“The thing I enjoy most is acting side-by-side with clients in the renewable energy sector as a critical part of the project delivery team. We get to see a project from early-stage site selection through to operation and, in some cases, repowering.”

Colin specialises in acting for developers, investors and funders on the real estate aspects of projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

He has extensive experience of advising developer clients on all stages of renewable energy generation projects from initial site selection and diligence, through land acquisition, construction, operation and repowering. He therefore has valuable insight into the key aspects of energy projects across onshore windfarms, tidal, solar, hydro, battery energy storage and grid stability. Colin also regularly leads multi-disciplinary teams in carrying out due diligence on projects in the energy sector for both funders and investors.

Colin also advises developers in relation to the acquisition of the land rights required for large scale offshore windfarm projects including advising on the compulsory acquisition of land rights. He has a track record of successful delivery of the full package of onshore land rights necessary to connect offshore windfarm projects to the grid including supporting clients with forming initial land acquisition strategy, voluntary negotiation of land agreements with landowners, compulsory acquisition, financial close/construction and onward sale of onshore transmission assets to OFTO.

Colin also frequently acts for clients in relation to real estate aspects of other infrastructure projects in Scotland, including conventional gas transportation and processing and carbon capture and storage.

Areas of practice include:

Sector experience includes:

Admitted

2005: Scotland

Relevant experience

Advising ScottishPower Renewables on its portfolio of onshore windfarms in Scotland, including Whitelee and extensions Kilgallioch and extension, Arecleoch and extension, Harestanes, Ewe Hill, Beinn an Tuirc (I,II and III), Glenapp, Cumberhead West and Dersalloch.
Advising ScottishPower Renewables in relation to the repowering of the Hagshawhill Windfarm.
Advising ScottishPower Renewables in relation to the installation of BESS at Whitelee Windfarm.
Advising Ocean Winds on the land rights required for the onshore transmission infrastructure for the Moray East offshore windfarm, including successfully promoting and vesting a compulsory purchase order and advising the sponsors on the real estate aspects of the subsequent project finance and sale of OFTO assets (including input into the Transfer Agreement from a real estate perspective, property transfer arrangements and all due diligence aspects).
Acting for Ocean Winds on the land rights required for the onshore transmission infrastructure for the Moray West offshore windfarm, including promoting a compulsory purchase order and advising the sponsors on the subsequent project finance and OFTO sale process.
Acting for Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind on the onshore and offshore property aspects of the Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Windfarm and supporting the client in relation to the subsequent project financing and OFTO sale process.
Advising on the real estate aspects of certain successful ScotWind projects.
Acting for ESB in carrying out real estate due diligence prior to their acquisition of an interest in the Inchcape offshore windfarm project.
Acting for North Sea Midstream Partners in respect of their acquisition and subsequent dealings with their interest in the St Fergus gas terminal and FUKA and SIRGES pipeline systems.
Advising RWE Renewables in relation to its portfolio of onshore Windfarm and hydro developments in Scotland.
Acting for ETZ in relation to various property transactions associated with the energy transition zone in Aberdeen.
Advising Nadara on the real estate aspects its portfolio of onshore renewable energy developments in Scotland.
Advising Baywa on the real estate aspects of the development and subsequent sale of a number of onshore windfarm projects in Scotland including Whitelaw Brae, Tralorg and Ardgowan.
Acting for Invenergy in relation to the real estate aspects of a portfolio of onshore windfarm projects in Scotland.