Sectors

Energy, Utilities & Environment Sector Solicitors

Legal advice for businesses operating in the energy, utilities & environment sector

Our energy, utilities and environment solicitors are expert legal advisers to the industry, including individual and institutional investors and funders, technical advisors, developers, entrepreneurs, utility firms, environmental and waste technology companies, landowners, aggregators, CICs, inventors and environmental scientists, contractors and suppliers and have vast experience in the sector.

We have direct industry-relevant expertise in environmental law, including planning matters and liaison and negotiation with local government and planners, regulation and regulatory matters, government support and subsidies.

Our offices are in Sheffield, Birmingham, Cambridge and London if you need a meeting, but we typically work remotely to keep our overheads low which enables us to offer our innovative pricing packages.

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What our energy, utilities and environment solicitors do

From interpreting the latest changes to feed-in tariffs, to understanding the application of emerging technologies in renewable energy and power such as solar, wind and hydroelectric, our dynamic team of expert energy, utilities and environment solicitors can ensure you keep up-to-date and legally compliant, as well as proposing innovative solutions in this challenging field.

Our specialist energy, utilities and environmental solicitors ensure that they stay up-to-date with emerging technologies on a global level. We understand that our clients need to be flexible and responsive to new and emerging technology, in particular in relation to energy storage, and we have particular expertise in the relevance and applicability of energy law in community energy projects.

As a law firm specialising in the energy sector and energy law, we’ve advised clients who finance or construct renewable energy projects such as solar farms, wind turbine and hydro-electric plants, liaising with investors, landowners and manufacturers and advising on transactional and regulatory matters. Harper James’ energy, utilities and environmental lawyers have a broad range of expertise in these challenging sectors, and have advised energy companies on transactions and projects focussing on various aspects of energy law.

  • Our energy-from-waste solicitors can advise you on the multitude of issues arising during the construction, maintenance and management of waste-to-energy solutions, including anaerobic digestion projects, energy from waste plants, and waste solution projects including transportation and handling, connection to grid and greening technology projects.
  • Our specialist oil and gas lawyers cover a range of advice including upstream, midstream and downstream transactions, exploration and exploitation of new territories, licensing, concessions and shared service arrangements, acquisitions and disposals, exploration and development activities, production, processing and refining, pipelines, transport and storage.
  • Harper James’ team of nuclear lawyers can advise on new build, commissioning and de-commissioning nuclear installations, processing and transportation of waste over the short-, medium- and long-term, operational issues at plants, and have advised on a range of regulatory issues on a global level, including in the developing world

Legal advice for energy, utilities and environment businesses

Whatever the nature of your business in the energy, utilities and environment sectors, we understand that environmental technology changes quickly. As well as providing specialist legal advice in the energy, utilities and environment field, our lawyers have experience in the most pressing issues such as:

Intellectual property

We can help with protection of your IP, IP disputes, developing an IP strategy for your energy, utilities or environment business, and protecting and challenging patents.

Funding and construction finance

We can advise on financial aspects of energy, utility and environment projects, as our banking and finance team along with our construction finance experts co-operate in a collegial manner to ensure the seamless delivery of your project from day one. If you are an investor, or seeking capital for your energy project, our venture capital team has extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with third-party investors.

Joint ventures and contract disputes

Our venture capital, corporate and M&A teams can help structure energy transactions such as joint ventures and start-ups, and our commercial disputes and corporate teams work together to resolve disputes arising in energy contract transactions and environmental projects to protect your contractual rights.

Commercial property

Whether your project involves a green- or brown-field site, our team of commercial property solicitors are on hand to help you liaise with landowners, government, investors and partners to ensure that underlying property issues are correctly identified, documented and managed.


Testimonials

What our clients say

As usual, Harper James Solicitors provided us with excellent quality work in an extremely timely manner. We continue to be impressed by the service that Harper James provides, the value for money they offer and how easy it is to work with you. Not only have we recommend you to friends and acquaintances, but we've also told our accountants that they need to up their game to reflect the level of service we get from you!
Kate Hofman CEO and Co-Founder, GrowUp Urban Farms
The HJS team led by Adam Kudryl and supported by Callum Giliker were hands-on, commercial and proactive throughout the transaction. Both Adam and Callum worked tirelessly with other advisors and principals to sensibly solve problems as they arose during the transaction and were integral to seeing the deal through to a successful completion.
Patrick Lynch Director, PV3 Technologies
Easy to work with, quick responses, quick feedback if changes needed, gets things done. We consider the arrangement very worthwhile for Storelectric and would recommend to others.
Tallat Azad MD, Storelectric
Choosing Harper James was one of the best choices we made as a start-up. The firm has provided invaluable advice and insight throughout the early stages of our business.
Leigh Purnell CEO, Petalite
The team provide great support throughout the funding process, providing straightforward and clear guidance on the issues to be addressed at each stage. The team was always at hand to make sure that that we understood what needed to be done to reach a successful outcome.
Chris Evans CEO, Kobus Services
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the extend subscription package. With HJ, I have all the legal expertise and answers I need at the end of an email. We have ambitious plans to fulfil, pushing our product lines overseas and bringing graphene electronics to the masses. There’s no better partner to help us get there than Harper James.
Cathy Cranton Financial Director, Paragraf
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson CEO, Amalyst
Our solicitor Sarah helped us complete a complicated contract with a large multinational ensuring our interests were protected, but got the contract signed in very tight timescales. Sarah was very easy to work with and quickly understood what was important to us and how to effectively present this to our customer.
Mark Webber MD, Tinsley Bridge
Well thought and thorough review [of agreement] with strong commercial contribution.
Chris Starling MD, Holt Energy Advisors
Prior to joining the Enable Scheme, I was attempting to manage all the firms’ legal issues myself and finding it a huge struggle. Being part of the Enable scheme allows Mama Bamboo to access legal advice at an affordable rate. Something which is always worry for a small firm when considering seeking legal support. The scheme allows us to protect our business whilst we focus on our growth plans.
Laura Crawford CEO and founder, Mama Bamboo
We engaged early with HJS on this acquisition and I felt the level of support and advice throughout was excellent. Callum was flexible in terms of attending meetings and his knowledge of the subject area was extensive and gave me full confidence in the work he was undertaking for us. He assisted in meetings with the target and helped both parties through the acquisition process.
Mike Green Financial Director, Eurotank
As a one-person team, I knew we would need some help for our intellectual property needs. Lindsay has been acting as an extension of my own team and with her help, we have been able to see off oppositions and defend them within budget and without the need for litigation.
Wendi Higgins General Counsel, Chameleon Technology
As usual, Harper James Solicitors provided us with excellent quality work in an extremely timely manner. We continue to be impressed by the service that Harper James provides, the value for money they offer and how easy it is to work with you. Not only have we recommend you to friends and acquaintances, but we've also told our accountants that they need to up their game to reflect the level of service we get from you!
Kate Hofman CEO and Co-Founder, GrowUp Urban Farms
The HJS team led by Adam Kudryl and supported by Callum Giliker were hands-on, commercial and proactive throughout the transaction. Both Adam and Callum worked tirelessly with other advisors and principals to sensibly solve problems as they arose during the transaction and were integral to seeing the deal through to a successful completion.
Patrick Lynch Director, PV3 Technologies
Easy to work with, quick responses, quick feedback if changes needed, gets things done. We consider the arrangement very worthwhile for Storelectric and would recommend to others.
Tallat Azad MD, Storelectric
Choosing Harper James was one of the best choices we made as a start-up. The firm has provided invaluable advice and insight throughout the early stages of our business.
Leigh Purnell CEO, Petalite
The team provide great support throughout the funding process, providing straightforward and clear guidance on the issues to be addressed at each stage. The team was always at hand to make sure that that we understood what needed to be done to reach a successful outcome.
Chris Evans CEO, Kobus Services
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the extend subscription package. With HJ, I have all the legal expertise and answers I need at the end of an email. We have ambitious plans to fulfil, pushing our product lines overseas and bringing graphene electronics to the masses. There’s no better partner to help us get there than Harper James.
Cathy Cranton Financial Director, Paragraf
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson CEO, Amalyst
Our solicitor Sarah helped us complete a complicated contract with a large multinational ensuring our interests were protected, but got the contract signed in very tight timescales. Sarah was very easy to work with and quickly understood what was important to us and how to effectively present this to our customer.
Mark Webber MD, Tinsley Bridge
Well thought and thorough review [of agreement] with strong commercial contribution.
Chris Starling MD, Holt Energy Advisors
Prior to joining the Enable Scheme, I was attempting to manage all the firms’ legal issues myself and finding it a huge struggle. Being part of the Enable scheme allows Mama Bamboo to access legal advice at an affordable rate. Something which is always worry for a small firm when considering seeking legal support. The scheme allows us to protect our business whilst we focus on our growth plans.
Laura Crawford CEO and founder, Mama Bamboo
We engaged early with HJS on this acquisition and I felt the level of support and advice throughout was excellent. Callum was flexible in terms of attending meetings and his knowledge of the subject area was extensive and gave me full confidence in the work he was undertaking for us. He assisted in meetings with the target and helped both parties through the acquisition process.
Mike Green Financial Director, Eurotank
As a one-person team, I knew we would need some help for our intellectual property needs. Lindsay has been acting as an extension of my own team and with her help, we have been able to see off oppositions and defend them within budget and without the need for litigation.
Wendi Higgins General Counsel, Chameleon Technology

Energy, utilities and environment solicitors with sector expertise

Our energy sector solicitors are very experienced, many having worked as partners in top 100 law firms. Some of their previous work with energy, utilities and environment companies includes:

  • Advising a client who provides full end-to-end systems and services for UK energy suppliers and businesses entering the energy market.
  • Acting for a UK manufacturer of structures for nuclear application. Defending and passing on claims of defective workmanship in relation to welding and non-destructive testing.
  • Acting for a range of commercial property landlords and tenants regarding solar panels on roofs.
  • Dispute resolution of contractual disputes relating to the provision of utilities, as well as waste management and recycling contracts.
  • Acting for a major plc in the compulsory purchase and contractual purchase of agricultural land in connection with the laying of four major gas pipelines across approximately 300 miles of the country.

Find out more about our solicitors with specific energy, utilities and environment experience within their respective practice areas here:


Pricing and service plans

Legal support designed
to fit your business needs

Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:

Engage

Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates

An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.

Extend

Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses

Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 34% discount on our Standard Rates.




What next?

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Our offices

A national law firm

A national law firm

Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

Head Office

Floor 5, Cavendish House, 39-41 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP
Regional Spaces

Capital Tower Business Centre, 3rd Floor, Capital Tower, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AG
Stirling House, Cambridge Innovation Park, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9QE
13th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BT
10 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5HP
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QG
1st Floor, Dearing House, 1 Young St, Sheffield, S1 4UP
White Building Studios, 1-4 Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP
A national law firm

To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.

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