CMS comprehensively advises on M&A and regulatory matters, which was recently demonstrated in advising the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection on measures to support gas companies that are significant for market stability as well as assisting Iberdrola with the development of the 476th MW Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm project. The team also advises on topics pertaining to LNG terminals, hydrogen, e-mobility and photovoltaics. Practice head Ursula Steinkemper advises national and international companies as well as public institutions on public law with a focus on environmental and planning law; Fritz von Hammerstein complements  this with expertise in the mining sector. Competition law expert Rolf Hempel is another key contact and regularly represents clients in administrative and appeal procedures.

Gleiss Lutz full-service approach offers national energy companies, investors and the public sector expertise in topics pertaining to offshore wind, PV, hydrogen, e-mobility and infrastructure. Cornelia Topf, who is well versed in M&A matters, and public law expert Jacob von Andreae jointly head the team. Most recent instructions include matters pertaining to the energy crisis, such as gas supply shortfalls and energy price caps as well as project work in the energy storage and green hydrogen sectors. Associate Lisa Kappler is experienced in public commercial law and recently assisted with M&A transactions as well as matters pertaining to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and ESG-related compliance as well as the implementation and enforcement of energy price caps.

Hengeler Mueller‘s energy and natural resources team routinely cooperates with its other practices and international firms from the best friends network and comprehensively covers transactions and regulatory matters. Key competencies include the assistance with large infrastructure projects and disputes as well as advising on geopolitical influences such as the war in Ukraine; these are regularly called upon by financial investors, energy companies and transmission grid operators. Key contacts in the regulatory segment include Dirk Uwer, Jörg Meinzenbach and Daniel Zimmer, who are experienced in civil and public law proceedings in the gas and power supply sectors as well as in advising on infrastructure and grid projects. In the transaction area, Nicolas Böhm, Jens Wenzel and Sebastian Schneider focus on renewable energies. Moritz Rademacher (regulatory law) joined Kümmerlein at the beginning of 2024.

Noerr's energy practice focuses on regulatory and contentious matters and advises federal and state ministries, investors, energy companies and suppliers as well as project developers. A recent highlight was advising the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection on the introduction of the energy price cap and gas price cap as part of a plan by the federal government. The team has additional expertise in matters pertaining to the renewable energies, on- and offshore wind, hydrogen, as well as e-mobility sectors; Christian Alexander Mayer is a key contact for ​mobility topics. Another mainstay are national and international transactions as well as financing, here, M&A experts Christoph Spiering and Tibor Fedke regularly take the lead. Katrin Andrä advises on corporate contract design and joined Christof Federwisch as practice co-head in early 2024; Federwisch previously headed the practice alone and focuses on large power generation and energy infrastructure projects, where he comprehensively advises international energy suppliers, investors and project developers on the entire lifecycle of a project, including acquisition and litigation. Key contact Cornelia Kermel is well versed in issues pertaining to concession procedures.

A&O Shearman 's team focuses on energy-related transactions, while also covering various matters in the energy sector, such as plant and power plant construction and energy trading. Renewable energies are a core focus, here,practice head Nicolaus Ascherfeld advises at the corporate and M&A interface and assists international corporations, financial investors and companies with M&A and private equity transactions as well as joint ventures. He is supported by Max Landshut, who advises international clients on the entire project lifecycle, including equity structuring, regulatory frameworks and project contract drafting. Senior associate Alan Markgraf is a key contact for energy-related financing matters.

Boutique Becker Büttner Held, Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater focuses on the energy and infrastructure sectors and follows an interdisciplinary approach, thus covering related construction and real estate law issues. The core focus remains on regulatory topics, including the advice on grid access and merger control issues; Christian Theobald is a key contact for the latter two. Grid operators, municipalities and ministries as well as national and international companies call upon these competencies, which are complemented by sectoral expertise in the power, heating, e-mobility and hydrogen segments. Transactions and structuring expert Christian Held is experienced in the hydrogen sector. Juliane Kaspers (heating projects) returned to the firm in early 2024; she was previously at energy boutique Aecoute, which she co-founded.

Clifford Chance's energy and infrastructure practice assists energy services providers, project developers and financial investors with regulatory issues, national and international transactions as well as project developments and financing. The sector focus is on hydrogen, with similar expertise in advising on LNG, photovoltaics, solar and offshore wind projects as well as conventional energy matters. Practice head Mathias Elspaß is well versed in public law and is supported by M&A experts Anselm Raddatz and Markus Stephanblome as well as Florian Mahler; the latter is the co-head of the global projects team and a key contact for large-volume financing matters.

Dentons' energy team offers expertise in transactions and project work, including related financing with frequent ties to ​​renewable energies, as well as advising on LNG and conventional energy projects. Among the key contacts for transactions is practice head and offshore wind expert Thomas Schubert, while Gabriele Haas and Florian-Alexander Wesche are experienced in regulatory matters, another core focus of the practice. Here, recent instructions pertain to security of supply and price caps. The client roster includes energy suppliers, energy-intensive companies, energy providers and energy customers, which the team also advises on interfacing antitrust law matters as well as on e-mobility and charging infrastructure. Transaction experts Thomas Dörmer and Tim Heitling joined Hogan Lovells International LLP in January 2024.

DLA Piper advises across practices and various sectors and recently increasingly assisted with matters in the onshore and offshore wind, e-mobility and interfacing real estate segments, whereas a traditional focus remains on the gas sector. The key competencies include transactions and (international) project work, energy contract and energy trading law as well as energy regulation, here, practice head Michael Cieslarczyk boasts with relevant expertise; interfacing financing matters are covered by Wolfram Distler. In July 2023, Christopher Ollech was appointed counsel, he is well versed in project developments and contracts and regularly advises on issues pertaining to the EEG levy.

Hogan Lovells International LLP comprehensively covers the energy sector and advises on project developments, transactions and related financing as well as regulatory and contentious matters. This is complemented by Christian Knütel's expertise in the offshore wind sector; he heads the offshore wind competence center in Hamburg and also assists with project developments, including related claim management and disputes. Additionally, the practice is experienced in the onshore wind, solar, hydrogen and geothermal sectors. Matthias Hirschmann heads the team and routinely advises on national and international M&A transactions, acquisitions and joint ventures, while Carla Luh is instructed by banks, sponsors, borrowers and investors on related financing issues. Stefan Schröder heads the firm's global energy transition practice and advises on regulatory law (including hydrogen infrastructure, low-emission and renewable fuels), transactions as well as energy and emissions trading. Counsel Tobias Flasbarth assists with transactions and energy projects and regularly represents clients before the German and European regulatory authorities. In January 2024, the team welcomed Tim Heitling and Thomas Dörmer from Dentons; both are well versed in transactions in the energy sector.

Energy suppliers, project developers, financial investors, banks as well as states regularly call upon Linklaters' energy sector expertise in the transactions context, where Jens Hollinder Bäumer and practice head Thomas Schulz are among the key contacts. This is complemented by regulatory expertise, thereby advising on emissions trading and security of energy supply. The team also assists with transaction-related financing issues and dispute resolution and covers various sectors, including oil and gas, nuclear power, LNG, hydrogen and renewable energies as well as energy storage systems and e-mobility. Counsel Julia Sack is another key contact and is experienced in transactions and joint ventures.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH‘s energy expertise covers transactions, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. The team advises on matters pertaining to renewable energies, conventional energy and grid connection. Practice head and antitrust expert Holger Stappert is experienced in regulatory law and recently advised on grid connection and marketing issues; Stappert is also experienced in dispute resolution. Transactions, joint ventures and restructurings are key competencies of Michael Bormann, he recently advised energy suppliers and financial investors on the acquisition of wind and solar energy parks, including cross-border acquisitions. Philipp Dietz also focuses his advice on cross-border matters.

Norton Rose Fulbright 's competencies cover transactions, project work and financing, which are frequently called upon by financial investors, banks and energy companies in the context of charging infrastructure for electric cars, geothermal, hydrogen and solar energy as well as offshore wind. Klaus Bader heads the firm's European energy practice and routinely assists with cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in the geothermal energy sector. Related financing topics are covered by Dirk Trautmann, who is regularly instructed by lenders, sponsors and borrowers. The arrival of M&A expert Maximilian Findeisen from Eversheds Sutherland in September 2022 strengthened the practice's expertise in the transactions space.

Raue's energy practice focuses on contentious matters in the renewable energy and gas delivery sectors, which is complemented by regulatory advice, such as on matters pertaining to the energy price cap, as well as antitrust law expertise and experience in M&A transactions and financing, with frequent ties to the venture capital area. Christian von Hammerstein heads the practice and is supported by Peter Roegele (public commercial, energy and antitrust law), who was appointed associate partner in January 2023. Hans Heller is experienced in the areas of energy storage and LNG infrastructure. In August 2023, Anna von Bremen (regulatory energy law) joined Osborne Clarke.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP impresses with its expertise in transactions and related regulatory issues. The advice focuses on the offshore wind sector, but also covers LNG, hydrogen, waste-to-energy and geothermal energy projects. Malte Jordan regularly takes the lead here; he advises on M&A transactions and corporate restructuring and is regularly instructed by investors, project developers and banks on financing and investment matters. Jordan jointly heads the team with Thomas Hollenhorst, who has banking and capital markets expertise and routinely advises on the financing structuring of energy and infrastructure projects. Regulatory issues are covered by Thorsten Volz (also M&A) frequently advises on regulatory matters pertaining to power plant projects and grid infrastructure as well as renewable energies, emissions trading and joint ventures.

Baker McKenzie is experienced in transactions and project support and focuses on the renewable energy sector. Recent instructions include the advice on matters pertaining to solar energy, waste-to-hydrogen as well as on- and offshore wind; other recent topics include battery storage and charging infrastructure. Practice heads Claire Dietz-Polte and Holger Engelkamp are regularly instructed by utility companies, financial and infrastructure investors as well as PE houses in the context of transactions. This is complemented by regulatory expertise, where Janet Kerstin Butler as well as Dietz-Polte are key contacts for advising on transaction and project-related matters pertaining to unbundling requirements and grid infrastructure. The practice also assists with managing supply contracts and financing issues. M&A expert Silke Gantzckow joined Eversheds Sutherland in April 2023.

Boutique Chatham Partners LLP is renowned for its regulatory expertise in the context of large project developments and recently strengthened its transaction know-how with the addition of Malte Bever in December 2022 (previously at Hogan Lovells International LLP ). The arrival of Daniel Reichert-Facilides as senior sounsel in early 2023 (previously at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer) underlines the expertise in interfacing financing matters. Among the client roster are project developers, energy companies and investment companies, which instruct the team on topics pertaining to solar, PV, wind and hydrogen energy as well as battery storage. Practice head Felix Fischer frequently advises on issues in the offshore wind sector, while he also handles renewable energy matters. He is supported by Marieke Lüdecke, who was appointed partner in April 2023 and is experienced in project-related contract design.

Dolde Mayen & Partner's regulatory expertise in matters pertaining to grid access, grid operator unbundling as well as grid access remuneration is a key strength of the team, which also advises on energy projects, including interfacing environmental and planning law matters. Another mainstay is the representation of clients, including grid operators, energy suppliers and municipalities, before the Federal Network Agency and relevant antitrust courts. Practice head Christian Stelter (public commercial law, energy and raw materials) recently took over the practice management from Winfried Porsch (environmental and planning law); Porsch remains a key contact.

Daniel Marhewka heads Fieldfisher's energy & natural resources practice; his corporate and energy law expertise is regularly called upon in the context of national and international transactions as well as related financing in the onshore and offshore wind, PV, solar, hydropower and geothermal energy sectors. Sebastian Kamm also covers this intersection and advises companies and investors on transactions, restructuring, joint ventures and restructuring transactions. M&A expert André Happel joined Noerr in February 2023.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB comprehensively advises international investors, the public sector and energy companies on project developments and transactions. The team’s strengths also include regulatory advice, including in connection with alternative marketing and energy supply concepts, e-mobility and the production of alternative fuels. The advice focuses on renewable energies, including solar, PV and wind energy, as well as on grid expansion matters. Co-head Thoralf Herbold is experienced in regulatory project planning, structuring and development and also jointly advises on transactions with co-head Achim Compes. Compes has additional experience in investment projects, energy supply contracts and joint ventures.

GvW Graf von Westphalen's mainstays include the advice on energy law and regulatory issues, such as gas shortages, gas levy and the energy price cap, as well as project support in the hydrogen, wind and solar energy sectors, including related transactions. Helmut Kempf is also experienced in project support and complements this with expertise in contentious matters. Since June 2023, he jointly heads the team with Maximilian Emanuel Elspas, who comprehensively covers energy law, including disputes.

Heuking's interdisciplinary advice was recently called upon in the context of LNG, gas, geothermal and PV energy matters as well as wind farm projects. Practice head Marc Baltus in Düsseldorf focuses on project work, energy contract law and regulatory issues, including export restrictions and price adjustments, while the focus in Hamburg is on dispute resolution and antitrust issues pertaining to the energy sector. Energy transactions are regularly supported from the Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich locations.

Jones Day focuses on supporting international projects and transactions, including related financing issues, thereby covering oil and gas as well as nuclear power, hydrogen and renewable energies. These competencies are regularly called upon by asset managers, project developers as well as energy companies and are complemented by regulatory expertise and experience in the prevention and resolution of disputes; Practice head Johannes Willheim also regularly advises clients on arbitration, regulatory and antitrust proceedings.

Latham & Watkins LLP's transaction-related expertise is mirrored in the practice management, where Tobias Larisch routinely advises investors and project developers as well as energy and industrial companies on national and cross-border transactions in the gas, oil, nuclear power, hydrogen and renewable energy sectors as well as battery storage. This focus was further strengthened in May 2023 with the addition of M&A expert Alexander Stefan Rieger from Hogan Lovells International LLP. Related regulatory and conflict-related issues are handled across practices.

Osborne Clarke‘s project financing and transaction support focuses on renewable energies, here, Christoph Torwegge is well versed in the sales support of large solar project portfolios. Since 2023, the energy team advises independently from the corporate practice and is led by practice head Daniel Breuer, who also focuses on the transactions segment, while also covering related regulatory matters. Regulatory competencies include the advice on tenders and PPAs as well as grid regulation, energy trading and decarbonisation; these were further strengthened with the arrival of Anna von Bremen (previously at Raue) in August 2023, she is well versed in energy-related contract design and litigation. Clients include asset managers, project developers and energy services providers. Thies Goldner (transactions, project finance and asset management in the energy sector) made partner in January 2024.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB focuses on the sectors hydrogen, e-mobility, wind and bioenergy and advises national and international clients on energy regulatory issues, including grid access, price adjustment and emissions trading. The team also offers support in cross-border transactions and advises on market entry, including interfacing matters. This cross-practice expertise is called upon in the context of Smart City projects. Practice head Sönke Gödeke is well versed in corporate law as well as energy law. Christian Lütkehaus (project development and support) joined CTSP Legal in August 2023.

Taylor Wessing's energy expertise focuses on transaction and project support and covers all sectors, including photovoltaics, offshore wind and other renewable energies. This approach is mirrored in all three practice heads, the M&A experts Carsten Bartholl, Tillmann Pfeifer and Markus Böhme. The practice also advises on regulatory matters, here, Böhme frequently takes the lead, as well as market entry, insolvency-related matters, power supply contracts, security of power supply matters and the construction of power plants. The client roster includes both energy companies and project developers. Senior associate Jasmin Schlee is experienced in energy-related transactions.

White & Case LLP 's team is integrated into the firm's international Energy Industry Group and thus routinely advises on cross-border transactions and financing. Practice head Thomas Burmeister focuses on transaction support, while he is also experienced in regulatory matters. Florian Degenhardt is well versed in financing issues and instructed by banks, investors and sponsors. The regulatory advice includes sanctions, grid development and disputes; the team focuses on the solar, LNG, wind and geothermal energy sectors, as well as energy infrastructure.

ADVANT Beiten offers support in transactions and projects in the photovoltaics, geothermal, onshore and offshore wind sectors as well as charging infrastructure for electric vehicles; Christof Aha and Christian Ulrich Wolf regularly take the lead here. Aha and Wolf share management of the practice with Stephan Rechten, who is well versed in regulatory matters, including procurement procedures. These capacities are complemented by experience in litigation and arbitration, including claims for damages and delivery disputes; Ralf Hafner is a key contact here.

Ashurst LLP 's projects & energy practice, led by Maximilian Uibeleisen, supports national and international investors, project developers and energy companies in transactions and joint ventures and focuses on ​​renewable energies, as well regulatory matters, such as grid remuneration, the energy price cap and compliance. Other mainstays are the advice on power purchase agreements and interfacing financing matters.

Project developers, energy suppliers, investors and suppliers instruct Bird & Bird LLP‘s practice on various issues pertaining to the planning, tendering, construction and operation of power plants, including contentious matters. Other competencies include project-related contract drafting, the advice on corporate PPAs, M&A as well as project financing issues. The advice focuses on renewable energies, including offshore wind, whereas the team also assists with conventional energy projects. The practice is led by René Voigtländer (regulatory, procurement, environmental and planning law) and Matthias Lang (regulatory, state aid, environmental and public commercial law).

With the move of former practice head Werner Brickwedde (transactions, joint ventures) to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in April 2023, Eversheds Sutherland‘s practice is now led by Martin Weitenberg, who is experienced in transactions, regulatory matters as well as contract-related issues, such as power supply agreements and energy price caps. The team's overall focus on transactions was further strengthened with the addition of the two corporate and M&A experts Silke Gantzckow from Baker McKenzie in May 2023 and Steffen Schniepp from PwC Legal (PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft) at the end of 2022. The practice focuses on the renewable energy sector.

Led by Martin Hamer (environmental law) and Dieter Neumann (project development), Greenberg Traurig Germany focuses on project support, which includes contract drafting, joint venture structures as well as financing and regulatory matters. The team is regularly instructed by financial services providers and energy companies on renewable energy projects as well as issues pertaining to the oil and gas sectors. Martin Borning is another key contact and recently advised on energy and raw materials trading, charging infrastructure as well as synthetic fuels and hydrogen projects.

GSK Stockmann is experienced in advising on grid and power line expansion and is regularly instructed by two out of the four German power transmission grid operators; here, co-practice head Stefan Geiger frequently takes the lead and advises on environmental and planning law issues pertaining to the approval, implementation and construction of power lines. Another focus is placed on decentralised power supply, above all photovoltaics, heat supply and charging infrastructure, as well as gas infrastructure matters, where the team advises on planning procedures, licensing issues and contract drafting. Co-practice head Sören Wolkenhauer (energy, public procurement and state aid law) regularly advises on the latter area.

Boutique LEITFELD Richter Schellberg Schleifenbaum Sieberg Rechtsanwälte specialises in regulated industries and advises energy suppliers and, to a lesser extent, energy-intensive industries and public sector clients on all matters pertaining to the production, storage and distribution of power as well as regulated network operations. In addition to energy law issues, the team also covers planning and antitrust law as well as clients' representation. Thilo Richter is a key contact and focuses on interfacing regulatory, constitutional and Union law matters in the context of decarbonisation.

Loschelder's energy team is integrated into the firm's cross-practice regulated markets group and impresses with its expertise in representing regulatory authorities. Recently, practice head Raimund Schütz, who specialises in public and contract law, represented various regulatory authorities in appeal proceedings by network operators against the setting of revenue caps. The team also advises private sector companies on energy-related issues.

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte focuses on advising and representing energy companies and municipal utilities in energy law disputes, which are frequently advised on at the antitrust law interface and include pricing issues and mergers; Andreas Hahn is a key contact here. Practice head Markus Köhler routinely assists with mass, model and large-scale proceedings and regularly represents large pipeline operators in proceedings pertaining to pricing in connection with line utilisation before the Federal Court of Justice.

Redeker Sellner Dahs fields regulatory expert and practice head Stephan Gerstner and specialises in regulatory issues pertaining to renewable energies, such as hydrogen and offshore wind. Other competencies include the advice on planning procedures and litigation.

Rittershaus demonstrates expertise in the wind and photovoltaic energy sectors, where the team advises energy companies, project developers, investors and municipalities on transactions, tenancy law issues in connection with utility contracts as well as service contracts in the context of plant construction. Practice head Wolfgang Patzelt is a key contact for project-related construction law issues, including approval procedures and litigation.