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"... strong relationships with the four main utilities in Germany, advising them on a large amount of emissions trading work"
Chambers Europe 2008
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"... abundant experince advising major corporations on investing in offshore wind farms"
Chambers Europe 2008
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"Recommended energy practice ..."
JUVE Handbook on Commercial Law Firms [German ed.] 2007/2008
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The energy industry’s legal scaffolding changed fundamentally in July 2005 when the new Energy Management Act (
Energiewirtschaftsgesetz) came into force. It heralded the creation of a new regulatory authority, the Federal Grid Agency. The EU Commission’s Competition Directorate-General as well as the Federal Cartel Office are also concerning themselves with the energy sector. On top of this there are a host of actions pending against the utilities companies in the law courts.
In this time of major upheaval, the energy sector is faced with fundamental structural changes as well as new questions concerning all areas of the law. Regulation is making it necessary to completely reorganise the companies operating in the market. Structures are also changing as a result of cooperations, privatisations and mergers. New contract models are required to take account of the new rules and regulations governing grid access and the Federal Cartel Office’s practice regarding long-term supply contracts. Emissions trading and the promotion of renewable energy sources offer new business opportunities, not only for energy companies. And the issues involved in these new challenges very often have not only a national dimension, but an international one, too.
Alongside all these new developments, there are still the classic areas of public energy and energy management law, which have for many years been one of Gleiss Lutz’ specialities: licensing procedures for the construction of power stations or pipelines, underground gas storage facilities, environmental law and all areas of planning law. This also includes the construction of wind farms – both on- and off-shore – and of photovoltaic and other regenerative energy production facilities. And, last but not least, Gleiss Lutz has always handled issues to do with nuclear law, including the final storage of radioactive waste.
The Gleiss Lutz team handles all these issues and more, and possesses the know-how and resources necessary to offer comprehensive and competent advice covering the whole energy spectrum. At the same time we are available to assist colleagues from other practice areas, e.g. corporate, M&A, banking and financial, competition and antitrust, public procurement, and environmental, in dealing with special energy-related questions. Activities in this area are coordinated by our interdisciplinary “Energy & Natural Resources” working group, which bundles the expertise and experience of lawyers from all the different areas concerned.
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