Skip to content
Freeths - Law firm

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Powerful solutions for your business

What is involved?

Freeths is one of few law firms in the UK with a dedicated Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability practice.

Our clients include energy project developers, equity and debt investors, contractors, large energy consumers, utilities and other energy suppliers, local government, landlords and occupiers, energy services companies (ESCOs) and aggregators.

On the waste side we act for some of the UK’s major waste and re-usables companies, both private and public, including waste disposal authorities, waste collectors, transfer station operators, hauliers, brokers, and operators of all types of waste treatment facility including energy-from-waste.

Additionally, we help clients in all sectors to decarbonise, improve their sustainability, reduce their energy consumption and emissions, manage their waste, and address the ‘green agenda’. Our team also advises clients on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and how these impact their businesses.

Download our Sustainability Solutions for Businesses explainer here to see how businesses across all sectors could generate new revenue streams and/or make cost savings at the same time as enhancing their green credentials. This will be of particular interest to any business with a significant energy demand, a net zero target, and/or spare land or roofspace that could be monetised by hosting third party-funded energy assets.

The Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability team is led by Clare King (Clean Energy), Kirstin Roberts (Waste, Sustainability and ESG) and James Larmour (Projects & Infrastructure).

Read our latest articles here >

Subscribe to receive our updates here >

Our wider Infrastructure and Project Finance group advises on all types of infrastructure projects, at all stages of the project lifecycle from planning, procurement, financing, construction, operation and exit strategy.

Why choose Freeths?

Members of our Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability team specialise in:

  • Commercial Contracts
  • Regulation
  • Real Estate
  • Planning and Environment
  • Construction
  • Corporate Transactions, Taxation
  • Banking and Finance
  • Dispute Resolution, Climate Change Litigation, Greenwashing
  • Public Procurement
  • Health and Safety
  • Business Structures and Restructuring
  • Intellectual Property, IT and Data

Ranked for ‘Energy, Project Finance & PFI’ and ‘Power’

Key contacts

Clare King

Clare King
Partner

0345 128 6950

Kirstin Roberts

Kirstin Roberts FCIWM
Director

0345 166 6299

 

 

We regularly host webinars on hot topics in the Clean Energy, Waste and/or Sustainability sectors:

Sustainability: buzzword or business critical? Don’t let your business get left behind > 

Our panel of experts discussed:

  • What does sustainability actually mean and how you could work towards it in your business
  • Case Study: a corporate’s approach to sustainability and how its sustainability plan has merged with its commercial plan to grow its business
  • The increased focus of investors on sustainability and how this is driving change across the supply chain

Bioenergy – the Current Market and Future Opportunities >

Our speakers discussed the current bioenergy market and future opportunities. We also covered the Green Gas Support Scheme, common misconceptions in the bioenergy sector, and developments in the feedstock market. A poll of attendees revealed that most believe anaerobic digestion will win out as the predominant bioenergy generation technology.

Hydrogen: what’s the buzz >

The first in a series of webinars exploring the role of hydrogen in the UK economy, this session covered the energy, transport and wider infrastructure sectors. Our speakers provided a high level introduction to hydrogen in the energy sector, including:

  • how does hydrogen fit into the energy transition
  • the different methods of producing hydrogen
  • what are the main uses of hydrogen
  • what are government and industry stakeholders doing to promote hydrogen in the 2020s

Hydrogen in transport >

In the second of our webinars looking at the role of hydrogen in the energy transition, we take a closer look at hydrogen’s potential in the transport sector.

Read our other hydrogen materials here:

Clean Energy

We have genuine in-depth knowledge of the clean energy sector, with particular expertise in renewable energy, battery storage, distributed generation, heat and innovative/smart solutions.

Our experience includes:

  • energy-from-waste (including anaerobic digestion, biomass, gasification and biomethane injection/gas-to-grid)
  • battery storage
  • ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV
  • onshore and offshore wind
  • combined heat and power (CHP)
  • zero emission vehicles and EV charging infrastructure
  • hydrogen and alternative fuels
  • onshore and offshore electricity networks (including private wires and OFTOs)
  • grid connections
  • smart metering
  • virtual power plants
  • energy services and energy performance contracting (including ESCO frameworks)
  • route-to-market contracts
    • power purchase agreements (including all types of corporate PPA – private wire, sleeved and synthetic/virtual)
    • battery optimisation services contracts
  • decarbonisation of heat and heat networks
  • electricity and heat supply contracts
  • distributed generation, asset aggregation and portfolio optimisation
  • balancing/ancillary services (including the capacity market)
  • energy industry regulation (including clean energy subsidies, low carbon incentives, licensing and licence exemptions)
  • PFI, PPP and joint venture structures

Infrastructure and Project Finance transactions are the specialism of James Larmour, who has over 15 years’ experience acting for investors on energy, waste and infrastructure projects. James advises on structuring primary market projects, secondary market acquisitions and disposals, and managing projects throughout their lifecycle (including change management, equity restructuring and refinancing).

Regen Members Logo ESN Members Logo

Waste

Freeths is one of the few UK law firms with a dedicated Waste practice. This specialist team sits within the wider Energy, Waste & Sustainability team.

The Team is headed by Kirstin Roberts and Ben Derrington and Alison Ogley, who between them have 30 years + of specialist experience dealing with waste & recycling matters. The wider waste team includes Freeths specialists with a wealth of experience in waste management matters from real estate to construction; property litigation to employment.

Kirstin is a Chartered Waste Manager with CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) and advises companies at all levels of the waste & recycling industry, from acting for EfW and AD facility owners and/or operators to reviewing and negotiating publicly procured contracts such as collections or treatment agreements with local councils, to advising on offtaker arrangements, feedstock arrangements, haulage agreements, SRF and RDF export agreements and waste contract disputes. Kirstin is listed as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 (2023 edition).

Ben is an environmental, regulatory lawyer and member of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association. He has a masters’ degree in Environmental Analysis & Assessment (Imperial College) and lead the Legal500 Tier-1 ranked Environment Team at his former firm. Ben advises on waste regulation including complex end-of-waste matters, environmental permitting of waste operations (including defence of enforcement action), energy from waste regulation, pollution incidents, contaminated land, water resources, climate change law, environmental information, Environmental Management Systems, crisis and risk management. Ben also works with our Regulatory Department to provide advice and training on crisis and risk management.

Alison acts for a wide range of development sectors, including minerals and waste, representing clients at Public Inquiries and through the Courts. She has particular expertise as lead advocate in major inquiries and hearings, representing clients appearing before the First Tier Tribunal and Magistrates Courts on environmental cases. Alison advises on contaminated land, environmental permitting and broader climate change and biodiversity issues for a range of business sectors. She is recognised as a leading individual for both Planning and Environment law in The Legal 500 and was voted one of the Women of Influence by Planning Magazine in 2021.

CIWM logo

Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)

The team regularly advises in relation to:

  • Major Projects
  • Local authority contracts – acting for both local authorities and private sector bidders.
  • SRF and RDF export
  • MRF operators
  • Feedstock agreements
  • Haulage agreements
  • Waste broker agreements
  • Landfill – acting for operators and contractors
  • Contracts with the Third Sector
  • O&M contracts
  • Liquid waste
  • Environmental permits and similar authorisations
  • Contamination of soil or water
  • Odour, noise and dust abatement
  • Packaging waste, WEEE and waste batteries
  • Waste Regulation and Environmental Permitting
  • End-of-waste and circular economy
  • Health & safety including the defence of enforcement action by the HSE

Zero Emission Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure

We really understand the ZEV market – the various business models available and the key considerations of stakeholders. This allows us to help our clients realise their ambitions whilst ensuring that their commercial interests are protected.

 

 

Our dedicated Zero Emission Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure page has further details of our experience, as well as downloadable materials to help you understand the risks and opportunities in the ZEV sector.

 

Meet the team

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability Lawyers


Philippa Dempster

Philippa Dempster
Managing Partner

0207 440 5841

Chris Freeston

Chris Freeston
Managing Partner

0345 634 1725

Perveen Akhter
Partner

0345 030 5747

Mohammed Alam
Partner

0345 340 4215

Michael Bray

Michael Bray
Partner

0345 126 3775

Robert Bruce
Partner

0345 128 6958

Paul Burnley

Paul Burnley
Partner

0345 017 8381

Lindsey Clegg

Lindsey Clegg
Partner

0345 030 5793

Alice Dockar
Partner

0345 166 6265

James Dyson

James Dyson
Partner

0345 128 7995

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Suriya Edwards
Partner

0345 404 4124

James Hartley

James Hartley
Partner

0345 077 9581

Jackie Heeds
Partner

0345 634 2606

image of Charlotte Hugo smiling

Lottie Hugo
Partner

0345 126 3470

Tom Johnson
Partner

0345 128 7974

Alex Johnson
Partner

0345 077 9643

John Kelly
Partner

0345 050 3687

Clare King

Clare King
Partner

0345 128 6950

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Paul Kinninmont
Partner

0345 340 4218

James Larmour

James Larmour
Partner

0345 017 1122

Andrew Maxwell

Andrew Maxwell
Partner

0345 128 6997

George Metcalfe
Partner

0345 030 5709

Ben Moylan

Ben Moylan
Partner

0345 126 3758

Dahren Naidoo

Dahren Naidoo
Partner

0345 030 5743

Martin Noble
Partner

0345 030 5699

Alison Ogley
Partner

0345 030 5859

Clive Pearce

Clive Pearce
Partner

0345 128 6990

Emily Settle

Emily Settle
Partner

0345 126 4366

Penny Simpson

Penny Simpson
Partner

0345 017 1133

Malin Svanberg Larsson

Malin Svanberg Larsson
Partner

0345 166 6335

Nick Taylor
Partner

0345 5340 4220

Paul Thorogood

Paul Thorogood
Partner

0345 274 6820

Duncan Tringham
Partner

0117 472 5385

Image of Tom Walker

Tom Walker
Partner

0345 166 6337

Rachael Yates
Partner

0345 077 9578

Emma Anderson
Director

0345 272 5712

Richard Broadbent
Director

0345 030 5820

James Cowell

James Cowell
Director

0345 271 6751

Laura Czapski

Laura Czapski
Director

0186 578 1168

Ben Derrington

Ben Derrington
Director

0345 030 5855

Natalie Drought
Director

0345 271 6752

Nichola Faith

Nichola Faith
Director

0345 404 1756

Lucy Jackson
Director

0345 404 1739

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Rachel Kent
Director

0345 404 4112

Marie Mulligan
Director

0345 340 4209

Imogen Randall
Director

0345 077 9582

Kirstin Roberts

Kirstin Roberts FCIWM
Director

0345 166 6299

David Shakesby
Director

0345 030 5202

Robert Smedley
Director

0345 030 5806

Dominic Canning

Dominic Canning
Managing Associate

0345 126 4379

Stephen Evans
Managing Associate

0121 233 5996

Coralie McKeivor
Managing Associate

0345 126 4384

Daniel McNally - Compliance and Regulatory Lawyer

Daniel McNally
Managing Associate

0345 030 5728

Liam O'Flynn
Managing Associate

0345 128 6986

Jennifer Roe

Jennifer Roe
Managing Associate

0345 404 1735

Emma Tringham
Managing Associate

0345 077 9608

Ella Carroll
Senior Associate

0345 017 6020

Rachel Clack
Senior Associate

0345 272 5720

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Emma Conwell
Senior Associate

0345 073 8396

Stephanie Gozney
Senior Associate

0345 166 6293

Fatima Hammad
Senior Associate

0854 126 3750

Image of Charlotte Hartwright

Charlotte Hartwright
Senior Associate

0345 126 3747

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Emma Lythgoe
Senior Associate

0345 077 9561

Sadiea Mustafa-Awan
Senior Associate

0345 030 5658

Iram Noordin

Iram Noordin
Senior Associate

0345 166 6262

Amy Stolberg

Amy Patmore
Senior Associate

0345 126 4382

Henrietta Rendell
Senior Associate

0345 128 6981

Barry Richards

Barry Richards
Senior Associate

0345 126 4374

Image of Shraiya Thapa

Shraiya Thapa
Senior Associate

0345 404 4101

Reece Ballett
Associate

0345 128 6980

Hayley Bunt
Associate

0345 030 5431

Nicole Hendy
Associate

0345 404 4123

James Lapham
Associate

0186 578 1291

Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability

Claire Lathwell
Associate

0345 340 4251

Hannah Ley
Associate

0345 1205 294

Helen Mitcheson profile photo

Helen Mitcheson
Associate

0345 077 9612

Samantha Osborne
Associate

0345 634 1721

Edward Peel
Associate

0345 030 5824

Elliott Thorne
Associate

0345 030 5773

Raman Virk
Associate

0345 274 6889

Karolina Olczak
Executive

0345 272 5730

Related news
More related news, articles and events for Clean Energy, Waste & Sustainability
Testimonials

"As a Developer and EPC Contractor for photovoltaic plants, we are delighted with the services provided by Freeths. They provide the full range of legal services we require throughout the development and construction phases, with a high quality standard and timely response. In a market as demanding as the photovoltaic market, Freeths is the reliable, flexible and solution-oriented partner we want to have by our side."

(Developer and EPC Contractor, solar PV projects)

"First rate partner led service. Freeths has expertise in all areas relating to energy projects and provide their services seamlessly from their network of offices."

(Developer and funder of wind and solar PV projects)

"The Freeths Energy Team provides an excellent and responsive service. They have all the necessary experience and expertise to cover our legal requirements as EPC and O&M Contractors and as we expand our business in the UK."

(Major international contractor undertaking solar, gas and diesel generation and battery storage projects in the UK)

"The team at Freeths have the necessary experience and expertise to advise on complex district heating projects from start to successful completion and do so in a commercial and proactive manner."

(Developer and installer of district heating schemes)

‘What really sets Freeths apart from their competitors is their communication, which in my experience is the best in the industry. I have yet to work with another law firm whose partners make themselves so readily available and so easily contactable. I would not hesitate to use Freeths again.’

(The Legal 500, 2024)

‘The advice provided was quick, creative and practical. This was needed in respect of a project with a very demanding timeframe and changing legislative requirements.’

(The Legal 500, 2024)

‘At the forefront of developments and good market knowledge.’

(The Legal 500, 2024)

"Hands-on experience from senior level to most junior, with in depth knowledge and commercially driven approach to problem-solving. Excellent interpersonal skills, unmatched knowledge of the energy sector, excellent management skills."

(The Legal 500, 2023)

"Freeth’s clearly have a deep understanding of the market, legislation and technology as well as the approaches being created and taken within the market."

(The Legal 500, 2023)

"Very proactive and have great, trusting relationships with clients."

(The Legal 500, 2023)

Notable Work

Clean Energy

  • Advising ENGIE Global Energy Management & Sales on an innovative power purchase and optimisation services contract for one of the UK’s first debt-funded co-located solar and battery storage project. Our role included advising on issues arising from the lenders’ financing arrangements in respect of the debt-funding of the battery construction and operation, and the implications for the offtake arrangements.
  • Advising on a joint venture and development services arrangement between an international investment firm and a large-scale energy project developer in relation to a 300MW pipeline of battery storage and solar assets in the UK.
  • Advising Cambridge Power on its joint venture with global investor Brookfield Renewable to develop 985 MW of battery storage and co-located solar projects in the UK.
  • Advising Catalyst Capital on the acquisition of a 100MW battery storage project in the north of England.
  • Advising Centrica PLC on its investment in HiiROC, a turquoise hydrogen production technology company.
  • Advising Centrica PLC on the acquisition of an SPV holding project rights for the development of a 30MW battery energy storage system in Scotland, including due diligence on the grid connection, land rights and planning (via Scottish co-counsel), negotiation of the acquisition documentation and advice in relation to application of the new National Security & Investment (NSI) regime and energy industry regulation.
  • Advising Catalyst Capital on its entry into a JV to develop a 49.9MW transmission-connected battery storage project in the south of England. The multidisciplinary Freeths team advised on the investment documents, major equipment supply, balance of plant, long term services, optimisation services and asset management contracts, and carried out due diligence on the land rights, grid connection, planning and environmental matters.
  • Advising a licensed energy supplier on its template PPA for the acquisition of power from renewable energy generators.
  • Advising a European energy company on issues arising under a multi-million pound construction contract with the operator of one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms.
  • Advising the owner/operator of a portfolio of real estate assets on a high value dispute concerning its electricity procurement arrangements, involving a number of different licensed energy suppliers, a complex matrix of agreed and deemed contracts, the insolvency of one of the suppliers and an associated Supplier of Last Resort arrangement. This matter required energy and commercial contracts expertise as well as input from our dispute management and insolvency teams.
  • Advising the developer of a very large-scale solar + battery project in the UK, including on financing, revenue stacking, grid connection arrangements and other project rights. The firm provided strategic advice during early stage project planning and assisted in devising the development plan.
  • Advising a major logistics business on the installation of rooftop solar panels and the provision of fixed price solar electricity to the client.
  • Advising various clients on aggregation and optimisation services contracts for battery storage and peaking plant assets.
  • Acting for the shareholders in the sale of the project company developer of Europe’s largest floating solar array on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir.
  • Advising the developer a large portfolio of ground-mounted solar projects in the UK and continental Europe, including on financing and joint development arrangements. We also advised on procurement of land rights in the form of options for lease.
  • Advising the UK’s leading live events business on commercial and property arrangements for the installation of an on-site energy centre, funded by a third party, for delivery of energy and other utilities to one of the client’s largest venues.
  • Acting for the owner/ operator of an anaerobic digestion facility on corporate, finance, O&M and feedstock supply arrangements in the context of a major refinancing, and subsequently on a complex biogas sale agreement with a gas-to-grid offtaker.
  • Advising one party to a joint venture for the development of a thermal hydrolysis plant forming part of the sludge recycling solution for a UK water company, helping them meet strategic goals including increased renewable energy production and reduced operation costs.
  • Advising the developer of a proposed biomethane injection facility on energy regulatory issues including RHI accreditation.
  • Advising on a multi-million pound dispute concerning the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a large-scale solar PV project.
  • Advising a leading provider of smart ‘Pay As You Go’ energy on its standard terms of business and on its long-term (25 year) meter rental arrangements with a major UK meter operator, which involved third party funding from a market-leading investor.
  • Advising a large supermarket chain on the contract for the design, installation, testing and commissioning for rooftop solar panels.
  • Advising an energy services company (ESCO) on a number of disputes relating to energy services and construction contracts associated with CHP energy centres and district heating schemes.
  • Advising various corporates on energy procurement issues and interactions with energy brokers.
  • Advising on the development of one of the largest wind turbines ever constructed in the UK, supplying 9,000,000 kWh annually to a brewery owned and operated by a global drinks company.

Waste

  • Acting for one of the UK’s largest waste and recycling companies in commercial disputes with two local authorities.
  • Facilitating a large National company’s response to a recent Consultation on Non-Hazardous And Inert Waste: Appropriate Measures For Permitted Facilities
  • Advising Cornwall County Council on the refinancing of its integrated waste management PFI scheme (including EfW).
  • Acting for operators of EfW facilities including negotiating O&M agreements.
  • Negotiating and completing agreements with contractors for energy-from-waste plants in connection with both commissioning and facility maintenance.
  • Advising one of the UK’s largest liquid waste management companies following a change of approach by the Environment Agency to the spreading of liquid organic wastes on agricultural land.
  • Advising a public sector client in relation to alleged environmental issues in respect of landfill operations.
  • Advising a client on possible offences relating to the supply of plastic waste to the equestrian sector.
  • Advising on the terms of an enforcement undertaking for historic breaches of the packaging waste regulations.
  • Advising a national retailer on its proposed membership of the Scotland Deposit Return Scheme.

Electric Vehicles and EV Charging Infrastructure

  • Advising a leading asset manager on the establishment of a nationwide framework for the installation of EV chargepoints in privately-owned car parks, including on the framework agreement which provided for the procurement and installation of EV chargepoints, the supply of electricity for vehicle charging, the operation and maintenance of the chargepoints, and the customer payment interface. We also advised on lease arrangements with the car park owners.
  • Advising a leading investor, developer and long-term fund manager of infrastructure and energy efficiency assets on a project for the installation of kerbside EV chargepoints in a London borough, including on (a) the acquisition and installation of the chargepoints, (b) O&M arrangements, (c) the customer payment interface, (d) financing, (e) procurement law and (f) section 50 licensing.
  • Advising a London Borough on a Vehicle to Grid (V2G) scheme, including contracts for V2G equipment and services under which our client agreed with a service provider to acquire the software and hardware to provide smart uni- and bi-directional charging solutions for EVs on a managed service basis, and for commissioning and installation of the V2G chargepoints and their ongoing operation. (Bi-directional chargers allow EV batteries to discharge electricity back to the grid, as well as charging from the grid. Via V2G software EV drivers can generate returns by providing electricity to help regulate the grid and by taking advantage of differential time-of-day electricity prices.)
  • Advising a major retail client on arrangements with BP Chargemaster (now BP Pulse) for the installation and hosting of EV charging infrastructure at a trial site, with the potential for national roll-out. This involved advice on all aspects of the proposed arrangements, including detailed input to the contract and providing observations on the commercial model.
  • Advising Connected Kerb on its standard terms of business for the installation of EV charging infrastructure. We are also retained to advise on supplementary terms and conditions in relation to various commercial models.
  • Advising a large real estate investor client on an EV charging deal with GridServe, whereby the client granted a ground lease to GridServe for the development and operation of an Electric Forecourt.
  • Advising an international motorway services provider on the contractual framework for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at their UK sites.
  • Advising a contractor on funding arrangements to support its obligations under a framework agreement with a number of local authorities to deliver the rollout of EV chargepoint infrastructure across a number of public sites.
  • Advising Connected Kerb on multiple fundraises and in obtaining SEIS/EIS relief, drafting all the documentation for the investments.
  • Advising a leading chargepoint provider on their standard terms and conditions for commercial sales of EV charging units, and their services agreement for the installation, testing and commissioning of EV charging equipment.
  • Advising a hotel chain on the proposed installation of EV chargepoints across its estate in England and Wales, and the leasing of EV infrastructure and car parking spaces to third party operators, including property and commercial arrangements.
  • Advising an EV chargepoint provider on terms for the installation and operation of chargepoints with several landowners, including public car park operators across England, Wales and Scotland.

Client service

‘Doing the right thing’ is at the heart of Freeths. Find out more about our excellent client service and the strong set of values that guide the way we work.

Our values

arrow

Talk to us

Freeths are a leading national law firm with 13 offices across the UK. If you have a query about our services or just want to find out more, why not give us a call?

Contact: 03301 001 014

Choose an office:

Portfolio close
People CV Email

Remove All


Click here to email this list of people to a colleague.