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Portrait ofMunir Hassan

Munir Hassan

Partner
Head of the CMS Energy & Climate Change Group

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu

Munir Hassan is Head of the CMS Energy & Climate Change Group. The Group is a global market leader in specialist legal advice on energy matters, in particular in the power and renewables sectors. Munir’s team advises on a vast portfolio of low carbon projects and transactions across all technologies, particularly offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and biomass, and across legal disciplines from M&A and financings through to consenting, real estate, commercial and regulatory issues and disputes. In addition, it is helping to carve a path forward for technologies that are accelerating the energy transition, from shaping the business models for carbon capture and storage, advising on small modular nuclear reactor projects, the first commercial scale floating offshore windfarms and on hydrogen projects in all their various colours. 

Munir advises on all aspects of power from generation to networks. He started his career advising largely on power and gas networks, wholesale markets, industry and regulated frameworks and conventional power stations. Over the past fifteen years this expertise has been supplemented with a strong focus on the clean energy sector, including on securing project opportunities (whether merchant or government procured), permitting, dealing with the challenges of a constantly changing commercial and regulatory environment on a national and international level, the commercial arrangements for projects, revenue stream arrangements, project contracts and operational optimisation.  He provides the sectoral expertise on M&A transactions, project financings and disputes across the UK, Europe, Asia, MENA, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

He is also renowned for his depth of expertise in wholesale market reforms, restructurings, privatisations and reforms of regulatory frameworks. This wealth of background gained from over twenty five years of advising on the rules in the sector are currently helping clients and counterparts address the novel challenges that arise as we make lasting decisions that will shape our future energy system.

Munir is the editor of “Wind: Projects & Transactions”, “Power: A Practical Guide”, the Renewable Energy Law Review 2023, the CMS Renewables Guide covering over 40 jurisdictions and a number of other specialist energy publications. He is also the Chair of the Energy Committee of the City of London Law Society.

With more than 800 energy and climate change lawyers, including over 200 partners, the CMS Energy and Climate Change Group is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The practice works from over 80 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 a sustainable energy future.

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"Munir is very commercial on the project development side."

Chambers, 2024

"He is highly sought after. His knowledge of both electricity and renewable energy sectors is outstanding."

Chambers, 2024

"Munir is great to deal with."

Chambers, 2023

"He 'knows so much about the industry', 'He understands what keeps us awake at night'."

Legal 500, 2020

"He is very insightful when it comes to advice and he always provides practical solutions that are tailored to our specific business."

Chambers, 2019

"He knows the offshore wind market exceptionally well." A client said: "His advice was of the best quality, it was on time and it was to the point."

Chambers, 2015

Relevant experience

  • Offshore wind: Advising on most of the UK’s offshore wind projects and transactions, including Moray Firth, Dudgeon, Sheringham Shoal, Forewind, Gwynt y Mor Njord, Heron and other SMart Wind projects, Blyth, Navitus Bay, Rhyl Flats, First Flight Wind project in Northern Ireland, Hywind, Galloper and Triton Knoll. International offshore wind experience includes advising the Kansai Electric Power Co. on its participation in a consortium led by Glennmont Partners which has acquired a 50% ownership share in Germany’s 900MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm from Ørsted.
  • Onshore wind: Advising on a significant number of projects and transactions, including Scout Moor, Little Cheyne Court, Tir Mostyn, Lake Turkana (Kenya), Singida (Tanzania) and Tesla / Dolovo (Serbia).
  • Other technologies: Advising on conventional gas and coal fired power projects, biomass projects, tidal and wave projects (including the first tidal barrage, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon), a large number of solar projects and transactions, energy from waste projects, district heating, energy storage projects and on the White Rose, Humber, Longannet and Kingsnorth carbon capture and storage projects.
  • Nuclear power: Advising the shareholders in Horizon Nuclear Power on Nuclear New Build; RWE Npower on new nuclear power stations proposed in the UK on two sites at Anglesey  and Gloucestershire; Vattenfall in relation to its bid for British Energy; on the drafting of new nuclear decommissioning fund legislation in Slovakia.
  • Electricity market reforms: utility restructurings and privatisations: Advising on successive reforms in the UK electricity market since the New Electricity Trading Arrangements in 1999, CFDs for Dudgeon, Heron, Njord and CCS, on the Capacity Market arrangements, and on market reforms and restructurings in Mexico, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, seven countries in South East Europe and Ireland. Also advised on retail market reform in Northern Ireland and Saudi Arabia
  • Reform of regulatory frameworks: Advised on the establishment of a new legal and regulatory framework in Saudi Arabia, Botswana and South Africa.
  • Energy networks: Drafted the Grid Code or Connection and Use of System Codes for England & Wales (now extended to GB), Northern Ireland, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Italy and advised TSOs and TNOs in a number of jurisdictions.
  • Commercial, project and regulatory advice: Advising on commercial and regulatory arrangements on power projects, including offtake (PPA) agreements, grid connections, offshore and onshore leases, regulatory compliance, fuel supply arrangements, EPC and O&M arrangements, TSAs and decommissioning arrangements.
  • Other utility sectors: Advising in other regulated sectors such as gas (including multi-utility arrangements), water (bid for Thames Water), rail (establishment of Network Rail) and airports (bid for Gatwick Airport).
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Awards & Rankings

Munir is the recipient of many awards and accolades. Below is a small selection:

  • Legal Business Awards 2017 and Lawyer Awards 2017 – both for his work on the Mexico electricity reform
  • Client Choice Awards 2020 – Energy & Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year (nominated and voted for by inhouse counsel)
  • Word About Wind - Offshore Wind Deal of the Year 2021 for Empire & Beacon Wind in New York, USA
  • Ranked in Who’s Who Legal – Energy
  • Ranked in Word About Wind – Legal Power List
  • Ranked in Legal500
  • Ranked in Chambers & Partners
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Education

  • LLB (Hons) - University of Nottingham.
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Feed

07/03/2024
Renewable energy in Greece
1. Introduction In response to energy crises triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Greece has taken several steps to ensure energy security including: reducing its reliance on Russia by importing...
23/01/2024
Changes to the Grid Connection Queue Management Process: The Planning Perspective
In a previous LawNow, we discussed the introduction of a change to the queue management process for grid connections (pursuant to CUSC Modification Proposal 376, approved by Ofgem on 13 November 2023)...
20/12/2023
COP28 Update – 20 December 2023
COP28 has seen a host of pledges and agreements, and the CMS team has been reflecting on the announcements and sharing their experiences of COP28 on the CMS COP28 Hub. Here, we roundup the latest commentary...
14/12/2023
COP28 Update – 14 December 2023
COP28 has seen a host of pledges and agreements, and the CMS team has been reflecting on the announcements and sharing their experiences of COP28 on the CMS COP28 Hub. Here, we roundup the latest commentary...
06/12/2023
Global Stocktake: Energy Security, Net Zero and Sustainability
CMS will host a high level discussion on the challenges of energy security, net zero and sus­tain­ab­il­ity.  Agenda Special Address | Edward Hobart CMG, British Ambassador to the United Arab Emir­ates­Key­note...
06/12/2023
Roundtable: enabling reduced carbon emissions
Join the CMS energy team in person at CMS Dubai for a breakfast roundtable discussion. Our conversation will be driven by the announcements and negotiations at COP28, and will be an opportunity to discuss...
30/11/2023
Views from the Energy Leaders’ Summit
Wednesday 6 December saw CMS host the Energy Leaders’ Summit on behalf of the Global Success Partnership at CMS Dubai. The event welcomed Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE, and Andrew Bowie MP, UK Minister for Nuclear and Net Zero, who shared their perspectives of the UK’s role as a global leader in climate action and energy transition, and the opportunities for collaboration with the UAE and other countries in the region. The panel discussion covered a wide range of topics on the various aspects of the energy transition - the role of innovation, finance, policy, and partnerships in achieving net zero emissions, and the challenges and opportunities for industrial decarbonisation and reskilling.  Thank you to the panellists:Munir Hassan, Head of Energy & Climate Change, CMSAnnika Ramsköld, Chief Sustainability Officer, VattenfallAngela Churie Kallhauge, Executive Vice President and Head of the COP28 Delegation, Environmental Defence FundJan Spin, President of Americas, Blue Green Water TechnologiesAnna Hancock, Executive Director, Pollination Group, AustraliaLeon Kamhi, Executive Director, Head of Responsibility, Federated Hermes Limited A huge step forward in the reduction of methane The Global Methane Pledge made at COP28 has been joined by over 100 countries and aims to accelerate the implementation of existing and new measures to reduce methane emissions, such as capturing and using methane from landfills and oil and gas operations, improving waste management, and promoting low-emission agriculture. The World Bank is set to roll out a minimum of 15 country-led programs within the next 18 months to slash up to 10 million tons of methane (over investment lifespans). So, lots of positive messages about reducing methane. The sense on the panel was that it was a huge step forward that methane was discussed to such an extent and the commitment that some of the largest oil companies have made to reduce methane could be a game changer. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have an important role in monitoring and verifying the methane reductions using satellite data and we heard about the need for more funding and innovation to support methane abatement in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the oil and gas sector.  Reskilling is a huge opportunity  The panel discussed the social and economic impacts of the energy transition, and the need for a just and inclusive approach that considers the needs and aspirations of the citizens and the workers. We heard about the importance of reskilling and upskilling the workforce, sharing best practices and lessons learned from different countries and regions. Where the infrastructure can be easily transformed to support clean energy, this reskilling presents an opportunity to both businesses and local communities. However, panellists reflected that this was not always possible, so some communities may struggle to thrive if their current livelihoods cannot be transitioned to clean energy. The role of investors and financial institutions There was considerable discussion about the role of investors and financial institutions in supporting the transition, and the need for consistent and credible disclosure and reporting stand­ards. There are challenges and opportunities for creating new revenue streams and business models, and the role of carbon markets and social bonds in financing the transition. For the investment infrastructure to be created so that investors can support governments in delivering their programmes, it needs to be easier for private investment to entertain the risk. Blue Green Water Technologies remove harmful alga blooms from lakes and oceans. These projects are often financed by companies using carbon credits and this source of funding has enabled local communities to benefit from cleaned bodies of water. Biodiversity has dramatically increased, as has the value of land. Creative funding solutions can benefit many different stakeholders by enabling projects such as these. Climate risk is an accelerating risk, and this should be considered by financial institutions. As they calculate the value of climate risk and its impact on their capital allocation, remuneration and expenses, the valuations must adjust. The view on disclosures and standards was that their have a role, but any investment should lead to a change in behaviour, not just to be disclosed as part of disclosure requirements. Making disclosures is a huge investment for a business and so the sense was that businesses should avoid measuring in a certain way purely for disclosures instead of really delivering change and solutions. The role of governments Finally, we heard about the role of governments in facilitating and enabling the transition, and the need for collaboration and cooperation at all levels. We learned about the importance of setting clear and ambitious targets and policies and aligning them with the global goals and commitments. We also heard about the importance of engaging and empowering the stakeholders, especially the non-state actors, and creating trust and confidence in the transition. COP28 has a role as a platform for showcasing solutions and forging partnerships. The Leadership Group for Industry Transition is one example of how governments can be brought together with companies and civil society to support and accelerate the transition to net zero emissions in industry and create new markets and jobs. Communities will make the difference The discussion closed with some reflections on the importance of different communities in making the energy transition happen. Communities of all types, such as those who attended the Energy Leaders’ Summit, will come together to use the technology available to translate the deals and agreements into action. We need government support to remove the brakes, and we need actors of all types to come together. We need people to question, to demand more and to change behaviour.  
29/11/2023
Empowering COP28 with comprehensive legal support
International law firm CMS has been designated as a legal advisor for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), hosted by the UAE from November 30th to December 12th. CMS will deliver broad-ranging...
15/11/2023
Ofgem Approves Queue Management Process to Manage Transmission Connections
Ofgem published its decision on 13 November 2023 in relation to CMP376 that the “WACM7” modification should be made to the Connection and Use of System Code (“CUSC”) in order to implement queue...
07/11/2023
Funding + reskilling + data + consumer engagement = energy transition...
 
02/11/2023
COP 28 Ahead: Hydrogen Ambitions in MENA
During COP28, the fourth annual Hydrogen Transition Summit will be held to examine: (i) increasing hydrogen production; (ii) mobilising finance and de-risking investment for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen...
01/11/2023
COP28: how the law can unite and act to deliver the UN SDGs
Thursday 7 December saw a panel event to discuss COP28: how the law can unite and act to deliver the UN SDGs, hosted by Advocates for International Development and supported by Clifford Chance, CMS, Kirkland & Ellis and Linklaters.