The Legal 500 2025 in focus: Future Energy 

In the recently published Legal 500 2025 directory rankings, TLT’s Future Energy practice once again performed strongly. We caught up with Head of Future Energy, Maria Connolly, to uncover the story behind this success.

What types of deals and projects have you supported over the past 12 months?

In 2023 alone, we advised on the development of, or investment into, over 10GW of clean energy projects and completed 54 clean energy deals – setting us ahead of other law firms. 

A first-of-its-kind project from the last year, which we have supported on included the completion of sale of two landmark future energy projects, supporting the development of renewable energy in the UK. These were the sale of the landmark Red John Pumped Storage Hydro scheme located on the banks of Loch Ness to Statkraft for Intelligent Land Investments Group PLC (ILI). The project was coined one of Europe’s largest producer of renewable power. We also advised ILI on the sale of its 50MW battery storage project Balnacraig to EDP Renewables.

We also advised Innova Renewables on a strategic partnership with funds managed by Schroders Greencoat, which aims to fund and develop 5GW of energy generation and battery storage projects across the UK in the next 3-5 years. 

We have continued to advise on pathfinder projects into 2024. We  advised renewable energy company, Thrive Renewables, on a development finance facility with solar energy provider, Eden Sustainable – one of the most innovative funding initiatives in the clean energy sector in the last twelve months. Thrive Renewables partnership with Eden Sustainable will fund a pipeline of a new rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects. 

What makes this a standout year for the Future Energy practice?

Our national Future Energy team continues to work with some of the leading players in the clean energy space including TagEnergy, Ecotricity Group, Thrive Renewables, Santander, Innova Energy and Enso Green Holdings on significant projects.

Our recognition in this year’s Legal 500 as a top-tier future energy in the South West, exemplifies not just our position in the market but also the high level of service we are delivering for our clients thanks to our sector knowledge and expertise. 

Individual rankings across the team, also speak volumes in terms of our achievements in the last twelve months. 

On a personal level, I was very grateful to be recognised in the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Energy in the South West, alongside Legal Director Stuart Urquhart, who was named as a Leading Associate.

We have also seen excellent results in Belfast this year, with Andrew Ryan identified as a Leading Partner in Northern Ireland, while Partner Kevin Murphy and Senior Associate Sarah Mulholland are also mentioned, recognising their wider contribution.

In Scotland, we moved up a tier with the team, led by Nick Shenken, recognised for its strong understanding of renewables and energy transition assets. Joanna Hamilton and Amy Campbell were also mentioned, while the return to TLT of Nick Shenken in February was also noted.

Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve as a team over the next 12 months?

The sector is set to be extremely busy in the next year. Changes to planning law for onshore wind have seen renewed interest in this area. Regulatory and grid reform driven by NESO and TMO4+ will accelerate the deployment of renewable generation, energy storage and green infrastructure as the UK looks to achieve net zero. And UK future energy projects are still seen as an attractive market for investors.

As the clean energy market continues to evolve, we are ready to meet its pace. The future energy team includes 120 dedicated lawyers, including 25 partners. And we’re set to continue to bolster this headcount and our expertise to maintain our position as sector leaders and to continue to prepare our clients for what comes next.

In fact, we’ve already made some significant hires into our Future Energy team, with the arrivals of Juliet Stradling, Victoria Quek and Mike Kruger in London; and Joe Kelly in Bristol, and the return of Nick Shenken in Glasgow.

At TLT, our lawyers are embedded and dedicate to the sector, placing us in a unique position to advise clean energy businesses and prepare them for what comes next.