Political attention is focused on expanding renewable energy. All too often it is forgotten that it was the producers and traders of conventional energy who ensured the security of supply of indispensable energy for many decades. We help you prepare your business for the future, even if you will continue to produce or distribute conventional energy for the foreseeable future. This may involve, for example, restructuring companies, acquiring other businesses or attracting investors. Our expertise includes M&A transactions. We support you with a shared goal: the economic success of your company – now and in the future!

Energy contract law has to take account of the constant changes, amendments and new rules in legislation and the related case law. Based on our many years of experience and expertise in energy contract law, we offer contract drafting from the specific individual case to template agreements. We also support our clients in drafting general terms and conditions and making necessary contract amendments.

Logistics plays an indispensable role in the energy industry because it ensures a continuous and reliable energy supply. In an era in which diversifying energy sources and minimising environmental impact are top priorities, effective logistics is the backbone that supports and guides the energy sector on its way to a sustainable future. We answer all legal questions that arise in the organisation, planning, control and execution of energy deliveries. We also support you in applying for funding for the necessary infrastructure and in obtaining any permits required.

Energy antitrust law is intended to secure functioning competition, particularly for grid-bound energy such as electricity, water, gas and district heating, and to prevent unlawful conduct in competition. We support energy supply companies, network operators and energy service providers with the antitrust review of mergers and cooperations and with merger control filings. We also offer comprehensive compliance coordination at an early stage and advise you on the validity of long-term energy supply and network access agreements and on price and abuse control. In addition, we defend our clients out of court and in court in antitrust fine proceedings.

Compliance management means identifying key liability risks for energy companies, their management and employees, and minimising them through suitable measures. Numerous regulations, standards and guidelines apply to the energy sector – at both national and international level. Energy companies therefore face the major challenge of always keeping track of them. Suitable compliance management avoids financial risks for the company, minimises personal risks for management and senior staff and prevents reputational and business risks. To achieve this, effective implementation is needed that employees in the company can actually live by. We support you in introducing and implementing effective compliance management, keep you proactively informed about new challenges in this area and develop solutions for them.

Energy companies can become involved in legal disputes for a variety of reasons. A frequent trigger is regulatory matters concerning compliance with environmental requirements, emission standards or licensing requirements. Conflicts can also arise from breaches of contract, for example in supply agreements, service contracts or investment agreements. We help our clients avoid such disputes arising in the first place. At the same time, should the worst happen, we of course help our clients bring disputes to a successful conclusion as cost-efficiently as possible. We also support you in arbitration proceedings and mediation.

Compliance with environmental requirements is highly relevant in the transformation of energy and infrastructure systems. European requirements as well as federal and state law requirements must be considered individually for the specific project. Due to increasing regulation, the project’s goal must be reconciled with both environmental requirements and planning law considerations. This calls for creative, goal-oriented solutions and close coordination with planning and permitting authorities in order to do justice to your economic interests.

Keeping track of public funding opportunities is not easy. We offer advice that always keeps the current funding programmes of the federal government, the federal states and the European Union in view. Thanks to our experience and expertise, we can support you in selecting the right funding programme for your project. We also proactively inform you about opportunities arising for your company from new funding options.

Renewable energy in particular offers a wide range of investment and participation opportunities. Wind farms, for example, are increasingly being set up as community wind farms. Other installations are ideally suited to being launched as open-ended funds. The choice of legal form is crucial in order to minimise both tax and liability risks. We are happy to help you choose the right legal forms and support you all the way from the idea and structuring to drafting all contractual documentation. We can draw on reliable cooperation partners in tax matters to offer you holistic advice.

The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) is the linchpin of the transformation of energy supply from conventional to renewable energy. Above all, the EEG determines the level of the feed-in tariff for producers of environmentally friendly and climate-neutral energy. The devil is often in the detail, and disagreements between producers and grid operators are not uncommon. We help you keep track in the jungle of complicated rules and assert your claims in full – regardless of whether you operate a solar installation, a wind power plant or a biomass plant.