Overview
Christopher advises energy companies and financial institutions on mergers and acquisitions, projects, joint ventures and regulatory matters in the energy sector. In particular, he has extensive experience advising on the sale and acquisition of gas and electricity transmission system operators as well as oil & gas exploration and production (E&P) companies and on energy infrastructure projects such as connecting gas lines, power lines, renewable energies as well as power plants.
In addition, he has specialist know-how in German and EU energy regulation, such as on the regulatory environment associated with the separation of energy generation and supply from transmission (“unbundling”).
Also, he advises clients on foreign investment control proceedings in Germany and other jurisdictions.
Experience
Christopher has advised on many major energy deals. These include advising:
- Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET): Advising on the acquisition of all assets of the floating liquefied natural gas terminal in Brunsbüttel from RWE and Elbehafen LNG GmbH. DET has been established by the German government and operates five floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) on the North Sea coast.
- Bidder: Advising on the planned acquisition of STEAG, the fifth largest energy supplier in Germany, including on coal phase-out issues due to STEAG's portfolio.
- Energy suppliers and industrial enterprises: Advising on the effects of the levy on electricity market revenues to be introduced under the EU regulation on emergency measures due to high energy prices and the imposition of an EU energy crisis contribution, furthermore on the effects of the Acts on an Electricity Price Brake (Strompreisbremsegesetz) and on a Natural Gas and Heat Price Brake (Erdgas-Wärme-Preisbremsengesetz), for example on the scope of the prohibition of dividend and bonus payments.
- Financial investor: Advising on the legal framework for the operation of battery storage facilities in Germany. The advice included the issue of whether grid fees have to be paid twice, which concession fees may be incurred and to which extent grid operators can request payment of construction cost subsidies from battery storage operators. Another focus was on reviewing legislative initiatives at German and European levels.
- KfW: Advising on the acquisition of a 50% share in the project company for the planned onshore LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel from the Dutch gas transmission system operator Gasunie. The terminal will be one of the first land-based LNG terminals in Germany.
- Industrial enterprises: Advising on the planned sales of industrial park infrastructure and the conclusion of long-term media supply agreements between the acquirer and the companies located in the industrial park.
- International investment banks: Advising on the regulatory treatment of issues related to the security of energy supply, in particular on the requirements and scope of intervention rights of the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) and other state authorities.
- Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund: Advising on the sale of its 23.6 per cent stake in the gas transmission system operator Open Grid Europe GmbH, together with a 0.5 per cent stake held by Halifax Regional Municipality Master Trust, to the Belgian gas transmission system operator Fluxys.
- Dutch infrastructure funds DIF Infrastructure IV Coöperatief U.A. and DIF IV Co-Invest C.V. and investment arm of the French multinational utility company Energie de France S.A.: advising on the sale of their joint 100% ownership stake in Thyssengas Group, being one of the largest German gas transmission system operators, by way of an auction to funds advised by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Europe) Limited.
- First Sentier Investors (formerly First State Investments): advising on the acquisition of a 45.8% stake of Mannheim-based energy utility company MVV Energie AG from EnBW and RheinEnergie
- Sumitomo Electric Industries: advising on the contract for the design, procurement and production of HVDC cable with 50Hertz to replace the 400kV Germany-Denmark Interconnector land cable (Kontek) on the German side.
- Numerous clients: representing in proceedings under German foreign investment laws before the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection as well as advising on foreign investment control legislation in Germany and abroad, such as Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) in the foreign investment control proceedings conducted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action concerning the sale of an initial 35% stake in HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort GmbH to the Chinese port infrastructure operator COSCO Shipping Ports Ltd.
Admissions