Energy and Infrastructure

Our recent experience includes advising:

• MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals in relation to its Corporate PPAs with Keppel DC REIT.
• Octopus Renewables on its acquisition, development and project financing of the Ballymacarney and Harlockstown solar projects (aggregate capacity of 250 MW).
• EirGrid on various complex offshore electricity arrangements.
• Bord na Móna on the development of various wind farms and energy storage facilities throughout Ireland. 
• EirGrid in relation to a number of its electricity interconnector projects including its joint venture with Réseau de Transport d’Electricité SA for development of the Celtic Interconnector.
• Highfield Energy (a solar developer) in relation to a Corporate PPA with Meta (formerly Facebook) in relation to two of Ireland's largest operational solar parks (combined installed capacity of 276 MWp) and advising Highfield with its partners Ib Vogt and Aura Power on the sale of these solar parks. 
• Hanwha on the establishment and financing of a 200MW BESS project in the mid-west region of Ireland.
• Rabobank as lender in relation to its financing of two large-scale Irish solar parks (currently under development).
• Microsoft in relation to a portfolio of Corporate PPAs in respect of a significant portfolio of renewable projects being developed by Energia, Power Capital and Statkraft.
• One of Europe's largest solar park contractors on its EPC and O&M contracts for 400MW+ of Irish solar parks.
• Sponsors and Lenders on over 2.5GW renewable and conventional power plant developments. This includes over 1.3GW of onshore wind farm developments.
• EirGrid and SONI on all aspects of the I-SEM project which is the new wholesale electricity market arrangement for Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Matheson’s role involved drafting and advising on the new trading rules, the new capacity market code, the new grid code, the new trading rules for the day ahead and intraday markets in I-SEM as well as drafting amendments to EirGrid’s operational agreements necessitated by I-SEM.
• The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the drafting of the RESS and ORESS Terms & Conditions (providing a unique legal adviser insight into the fundamental design and operation of RESS and ORESS, Ireland’s renewable electricity subsidy scheme).
• Sellers and Purchasers on the sale and / or acquisition of major energy and infrastructure assets in recent years, including Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate and Ireland’s largest oil storage terminal at Bantry Bay in County Cork.
• Vermilion Energy Inc.’s acquisition (valued at over €1 billion) together with a Canadian pension fund of Shell’s interest in the Corrib gas project. We have advised Vermilion Energy Inc. since 2008 when they first invested in the Corrib gas project. We are also retained by major international players in the market such as ExxonMobil, CNOOC and Woodside Energy.
•  A large international utility on a range of electricity market contracts – including supply agreements and power purchase agreements (including corporate PPAs).
• Statkraft on its acquisition of a battery storage project in the south-west of Ireland.
• A large international energy developer on its acquisition of a large solar development portfolio.
• A number of large multinational technology companies and renewable energy developers in relation to the drafting and negotiation of corporate power purchase agreements (including the first to be announced in the Irish market) and on renewable energy procurement strategies, trading structures and related agreements.
• Advising a number of offtakers on their entry to the gas and power markets as well as all of their electricity and gas trading and sale contracts.
• A large multinational company on the sale of an energy supply company in respect of a 37MW Irish wind farm to a large international technology company, including the negotiation of a REFIT-subsidised corporate PPA (the first in the Irish market).
• Partners Group (UK) Limited, a global private equity firm, on its acquisition of an interest in the Greenlink Interconnector, a project to construct a 500MW subsea electricity interconnector between Ireland and Great Britain.
• Irving Oil on the acquisition of Tedcastles Oil Products Unlimited Company and its associated subsidiaries.
• A number of the largest global mining companies on their Irish assets. 

• Advising offshore wind developers, investors, lenders and contractors on permitting, joint ventures and ‘stress testing’ of regulatory applications for over 2GW of Irish offshore wind capacity to be delivered over the next 5-10 years.
• Advising Bremore Ireland Port on the development of a new deepwater multi-model port north of Dublin to serve amongst other things as an offshore wind O&M support facility.
• Advising Asterion on its acquisition of 80% of the National Broadband Plan project, a €3 billion State intervention to deliver high speed broadband (primarily by FTTH) to all underserved homes and business in Ireland, along with on-going advice on the operation and roll-out of the National Broadband Plan.
• Advising a sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
• Advising Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three.
• Advising JJ Rhatigan & Company on its successful bid (and preferred bidder negotiations) with Macquarie Capital for the Higher Education PPP – Bundle One to design, finance, build, operate and maintain new educational facilities at six higher level education campuses across Ireland.
• Advising Energia on the development of its entire pipeline of solar parks.
• Advising Rabobank as lender to Ib Vogt / Highfield on the development and financing of four Irish solar farms (Rathnaskilloge, Gaskinstown, Clonin North and North Arklow) with a combined generating capacity of around 280MW.

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• Advising a sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
• Advising lenders on the financing of a number of Irish data centres operated and developed by K2 Data Centres (a Kuok Group Company).
• Advising Rabobank as lender to Ib Vogt / Highfield on the development and financing of four Irish solar farms (Rathnaskilloge, Gaskinstown, Clonin North and North Arklow) with a combined generating capacity of around 280MW.
• Advising Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three.
• Advising Real Assets Investment Management on the financing of the operational N25 Waterford Bypass PPP demand risk toll road.

• Octopus Renewables, one of the largest owners and managers of renewable energy assets in Europe, on its significant minority stake, and follow on investments, in Simply Blue Group, a marine project developer focused on early stage floating wind projects.
• A major Irish all-island utility company on its joint venture partnership for the co-development of off-shore wind projects.
• Cellnex on the sale of its Irish business, which is Ireland’s largest telecoms tower company.
• Asterion Industrial Partners on its acquisition of an 80% stake in the National Broadband Plan for Ireland.
• AMP Capital on the sale of the assets of the Irish Infrastructure Fund for sale, comprising controlling stakes in the Speed Fibre Group (Magnet Networks, Airspeed and Enet) and the Convention Centre Dublin PPP project.
• GLIL Infrastructure on its acquisition of the 453MW Rathcool Wind Energy Portfolio, which provides around 11% of the Republic of Ireland’s installed wind capacity.
• Hanwha Energy Corporation on the sale of its majority stake in the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Ireland, one of the largest such installations in Europe.
• RAIM on its acquisition of Celtic Roads Group (Waterford), the operator of the N25 Waterford Bypass PPP toll road concession PPP, with co-investment backing from IST and Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure.
• Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) on its acquisition of a majority stake in Elgin Energy, comprising a portfolio of 15 GW of solar PV and battery assets.
• Highfield Solar and ib vogt on the sale of two solar parks (capacity 282MW).
• Octopus Renewables on its acquisition finance and construction of the 250MW Ballymacarney solar project (Ireland's largest solar park).
• EDF on its acquisition of a portfolio of eight solar projects with over 100MW of capacity.
• Waterland Private Equity on its acquisition of Irish-based turn-key cable installation and termination business, MTM Engineering, and bolt-on transactions comprising the MTM acquisition of CET Connect and ATSS Ventures.

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"Matheson’s energy and natural resources team is characterised by their commercial awareness, excellent technical knowledge, and responsiveness. They consistently provide valuable legal advice and support promptly and have an unrivalled understanding of their clients’ needs"
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"The Matheson team was able to deliver fast and top-notch work in a challenging deal environment for a competitive international bidding process involving offshore wind assets. They worked closely with our teams and provided seamless input as part of the broader legal team covering multiple jurisdictions. The team knows and abides by high international standards of quality and service. "
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"Our experience with Matheson has been excellent. Their availability, engagement, and quality of partners and associates are fantastic. We will work with Matheson in any future project for renewable energy in Ireland."
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"Matheson LLP provides incredibly timely and commercial legal support on the construction documentation and power purchase agreement negotiation. Their knowledge of the market and market norms/trends is incredibly helpful."
Energy & Natural Resources: The European  Legal 500 2023

"‘The firm has a good overall legal and regulatory understanding of the Irish electricity market."
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2023

"The Matheson team have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the legal arrangements which underpin the energy/electricity sector and combine that with an in-depth understanding of how the business functions."
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2023

"The Matheson solicitors are extremely knowledgeable about the sector. They are certainly market leaders in this regard."
Energy & Natural Resources: The European  Legal 500 2023

"The team is very efficient and knowledgeable of the market, and has the resources internally to handle bigger projects and manage that really well."
Energy & Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2023

"The lawyers understand the needs of the client and deliver pragmatic solutions." 
Energy & Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2023

"Matheson has a large number of dedicated experts in the energy field."
Energy & Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2023

"Knowledge of the area. Very responsive. "
IFLR1000 2022

“Strong technical knowledge. Flexible and responsive.”
Energy & Natural Resources: The Legal 500 2022

“This team has a wonderful depth of knowledge on all aspects of energy law in Ireland, including the renewable energy scheme, corporate renewable energy power purchase agreements, and data centre agreements and policy.”
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2022

“Capable of providing robust legal advisory services on energy policy development, including state aid considerations, and informed by a broad understanding of the Irish energy market and regulatory framework.”
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2022

“The team have strong industry knowledge and a detailed understanding of the business rules and regulations which govern its operations.”
Energy & Natural Resources: The European  Legal 500 2022

“The team offers strong subject matter expertise (both legal and business) coupled with flexibility and commitment to delivery.”
Energy & Natural Resources: The European  500 2022

“A large team is available with specialists for every single aspect of a renewable energy project financing. This guarantees continuous support and a very high degree of know-how. All team members are very committed to providing the necessary explanations and solutions for any matters that may arise. They contribute greatly to the successful completion of a project”
Energy and Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2022

“Excellent response times. Succinct advice. Expertise in the sector.”
IFLR1000 2021

“The firm have deep expertise in the drafting of PPAs, particularly in the Irish market and are able to provide advice that help us as the client to identify and mitigate issues with the contract as they arise, in particular their knowledge of renewable project financing.”
IFLR1000 2021

"Knowledgeable in their practice area and provide pragmatic and timely advice. When working with Garret and his team we know we are in safe hands receiving quality advice whereas our experience with other practices has not been as positive. "
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2021

"The team had great experience overall for what we needed. The  experience we had was of a very approachable team and always ready to assist with the most urgent query on a particular day. "
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2021

"The Matheson team demonstrate the professional standards expected from a top tier firm. What makes the team unique is their deep technical understanding of the electricity market earned through extensive experience working with the national system operators. They also bring a wealth of experience from private sector delivery of electricity projects which greatly benefited the development our project. "
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2021

"I have used Matheson’s services for nearly 17 years now. I always find their level of knowledge and expertise to be excellent, their advice to be very professional and practical and their commitment and level of service to be second to none. I have used other firms and have found that none have provided the same high quality of service or commitment. In particular, I have found that Matheson follow through on all tasks required post completion of transactions (eg to complete companies office filings, provide bibles of documentation etc where other firms sometimes don’t). "
Energy & Natural Resources: The European Legal 500 2021

"They have demonstrated a depth of knowledge in this field as well as a flexible and client-focused approach. "
Energy & Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2021

They are "a dedicated team and a wide range of expertise in energy law. "
Energy & Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2021