Wragge & Co's Energy team provides a "superb service" (Legal 500 2012), working "above and beyond the call of duty" (Chambers UK 2013). Its ground-breaking work includes advising Central Networks to enable collaboration in the UK electricity sector. The firm's energy experts creative solutions also came to the fore when helping Partnerships for Renewables create a flexible framework to develop public land for sustainable energy generation.

Clients praise many of the team's lawyers, including key individuals Derek Goodban, who "really knows his stuff", John Cooper, an "excellent energy lawyer" and Gus Wood, who Legal 500 2010 describes as "an up-and comer in the power space." The team is recognised in particular for its energy projects, energy regulation and energy trading expertise.

The team acts for generators, network operators, suppliers, traders, consumer bodies, trade associations, industry bodies and customers, as well as the Northern Ireland regulator. This mix of clients offers an invaluable insight into the particular issues and challenges facing the sector and those who participate in it.

Energy Regulation

Boasting in-depth regulatory knowledge, highlights of the team's experience include playing a strategic role in establishing the Single Electricity Market for the island of Ireland. Derek Goodban advised the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation in relation to the legislation, licence modifications and new industry codes and contracts.

In addition, the team's experts regularly advises on GB licences. High-profile work includes working with the Energy Retail Association and Energy Networks Association on Ofgem's supply licence and distribution licence reviews, and the Energy Bill Review Team on its response to the 2008 Energy Bill.

The team has extensive experience in the interpretation and enforcement of energy statutes, licences, and industry codes (including the Electricity Act, the Gas Act, the Renewables Obligation Order, the EU ETS Regulations, price control conditions, the Balancing and Settlement Code and Master Registration Agreement).

Experience of both drafting and implementing the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement underlines the team's grasp of energy regulation.

Commercial Energy

Drafting and negotiating energy related agreements, including connection agreements, energy supply agreements (without or without flexible pricing mechanisms), agreements for the sale and purchase of fuel, power purchase agreements, and energy and emissions allowance trading agreements, is also crucial to this team's expertise.

It has negotiated standard form contracts and bespoke structured transactions and is familiar with all the standard form contracts used in the energy sector.

Examples include drafting off-take agreements for project financed wind farms (including Crystal Rigg, Ardrossan, Rothes, Paul's Hill, Bagmoor, Port of Liverpool and West Durham) and biomass projects (including Wilton 10).

Regular updates on items of interest, combining legal analysis with practical steps to be taken, keep the team's contacts up-to-speed with developments. Secondments or previous employment with regulators and energy companies have also helped develop specialist industry knowledge in the area.

For more information relating to the energy sector, contact Derek Goodban (derek_goodban@wragge.com).