Our expertise in the energy sector

Delivering progress through quality

Our expertise in the energy sector

In a sector that is constantly changing, so are we.

Introduction The energy industry continues to generate great debate, particularly since the Energy Act 2013 came into effect with far reaching repercussions for the sector. A complex, fast moving sector needs knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive lawyers.

Watson Burton strives to understand your business and add value through legal and strategic expertise.

Chambers Legal Directory 2014

At Watson Burton, our cross-disciplinary team provides first class legal services to some of the country’s largest energy and infrastructure providers. Our clients operate in renewable, nuclear, fossil fuel, electricity, gas and solar. By understanding the commercial aspects of your business and using our own knowledge of upcoming changes to the law we can help to ensure that your business is ready to adapt to changes within this fast paced sector.

The types of work we undertake for these clients include planning, property, employment, corporate and commercial matters.

The team has recently advised the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Atkins plc’s energy division on its acquisition strategy in the oil and gas sector, and one of the UK’s largest electricity distributors on strategic employment matters.

Our approach Our approach is summarised by the following: • Delivering Solutions • Managing Costs • Openness and Transparency • Project Management At the outset of any project we always agree with our clients the key tasks, and timescales for completing them. We are used to working with clients to produce detailed project plans, highlighting any time critical inputs required from third parties and any contingency plans as necessary.

We keep all our project plans updated as work progresses, and adapt them in the light of feedback received and any changes to legislation we think may affect the businesses we work with.

Credentials Below are some examples of projects we have worked on with clients in the energy and renewables sector. This is just a flavour of the type of work we undertake for our clients and we would be happy to provide additional details on these projects, or indeed contact details for our clients should you wish to get a personal view of what it is like to work with us.

Advising Atkins plc on its acquisition of Pöyry’s oil & gas consultancy business from Pöyry plc who specialised in providing engineering, design and operational support services for offshore development.

This comprised of the acquisition of Pöyry Energy (Aberdeen) Limited, Pöyry Energy AS and Pöyry Pty Ltd

Advising Contract Natural Gas, the UK’s leading independent supplier of natural gas to businesses, in connection with a range of gas trading arrangements with key counterparties, including take or pay and minimum volume trading positions worth in excess of £75m

Advising a major European energy generator and transporter on a suite of gas transportation agreements worth over £100m. The advice was in relation to the £150m outsourcing of long-term power plant maintenance and service agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and a range of power purchases and collateralisation agreements

Advising the UK’s foremost oil & gas fabricator for a number of years in relation to construction issues and more recently on client borrowing from the State Banks of India Facility

Acting for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority where advice was required in relation to the application of collective consultation obligations to a process by which salary and benefits packages would be reduced, including the effect of the TUPE Regulations on the client’s proposals

Working with a major international offshore energy construction company in relation to commercial contracts, Union recognition/ de-recognition, staff terms and conditions, collection consultation and restructuring

Advising a non-profit energy efficiency company in CESP/ CERT funding arrangements and providing a full legal HR advice service. Additionally, the drafting of a grant and funding agreement in relation to the installation of energy saving measures in properties across the UK

Working with a national house builder to facilitate the installation of solar panels to over 2200 homes. Support included, lease preparation, CML solar panel guidance compliance

Advising the National and Renewable Energy Centre ( Narec) on construction and engineering contracts and multi-disciplinary design consultants’ appointments for design, delivery, installation and commissioning of a 3MW marine test stand, a 100 metre blade test facility and a 15MW offshore wind test stand

Watson Burton’s legal team were a great asset to us in securing the investment. They demonstrated a clear understanding of the sectors in which we operate and delivered a concise and efficient service.

Financial Director, Narec

Adding value Here at Watson Burton we offer a range of added value services. These can be tailored to your organisation to ensure that they fit with your culture and needs - and will deliver real benefits for you.

We understand that sometimes our clients would like to see non-traditional value adds. This means that we are just as happy supporting your corporate social responsibility programme as we are delivering legal based training seminars.

We have outlined a number of suggested routes below, but would welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic with you in more detail as part of our ongoing relationship.

We are happy to offer you access to the full range of traditional, free of charge, added value offerings.

These include: • Legal updates and bulletins • Attendance at CPD accredited training seminars • Attendance at relevant events • Joint PR campaigns

• Contributions to our annual publication Briefly Legal • Participation in our regular thought leadership campaigns • Access to research and library services

These are just a sample of the available options, and we look forward to the opportunity of discussing how we might best be able to add value to our ongoing relationship with you.

CSR We take our Corporate Social Responsibility seriously and have policies in place to tackle our impact on the environment while also giving back to our community. As members of the Legal Sector Alliance (LSA) we are committed to take action on climate change by reducing our carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices. We are happy to support your corporate social responsibility programme; our staff members are more than willing to give their time and frequently do for a range of charities and causes.

The team We have a large and highly experienced cross-disciplinary team of lawyers who regularly work on projects for our local and national clients. All members of the team are experienced in advising on these types of projects and understand that the practical and commercial considerations are just as important as the legal ones; and that the end result must address them all.

Christopher Graham Partner, Head of Employment 0845 901 2033 christopher.graham@watsonburton.com

Andrew Francey Partner, Corporate 0845 901 0958 andrew.francey@watsonburton.com

Duncan Reid Partner, Head of Corporate 0845 901 0954 duncan.reid@watsonburton.com

Sam Jardine Partner, Corporate 0845 901 0966 sam.jardine@watsonburton.com

Richard Palmer Partner, Head of Professional Indemnity Insurance 0845 901 0944 richard.palmer@watsonburton.com

Tracy Hall Partner, Head of Real Estate 0845 901 2067 tracy.hall@watsonburton.com

Bryan Riley Partner, Real Estate 0845 901 2071 bryan.riley@watsonburton.com

David Spires Partner, Construction 0845 901 0923 david.spires@watsonburton.com

Julie Farrell-Knowles Associate, Real Estate 0845 901 2065 julie.farrell-knowles@watsonburton.com

Patrick Kemp Partner, Construction 0845 901 0933 patrick.kemp@watsonburton.com

Gearalt Fahy Partner, Employment 0845 901 2034 gearalt.fahy@watsonburton.com

Gavin Winter Partner, Commercial 0845 901 0910 gavin.winter@watsonburton.com

Kerry Waters Associate, Employment 0845 901 2044 kerry.waters@watsonburton.com

Amy Hamilton Solicitor, Corporate 0845 901 0964 amy.hamilton@watsonburton.com

Louise Williamson Legal Executive, Real Estate 0845 901 2062 louise.williamson@watsonburton.com

About Watson Burton Watson Burton is a nationally recognised law firm with over 200 years’ experience in providing exceptional legal service to clients. Innovation, knowledge and change are key to keeping us at the forefront of the legal sector - providing an ‘eyes open’ approach. Not just advising, but providing clients with real options and expertise in our core areas of: • Real Estate

• PII

• Corporate

• Construction

• Employment

• Commercial Litigation

Clients genuinely enjoy doing business with us leading to long term sustainable relationships, ensuring that we provide expert legal support, delivering practical and commercially robust solutions: We advise you how you can do things rather than why you can’t.

We work tirelessly to fully understand our clients’ businesses and how we can add value.

With offices in Newcastle, Leeds and London, we offer proactive and responsive support on a regional and national level.

We’ve found Watson Burton to be extremely responsive, very good value for money and with the quality of people that we can trust. Whatever the work we give to them, we know it will be carried out very well, and we can always get hold of them, which you can’t say for all law firms.

Anne Randall, Head of Legal, Atkins PLC

watsonburton.com