Energy

Orrick's energy practice comprises nearly 150 lawyers located across the United States, Europe and Asia, representing energy clients under U.S., English, European Union, French, German, Hong Kong, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Russian law.

We are particularly noted for our leading practices in energy project development and finance, governmental energy funding, public private partnerships, and venture capital and emerging company representation in the clean tech and renewable energy sectors worldwide. Orrick represents as broad a group of energy industry leaders as any law firm in the world.

Who We Represent

Electric Power Producers

For decades Orrick has represented leading U.S. companies engaged in generating, transmitting and distributing electricity. Our clients include the largest investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and federal power agencies, as well as leading independent power producers.
Renewable and Alternative Energy Companies

Orrick serves renewable and alternative energy industry clients worldwide, including wind, solar, biomass, municipal waste, geothermal, fuel cell and other technologies. For these clients, we advise on tax benefits, tax-exempt and tax-credit bonds, feed-in tariffs, and governmental rebate and incentive programs, as well as on power purchase agreements, development contracts, construction and equipment supply arrangements, and equity and debt financing arrangements.
Emerging Companies and Clean Tech

Orrick's emerging energy technology practice is one of the premier practices in the United States, representing leading companies and venture capitalists in more than US$1 billion of energy-related venture capital investment in the last year alone. With this capability, combined with our energy projects practice, Orrick is among the very few law firms in the world able to provide the full range of legal services energy companies require at every stage of their development.

Practice Specialties

Project Finance

Orrick project finance lawyers represent lenders, borrowers, investors, lessors and others in billions of dollars of energy and infrastructure financings every year. We represent clients in debt and equity investments, including equity placements, nonrecourse construction and term debt, lease financings, taxable and tax-exempt debt, private offerings, private placements, Rule 144A offerings, and multilateral and export credit agency financings.
Energy Company and Project M&A

Orrick provides counsel in all aspects of purchases, sales and mergers involving energy companies and energy projects and portfolios. Our energy M&A team includes lawyers experienced in corporate and M&A transactions, but also tax, real estate, antitrust, ERISA, regulatory, environmental and other related matters.
Public and Tax-Exempt Energy Financing

For decades, Orrick has been the top-ranked public finance law firm in the United States. We represent clients in every type of energy matter involving municipal or other governmental debt, both tax-exempt and taxable, clean renewable energy bonds, and qualified energy conservation tax-credit bonds. Our clients include governmental entities, as well as private developers taking advantage of public financing for energy projects.
Climate Change

We advise clients on state, national and international climate change matters, and we continually monitor developing policies globally. In Kyoto-party countries, we advise energy clients on the implementation of existing and developing national programs relating to emissions caps and trading of allowances or credits. In other countries, we counsel and assist in financing alternative energy projects to generate certified emission reductions and other tradable allowances.
Energy Regulatory, Licensing and Permitting

Our energy regulatory practice focuses on federal and state certification and licensing, rate regulation and other issues arising under the jurisdiction of FERC and state public utility commissions. Our environmental and permitting practice specializes in environmental regulations affecting the energy industry, including conventional fossil fuel clients, nuclear facilities and all types of renewable energy projects.
Intellectual Property Protection, Licensing and Litigation

Orrick's Intellectual Property Group provides comprehensive advice to alternative and renewable energy companies and other energy industry participants on matters relating to new technologies and technology disputes, including matters involving patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, licensing and litigation.
Energy Company Insolvency and Restructuring

Orrick lawyers have represented energy clients in numerous bankruptcy and restructuring matters, including formal court proceedings, distressed assets and alternative investments, financial and structured products, and out-of-court restructurings. Our clients range from large utility companies and oil and gas suppliers to regional transmission organizations and independent system operators.
Energy Regulation and Litigation

Orrick lawyers regularly advise on state and federal regulatory issues, and have represented utilities and utility holding companies in regulatory proceedings, including contested mergers, state utility commission and attorney general investigations and enforcement proceedings, as well as numerous regulatory approval and rulemaking proceedings. Orrick lawyers have also represented large industrial customers in regulatory litigation.