Linklaters Advises Qualitas Energy on Acquisition of Heelstone Renewable Energy

A cross-border Linklaters team has advised Qualitas Energy, a global investment and management platform focused on renewable energy, energy transition, and sustainable infrastructure investment, on its acquisition of Heelstone Renewable Energy, a utility-scale solar and storage developer based in North Carolina from ARCC Heelstone LLC, which is owned by funds managed by Ares Capital Corporation. 

As published by the parties in their official press release, the transaction marks Qualitas Energy’s first significant transaction in the U.S. since it was active in 2008 through Fotowatio Renewable Ventures. On the other side, with a successful track record spanning over a decade, Heelstone has excelled as a clean energy development platform, featuring a diverse range of projects across the United States. As part of this endeavor, Heelstone will continue its operations as an independent business within Qualitas Energy, with its best-in-class management team remaining intact. This team brings invaluable expertise spanning the entire lifecycle of projects and a deep understanding of the U.S. renewable energy sector. 

The Linklaters team was led by Corporate Partner Lara Hemzaoui in Madrid and Corporate Partner Pierre-Emmanuel Perais in New York. Energy & Infrastructure Partner Andrew Compton provided industry support in New York. 

In New York and Washington, D.C., the team included corporate support from Managing Associate Rohan Dey, Associates Jihe Kim, Catherine Yuen, Deling Chen, and Lu Meng; energy and infrastructure support from Senior Counsel Diana Jeschke and Lauren Bachtel, Counsel Will Kim, and Associates Chee Lee and Paulina Sosa; executive compensation and employee benefits support from Partner Andrew Gaines, Senior Counsel Janet Lee, and Associate Maddy Hayes; antitrust support from Partner Antonia Sherman and Associate Anna Gooding; TMT and data solutions support from Partner Ieuan Jolly and Senior Associate Kris Ekdahl; and tax support from Counsel Amanda Gabai and Associates Allan Paul Talde and Vasudha Anil Kumar. 

In Madrid, the team included corporate and public law support from Partner Jose Giménez and Managing Associate Jose Buigues; and tax support from Partner Alejandro Meca and Managing Associate Jose Alarcón.

In Brussels, the team included IP support from Managing Associate Tom De Coster and Associate Florence Seghers.

This transaction also follows a flurry of high-profile deal activity and accolades for Linklaters in the U.S., which recently advised Attentive Energy on securing 1.3GW New Jersey offshore wind offtake award, Elia Group on its agreement to acquire stake in energyRe Giga, Getir on its acquisition of FreshDirect, and Tokio Marine on Sierra Space’s Series B fundraise, and received The M&A Advisor’s Law Firm of the Year award.