The energy sector is used to change, but has never faced greater change than it does today
The biggest medium and long-term issue of our time is how to meet our energy needs in a way that sustains the future of the planet, while also sustaining the sector itself, which is so essential to our society.
With over 450 lawyers, the CMS Energy and Climate Change practice is one of the world’s largest. We provide crucial advice to governments and businesses as they engage with the challenge of climate change and shape their responses to it.
Since the 1980s we have led the way in designing and implementing modern energy markets around the world. We have also helped to guide the renewables sector at every stage of its development, from the earliest wind farms to solar PV, floating offshore wind, energy storage and electric vehicle infrastructure. Many of our clients require specialist legal advisers attuned to global geopolitics, economics and regulation. Our involvement goes far beyond straightforward power expertise, as we help them navigate increasingly interlinked issues such as technological disruption, urbanisation, social concerns and political agendas. We ensure that the jigsaw pieces of the overall energy and climate change puzzle are not looked at in isolation, whether we are advising on climate change strategy or new technology, oil & gas exploration or energy efficiency, project finance or M&A, energy disputes or regulation.
Unlike some sectors, where maturity has brought extensive standardisation and commoditisation, the energy sector is seeing an increase in new approaches and practices. We work with businesses at every stage of the energy lifecycle, as well as with regulators and governments, to help them understand how these new developments can secure not only their commercial or political aims but also our collective future.
