Department profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy

Global Guide 2026 : UK

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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy - UK

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer possesses a diverse energy practice with a notable reputation for its work in power and oil and gas, as well as significant expertise in renewables work. The team frequently advises major energy companies, developers, governments and banks on project financings and M&A transactions. It also commands a stellar reputation for energy disputes work, including international arbitrations. Its energy lawyers are also adept at advising on newbuild nuclear, electricity transmission and upstream oil and gas developments. The firm frequently advises on interconnector projects between the UK and other jurisdictions.

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Work Highlights

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  • Herbert Smith Freehills' power and renewables team advised a lender, which was a global long-term investor and debt fund, on the financing of the South Clyde waste-to-energy plant, with a matter value of £250 million.

  • Herbert Smith Freehills' oil and gas group acted for BP and other sponsors on the partnership for the the Northern Endurance Partnership Project and the Net Zero Teesside Project, which respectively involve pipeline transportation and a combined-cycle gas turbine.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • HSF is one of the leaders in UK dispute space for offering top-class and reasonably priced dispute services.

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

  • The firm has got the confidence of the financial institutions, so can turn things around very quickly. They can work very efficiently on very aggressive timelines. We're very happy with the work.

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

  • Herbert Smith Freehills are very commercial and get to the core issues quickly. It's a very strong team who are very responsive and deliver within the timescales they identify for work.

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

  • Everyone is brilliant. The team members are truly experts. They're accessible and a pleasure to work with. I think HSF are truly the experts on energy. Their industry knowledge is phenomenal.

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

  • The team have deep energy expertise. They're exceptionally hard-working and are a client-first team. They have exceptionally smart individuals who cut through very difficult matters.

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Sarah Pollock
    Sarah Pollock

    Sarah Pollock

    Sarah Pollock's personal practice involves advising on the acquisition, disposal, development and financing of domestic conventional energy developments, with a focus on waste-to-energy and solar projects. She regularly assists significant developer and investor clients in the sector.

    • Sarah Pollock gave a strong performance. She offers client focus.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • She's a very good general practitioner and a good leader of the advisory team. She's an excellent lead partner for complicated mandates. She gets out everyone's strengths, which is good to see.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • Sarah Pollock is outstanding. She stretches what is possible, and she has a superb communication style. Sarah is an absolute leader in her field.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • Sarah is an excellent relationship partner to have. She's responsive, commercially savvy and straight to the point.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Craig Tevendale
    Craig Tevendale

    Craig Tevendale

    Craig Tevendale heads the firm's UK arbitration practice. He possesses a broad contentious practice and is well versed in international disputes pertaining to price reviews, supply contracts and ownership issues.

    • Craig has a stellar reputation for managing and bringing matters to successful resolution. He's very invested in understanding client needs and delivering on them.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • He is a high-quality lawyer. Craig is able to rely on vast experience to guide clients in contentious matters.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • He is very knowledgeable and commercially aware, and is a great integrator into client teams.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • Craig Tevendale is excellent.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • James Baily
    James Baily

    James Baily

    James Baily is a solicitor advocate with a wealth of experience representing oil and gas companies in cross-border disputes. He regularly advises on claims relating to both upstream and midstream assets.

    • James Baily is one of the best lawyers I have ever met.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • James is tactically astute. He has a very firm grasp of the subject matter and facts of a dispute. He's very user-friendly.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Steven Dalton
    Steven Dalton

    Steven Dalton

    Steven Dalton routinely advises oil companies and infrastructure funds on M&A transactions and project developments. He has a strong knowledge of issues facing upstream and midstream projects in Africa and the Middle East.
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  • Silke Goldberg
    Silke Goldberg

    Silke Goldberg

    Silke Goldberg has a strong regulatory practice within the power sector, with deep experience negotiating clients through UK and EU energy regulations. She is particularly well versed in advising on international interconnector projects.

    • Silke Goldberg helps us to understand the risks. She is really good at explaining legal concepts in a non-legal way.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Thomas Bethel
    Thomas Bethel

    Thomas Bethel

    Thomas Bethel has significant expertise in oil and gas financings. He often represents lenders in loan refinancings and reserve-based lending, with experience across the continents, including Europe, Africa and the Americas. He has also worked on upstream acquisitions.

    • He's fantastic. He is incredibly intelligent, responsive and commercial. He gets what the issues are and delivers and turns things around in a good timeframe.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Laura Hulett
    Laura Hulett

    Laura Hulett

    Laura Hulett is noted for her experience in M&A transactions and investments involving upstream oil and gas assets. She possesses considerable cross-border expertise and regularly advises on matters concerning projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America.

    • She was really patient and contributed to fostering a great atmosphere. The advice was great quality.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • Laura Hulett is great to work with. She has a can-do attitude and is proactive.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • She is an absolute joy to work with. She's extremely smart and calm. She is a very pleasant negotiator; she is firm but pleasant with the other side.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • Laura is amazing. She is a very, very talented lawyer. She's very commercial, pragmatic and a delight to work with.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Lewis McDonald
    Lewis McDonald

    Lewis McDonald

    Lewis McDonald is head of the global energy practice. He has experience across the gamut of energy work in developed and emerging markets, particularly with matters regarding the LNG sector and advising on gas pipeline developments. Other work of his includes new energy and renewables.

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  • Matthew Job
    Matthew Job

    Matthew Job

    Matthew Job is an experienced project finance practitioner who co-leads the UK power practice. He has a particular focus on the sectors of energy and infrastructure, with matters such as bank-led project finance and structures involving multilateral agencies. His clients include lenders and sponsors.

    • He's one of the go-to project finance lawyers in the City. He's a very bright chap who has worked on several big matters, so he brings that extra level of understanding.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal

    • For something like our incredibly complex and technical matters, we needed the best, and having someone like Matthew Job on the finance side really made a difference.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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  • Reza Dadbakhsh
    Reza Dadbakhsh

    Reza Dadbakhsh

    Reza Dadbakhsh is frequently called upon by a venerable list of clients to lead transactions within the oil and gas sector. He is experienced in transactions relating to upstream and downstream assets, alongside corporate joint ventures.

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  • Eliza Eaton
    Eliza Eaton

    Eliza Eaton

    Eliza Eaton is heartily endorsed by clients for her able handling of corporate transactions within the oil and gas sector.

    • Eliza Eaton really punches above her weight.

      Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy respondentGlobal
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Ranked Individuals at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP (11)

UK

  • Profile image of Sarah Pollock

    Sarah Pollock

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy

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  • Profile image of Silke Goldberg

    Silke Goldberg

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy

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  • Profile image of Matthew Job

    Matthew Job

    Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy

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