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The CMS energy storage practice has been at the forefront of the market since the industry’s inception, advising clients on complex, high-value and innovative projects and transactions internationally.

No other firm has this breadth and depth of expertise in energy storage, which means CMS is sought out by clients to support on first-of-a-kind and high-profile issues in this fast-evolving sector.

The firm was Law Firm of the Year for the second consecutive year at both the Energy Storage Investment Awards 2025 and Energy Storage Awards 2025.

Our Energy Storage team is truly full-service across all of our markets, collaborating in the delivery of market-leading energy storage projects and transactions: M&A, debt finance, revenue, energy regulatory, construction, real estate, consenting and disputes.

Our track record includes numerous industry firsts, including the first long-term, banked tolling agreements, the first developer-led FIDIC Silver Book contracting approach, the first pre-construction financing of a battery project, and the first financing of a co-located solar and battery portfolio. A recent highlight is CMS recently led on the development and financing of the 1.45GW Thorpe Marsh project, raising c.£600m of debt from a club of 13 lenders. CMS is now facilitating the next generation of storage projects across the globe, including pumped storage hydropower projects (such as advising on landmark new developments such as the first new pumped hydro assets to be built in the UK for 40 years, including advising SSE on Coire Glas (1.3GW) and Statera on Loch Kemp (600MW)) and longer-duration, super-scale battery projects.

Our energy storage clients include leading storage developers and investors, renewable IPPs, utilities, lenders and corporates. We have negotiated with all the key equipment suppliers, offtakers and lenders active in the market, which enables us to provide commercially valuable insights to our clients to ensure successful conclusion of negotiations and transactions.

Highlighted experience

  • Fidra Energy

    in relation to the GBP 600m debt financing, construction and revenue procurement for the development of the 1.4GW / 3.1GWh Thorpe Marsh battery storage project. [Winner of the BESS Deal of the Year, Europe at the IJGlobal Awards 2025 and European Battery Storage Deal of the Year at the PFI Awards 2025]

  • Brookfield

    on its acquisition of a 25% stake in First Hydro Company, a critical electricity generation and storage facility in the United Kingdom, in 2017 and on the disposal of its stake to CDPQ. Engie is the majority shareholder who owns the remaining 75% of the company in 2025.

  • InfraRed and the management team

    on their sale of Statera Energy to EQT by way of an action process.

  • SSE

    on the development the Coire Glas pumped hydro project (1.3GW), which is the largest new hydro project currently in development in the UK, including construction, early works, ground investigation, grid, regulatory and bankability advice.

  • BW ESS

    • on its sale of a 49% equity stake in a UK-based battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio with a total capacity of 700 MW and 3.5-hour duration, to AIP Management.
    • in relation to the project financing of one of the first toll-backed storage projects in the UK, Bramley (100MW, 330MWh).
  • Cero Generation

    on the development and a ~GBP 200m financing package for a portfolio of UK solar and BESS co-located assets.

  • Harmony

    • on the project financing of two portfolios of battery projects, totalling 450MW, including advising on the development of the projects.
    • on the development and financing of the Chevire BESS project, France, with Tesla.
  • CVC DIF

    on the first UK project financing of a 540MW portfolio of co-located solar and battery projects, involving GBP 500m of debt and a large club of lenders and including advising on all the construction and revenue arrangements.

  • Eku Energy

    in relation to development of and the project financing by NatWest and SMBC of the Ocker Hill BESS project, UK, backed by a 10 year toll from Smartest.

  • Constantine Energy Storage

    in relation to the GBP 180m debt financing with a multi-national banking consortium for a 612MW storage portfolio.

  • AXA IM

    on its acquisition of a 50% stake in Coalburn 1, a 500MW storage project from CIP.

  • Apatura

    on the sale and development of a portfolio of UK-based battery energy storage system (BESS) projects to Drax Group for GBP 157.2m.

  • Statera

    • in relation to the development of the Loch Kemp pumped hydro project (600MW).
    • on the construction contracts for its 680MW/1360MWh Carrington Storage battery energy storage system.
    • on the BESS (300MW) and gas peaker (up to 450MW) supply and construction contracts for the debt-financed Thurrock Flexible Generation Plant (co-located BESS and gas). 
    • on the disposal of a 300MW pre-construction portfolio of battery storage projects to Gresham House, including advising on connected EPCM and O&M contracts.
  • Zenobe

    on 562MW of project financed battery storage projects in the UK (including two transmission-connected projects), including advising on drafting, negotiation and tendering in respect of BESS, BOP and SMA contracts, and on the project financing of Capenhurst, Wishaw and Brindley.

  • Masdar Arlington

    on the construction, revenue and debt financing for the development of a portfolio of battery energy storage projects in the UK.

  • Equinor

    in relation to its acquisition, financing and optimisation of various battery storage projects.

  • EDF Renewables UK

    on the acquisition of 100% (in two stages) of the co-located 400MW Longfield solar/BESS project in Essex and the acquisition of stakes in two in-development co-located solar/BESS projects with a capacity of 800MW (Springwell) and 500MW (Rosefield) respectively.

  • Field

    in relation to the acquisition, financing and optimisation of various battery storage projects.

  • Revera

    in relation to development of three new transmission-connected battery projects in the UK (up to 1.2GW), including advising on disaggregated construction and maintenance contracts and revenue optimisation, including all construction and revenue advice for the debt-financed Windyhill (200MW) project (closed February 2026).

  • InterGen

    on procurement, tendering and contracts (BESS, BOP and maintenance) and the sale of InterGen’s two 500MW projects at Eccles and Kilmarnock.

  • Temporis

    on construction and revenue contracts for a portfolio of three UK BESS projects.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Award
    Law Firm of the Year.
    Energy Storage Investment Awards 2024 and 2025
  • Award
    Law Firm of the Year.
    Energy Storage Awards 2024 and 2025
  • Quote
    "CMS are highly responsive and extremely quick without compromising the quality of their advice."
    Chambers, 2026
  • Quote
    "CMS have exceptional service and responsiveness throughout the transaction process and afterwards."
    Chambers, 2026
  • Quote
    "CMS have an excellent, partner-led approach with strong senior solicitor support, as well as excellent negotiation skills."
    Chambers, 2026
  • Quote
    "What makes CMS' Renewables practice team stand out is their ability to seamlessly support energy initiatives on a pan-European basis, assisting with the client's understanding of legal and market structures in each jurisdiction."
    Legal 500, 2026
  • Quote
    "They take the time to understand the client's primary pain points, and work closely with the client to develop effective strategies for navigating some of the thornier contract terms that are common points of contention in the negotiation of renewable energy transactions."
    Legal 500, 2026
  • Quote
    "What makes them an invaluable partner is their ability to skillfully project manage transactions in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, expanding and contracting resources as needed to fit client goals and keep negotiations moving forward at the desired pace."
    Legal 500, 2026
  • Quote
    "It's a strong team that is very commercially minded."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "CMS has a strong multi-disciplinary team of specialists which enables them to tackle complex problems."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "CMS always adopts a can-do, proactive approach to finding solutions."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "The team is extremely helpful and quick to respond."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "The team is very pragmatic and professional. They bring lots of experience, but they're not averse to thinking outside the box and coming up with novel solutions."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "The firm's services have always gone the extra mile to support."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "CMS understands the industry, our business and can give relevant, concise and commercial advice."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "The team is always proactive and responsive."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "They are demonstrating rapid and impressive growth in which the quality of domestic and international work is conducted to an exceptional standard. I would suggest their practice matches and exceeds a number of their London competitors."
    Legal 500, 2024
  • Quote
    "Very knowledgeable and also with offices in the right place to really assist their clients."
    Legal 500, 2024

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CMS advises Statera Energy on construction contracts for 680MW Carrington BESS project

11 Nov 2025 2 min read

CMS named Law Firm of the Year at the Energy Storage Investment Awards 2025

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Events

  • United Kingdom
    08 Apr 2026

    CMS at Fordham IP & Policy Conference

  • United Kingdom
    13 Apr 2026

    Skills for Future Facing Teams: Creating a team culture of coaching and feedback

  • United Kingdom
    21 Apr 2026

    On the Pulse webinar series 2026 - Spring/Summer

  • United Kingdom
    21 Apr 2026

    Future of Renewables Spring Seminar

  • United Kingdom
    22 Apr 2026

    Sustainable Buildings: Taking the Temperature in 2026

  • United Kingdom
    23 Apr 2026

    ESG: Breaking Down the Buzzword

  • United Kingdom
    28 Apr 2026

    Strategic expansion to India: A new chapter for UK higher education

  • United Kingdom
    28 Apr 2026

    IP Insights webinar series 2026

  • United Kingdom
    28 Apr 2026

    Future of Renewables Spring Seminars

  • United Kingdom
    29 Apr 2026

    CMS Update Morning: Media, Sports and Entertainment

  • United Kingdom
    02 May 2026

    CMS at INTA 2026

  • United Kingdom
    05 May 2026

    Cross-Border Financial Services 2026 webinar series

  • United Kingdom
    13 May 2026

    2026 ITechLaw World Technology Law Conference in Chicago

  • United Kingdom
    21 May 2026

    Navigating Global Uncertainty: Practical Insights for In-House Teams

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