Energy & Natural Resources | Europe

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has an outstanding energy practice with an exceptionally broad scope of expertise covering M&A, finance transactions and major disputes. The team offers strength across a range of regulatory matters, including environmental and planning issues, and is especially active in the renewable energy market, including onshore and offshore wind projects, as well as LNG and gas storage mandates. The team is also well placed to advise on matters relating to nuclear and hydrogen energy.

Loyens & Loeff hosts a top-notch energy practice which is particularly adept in regulatory mandates. It has a vibrant practice in relation to offshore wind and solar projects, alongside strong litigation capabilities within the energy sector. The team is well regarded for its corporate practice, which covers a range of matters, including acquisitions and joint ventures, and is especially well placed to advise on a variety of tax-related issues in the energy industry. Clients include major players in the renewable energy market.

Stek is a top-tier regulatory firm advising energy distribution companies and prestigious domestic energy players on regulatory issues in and out of court. Its lawyers frequently represent clients in litigation before the Authority for Consumers and Markets and the Administrative High Court for Trade and Industry. The team also has experience advising regulators - and the state - on the electricity and gas markets, and has an integrated transaction and project offering, especially in the renewable sector, and often works on geothermal, wind and solar projects.

The firm has a strong transactional practice with notable energy regulatory capabilities. The team advises energy companies on the full spectrum of issues, including project finance, M&A and construction, as well as disputes and permitting issues. It frequently assists major lenders with the financing of renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farm developments. The energy team is complemented by the strength of the firm's other practice groups, including its corporate, competition and litigation departments. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Houthoff provides expertise in transactional and regulatory matters, acting for energy and utility companies, as well as government entities. The team frequently acts on M&A transactions, financings and litigation in the oil and gas sector. It is well versed in the renewable energy sector and with project contracts, including PPAs and EPCs, as well as supply and development agreements. The team also collaborates closely with the firm's other departments, including in relation to competition, environmental law and litigation.

Pels Rijcken has a specific focus on regulatory matters, advising key public sector clients, including central and local governments, on high-profile and often politically sensitive energy-related issues. The firm additionally receives frequent instructions from leading domestic and international energy companies and project developers. It is especially well equipped to assist with heat, and wind farm projects, as well as matters concerning climate change.

Stibbe has an experienced transactional team with significant knowledge of handling offshore wind projects. As well as this, the team advises on the decarbonisation of the Dutch energy sector and is regularly entrusted by leading energy and industrial companies to handle M&A, financing and project development. The team is additionally well versed in acting on natural gas and energy transition-related mandates.

NautaDutilh has a long-standing transactional energy practice, regularly entrusted by leading oil and gas companies, as well as project sponsors and government entities. The firm handles a range of acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, restructurings and private equity deals. It draws on its extensive experience in the oil and gas industry to advise on the full spectrum of upstream, midstream and downstream matters. The team are able to combine transactional and regulatory expertise to provide a full service to clients.

Vder Feltz advocaten assists clients with a broad scope of regulatory issues, including those relating to damages claims, mineral extraction and collective heating projects. The team offers particular expertise in contentious files, representing clients in disputes before administrative courts relating to gas exploration and the enforced closure of power plants. Clients include domestic energy companies, state entities and grid operators.

AKD has a growing energy practice that regularly advises clients on heat-related matters. It offers particular expertise in the renewable energy sector, as well as environmental law. The team is experienced in advising clients in the public domain.

Bird & Bird has an energy practice in the Netherlands which advises on the development of projects. The firm focuses on electricity production and renewable energy, advising on wind and solar power. The team is active on transactional matters, especially on behalf of project developers and banks, where it handles a range of contractual issues such as PPAs.

Clifford Chance has a respected transactional practice with a strong focus on project finance in the renewable energy sector, particularly offshore and onshore wind farms as well as projects in the solar power space. The team regularly handles M&A and financing transactions, advising energy companies and financial institutions. It is able to capitalise on its international strength to advise on large cross-border projects and transactions.

Eversheds Sutherland assists clients from the solar energy industry with the development of solar parks, including contract negotiations, project structuring and regulatory matters. The further experience of the team lies in issues relating to wind projects, grid connections, waste heat and SPAs in the energy sector. Clients include companies from the biomass and real estate sectors, as well as public bodies.

Eversheds Sutherland assists clients from the solar energy industry with the development of solar parks, including contract negotiations, project structuring and regulatory matters. The further experience of the team lies in issues relating to wind projects, grid connections, waste heat and SPAs in the energy sector. Clients include companies from the biomass and real estate sectors, as well as public bodies.

HVG Law has a prominent team advising on a range of renewable energy project development matters, with additional expertise in utilities and infrastructure questions. Clients include distribution system operators, developers and international energy companies. HVG Law also benefits from its close relationship with EY Tax to offer clients assistance in cross-border matters.

Ploum has a transactional team with expertise across both oil and gas and renewable energy mandates. The firm's scope of expertise covers M&A deals, contracts and joint ventures. The team regularly acts for both domestic and international energy companies, providing a full service through its integration with the firm's environmental and planning, public procurement and regulatory departments.

Van Doorne is a new addition to the rankings this year thanks to good client feedback and growing market recognition. The team is well placed to assist clients with transactional and regulatory matters. The lawyers also advise on carbon capture and hydrogen-related projects, as well as tariff cases. The team has further capabilities in EU compliance mandates.