Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

To stay competitive, now more than ever, you need advisers who understand the industry. Sutherland’s renewable and alternative energy lawyers work daily in the industry, so we recognize and understand the issues you are facing.

Renewable energy has transformed from a niche industry to the subject of daily headlines and a key component in addressing climate change issues. As the demand for renewable energy grows, critical changes are occurring—from corporate sustainability initiatives, to community activism, to state renewable portfolio standards, to regional climate change initiatives, to federal tax incentives, to global market trends in financing.

Sutherland represents independent power producers, energy traders, investors, utilities in virtually every type of renewable and alternative energy source including:

• Biomass
• Onshore and offshore wind
• Solar
• Plasma arc/waste to energy
• Hydro
• Nuclear
• Biofuels
• Wave action/tidal

Our lawyers have experience in every aspect of the process of developing a renewable energy project. In the pre-development stage, we provide strategic advice regarding the siting process and the structuring of project entities and joint ventures. We navigate the permitting process from start to finish, including environmental permits and approvals and federal and state commodity-specific regulations. We help you make your commercial deals—including EPC contracts, fuel supply contracts, REC and emissions sales and power purchase and sale arrangements. Our representation is forward looking, to support the ultimate debt and equity financing of the project, including tax equity financing to optimize the value of federal production tax credits.

Our Deep Energy Practice

Our Renewable and Alternative Energy practice draws on the experience of Sutherland’s Energy Group which is comprised of more than 55 lawyers. The Energy Group represents a diverse, sophisticated collection of energy clients with a broad array of services, including:

• Electric Power Regulation
  • FERC compliance and other governmental investigations
  • Market design/market power and related issues
  • Administrative litigation (state and federal)
     
• Energy Trading
  • Structured power and gas supply agreements
  • Long term tolls and other power sales arrangements
  • ISDA, EEI, NAESB based physical and financial transactions
  • Energy-related derivatives
     
• Energy M&A
  • Asset auctions
  • Mergers and stock transfers
  • Acquisitions of wholesale and retail trading books
  • Purchases and sales of portfolio assets
  • Generating equipment purchases and sales
     
• Energy Finance
  • Tax equity financing
  • RUS and CREB financing
  • Construction and long-term financings with commercial lenders
  • Registered and privately-placed taxable and tax-exempt debt offerings
  • Leveraged leases
  • Energy Taxation
  • State and federal income taxes
  • Property taxes
  • Sales and use taxes
  • State tax credits and incentives
  • Tax litigation
     
• Petroleum
  • Marketing & trading
  • Structured financings
  • Tax
     
• Power Project Development
  • Projects spanning gas, coal and renewable facilities
  • Services across all required legal disciplines (project agreements, tax, real property, regulatory, environmental, EPC, finance)
     
• Construction
  • Power projects and other industrial construction
  • EPC contract negotiation
  • Dispute management
  • Litigation
     
• Intellectual Property
  • IP licensing and transfer
  • Patents – chemical and chemical engineering
  • Patents – mechanical engineering
  • Patents – electronics, computers and software
  • Patents – biotechnology and life sciences
  • IP litigation
     
• Environmental
  • Permitting and compliance for power generation facilities (gas, coal, hydro, wind, biodiesel)
  • Permitting and compliance for industrial concerns
  • Due diligence
     
• Natural Gas
  • Federal and state contested administrative proceedings
  • Federal and state policy proceedings
  • Supply and transportation arrangements
     
• LNG
  • Siting and project development
  • LNG transactions
  • Permitting and regulatory compliance
  • LNG shipping and asset optimization
  • Environmental litigation
  • Market access and related issues

§  “Diversity at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP” to “Diversity at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP”

§  “Diversity” section:

o   The firm’s emphasis on diversity is reflected in numerous ways throughout the firm, such as the manner in which we recruit lawyers and other employees, our work-life policies and our professional service efforts. We have been recognized for our achievements in diversity.  More importantly, we understand the significant role a diverse community plays in the firm's growth and development.

§  “Our Awards and Recognitions” section:

o   Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP continues to be recognized for its efforts to promote diversity in the workplace and in the legal profession. In 2016 we were named a “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality,” having earned a perfect 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and we also were ranked a Top 100 Firm for Minority Attorneys by Law360. In addition, the firm was awarded the Gold Standard Certification for the fifth consecutive year by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum.

§  “Our Commitment” section:

o   Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is committed to promoting diversity within the firm and in the legal profession.  We believe that diverse skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger, more productive law firm.  We hire and promote qualified lawyers and other professionals regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.  We understand that diversity enhances our value to clients by allowing us to staff our client teams with professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives.

o   Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP has a cross-office Diversity Committee with responsibility for supporting and enhancing our firm culture.  Our committee has helped coordinate and lead a number of efforts to advance diversity within our firm and the community. Affinity groups at the firm serve as support networks for attorneys of color; women lawyers; and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender attorneys.

o   We are committed to working with our clients as they pursue the common goal of a professional workplace where opportunity is available to all.