“We undertake work that makes a tangible difference in areas such as clean power generation, decarbonisation, and infrastructure, and we are privileged to work alongside clients who are equally determined to achieve a future which is focused on people, prosperity and the planet.”

Clare is the head of our Clean Energy sector and, as a Partner in our Banking team, also leads our Project Finance practice. She has been involved in many high-profile and innovative finance transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Clare has been active in the UK energy sector since the late 1990s. In the clean energy sector, she advises a variety of clients on projects spanning various clean energy technologies (including onshore renewables (wind, hydro, solar, biomass and battery), offshore wind (fixed, floating and tidal), carbon sequestration and decarbonisation).

Clare’s involvement in infrastructure started in the late 1990s. Her experience extends across all procurement models – including PFI, PPP, NPD and latterly Hub – and she has worked for a variety of private and public sector clients across a significant number of infrastructure transactions in the transport, healthcare, education and defence sectors.

In both sectors Clare represents developers, lenders, consortia/sponsors, and authorities both north and south of the border; she typically leads the multi-disciplinary team required to bring deals swiftly to financial close.

Clare is often asked to speak at industry events on topics such as onshore and offshore wind, sustainability, ports and finance. She is a frequent contributor to the legal and national press on clean energy topics, and was a director on the board of industry body RenewableUK between 2019 and 2022. Clare also led the Edinburgh Climate Compact from 2020-2025. She remains an active member, working with leading businesses and employers in Edinburgh to take action to contribute to decarbonisation and to radically reduce the capital city’s carbon emissions.

Areas of practice include:

Sector experience includes:

Admitted

1996: Scotland
1998: England and Wales

Relevant experience

Clean Energy

Leading the team advising Broken Cross Wind Farm Limited in relation to the circa £40 million project financing of its Scottish onshore wind farm project.
Leading the multidisciplinary team advising clients in relation to various ScotWind and INTOG offshore wind projects.
Advising Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Limited in relation to various aspects of the project finance arrangements and satisfaction of conditions precedent for the £2 billion financing which reached financial close in April 2023.
Leading the team advising Moray Offshore Windfarm (East) Limited in relation to LIBOR transition in relation to all of its £2.6 billion project finance facilities (which involved amendment and restatement of the main financing documents (English Law and Scots Law) as well amendments in relation to the hedging documentation, subordinated debt documents and various Project Documents).
Leading the multidisciplinary team advising Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Limited in relation to various aspects of the £2 billion project financing of the 950MW offshore Windfarm development in the Firth of Forth.
Leading the team advising Scottish National Investment Bank on the financing elements of several clean energy transactions.
Leading the team advising a large European renewable energy developer in relation to its corporate group reorganisation and the circa €1 billion refinancing of its global portfolio of onshore renewable assets.
Leading the multidisciplinary team advising the preferred bidder in relation to the potential acquisition of a portfolio of BESS project assets, including preparation of a due diligence report in relation to all aspects of the projects and input into the share purchase agreement.
Leading the team advising JP Morgan Infrastructure Investment Fund on due diligence of various Scottish onshore wind projects as part of the acquisition of Falck Renewables SpA.(now Nadara).
Leading the multidisciplinary team preparing vendor due diligence report in relation to large European portfolio of renewable assets.
Leading the multidisciplinary team advising Falck Renewables Wind Limited (now Nadara Limited) in relation to the project financing of multiple onshore wind farms located across Scotland.
Leading the team advising Brackenhills Wind Farm Limited in connection with the project financing of Brackenhills Wind Farm with Close Brothers.
Leading the team advising Renantis S.p.A . in connection with the Scots law aspects of the group reorganisation and subsequent refinancing of the portfolio of 40 European operational assets (including a significant number of onshore projects located in Scotland).
Leading the team advising Green Highland Renewables on the project financing of its entire small-scale hydro portfolio.
Leading the multidisciplinary team advising ESB in relation to the acquisition of a significant equity stake in Inch Cape offshore wind project, including preparation of a due diligence report on all Scots Law aspects (including land, planning and consenting and finance matters for the Project) and input to the share purchase agreement.

Infrastructure
Education

Advising the senior lenders Nord/LB on several education projects using the hub model including, West Calder High School, Newbattle High School, Kelso High School, Blairdardie and Carntyne Schools, Inverurie Community Campus and Jedburgh Intergenerational Community Campus.
Advising the SPV in relation to the £180m Edinburgh Schools PPP Refinancing.
Advising the SPV in relation to the £350m Glasgow Schools PPP Refinancing.

Healthcare

Advising the senior lenders Nord/LB on several healthcare projects using the hub model including Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Lothian Bundle Health Centres, East Lothian Community Hospital, Gorbals and Woodside Health Centres and Greenock, Stobhill and Clydebank Health Centres.
Advising the senior lenders Nord/LB on the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service National Centre NPD Project.

Transport

Advising the senior lenders Nord/LB in relation to the refinancing of Coventry Street Lighting PFI Project.
Advising the funders in relation to the £745m Aberdeen Western Peripheral Roads Project
Advising the funders in relation to the M8, M73 and M74 £588m NPD project.

“Clare Foster is an extremely capable lawyer, very experienced and practical. She takes the clients’ hands and guides them, understands their concerns and takes ownership of the issues to help the clients solve problems, not just by giving technical advice. She is without a doubt one of the best lawyers in Scotland for offshore wind matters.”

Legal 500 (2024)