Partner

Matthew Honeyben

Languages

English

Matt is a Partner in the Energy & Climate Change Team in London, specialising in the clean energy sector.

Matt has over fifteen years’ experience representing developers, corporates, sponsors, state-owned entities, lenders, infrastructure funds and export credit agencies in the energy and infrastructure sectors in all areas of project development, acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, project finance and venture capital funding. He is a sector specialist in nuclear energy advising on conventional large scale nuclear projects as well as small modular reactor projects and advanced nuclear technologies. His recent deal experience includes advising on the development of all aspects of new nuclear projects including nuclear reactor vendor selection, engineering procurement and construction contracts, fuel supply agreements, power purchase agreements, joint venture and financing arrangements.

Matt also advises on renewable energy projects including wind, solar, battery storage and electricity transmission.

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 and 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

A Middle Eastern government sponsor in connection with all aspects of development and financing of a USD 20bn new-build nuclear power project, including the joint venture arrangements with the Middle Eastern host country government and the technology vendor, refinancing of a multi-sourced financing backed by export credit agency finance, renegotiation of the power purchase agreement with the Middle Eastern state offtaker, analysis of the fuel supply arrangements for first fuel and the first two fuel reloads together with regulatory matters involving the federal nuclear authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
A privately-owned developer in connection with the development a proposed GBP 15bn new build nuclear project in the UK, including multiple arrangements for the sell down of this project and other regulatory matters.
A small modular reactor nuclear power project developer in the United Kingdom in connection with structuring a framework for government cooperation and support under a public-private partnership model for country-wide deployment of SMR projects on a technology-agnostic basis.
A Middle Eastern government entity in relation to the commercial viability of its preferred small modular reactor technology.
A European project developer in relation to the bankability of its small modular reactor project.
A lead small modular reactor technology vendor in relation to early works funding arrangements for the development of its project delivery in Europe.
Lenders on the USD 650m refinancing of the London Array windfarm.
DP World on a USD 600m investment into a joint venture to operate and maintain port assets in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Export credit agencies and lenders on the USD 19bn Yamal LNG project in Russia.
Noble Group on the USD 750m disposal of its 49% interest in the Noble Agri business to COFCO HK.
Lenders on the financing of the 873 MW hydro-electric generation facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan.
Speyside Renewable Energy Partnership Ltd on the successful development and financing of the Speyside combined heat and power plant project in Scotland.
Golar LNG on the world’s first FLNG conversion, the Golar Hilli.
Svenska Petroleum on the proposed USD 1.1bn sale of its upstream oil and gas business across Europe and Africa.
Developers on the USD317m disposal of the offshore transmission system assets for the 500 MW Greater Gabbard offshore windfarm.

Education

2007 – LPC, College of Law, London.
2004 – BA (Law), Pembroke College, University of Oxford.

sectors

Energy & Climate Change

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024