From our position as a leading energy law firm, we provide the support that organisations operating within the fast-moving, challenging and dynamic energy sector require to thrive. Our specialist knowledge and skills have earned us our valued reputation as a trustworthy energy law firm as we continue to offer practical advice and find innovative solutions for our clients in this challenging sector.
At Womble Bond Dickinson, we operate in the energy sector on a local, national and global scale. Our energy clients hail from across the globe and range dramatically from entrepreneurial new entrants and joint ventures to established independents, vertically integrated utilities, funders, financial institutions, governments, regulators and worldwide energy giants. It is our ultimate goal to enable each of our clients, big and small, to meet their ambitions, fulfil their potential and achieve sustainable growth .
Energy law firm industry expertise
Just one part of our responsibilities to our clients within the energy and natural resources sector is to immerse ourselves fully in every aspect of the sector and, with decades of experience as one of the best law firms for clean energy, we have gained a great depth of experience across the various forms of energy and power. We apply that experience to identify the best route through the complex issues that affect organisations operating in this sector.
As part of our work within the energy and natural resources sector, the Womble Bond Dickinson energy law firm team regularly assists clients with a full range of legal issues affecting deals, operations, projects and disputes relating to:
Clean energy
Energy transition
Decarbonisation
Conventional and renewable energy development and generation
Energy service and provision
Energy infrastructure, including transmission, transportation and distribution
Upstream, midstream and downstream energy
Energy storage
Energy trading and cost-of-service rate making
Negotiation of energy purchase agreements and related hedging arrangements
Electricity, gas and water utilities
Siting, consenting, licensing and permitting
Energy-related patents and IP protection
Decommissioning.
The wide net which we have cast over the entire energy sector translates into our ability to advise our clients confidently on all legal matters within the industry and further build our reputation as one of the best law firms for energy.
In the UK, we advise on the full range of issues affecting major utility businesses and developers of power/renewables projects. We guide clients at all stages of a project's lifecycle, including planning and consenting, JDAs and JVs, real estate acquisition, project finance, M&A and construction. Our team has a deep understanding of the regulatory codes and agreements needed to access energy grid infrastructure. In addition, we advise on a range of industry issues such as price caps, heat networks, smart meters, DSR, onsite generation and grid solutions (including vehicle-to-grid, energy storage and flexibility markets).
In the US, our team represents major integrated utility companies, complex joint venture participants, independent power producers, facility operators, banks, private equity funds, international diversified energy companies, and renewable project developers in a broad range of energy sector transactions in the US and around the world. Our work covers the full spectrum of renewable technologies including: offshore wind, wave and tidal, solar, geothermal, methane/biomass (including energy from waste and anaerobic digestion), ethanol and hydrogen.
We work in partnership with a range of industrial and manufacturing businesses on their strategies for onsite generation/distributed energy as a way to generate and distribute their own electricity (and heat), frequently from clean energy.
Are you in need of legal advice and guidance from a leading energy law firm? At Womble Bond Dickinson, we employ exceptional lawyers who are experts in this sector and can provide solutions to you and your organisation. To browse through our energy and natural resources lawyers and professional staff, simply follow this link to our people search page.
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Examples of work
Advising RES, the global renewable energy company, on the sale of the Port of Tyne 35MW battery storage project to the Foresight Group, one of the first M&A deals for an energy storage project in the UK
Advising Ofgem on the implications of developing a new regime to competitively tender new, separable and high value transmission assets (CATO)
Represented tax equity investors in solar, wind and biomass energy projects utilizing federal investment tax credits
Instructed by Vattenfall in relation to the Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm – promoting the Development Consent Order and dealing with consenting strategy, as well as land assembly
Instructed by Vattenfall in relation to the Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm – promoting the Development Consent Order and dealing with consenting strategy, as well as land assembly
Advising EDF Energy Renewables on real estate aspects and construction contracts for the Blyth offshore wind project
Assisting Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council and the Royal Borough of Greenwich on a range of regulatory issues connected with the introduction of district heating networks, with a particular focus on the regulatory issue relating to the distribution of electricity and third party access to networks
Advised Chrysaor, the UK oil and gas independent, on a multi-billion dollar deal to acquire a package of UK North Sea assets from Shell
Advised Petrofac on a group reorganisation project and on various offshore contractual and regulatory issues
Advised Total E&P UK on a spectrum of matters including the West of Shetland infrastructure, the Shetland Island Regional Gas Export System and regulatory issues arising from the sale of St Fergus
Advised Vitol E&P on its acquisition of a 65% shareholding in Rialto Energy (Cote d’Ivoire) Limited (now Vioco Petroleum Limited), the provision of a $50m loan facility and related shareholders agreement, including advising on a new production sharing contract with the Ivory Coast government
Represented Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company in the resolution of a $400 million default termination dispute with the EPC construction contractor arising out of a $1.2 billion commercial nuclear plant decommissioning project. This engagement included state court litigation, a FERC rate case and strategic advice on project completion
Advising KiWi Power on the real estate aspects of battery storage projects and the regulatory issues surrounding those types of projects
Advising bidders and winning consortia in the Round 4 and ScotWind UK offshore wind processes.
The energy industry faces a mix of global challenges unlike any other sector. Industry insiders find themselves juggling many pressures at once: the urgent need to address climate change, constantly evolving regulations, geopolitical shifts and the rising cost of living.
This has led to the ‘energy trilemma’ - the three-part question everyone is puzzling over. How can we create clean and dependable renewable energy that safeguards our environment and precious resources, ensures that we have access to a steady supply and doesn’t send prices skyrocketing?
Tackling these challenges calls for a different approach. It’s about having savvy energy lawyers and technical experts at your side who relish the chance to find smart ways forward. That’s where we can really dial up your competitive advantage. We dig deep to find solutions that not only benefit you but also contribute positively to our communities and the environment.
Your team
Your energy team
It's our innovative way of working that sees global energy leaders, project developers, contractors, funders, regulators, local authorities and green tech innovators turn to us for legal advice with a competitive edge.
Our approach consistently drives pioneering work, enabling our teams to collaborate closely with clients on industry leading work. Our long heritage includes the UK’s first onshore wind farm project, the first M&A transaction for an offshore project and one of the first battery storage M&A deals.
With this level of experience, our renewable energy lawyers are all about projects that aim for a greener future. Our work spans the whole energy industry from infrastructure and regulation to the full range of decarbonisation technologies including offshore and onshore wind, solar, batteries, heat networks, carbon capture utilisation and storage, hydrogen and energy from waste.
Navigating the energy markets of not only the UK and the US but also around the world is second nature for us – we've been doing it for decades. No matter the project, rest assured with our experience and global network backing you, you’re in capable hands. Our expertise covers everything an energy project might need – from the early planning stages right through to final delivery. We’re here to guide you through every twist and turn.
With the latest thinking on market trends and emerging insights into where the energy world is headed, our team is right at the forefront of this ever-evolving landscape. We actively influence the policies that impact the sector through our agenda-setting work with
At Womble Bond Dickinson we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals who can offer guidance and find the solutions right for your business. We have both broad and niche expertise across all our UK and US offices.
Bidders and winning consortia in the Round 4 and ScotWind UK offshore wind processes
RES on a multi-million pound joint venture with Octopus Renewables for the development of multiple green hydrogen projects across the UK
An energy major on the planning, commercial and corporate aspects of the development of the Hynet CCUS and hydrogen cluster in Liverpool Bay.
Endeavour Energy on the re-use of the Goldeneye assets for a CCUS project.
BEIS (now DESNZ) on the terms of the “Back Stop PPA” as part of the new Electricity Market Reform package. This agreement provides a guaranteed route to market as it allows renewable projects to have a guaranteed purchaser for the power they generate
National Grid on the Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner (CATO) regime
Ofgem on the latest stage of the evolution of the model for the development of offshore transmission assets connecting offshore renewables projects with the existing onshore network
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in relation to the Solihull Town Centre Low Carbon Energy Network
Newcastle City Council on the Helix district energy scheme where we provided advice on the district energy infrastructure for the £350 million Newcastle Helix project, the UK’s biggest urban development site outside London.
The London Borough of Brent on its heat network scheme in South Kilburn. Our mandate covers the whole of the commercialisation of the network including the development of the contract structure and procurement strategy and the development of procurement and contractual documentation
REG Windpower on the funding arrangements for the development of Ockendon solar and Abergorki wind farm projects with Falck Renewables.
The investigation and prosecution into the explosion at the Buncefield Oil Terminal
RES on the sale of Aberarder Wind Farm to SSE Renewables
KiWi Power on a range of issues relating to the development of battery storage projects
Ambition Community Energy on a 4.2MW community wind project
Testimonials
"The team from WBD working on our project has a unique blend of experience where they have people who have physically worked in the energy industry, this gives a real valuable perspective when dealing with items on our project. The firm has a wide variety of subject matter experts, which has meant when the project reaches into other areas, they have been able to dip into this knowledge providing a total package giving us the leading edge in our project."
Legal 500 2025
"Womble Bond Dickinson provides a really excellent service. They obviously have a lot of strong knowledge on the renewables market."
Chambers and Partners UK 2025
"Womble Bond Dickinson provides impeccable service; nothing is ever too much and queries are answered with urgency."
Chambers and Partners UK 2025
"The team has real industry knowledge, this has put us on the front foot in many negotiations."
Chambers and Partners UK 2025
"The WBD team has the ability to take a legally complex technical project which involves very technical people on the client side and break down the legal details into narratives which can be well understood and digested."
Legal 500 2025
Further information and resources
Energising Tomorrow: Global Energy Transition Outlook 2025
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