Energy

Liedekerke’s Energy practice is recognized as one of the very best in Belgium. We are one of the only two firms in Belgium to be consistently in the first category of the Energy rankings of the two leading legal directories (band 1 in Chambers Europe and Tier 1 in Legal 500). Relying on our unparalleled knowledge of the sector, we offer a full-service approach to cover all the legal aspects that matters for its stakeholders (regulatory, environment, real estate, procurement, corporate, finance, tax, IT, privacy, labour, etc.).

We have a hands-on mentality and focus on providing pertinent and pragmatic solutions that maximise the added value for our clients.

The energy sector is one of the cornerstones of our economy, combining business, security of supply and sustainability. Market design, climate change and an evolving energy mix, are some of the challenges which are also reflected in the evolution of the legal framework.

Energy stakeholders are bound to operate in a complex and fast-moving legal environment, heavily influenced by European regulation and often exacerbated by Belgian gold-plating.

Our Offer

Liedekerke assists a wide variety of clients from or in the Energy sector, ranging from project developers, producers, energy suppliers or offtakers, energy-intensive consumers, contractors, grid operators, investment funds, sponsors, industry associations, oil majors, LNG importers, hydrogen suppliers, etc.

We assemble for our clients tailor-made teams of legal practitioners that combine a thorough knowledge of the Energy sector, with excellence in their specialized legal discipline.

In function of your needs, Liedekerke seamlessly brings together experts from across various groups, ranging from Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A to Public Law, Real Estate, Commercial Contracts, Environment and Planning and Tax. Our expert panel provides all-aspect legal solutions needed on any investment and activity in the Energy sector.

A classical area of application of our combined interventions in the Energy sector is Project Development. We intervene in projects like (rooftop or ground-mounted) solar farms, (onshore and offshore) wind farms, Battery Electricity Storage Systems, biomass plants, CCGT’s, pipelines, terminals and other grid infrastructures, reorganisation of industrial sites with new energy supply design, etc. We assist at all stages of project development from design to operation including tendering, site acquisition, permitting, financing and security arrangements, subsidy schemes, tax optimisation, incorporation, project contracts, procurement, building, etc.

M&A is another area where our deep knowledge of the Energy sector combined with our full-service legal offer, represent a major asset for our clients. We frequently advise investors for the acquisition of participation in energy companies or assets.

Commercial contracts (incl. PPAs and other Energy supply contracts), litigation of all kinds are also domains in which we can offer a very efficient combination of energy regulatory knowledge and more classical legal know-how.

Liedekerke is reputed to indifferently handle energy mandates at federal level or in the three regions of the country, thanks to the linguistic and cultural versatility of its teams.

We also developed, through Liedekerke Africa, an important Energy practice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (and broader in Central Africa), especially re: hydropower and solar projects.

Liedekerke is the Belgian member of the non-exclusive international law firm alliances Lex Mundi and of the Energy Law Group (ELG), the most extensive network gathering energy and natural resources experts. This gives to our clients direct access to the best energy lawyers abroad, either for international mandates, or to bring back solutions tested elsewhere.

‘Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick excels in the full spectrum of energy sector work, with significant expertise in regulatory, transactional, and contentious matters for a diverse roster of renewable and conventional energy heavyweights, both in Belgium and beyond.’