Energy regulatory

Penningtons Manches Cooper brings together a wealth of experience in advising on all aspects of the ‘downstream’ electricity and gas markets - from electric and autonomous vehicle production, to retail supply, energy networks and renewable energy generation and cleantech.

Our lawyers are fully conversant with the complex regulatory regimes applying to the energy market, including REMIT, licence conditions and industry codes, as well as relevant non-energy specific regimes such as data protection, GDPR and cyber-security. We assist on regulatory compliance and engagement with regulators, but we also have an impressive track record and extensive experience in contested regulatory enforcement cases, including Ofgem enforcement work.

Combining expertise in such areas as corporate and commercial law, intellectual property, real estate, construction and engineering with in-depth sector knowledge, we provide advice on the vast array of legal issues facing traditional energy businesses, including generators, networks and suppliers, as well as non-traditional actors such as aggregators and non-commercial parties.

As electric vehicles become increasingly prevalent, so too does the need for discrete professional guidance. We are experienced in counselling electric vehicle designers and manufacturers and providers of electric vehicle battery technology and charging infrastructure on a range of issues, such as commercialisation of their intellectual property, brand protection, data protection, commercial agreements and regulatory compliance.

Our cleantech and renewables specialists draw on the skills of lawyers across the firm to assist on procurement, funding and project finance, competition, corporate and joint venture structures, as well as planning, environmental, property, project and construction matters. The team has advised on anaerobic, wind, solar and marine energy projects, smart meters and feed-in-tariffs.

Whether we are engaged to handle compliance, commercial arrangements, projects or corporate transactions, or to navigate a regulatory investigation or commercial dispute, our advice is consistently pragmatic and strategically focused.