Clifford Chance offers an interdisciplinary approach thanks to the cooperation with the M&A, antitrust and project finance experts and the team's expertise in energy and public law. Most recent instructions include matters pertaining to project financing as well as transactions in the offshore, hydrogen and solar energy sectors. Practice head Mathias Elspaß is an expert for matters at the interface between energy and environmental law and is regularly instructed by energy suppliers and grid operators in connection with approval procedures for infrastructure projects such as wind farms as well as power and gas plants. Björn Heinlein's key strengths include contract negotiations and drafting in the context of power plant projects. Anselm Raddatz heads the firm's private equity team and is a key contact for energy-related transactions, while public law expert Thomas Voland recently advised on e-mobility and the energy transition and regularly covers transaction-related regulatory issues.

Hengeler Mueller is renowned for its expertise in transactions, the energy sector and regulatory law and regularly acts in cross-border matters such as the advice on transactions pertaining to offshore wind farms across various regions of Europe. The client roster includes both national and international energy companies and financial investors; particularly noteworthy here is the advice to Siemens AG on the €15 billion rescue package to extend the financial guarantees for Siemens Energy. Other mainstays include the support in hydrogen projects; here, M&A expert Sebastian Schneider and Jörg Meinzenbach regularly take the lead. The latter was appointed to partner in 2024 and - jointly with Dirk Uwer and Daniel Zimmer- covers regulatory issues and complements the firm's offering with expertise in antitrust law issues, which is routinely drawn on in the context of M&A transactions in the regulated sectors.

Hogan Lovells International LLP focuses on transaction and project support and offers longstanding expertise in ​​project financing, which is routinely called upon by banking consortia and energy companies in connection with cross-border instructions. The firm’s regulatory practice, Alexander Koch and counsel Tobias Flasbarth are key contacts here, is also well versed in transaction support and covers regulatory matters pertaining to hydrogen projects and issues regarding the Gas Storage Act. Practice head Matthias Hirschmann comprehensively advises on all energy-related aspects of M&A transactions, takeovers and joint ventures, which was further strengthened in January 2024 with the arrival of M&A experts Thomas Dörmer and Tim Heitling from Dentons. Head of the financing practice Carla Luh impresses with expertise in international project financing, which is regularly called upon by banks, sponsors, borrowers and investors. Stefan Schröder (regulatory law) joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in February 2024.

Linklaters supports clients in various energy matters and impresses with its expertise in transaction support; the team also focuses on renewable energies, hydrogen and e-mobility as well as matters pertaining to conventional energies such as oil and gas. Practice head Thomas Schulz supports clients, including investors, developers and banks, in national and cross-border projects and transactions, and offers additional expertise in regulatory issues and contract drafting. He is supported by Julia Sack, who is well versed in transaction support and contract law; the latter was most recently utilised in the advice on floating LNG terminals on the North Sea coast, including the review of third-party contracts and the negotiation of an acquisition agreement.

Norton Rose Fulbright is experienced in national and cross-border transactions, including the financing of energy projects. In January 2024, the firm strengthened its regulatory competencies with the arrival of Valerian von Richthofen from Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB. The team is well versed in ​​renewable energies and regularly instructed by financial investors, banks and energy companies on matters pertaining to geothermal energy, green hydrogen and charging infrastructure. The practice is led by Klaus Bader, who focuses on transactions in the energy sector as well as joint ventures and restructuring. M&A expert Sebastian Frech moved to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in March 2024.

Osborne Clarke most recently supported various energy-related transactions and financing matters, with recent instructions pertaining to wind and solar energy as well as battery storage. Other mainstays include the advice on contract drafting as well as related regulatory issues; this expertise was strengthened in April 2024 with the arrival of Martin Geipel from Noerr. Practice head Daniel Breuer focuses on renewable energies, PPAs, asset management as well as litigation.

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP impresses with longstanding transaction support and frequently acts across the renewable energy sector, with most recent instructions pertaining to offshore wind, geothermal energy as well as power storage issues. Other mainstays include the advice on hydrogen and LNG projects. The team is led by financing expert Thomas Hollenhorst and Malte Jordan, who regularly advises investors, project developers and financial institutions on transactions and restructuring. Regulatory expert Torsten Wielsch moved to Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH in August 2024.

White & Case LLP is renowned for cross-border M&A and financing support and advises major national and international financial institutions, investors and energy companies. The team also has regulatory expertise, which is drawn on in connection with project and transaction support, contract negotiations and disputes. Project financing is another core strength, where the practice advises on power plants, LNG terminals, hydrogen and battery storage projects. Practice head Thomas Burmeister as well as Petra Kistner offer comprehensive expertise, which extends to transactions, regulatory matters and litigation. Jörg Kraffel recently retired and Lisa Reichstein left the team.

Baker McKenzie advises a client roster consisting of energy companies, private equity firms and financial institutions, which also benefit from the international network. The team is well versed in transactions, including cross-border aspects, and regularly acts across the e-mobility sector in connection with project developments, most recently pertaining to bioenergy plants. Holger Engelkamp joined the partner roster in July 2023 and jointly heads the practice with Claire Dietz-Polte, they advise on various ​​renewable energy matters such as onshore renewable energy, biogas and battery storage issues.

In addition to longstanding regulatory expertise, Chatham Partners LLP also offers support in transactions, project development and financing. The team acts with an industry focus on wind and solar energy. Practice head Felix Fischer has regulatory expertise and experience in advising on the development and construction of renewable energy power plants as well as in proceedings before the Federal Network Agency and relevant authorities. Marieke Lüdecke focuses on offshore wind projects as well as the negotiation and drafting of energy supply and project development contracts.

Dentons focuses on energy-related transactions, including cross-border aspects, as well as regulatory issues such as matters pertaining to the heat supply planning legislation and the decarbonistion of heating networks. Thomas Schubert heads the team and offers M&A expertise, which is regularly called upon in connection with renewable energies, particularly ​​offshore wind energy. Following the departure of transaction experts Thomas Dörmer and Tim Heitling to Hogan Lovells International LLP in January 2024 and Michael Krömker to Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB in December 2023, Gabriele Haas (regulatory and compliance) moved to Noerr in September 2024.

DLA Piper is well versed in transaction support, including cross-border matters thanks to the international network. The team acts with an industry focus on renewable energies and gas. Other core strengths are the assistance with the energy supply of large data centers, where practice head Michael Cieslarczyk is a key contact, advising on both energy law and contract law matters. Financing expert Wolfram Distler's client roster includes international companies, private equity investors and financial institutions, while Christopher Ollech covers regulatory issues and has particular expertise in e-mobility.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB impresses with renewable energy expertise in the onshore segment and most recently supported various hydrogen projects, including the drafting of hydrogen supply contracts and the advice on regulatory matters. Practice head Sönke Gödeke advises on corporate and energy law and assists with Smart City and Clean Tech projects. With the addition of corporate lawyer Michael Krömker from Dentons in January 2024, the team strengthened its offering pertaining to ​​M&A transactions and restructuring. Valerian von Richthofen (regulatory) moved to Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2024.

Redeker Sellner Dahs is renowned for its longstanding regulatory expertise, which includes the advice on price caps and subsidies as well as representing clients – including federal ministries, grid operators and energy suppliers – in planning approval and licensing procedures. Stephan Gerstner heads the team and primarily assists with antitrust issues, particularly in connection with grid access and price regulation.

Bird & Bird LLP offers experience in battery storage matters, which was recently demonstrated in the context of takeovers, cooperations and ​​contract drafting. The team focuses on renewable energies and covers financing and procurement law issues and project financing. The two practice heads René Voigtländer and Matthias Lang are well versed in regulatory matters, which also extends to environmental, state aid and procurement law issues.

Dolde Mayen & Partner is renowned for its comprehensive regulatory expertise, which is regularly utilised in proceedings before the Federal Network Agency and antitrust courts, and also includes the support in environmental and planning law aspects, as well as grid access and grid access remuneration matters. The practice is led by Christian Stelter in Bonn, who recently took the lead in complaint proceedings against the determination of an equity interest rate in the electricity and gas sectors.

Eversheds Sutherland combines a focus on transaction support with regulatory expertise and routinely acts across the renewable energy sector, most recently in photovoltaics, wind and solar energy matters. Thanks to the cooperation with the firm's international network, the team, led by Martin Weitenberg, frequently handles cross-border issues, including most recent instructions pertaining to M&A matters.

Supporting clients in renewable energy projects is the focus of Greenberg Traurig Germany's practice, with the team led by Dieter Neumann and Martin Hamer covering various topics, including M&A, financing and contract negotiations as well as regulatory advice. Martin Borning is an expert in hydrogen projects and also has experience in advising on battery storage systems, energy trading and asset management.

GSK Stockmann is a popular address for power grid operators and boasts expertise in grid matters, energy storage as well as energy trading and represent clients in planning approval and licensing procedures. Further mainstays include PPAs and other contracts, as well as advising on battery storage projects and data centers. The practice is led by Stefan Geiger and Sören Wolkenhauer, who, in addition to energy law expertise, also cover interfacing public construction and environmental law matters.

Oppenhoff impresses with expertise in contract negotiations and the advice on structured competition procedures pertaining to power plant dismantling and regular instructions from German investors in connection with energy projects in Latin America. Renewable energy project developments are a focus of the team, which comprehensively covers market entry issues, energy-related approval procedures and financing. Practice head Carmen Schneider advises on regulatory matters in connection with grid access, as well as on project and energy supply contracts.