The energy and natural resources sector plays a vital role in global efforts to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Shepherd and Wedderburn has been at the forefront of the sector – in Scotland, the UK and internationally – for over 30 years and our energy lawyers have a reputation for advising on innovative, unique, and complex projects. 

The energy and natural resources team has more than 90 specialist lawyers drawn from the full spectrum of legal disciplines, who advise on every aspect of energy projects – from inception through to the achievement of financial close and beyond.

Our work spans the spectrum of energy technologies covering everything from clean energy to oil and gas and our team has unique knowledge of the regulatory aspects of the sector.

Our clients come from all aspects of the sector and include promoters and developers, investors and funders, technology innovators and providers, the wider supply chain, industry bodies and research organisations.

Working throughout the UK and in close collaboration with the wider energy and natural resources team, we provide innovative and practical commercial advice across a variety of key areas:

  • Planning and environmental
  • Real estate
  • Construction and supply chain
  • Regulatory
  • Power purchasing
  • M&A/corporate
  • Finance (including project finance)
  • Dispute resolution

Speak to our team to find out how we can help your business grow.

  • They are not just corporate legal advisers: they have a deep understanding of the oil and gas industry and what we in Cairn are looking to achieve strategically. They put forward achievable, common sense solutions which always meet our aims.

    Cairn Energy plc

  • They were very familiar with the key issues for us and they were very quick to respond, very proactive; it is easy to get them on the phone or on e-mail and they were also good at offering solutions to problems.

  • Extremely impressive, absolutely top-class!

  • Shepherd and Wedderburn is "extremely responsive" and attracts praise for its "excellent technical expertise and commercial awareness".

  • Shepherd and Wedderburn's lawyers are "on a par with any Magic Circle firm".
Meet the team

Experience

Albion Water
On its Competition Act action against Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) before the Competition Appeal Tribunal in relation to bulk supply of water and more recently on its follow on damages claims against Dwr Cymru
Bowleven plc
On its $500 million strategic alliance with Petrofac in respect of the Etinde Permit, offshore Cameroon
Cairn Energy plc
On the $6.3 billion global offering of securities by Cairn India and admission of Cairn India to Bombay and National Stock Exchanges
DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables
On their 389MW West of Duddon Sands JV, dealing with the Crown Estate lease and all onshore cabling and substation landowner agreement
Lloyds TSB
And the consortium of lenders on the £340 million financing of Centrica plc's Boreas portfolio of onshore and offshore windfarms
Single Electricity Market Committee
As sole legal advisers to the SEM Committee (established between the Commission for Energy Regulation and Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation) on various aspects of their work in regulating the electricity wholesale market on the island of Ireland
SMartWind Limited
On the development of 4GW of power in Round 3 Zone off Hornsea, one of the UK's biggest Round 3 offshore wind zones, including property advice, consenting advice in relation to the Planning Act and marine consenting regimes and grid regulation advice on securing connection capacity from National Grid
Viridor Waste Management Limited
In two recent planning inquiries for waste proposals including successfully obtaining permission for a £200 million energy from waste facility at Dunbar

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