Our energy sector experience is far reaching and extends from advising and negotiating an option for a long lease for a biomass power station, to advising on a coal loading agreement, to regulatory advice for several wind farm projects in the region. Our capabilities in protecting and expanding their commercial operations, extend to those involved in the energy supply chain.
We always seek to provide the most cost-effective solution to meet your legal requirements. Every client receives a personal service tailored to their requirements and our aim is to build a close working relationship with our teams. Members of our Energy Group include partners, associate solicitors, solicitors and trainees so that we can provide the most appropriate level of experience and advice that any project demands.
We also enlist the services of leading experts. By way of example, Professor Ian Fells, is an environmental consultant and Principal Consultant at Fells Associates who is engaged by us within our Energy Group. Professor Fells was the founder chairman of the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), was Science adviser to The World Energy Council and has been special adviser to several Parliamentary committees concerning energy and the environment. He is Energy Adviser to the EC and European Parliament and has advised a number of foreign governments on energy policy.
Here’s how we can help
We provide advice on areas including:
- helping organisations produce a marketing presentation and information memorandum to promote investment opportunities to potential funders;
- providing due diligence and reporting to investors, including the sectors' regulatory environment and associated obligations;
- advice on refinancing issues, investments, divestments, mergers, acquisitions and shareholder agreements;
- emissions trading advice;
- risk analysis throughout every stage of a project;
- advice on planning and consents issues;
- asset portfolio management;
- the protection and exploitation of intellectual property; and
- protecting parties' interests through negotiation, mediation or litigation.
Clients and experience
Our Energy Group has worked on a wide variety of projects, with particular emphasis in the renewable energy field:
- advising Narec (the National Renewable Energy Centre) on its proposed fundraising to develop a PV manufacturing facility in the UK, including advice on private placing and IPO options;
- option and lease arrangements for two biomass power stations, including advising on a loading agreement, taking security over IP, technology licensing and customer warranty claims;
- we are currently providing strategic advice to a long standing client on the start-up, financing and commercial arrangements for a new business relating to the installation of PV panels to industrial roof spaces;
- commercial PV farm option and lease transactions on behalf of a developer/operator;
- a number of commercial wind farm developments from the grant of the initial option and lease, through the planning and construction stages, continuing to operation on behalf of developer/operators and landowners;
- a micro-hydroelectric development option and lease transaction on behalf of a developer/ operator;
- advising on marketing presentations and financial promotion/prospectus requirement issues relating to the fundraising of 18.5 million Australian Dollars towards the cost of constructing a bioethanol plant; and
- advising a client in the renewable energy sector on the initial stages of a project to acquire process technology and know-how related to PV technology and also to take a licence of an existing PV production facility;
- acting for the UK's largest FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Off-take) facility; and
- advising on key aspects of the offshore infrastructure relating to Greater Gabbard off the Suffolk coast, which is the world's largest offshore wind farm.
What people say about us
Our satisfied clients provide the best testaments to how we add value to their businesses:
“The Moor Group of Companies has worked with Muckle LLP for almost 10 years now and because of their sector expertise Muckle LLP was the obvious choice for us. We needed support that had the technical knowledge to make our solar park happen, that were capable of dealing with the City lawyers engaged by the investors and, crucially, who would take a no nonsense approach to the challenging but critical deadline. I am absolutely delighted with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Muckle’s Energy Group to any other business looking for this specialist advice.”
Peter Smeaton, Director, Moor Solar upon creating a 2.8 Mega Watt solar park on 20 acres of redundant farm land in Lincolnshire.
"In overall terms the Service is excellent. Specifically I feel that they have a great strength in depth, advice is always concise, pragmatic and client need focused. I am always impressed by the speed with which advice is given and that it is always to client deadlines, no matter how unreasonable that may be sometimes. In terms of value for money we have absolutely no complaints, bills are very reasonable considering the excellent service. We have over the years used other firms, both UK and US based. It is my experience that the attention given to the client by Muckle LLP is unsurpassed. So much so now that all of our UK business goes to Muckle LLP. We wouldn't consider another firm."
Matt Boyle, President & Chief Executive Officer, Sevcon Ltd
"The team played a key role in a number of energy sector deals recently, including acting for the Port of Blyth in relation to a proposed biomass power station."
Chambers & Partners 2012
Join the debate
We have set up a discussion forum called Energy Forum North East on the website, LinkedIn. This group is to help businesses of any size to engage and share knowledge and understanding to their mutual benefit within the energy sectors (particularly renewable energy). You would be most welcome to join and contribute. If you are already registered on LinkedIn, you can join the forum via Energy Forum North East.
For those of you who are new to LinkedIn, it is a website that helps business people to develop their professional networks. Anyone can join and use the service for free – you simply need to set up a brief career history profile for yourself at www.linkedin.com. You can then join the Forum.