About us
CMS Cameron McKenna
CMS is the organization of law firms which includes law firms with offices in 56 offices in 28 jurisdictions worldwide and over 2800 lawyers, including of course in the UK. We are one of the largest law firms in Central and Eastern Europe.
CMS Cameron McKenna, which is part of CMS, is a London based international law firm ranked in Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources by Chambers & Partners and in Tier 1 for Electricity, Nuclear and Renewables by Legal 500.
CMS advises on all legal aspects of carbon capture & storage, both in the UK and across Europe – everything from onshore and offshore capture, transport and storage issues, EPC and O&M, planning, waste, environmental, intellectual property, carbon trading and commercial supply chain contracts.
Onshore energy: We regularly advise governments, regulators, developers, investors and lenders on energy projects around the world. We have advised on structuring a number of power projects, starting with a detailed risk matrix to drafting and negotiating PPAs, EPC contracts, fuel supply agreements, O&M contracts, all financing agreements and security documentation that would be required to finance a power project on limited recourse financing basis. We are very familiar with the UK energy sector and our experience of advising on areas such as regulatory and policy issues, enabling frameworks and networks and connections is proving valuable when providing advice on CCS projects.
Offshore energy: In terms of our offshore expertise, we have been working in the oil and gas industry for many years and in London, Aberdeen and Edinburgh we have the biggest oil and gas team in the UK. We have built an enviable reputation that has seen many of our lawyers advising the industry globally as well as working for governments around the world. We have experience of advising on a wide variety of upstream and downstream transactions including operating agreements, transportation and processing arrangements, gas and product sales agreements, LNG sales agreements arrangements, all of which will be key in the development of the agreements necessary for CO2 transportation and storage.
Contracting: We also bring our extensive experience of contracting (both in the North Sea and generally in the energy sector) to the consortium. As for any major infrastructure project, for CCS to be successful the engineering, procurement and construction of that project will be of paramount importance. Because of the scale and complexity of a full chain, commercial CCS project, EPC and O&M contracts will need to carefully address liabilities, liquidated damages, warranties and guarantees. We have been advising on EPC contracts for energy projects for over 30 years. We regularly act for sponsors, financiers and suppliers in relation to all aspects of EPC and O&M contracts for major infrastructure.
Carbon and emissions: CMS is regarded as being “at the vanguard” of emissions trading and has advised on a large number of carbon and climate change issues, from EU ETS, and market developments driven by new renewable policies and of course by wider climate change policies including the Kyoto mechanisms. We are advisers to the Administrator of the UK EU ETS Registry, we advise numerous clients on issues arising out of the EU ETS including in the offshore arena (e.g. for oil & gas platforms) and preparation of EU emissions allowances reallocation agreements in respect of the contracted power stations, ERPAs and a range of products including swaps, options, spreads and virtual IPPs involving trading in coal, power, gas and emissions.
Contact: Munir Hassan, Head of Clean Energy, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
Tel: +44 207 367 2046
Email: munir.hassan@cms-cmck.com
Web: www.cmslegal.com
