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Energy and Climate Change

Future facing law firm delivering solutions for energy transition and climate challenges

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40 CMS lawyers listed in 2021 by IFLR1000 as market leaders and highly regarded experts in the Energy sector
160+ partners and 450+ lawyers globally
Acting for all 6 oil and gas supermajors
9 CMS lawyers recognised in 2021 by Who’s Who Legal for their superb knowledge of energy law and exceptional work across the oil & gas, power & electricity, and renewables sectors
Advised on the Offshore Deal of the Year 2021 at the Wind Investment Awards 2021 - Empire Wind and Beacon Wind on Equinor’s Stake Sale

Today’s energy sector requires expertise in global geopolitics, economics and regulation; but, rather than becoming more standardised and commoditised, the sector’s pace of change is accelerating. CMS teams work across the globe to help meet the demands of climate change, technological disruption, urbanisation in developing economies, social concerns and political agendas.

Our early work in designing and implementing modern energy markets – and subsequently guiding the sector’s push to decarbonisation – means CMS is not simply a transactional or project adviser, but is ideally placed to help shape its future.

We have supported the success of our clients by recognising the sector’s growing diversity and by working actively against 'silo thinking'. We are market-leading, global advisers on:

  • Oil & gas exploration and production
  • Mid-stream activities,
  • Traditional or newer electricity generation technologies
  • Energy transition and climate change strategies
  • Energy efficiency
  • Project finance
  • M&A
  • Disputes or regulatory and commercial issues
  • Hydrogen

Thanks to our cross-sectoral knowledge and expertise, we help ensure clients receive the advice best suited to their commercial needs and to our collective future.

Get in touch with our Energy & Climate Change team to find out more about how we can help.

Facilitating the future of energy

Our experts have shaped the sector by creating the legal frameworks upon which markets around the world are based. We have written energy market rules in over 60 countries, and recently won multiple awards for our work on Mexico’s electricity market reform and long-term auctions.

CMS lawyers thrive at the leading edge. We advise on a wide range of new energy technologies including energy storage, electrification of transport, decarbonisation of heat, floating offshore wind/LNG/solar, shale and alternative O&G, nuclear fusion, carbon capture and storage, tidal lagoons and digital energy. In some cases, we’ve “written the book” on these emerging energy technologies.

From the oil rigs in Azerbaijan to the hydro plants in Brazil, CMS lawyers will be where you need them. And most likely, will have been there before.

Highlighted experience

  • High value, complex cross-border projects

    Merkur Offshore GmbH

    An international CMS team advised on all aspects of the disposal of the shareholdings in the wind farm, including the project-financing related aspects. Two of the shareholders, Partners Group and InfraRed Capital Partners, had already been advised by CMS on the original purchase in 2016.

  • High value, complex cross-border projects

    Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure

    The purchase of 40% of the shares in Aquila Capital Holding GmbH, a leading manager of real asset investments.

  • High value, complex cross-border projects

    Repsol

    A share purchase agreement to sell Repsol’s offshore wind power business in the UK to SDIC Power of China, one of China’s biggest state-owned investment companies.

  • Opening new horizons

    Equinor

    The Hywind project and related M&A, a revolutionary new floating windfarm to be installed in UK waters.

  • Opening new horizons

    Signify

    The purchase of renewable energy from Green Investment Group by way of a virtual corporate power purchase agreement (VPPA) – one of Poland’s first agreements of this type.

  • Opening new horizons

    Pivot Power

    The sale of Pivot Power, a battery storage and EV charging infrastructure provider, to EDF Renewables.

  • Shaping the sector

    Government of South Africa, the National Electricity Regulatory (NER) and ESKOM

    Major reforms to South Africa’s legislative and regulatory frameworks for independent renewable power projects, and the restructuring and unbundling of the country’s electricity market, including the creation of regional distribution companies.

  • Shaping the sector

    The Kenya Power and Lighting Company

    The Lake Turkana Wind Farm Project, Africa’s largest IPP wind farm project. We advised on the allocation of risk and the strategy for structuring commercial terms for wheeling and interface arrangements to link the planned 428 km/400 KV transmission line to the grid.

  • Shaping the sector

    Romania’s Ministry of Energy

    A new support scheme for clean energy power projects We advised alongside NERA Economic Consulting and Marsh Europe.

  • Building businesses

    MOL

    The acquisition by Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group of 208 filling stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania from Eni.

  • Building businesses

    PRISMA

    A successful appeal by capacity booking platform operator PRISMA European Capacity Platform GmbH on the Board of Appeal of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators concerning the gas booking platform to be used at the Mallnow interconnection point and ‘GCP’ virtual interconnection point on the German-Polish border.

  • Building businesses

    Schlumberger

    A tripartite investment agreement with NNPC, Nigeria’s national oil company, and First Exploration and Petroleum, a Nigerian-based exploration and production company, to develop Nigeria’s offshore Anyala and Madu fields.

Case studies

We advised Equinor on its agreement with bp to sell 50% of its non-operated interests in the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind assets on the US east coast for a total consideration before adjustments of USD 1.1 bn. Power generation from each site will be sufficient to power more than 1 million homes.

Through this transaction, the two companies also established a strategic partnership for further growth within offshore wind in the US. 

What makes this case study interesting/ different/ innovative: 

This complex transaction allowed us to assist Equinor in exporting the approaches we and they have developed on European and Asian offshore wind projects and transactions to the nascent offshore wind market in America. It has helped to shape the emerging practice in the US. 

This landmark deal, which supports the coming together of two energy giants, is a critical moment in energy transition. Equinor have made innovative arrangements for a fossil fuel major to take steps to becoming a zero-carbon energy company. It is a significant step forward in the renewable energy industry. 

CMS won the Offshore Wind Deal of the Year Award at the Wind Investment Awards 2021

Spain’s 300MW Talayuela Solar Park will be one of the largest in Europe. CMS lawyers from across Europe have worked on the project.

CMS UK advised solar park operator Encavis AG on the ground-breaking framework agreement with the developer under which the project was acquired, with CMS Spain assisting on the acquisition. CMS Germany advised on the virtual PPA with a major utility - which was then closed under the lead of CMS UK, in parallel with a financing run out of Germany. 

What makes this case study interesting/ different/ innovative: 

Our seamless, strategic cross-border advice has enabled Talayuela to be delivered without state subsidies. The ability to do this that is offered by PPAs - especially virtual PPAs, structured as contracts for difference – is a new phenomenon in Europe. It is widely regarded as a key step towards market viability for renewables, ensuring stable income streams and project bankability.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Award
    Band 1 for Europe-wide Projects & Energy
    Chambers & Partners
  • Award
    Band 1 for Central & Eastern European Projects & Energy
    Chambers & Partners
  • Quote
    A team of high-calibre professionals with deep knowledge and business acumen for all types of energy work.
    Chambers and Partners 2020
  • Quote
    The firm is a longstanding market leader in alternative energy and has positioned itself centrally in the energy transition, facilitating decarbonisation through innovative projects concerning battery storage, hydrogen and CCU.
    Global Green Guide - Legal 500
  • Quote
    We always receive very accurate, complete and detailed answers. The relationship aspect is also important: they are always listening and available.
    Chambers and Partners 2022

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We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.

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