
Michelle has advised on some of the market’s largest renewable energy transactions such as advising on over 50% of the UK Round 3 offshore wind programme on projects with a capital cost in excess of £40 bn including advising the Forewind Consortium on what will be the largest renewable energy project globally, RWE, and Eneco, advising on Statkraft’s investment in the £1.5 billion Sheringham Shoal project and bids for the London Array offshore wind farm, Centrica’s Boreas portfolio and the Thanet offshore wind farm. Michelle has also advised on numerous onshore wind farm transactions including the RWE/Renerco GEM transaction, Statkraft’s acquisition of Baillie Windfarm, the sale of Savills’ interests in a 1000MW+ Infinergy wind portfolio to Koop Energie, the sale of the Tullo and Little Raith wind farm projects from West Coast Energy and the acquisition by Statkraft of Catamount Energy SC3’s shareholding in Catamount Cymru Cyf. In addition, Michelle has also advised on equity investments for various private equity investors and sponsors in relation to their equity fund raising for wind, solar and biomass projects.
Michelle is also involved in advising on clean energy projects in China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, the Middle East and Africa.
Michelle advises numerous clients in the sector on competitive and non competitive acquisitions and disposals such as the sale of CLPE Holdings (£120m) to Macquarie, EPR (£200m) to Macquarie, SRG and Scottish Biofuels’ renewable energy portfolio to Infinis.
She writes regularly on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and is a regular speaker at conferences including the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi RenewableUK, REFF India, REFF China, BGCC Biomass conference, IMECHE Renewables Conference, REA biomass conference, Financing Carbon (London), Climate Finance (London), Environmental Green Bonds Conference, Westminster Energy Forum and Government Round Tables.
Michelle is actively involved in policy and regulation on clean energy and is Chair of the REA Finance Group which brings together lenders investing and developers. Michelle is on the Panel of CBI Climate Change London, is a member of the Consultation Board of PLC Environment and is a member of the RenewableUK Offshore Strategy Group and the RenewableUK Finance sub-group. Michelle is also a member of the Low Carbon Economy Advisory Group, is on the Advisory Panel to the Climate Bonds Initiative and has been appointed to the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force.
She is rated as one of the leading lawyers in the renewable energy sector in Chambers as “rounding out the renewable energy practice with her corporate finance skills” and is held out by commentators as a “market leader”. Michelle is also listed as “a leader in renewables” by The Lawyer Hot 100 Lawyers 2012 and was recently named as being one of the top 100 people in global wind power by A Word About Wind.