Leading the way for renewable energy in Scotland
Our award-winning renewable energy team is one of the largest in Scotland, providing advice on all types of renewable energy projects, including onshore wind, hydro, marine and off-shore wind, solar and renewable heat.
Headed by David Bone, one of Scotland’s leading renewables solicitors, our team has been advising on renewable energy projects for more than 20 years, helping Scotland to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets in the process.
Operating from our offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Thurso, our lawyers are on hand for face-to-face advice no matter where your project is. We understand the distinct challenges you face in particular locations and are able to advise on projects across the UK and beyond.
Our solicitors have advised on completed renewable energy projects totalling more than 2.5GW of installed capacity – more than one-third of the total renewable energy development installed in Scotland.
Contact us
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below for legal advice or to arrange a call back.
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David Bone
Senior Partner
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Anne Macdonald
Partner
Why choose us?
With a specialist team completely dedicated to and focused on renewable energy, we offer a depth of experience and knowledge which sets us apart and ensures you have the support you require.
The team advises on projects of all sizes, from advising on smaller projects for individuals, Feed-in Tariff developers, estates and community groups to acting on behalf of utilities and major independents on large-scale onshore and offshore projects.
We act for clients on every aspect of a renewable energy project, from planning, property and construction to advice on securing funding, taking advantage of incentives and grid and power purchase agreements.
Our services
Our multi-disciplinary team of highly-experienced lawyers provide innovative legal advice on every aspect of the energy supply chain, including advice on:
- Anaerobic digestion
- Biomass
- Community based projects
- Crofting law
- Energy from waste
- Feed-in tariffs (FiTs) regime
- Hydropower
- On & offshore wind
- Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
- Solar
- Supply chain & contracting
- Wave & tidal
Our advice spans the full range of legal assistance required for every aspect of a renewable energy project, including:
- Buying and selling renewables projects
- Commercial contracts and procurement
- Construction
- Funding
- Green Deal
- Grid connection
- Options and leases
- Planning
- State aid and procurement
David Bone and his team helped us on all aspects of our proposed wind farm from 2002 through to obtaining planning consent in 2014. This has involved assistance on option agreements, access agreements, radar mitigation contracts, cable wayleave contracts and ancillary documents and we would not have been able to get the project to this crucial stage without their expertise and clear commercial advice.
HM client
Chambers UK notes that the group stands out for its onshore wind renewables work, and is recognised for “excellent client service, commercial awareness and high level of industry-specific knowledge”.
Chambers UK
David Bone is recognised as a Leader in the Field. Sources say: "David Bone is very knowledgeable about his subject and he is commercial."
Chambers UK
Work examples
Solar power – a shining example
We advised on Europe’s largest crowd-funded solar power project, which will save tenants of a housing associations hundreds of pounds each in annual bills. We have advised on the provision of solar panels to several major housing associations, ranging from 200 properties to 750 properties. We dealt with all of the property documentation, procurement aspects and all third party consents.
Advising Scotland’s largest landowner
We attract serious market players, acting on behalf of Scotland’s largest landowner on all of its renewable energy projects including wind and hydro. Forestry Commission Scotland has an 8.5% share of the total land in Scotland.
Europe’s largest onshore wind farm
We acted in the acquisition of property interests to allow the construction of one of Europe's largest onshore wind farm, Clyde Wind Farm, South Lanarkshire.
Marine technology
We have advised some of the leading companies involved in marine energy on the development of their technology and products and the various rounds of funding to finance these.
We acted and advised Coigach Community Development Company in relation to a development of a community wind turbine in Coigach. This involved drafting, negotiating, advising on and entering into option and lease agreements with the landowner; advising on heads of terms for the project; advising and assisting, and project managing and liaising with other consultants.
We advised the group on the various crofting issues involved, including the preparation of suitable agreements with the crofters and a Section 19A application to the Scottish Land Court. The group have recently received planning permission and it is expected they will be looking to commence construction in the near future.
Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference (SHREC)
Since 2010 we have hosted the annual Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference in Inverness, welcoming more than 1000 people to the city. Members of our energy & natural resources team have advised on more than a third of the installed renewable energy generation in Scotland, much of it in the Highlands and Islands. Partner Anne Macdonald is also on the board of trade group Energy North.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing MSP speaks at SHREC 2015
Legal awards
Our team has been named Scotland's
Energy Team of the Year three times
Legal directory rankings
Our energy & natural resources team is ranked in both of the leading independent legal directories, Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500, including having two Partners ranked as ‘Leaders in the Field’.
Since 1999, David Bone has been legal adviser and company secretary to the Scottish Renewables Forum, the leading trade body for the renewable industry in Scotland.
Anne Macdonald acts as Company Secretary to Energy North, the trade group representing more than 170 members across the north of Scotland and the islands.
Meet the renewable projects team
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Why choose us?
You don't need a lawyer - not many law firms will tell you that. What you need is someone to provide a solution, and our advisors are dedicated and flexible enough to do just that.
Personal legal services
With one of Scotland's largest teams dealing with personal legal matters, we have specialist knowledge for every stage of your life - from buying a house to protecting your assets.
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