Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

The wind industry’s 100 most influential lawyers

By Michelle Froese | August 14, 2018

A wide range of political risks pose major threat to the viability and profitability of international wind farms, both on and offshore, and in regions ranging from the United States to Europe and Africa. Moreover, the ability for these projects to successfully overcome these challenges and protect future investments is often directly linked to the quality and calibre of their respective legal counsel and the experience of their legal teams.

Report cover

The Legal Power List 2018 is published exclusively for AWAW’s rapidly expanding international membership of energy developers, financiers, and investors. Download a copy here.

This is according to the Legal Power List 2018, the latest report published by industry intelligence service A Word About Wind (AWAW). The report ranks the 100 most influential lawyers active in the global wind energy sector and offers in-depth analysis on the risks posed to projects by regulatory and political changes, as well as contributions from DNV GL and Mayer Brown.

Recent years have seen investors in the wind industry forced to contend with unprecedented levels of political and regulatory uncertainty. This is the case not only in areas more often thought of as ‘risky’ for development – although risks remain high for developers in emerging markets including Africa and Latin America – but also in parts of Europe and North America that have led the growth of wind power.

The report and rankings build on recent analysis from AWAW that identified how retroactive cuts to Spanish wind subsidies between 2011-2013 devastated its national market, while Poland hit the headlines earlier in 2018 for a $700m lawsuit launched against its government. The lawsuit followed the failure of Polish state utilities to honour power purchase agreements, and the unwillingness of the government to uphold Polish court decisions, which resulted in international arbitration.

“Legal Power List 2018 has highlighted some of the biggest challenges for wind investors, including the need for strong legal support when operating in risky markets. And this isn’t simply emerging markets,” said Richard Heap, Editor-in-Chief, A Word About Wind. “In fact, risks for investors can be bigger – and harder to spot – in the countries and regions that are today most positive about wind energy.”

In light of this and given wider political and regulatory risks threatening wind energy projects, investors and developers will continue to rely heavily on legal advisors – not only for creating watertight contracts in the initial stages, but, if necessary, to take legal challenges to the courts.

“Let’s look at Spain, or Ontario in Canada. Investors were able to take advantage of generous government policies for many years, which helped to attract high levels of investment. However, when political power changed hands and new leaders wanted to make cuts, this had a devastating impact on some investors,” Heap added.

The Legal Power List is the latest in a series of reports published exclusively by A Word About Wind. The report covers key themes that will feature on the agenda of Financing Wind Europe, the next A Word About Wind membership conference, to be held on November 1st in London.

The event, which will take place at The Crystal and will include panel discussions and debates between senior investors and industry leaders. For more information about this event visit https://financingwind.com/events/london-2018/.

The Legal Power List report is published exclusively for AWAW’s rapidly expanding international membership of energy developers, financiers and investors. For further information about how to download a copy of the report and apply for membership, visit: https://www.awordaboutwind.com/reports/legal-power-list-2018/.


Filed Under: News
Tagged With: awordaboutwind
 

About The Author

Michelle Froese

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe