A leading firm with highly impressive expertise across the energy arena.
Chambers USA, 2024
Market-Leading Global Power Team
Bracewell is recognized as having one of the leading global power practices. With one of the largest dedicated energy teams of any law firm, we have deep understanding of the global power markets and the commercial drivers for success. We draw on our experience as a market-leading global energy firm to advise clients on complex transactions, financings and regulatory matters related to conventional power, renewable energy and the energy transition.
We represent a large and diverse group of power sector clients, including privately held and consumer-owned utilities, independent power producers, retail electric businesses, commodity trading houses, investors and lenders. Our conventional power and renewable energy clients include Arroyo Energy, Avangrid, Competitive Power Ventures, Engie, Equinor, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, Invenergy, NRG Energy, Rockland Capital, Sol Systems, Vistra Energy and Xcel Energy, among others.
Many of our recent representations have involved projects that have been recognized as market-leading transactions, including:
- Competitive Power Ventures in the equity investment by an international consortium in the Three Rivers Energy project in Illinois — 2020 Power Deal of the Year, PFI Awards
- Equinor on the development of its Empire Wind Offshore Wind Farm — 2020 Projects Deal of the Year Finalist, IFLR United States Awards)
- Lenders to Jinko Powerin relation to the successful financial closing of the Saad 300-MW IPP in Saudi Arabia – Legal Consultant of the Year, 2024 MESIA Solar Awards
- Marubeni Corporation and Aljomaih Energy & Water Company in the financial closing of the Rabigh 300-MW solar photovoltaic IPP in Saudi Arabia — 2021 Middle East & Africa ESG Platform Deal of the Year, PFI Awards
- Marubeni and Total Solar on the development and implementation of the Al Kharsaah solar photovoltaic independent power plant in Qatar — Finance Team of the Year Finalist, 2021 Legal Business Awards)
- Mauritius Commercial Bank and ABSA Bank as arrangers, bookrunners and structuring banks for the multi-currency, structurally subordinated holdco financings to a consortium led by Infinity Power and AFC for the acquisition of Lekela Power B.V. and its $2 billion pan-African portfolio of renewable energy projects –Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year, 2024 Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards; Transaction of the Year, Renewables Acquisition – Africa, 2023 IJInvestor Awards; Middle East & Africa ESG Platform Deal of the Year, 2023 PFI Awards
Our highly regarded power regulatory practitioners regularly represent electric transmission and distribution utilities, independent power producers, power marketers and investors in energy companies before various regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). We have a deep knowledge and comprehensive experience in all of the various ISOs and RSOs across the United States. As power markets evolve in response to changes in fuel diversity and price formation, we also represent clients in complex multi-party contested proceedings, including disputes regarding compensation for energy infrastructure investments.
We Know Energy®.
Independent Power Producers
We represent a broad array of independent power producers around the world, including sponsors, lenders and developers in conventional and renewable independent power and integrated power projects.
We advise independent power producers on financing, siting and permitting issues for the development of power projects, acquisitions and dispositions of generation unites, and ongoing compliance and enforcement matters for operating facilities.
Power Trading & Markets
Bracewell is among the leading law firms in standardized and structured transactions involving physical and financial power, gas and other commodities. Our team includes lawyers with in-house experience at commodity trading businesses, as well as experience with federal commodity regulators.
We are particularly known for our work on structured commodity transactions involving the formation, purchase and sale of power trading positions, companies, electricity derivatives and other energy futures strategies. Our lawyers are intimately familiar with agreements promulgated by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association and the North American Energy Standards Board and have significant experience with structured commodity transactions, acquisitions and divestitures involving trading portfolios and compliance with related regulations.
Regulated Utilities
Bracewell is home to some of the premier lawyers in the power and utility M&A market. We represent clients in large, complex utility transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions of utilities and interests in utilities, electric generating facilities, and large portfolios of such assets, involving fossil and renewable energy facilities, transmission facilities, and similar “utility-type” properties. We also advise utilities clients on environmental and regulatory issues unique to their business.
We also help power generation and transmission clients achieve a competitive advantage in the deregulated electric power market. Bracewell is one of only a few firms with the experience to handle the complex mix of sophisticated legal, financial, regulatory, and management issues required for global power plant development.