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Matthew is a Partner in the Energy & Climate Change Team.

Matthew has a track record of advising utilities, developers, large users of energy such as data centre developers and operators, last mile network providers, and governments on energy sector regulatory and commercial matters and projects and market reform. This includes advice on complex grid connections, last mile network projects (IDNO, private wire, microgrid) of all scales, power purchase arrangements, and the design and implementation of market reform arrangements.

Matthew has a particular focus on complex behind the meter energy solutions and last mile network solutions across a range of property types and portfolios. This includes advising in respect of solutions for very large power consuming sites such as data centres, frequently acting for a range of hyperscalers, other data centre operators and occupiers and for energy companies and investors providing last mile networks and/or behind the meter solutions. 

With more than 450 energy and climate change lawyers, including over 100 partners, the CMS Energy and Climate Change practice is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Led from its centres of excellence such as London and Aberdeen, the practice works across 75 offices globally. Building on 40 years of experience advising on power, oil & gas and renewables through to energy disputes, emerging areas and Energy Transition, CMS is uniquely placed to ensure clients receive advice best suited to their commercial needs and to our collective future.

Relevant experience

  • SSE Energy Solutions in respect of a range of large scale microgrid and last mile network projects and all associated power sector regulatory aspects.
  • EDF Power Solutions in respect of a range of large-scale private wire and behind the meter solutions projects and associated regulatory analysis.
  • A range of hyperscaler data centre developers and occupiers on large scale grid connection and last mile network projects and regulation.
  • Harwell Science and Innovation Campus on the procurement of a large scale actively managed smartgrid serving its 700-acre campus site in Oxford. 
  • Equinix on large scale grid connection and last mile network arrangements across a range of data centre sites/campuses.
  • Pure Data Centres on power procurement and behind the meter arrangements across a range of UK sites.
  • InfraRed in respect of investment into the role out of domestic scale behind the meter solar/BESS solutions.
  • Enfinium in respect of large scale EfW direct line private wire arrangements.
  • Columbia Threadneedle on a range of large scale grid connection, last mile network (IDNO and private wire), and behind the meter solar projects and power sector regulatory advice.
  • Landsec in respect of a range of grid connection and behind the meter networks/energy generation matters.
  • Greystoke in respect of complex and large-scale data centre power arrangements.
  • Solarel in respect of the provision of solar and other behind the meter generation to a range of commercial sites.
  • nlighten data centres in respect of a range of clean energy related advice.
  • Vattenfall in respect of IDNO arrangements.
  • SEGRO in respect of a range of rooftop solar, last mile network and grid connections advice for a wide range of logistics and data centre sites.
  • Yondr Data centers in respect of a range of power supply and grid connection matters.
  • Cadent Gas on its price control appeals in respect of the RIIO-GD2 decisions.
  • Net Zero Teesside Power in respect of its first of a kind gas fired power station with carbon capture Dispatchable Power Agreement.
  • The UK government, and subsequently the UK government owned Low Carbon Contracts Company on the design, implementation and then running of the GB Contracts for Difference subsidy mechanism.
  • The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in relation to the design and implementation of the Romanian Contracts for Difference for renewables regime. 

Memberships & Roles

  • Consulting Editorial Board Member - LexisPSL Energy

Education

  • 2007 – LPC, BPP Law School, Leeds
  • 2006 – GDL, BPP Law School, Leeds
  • 2005 – MA, English Literature, University of St Andrews, St Andrews

Insights by Matthew

Spring 2026 update on further Demand Connection Reform for Data Centres and other Large Energy Users

18 Mar 2026 12 min read

Scotland's first AI Growth Zone announced: a new era for data centre development in Scotland

03 Feb 2026 6 min read

Smart Secure Electricity System (SSES) Programme: The proposed load control regime at a glance

26 Jan 2026 12 min read

Autumn Budget 2025: Key energy sector announcements

28 Nov 2025 7 min read
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