support sponsors, utilities and investors on the full life cycle of energy and utility projects – from concept and development through construction, operation and refinancing. Our work includes:
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs), tolling and offtake arrangements for conventional and renewable generation
- Joint venture and consortium structures for generation, transmission and distribution assets
- EPC, O&M and construction-phase documentation for plants, networks and storage facilities
- Land rights, easements, wayleaves, utility corridors and related environmental considerations
We design project structures that allocate risk sensibly, meet lender expectations and reflect the technical and operational realities of the asset.
Commercial and operational agreements
Robust commercial contracts underpin reliable energy and utilities operations. We draft and negotiate the agreements that keep networks functioning and revenue flowing. We regularly assist with:
- Network access and connection agreements
- Asset management, operations and maintenance (O&M) and long-term service contracts
- Fuel and commodity supply agreements
- Smart-technology, digital-metering and data-platform arrangements
- Performance, availability and reliability regimes for plants, grids and networks
We ensure that allocation of risk, performance metrics and change mechanisms are clear, measurable and aligned with your operational objectives.
Regulatory compliance and licensing
Energy and utilities operators are subject to close regulatory oversight. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement action, financial penalties and reputational harm. We advise on:
- Licensing, authorisation and market-entry requirements across electricity, gas and water
- Engagement with Ofgem, Ofwat and environmental regulators
- Statutory duties, industry codes and sector-specific reporting obligations
- ESG, environmental and sustainability requirements affecting projects and operations
Our focus is on embedding compliance into governance and contracts, not treating it as an afterthought.
Energy, utilities and infrastructure disputes
When infrastructure fails, capacity is constrained or contracts underperform, disputes can escalate quickly and publicly. We act in contentious matters across the energy and utilities sectors, including:
- Pricing, capacity, imbalance and balancing-mechanism disputes
- Claims arising from infrastructure failure, outages and service interruptions
- Underperformance or non-compliance under generation, supply and offtake contracts
- Defective design, construction, commissioning or upgrade of energy facilities
- Regulatory enforcement, challenges to licence conditions and compliance investigations
We represent clients in High Court litigation, international and domestic arbitration, expert determination and sector-specific dispute mechanisms, always with a focus on commercial outcomes and continuity of service.
Renewables, clean energy and emerging technologies
The transition to net zero is reshaping investment and regulation. We support developers, utilities, funds and technology companies on a broad range of clean energy and innovation projects, including:
- Solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydrogen, battery storage and hybrid energy systems
- Green finance structures, sustainability-linked instruments and incentive frameworks
- Carbon credits, offsetting arrangements and compliance with carbon-market rules
- Technology-integration projects involving data platforms, flexibility services and energy-management systems
We help clients align innovative business models with evolving legal frameworks, ensuring that projects remain bankable, compliant and scalable.
How we work with energy and utilities clients
- Sector-focused: We understand the regulatory, political and technical context in which energy and utilities businesses operate.
- Integrated approach: We work alongside your commercial, technical and regulatory teams to deliver advice that can be implemented in practice.
- Dispute-ready: We are experienced in urgent and complex disputes, including those with cross-border and public-law dimensions.
- Clear and practical: Our advice is concise, commercially grounded and focused on real-world risk and opportunity.
Contact us
If you are developing, operating or investing in energy or utilities assets, we can help you manage legal risk and unlock value across the project life cycle.
Discuss a live project, contract or regulatory issue
Arrange a review of your PPAs, network agreements or compliance framework
Request our latest energy and utilities updates and resources