Energy & Natural Resources | Europe

Clifford Chance is a market-leading international firm operating at the forefront of the Spanish energy market. The stronghold practice consists of skilled multidisciplinary practitioners combining far-reaching expertise and experience within the energy sector. The practice possesses highlighted strength in regulatory issues, including monitoring trends and threats within the sector. The team frequently represents major domestic and international companies in a vast range of contentious-administrative appeals before the Spanish courts. The group is supported by a vast global network of offices, resulting in significant cross-border capacity, particularly in the Latin American market. The departments' clients benefit from a strong banking practice which regularly advises lenders on energy project finance, boasting further capability in corporate and M&A operations relating to the sector.

Cuatrecasas houses a multidisciplinary team routinely advising energy companies on project development, as well as blue-chip companies on the full spectrum of energy matters and investments. The department adeptly assists with M&A, regulatory and project finance issues relating to the energy and natural resources sector, including high-value transactions and complex litigation. The practice offers clients experience in the renewable sector, with an array of matters involving photovoltaic and wind projects, with the group's expertise extending to noteworthy electricity mandates. Cross-border international work is another notable feature of the firm, as Spanish offices are supported by further branches in Europe, Latin America and Africa, and multiple recent financing, refinancing and M&A energy mandates have originated from the Latin American and cross-border European markets.

A globally renowned firm with an impressive energy and natural resources team, Linklaters is frequently at the fore of complicated and challenging M&A transactions, offering pre-eminent clients a wealth of regulatory advice. The department has an ever-expanding reputation in contentious-administrative appeals, regularly representing market-leading energy and natural resources companies before various Spanish courts in matters relating to energy remuneration and damages claims brought against the state. The firm's client portfolio includes major Spanish companies in the gas, renewable and electricity sectors.

Allen & Overy is an international firm taking a multidisciplinary approach to energy and natural resources matters, being singled out for noteworthy strength in cross-border transactions. The practice has a particular focus on international arbitration, maintaining an excellent market reputation for its representation of claimants in cases against the Kingdom of Spain. The firm's activity extends into the transactional energy space, frequently representing buyers and sellers in M&A deals, including financing. The team possesses noteworthy expertise in renewable energy sources, advising a host of suppliers. The energy practice also draws upon other departments of the firm, such as M&A or antitrust, to fully support clients' needs.

The firm is a powerhouse offering clients a dedicated energy and natural resources team that regularly represents domestic and multinational clients seeking to invest in the Spanish energy sector. Garrigues advises on impressive corporate, financing and regulatory mandates pertaining to the energy sector. With a further capacity to assist clients with complex commercial arbitration, the department's clients benefit from offices throughout Latin America, China and the USA, ensuring that the team boasts notable expertise in cross-border cases, frequently handling Europe-wide deals as well as large domestic transactions.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is a leading Spanish firm encompassing a solid energy and natural resources group. With core strengths in litigation and international arbitration relating to energy disputes, the firm's expertise extends to transactional work, project finance and assistance with regulatory issues. A popular choice for major energy companies, foreign investors and financial institutions, the practice possesses a strong presence in renewable projects relating to wind and solar energy, with additional expertise in gas and electricity. The department maintains a proven track record of assisting investment funds with divesting or investing in renewable portfolios, in addition to project financing.

MVA Asociados is a well-regarded boutique consisting of a compact team wholly dedicated to providing expert energy advice. The firm's repertoire spans the breadth of the energy sector including renewables, cleantech, and oil and gas. The group provides clients with day-to-day advice on a range of matters such as regulatory issues, contentious processes and corporate transactions. The department's clients include major actors in the Spanish energy market, whom they frequently represent in high-profile deals and litigation proceedings. The team works with global law firms to provide international investor clients with specialist advice concerning Spanish energy regulations. The lawyers offer additional expertise in project development and construction.

Uría Menéndez has a well-reputed energy practice housing expertise in energy-related M&A, financial and regulatory matters. Large-scale project finance transactions remain a core area of practice, particularly those that involve significant international parties and assets. The practice is frequently instructed on transactions concerning both traditional and renewable energy sources, including wind, hydroelectric and solar projects. Thanks to a consolidated presence in Latin America and an international network, the team continues to undertake various transactional and project finance mandates in countries such as Argentina. The firm boasts proven experience acting on behalf of international and domestic lenders and borrowers.

Watson Farley & Williams is an internationally reputed firm presenting a combined energy, infrastructure and natural resources team. The practice offers experience across the transactional, project finance and regulatory spheres. The department regularly helps clients to manage their financial interests in non-renewable and renewable energy sources, including the sale and acquisition of photovoltaic projects, wind farms and electricity portfolios. With significant activity in the renewables space, the team retains noteworthy domestic and international private equity firms and industrial clients.

The energy team at Baker McKenzie climbs a tier in the rankings as a result of strong market support. Due to notable strengths in commercial and transactional matters, Baker McKenzie is frequently sought after for its advice in relation to the power and oil and gas spaces. With offices in Madrid and Barcelona, the team acts on behalf of a range of clients including utilities, asset managers and producers. The practice houses additional expertise in relation to contractual disputes and PPA negotiations.

CMS is a recognised international firm with a strong team that maintains a distinguished reputation in the market. The group often advises leading European energy companies and international investors on operations and activities in Spain, particularly in the acquisition of energy companies and renewable energy portfolios. The department's capabilities extend to general regulatory advice in the renewable and oil and gas fields, as well as in related litigation. The organisation draws strength from the firm's international network.

With a compact and multidisciplinary Spanish energy and natural resources team that benefits from the firm's global network, DLA Piper offers notable experience in PPAs and M&A deals. The group routinely assists both domestic and international energy clients with complex regulatory issues, as well as cross-border transactions, bringing together team members throughout Europe. The firm's client roster incorporates companies engaged in the production and supply of electricity, renewables and water, as well as investment funds.

Herbert Smith Freehills is an internationally recognised firm with an experienced energy and infrastructure team that is often present on cross-border M&A transactions and investments, refinancings and projects. Composed of diverse experts, including dispute resolution, public law and corporate partners leading matters within the energy space, the organisation's strong transactional practice is frequently chosen by foreign and domestic companies for advice on energy regulations in Spain. Highly international in scope, the team maintains strong connections and expertise across Europe and in the Latin American market, as well as in Africa. The group is well versed in advising international companies on their green energy investments in Spain, and Spanish clients on project development overseas.

Jones Day frequently advises clients across the key sectors of oil, gas, power and renewables. The practice routinely assists with M&A transactions taking place within the energy market, as well as large-scale project financings of energy plants and facilities. The group additionally assists with litigation proceedings before both national and European courts, as well as international arbitration. The team often participates in cross-border transactions, gaining further support through a string of offices across Europe and the Americas. The firm represents both buyers and sellers with corporate interests in the Spanish energy sector.

A well-resourced domestic practice undertaking regulatory, transactional and litigious mandates, Pérez-Llorca prides itself on strong regulatory expertise across the spectrum of energy sectors, advising both highly active gas and renewable energy companies and international investors seeking to protect their interests in the Spanish market. Corporate transactions taking place within the energy space remain a major feature of the practice. The firm's clients further benefit from experience in large-scale project financing mandates and contentious-administrative proceedings before Spanish courts.

Araoz & Rueda is a specialised domestic firm, offering expertise across the entire energy sector, including electricity, oil and gas, and renewable energy. The team is able to offer clients strategic advice from regulation and public law aspects to M&A and project financing. The firm handles domestic and international transactions for a client roster that comprises investment funds, renewable energy providers and multinational companies, and additionally represents clients in disputes concerning energy projects.

A well-regarded international firm with a highly active energy and natural resources practice, Bird & Bird houses multiple corporate, finance and litigation experts capable of assisting clients with all related financing, corporate and regulatory energy issues, as well as complex litigation and arbitration proceedings. The firm has a diverse practice particularly known for advising across renewables, with additional experience in energy management, storage and digitalisation. Based in Madrid, the team benefits from a global network, which is proving popular among multinational entities looking to invest in Spain and Latin America. The practice offers notable experience in the photovoltaic, wind and natural gas fields.

An international powerhouse with a solid presence in the Spanish energy market, EY offers long-standing clients detailed regulatory advice across a range of issues. The firm makes use of public law experts to assist with various contentious-administrative matters, including contractual litigation and arbitration proceedings. Key clients of the practice hail from the renewables sector, including wind, photovoltaic and biofuels.

GTA Villamagna houses a dedicated practice group with experience in the construction and operation of power plants, the regulatory framework for renewable energy sources, and public procurement contracts. The firm is singled out for its thriving regulatory practice, particularly in relation to the development of energy projects in the renewables sector, as well as its ability to provide broad technical advice. The group represents a diverse portfolio of clients, including investment funds with interests in the Spanish market and energy companies looking to develop their activities. The team hosts additional capacity to assist with contentious matters before the Spanish courts.

The energy team at Hogan Lovells enters the rankings this year as a result of strong market support. The group assists prominent Spanish clients with a range of contentious and non-contentious regulatory energy issues, including litigation before the Supreme Court. The team also acts for clients on the development of energy products in both renewable and conventional power contexts.

ONTIER's energy team enters the rankings as a result of strong market support. The lawyers act for clients on the acquisition, restructuring and disposal of renewable energy portfolios. The team also offers experience assisting with the construction of solar farms.

The energy department at Ramon y Cajal Abogados brings together regulatory, finance and contractual experts to aid clients with energy law issues, including administrative appeals and transactional matters. Corporate activity within the energy space is a core aspect of the practice, with mandates including M&A and project finance deals, as well as the negotiation of SPA and EPC agreements. The team demonstrates expertise in the developmental and transactional aspects of renewable energy projects, including wind and solar matters. The firm's client portfolio comprises both lenders and borrowers, including domestic banks and Spanish energy companies.