Focus on our Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources team
Our dedicated teams work hard to look after clients, whatever their legal needs. Our broad expertise across the firm means that any one of our lawyers has access to a network of experts who can be recommended to ensure you are receiving swift, commercial legal input at the right time.
In this series, we are speaking with our legal experts to learn more about their areas of expertise, what they enjoy most about their work, and how they work together to provide exceptional legal care to our clients. This edition features a conversation with specialist energy partner Laurence Lacey.
Tell us a little a bit about the Energy and Infrastructure sector at Clarke Willmott?
Laurence has been at the firm since 2007 and has been involved in the energy sector since his qualification in 2003. After over 20 years with the firm, he was appointed head of the sector, replacing the retiring Priscilla Hall.
Laurence is regularly supported on energy, infrastructure and natural resources matters by partners Bethan Evans, Christopher Charlton, Clare Gregory, James Driver and Stephen Green, each contributing their unique expertise to provide comprehensive legal services to their clients. “We bring in people from different disciplines within the firm to focus on energy work, including specialists in our Banking, Corporate and Commercial, Planning, Procurement, Regulatory, Property and Construction teams.”
The energy and infrastructure team are also active members of various low carbon industry membership organisations and groups including RenewableUK, Renewable Energy Association and Hinkley Professional Services Group.
How does the team support its clients?
Our specialist cross-disciplinary team of solicitors deal with a wide range of projects where there is crossover with various other sectors in which our firm provides advice, including housebuilder, social housing, real estate, retail and leisure, agriculture, private client, banking and finance and public sector.
“Much of the work we do is with housebuilders, landowners, utility providers, funders and the public sector. These are exactly the kinds of clients who we already act for in various capacities, so while they may not be currently engaging us for energy work, we’re keen to offer them this as part of our overall package of services.”
What separates your team from the rest?
The team have a wealth of energy and infrastructure experience, with Laurence in particular having over 20 years of experience since his qualification in 2003. “We have a strong heritage in the sector, which can be attributed to the wealth of experience across the team.”
Laurence also describes the sector team as having “an excellent collaborative approach covering a very broad spectrum of disciplines with a ‘can-do’ approach to problem solving in order to facilitate transactions for our clients.” He adds “our team boasts a long-standing and proven track record in green energy and related infrastructure projects. We work closely with clients to identify potential risks and opportunities, offering practical advice to navigate any legal or contractual challenges.”
Our ‘whole project life’ approach and the breadth of our expertise, means we can support our clients at every stage. From scheme inception through to planning, set up, site operations, build, finance, regulation, commissioning and subsequent operation of plants and facilities, we provide the legal support needed to achieve your commercial and environmental goals.
What projects have you been working on?
Some of the exciting projects the team have been working on recently are:
- Advising on nationally significant hydrogen projects including the creation of hydrogen generation and storage facilities to power local community transport including buses and trucks.
- Advising solar and battery storage developers in relation to the acquisition of multiple sites for development, where the developments are supported by power purchase arrangements with offtakers with a high energy demand, such as large scale manufacturing facilities.
- Acting for public sector clients in relation to site assembly and delivery of major regional road schemes, including the Southern Connector Road and the Newquay Strategic Route.
- Supporting Triodos £2.5m loan to develop the new National Open Water Swimming Centre of Excellence – the UK’s first outdoor swimming training centre which is powered by solar energy and has the capacity to take hydrogen when this becomes available.
- Acting for biogas developers in relation to the development of biogas plants in the UK.
- Advising multiple developers in relation to their connections in the Bristol Heat Network, including the connection arrangements, supply agreements and associated matters.
What are your plans for the future of the Green Energy sector at Clarke Willmott?
After becoming head of the sector, Laurence is keen to broaden the team’s focus to support the potential growth in the energy sector at a time when “the market and interest in green energy is ever-increasing”.
“There are so many new initiatives around now, from innovative technologies to the role of natural capital to credit trading organisations, and so many potential clients who want to focus on a sustainability agenda but aren’t necessarily simply developers of energy projects. I want to take a collaborative approach, because there are so many different strands, and there are huge opportunities across the firm for our experts to be involved.”
How can potential clients get in touch with Clarke Willmott?
To speak to Laurence or another member of our energy, infrastructure and natural resources team to understand how they can support your business, please contact one of our lawyers directly, call us on 0800 652 8205 or request a consultation.
Clarke Willmott has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.
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