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Vault Law Resource Center

Clean Tech & Renewable Energy

Overview

Clean Tech lawyers advise new and established companies and their investors on issues affecting the renewable energy industry, including project development, energy regulatory counseling, debt and tax equity project finance, joint ventures, and startup counseling. Many clean tech lawyers also practice in other areas of the energy industry, or at least got their starts there. The energy regulatory landscape for companies in this sector has a lot of overlap with that of those in the traditional energy sector, so the knowledge and practice can often be very similar, though the regulations affecting renewable energy companies are still developing. The companies in this space include traditional energy and power companies that are branching out, as well as startups that are focused solely on renewable energy technologies. Clean Tech practices allow lawyers interested in combatting climate change to put that into practice in a commercial manner. As the renewable energy industry is still in its infancy and growing quickly, this is an area which is quickly developing—clean tech lawyers are in demand and have a lot of career options.

Top Ranked Firms



Practice Area Q&A’s

Milbank

Roland Estevez & Carolina Walther-Meade

Norton Rose Fulbright

Connie Gao

Orrick

Walter Alarkon

Sidley Austin LLP

Christopher Hutchison & Chris Folmsbee

White & Case

Taylor Pullins

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Geoffrey Lorenz & Cheng Jean Liang

Latham & Watkins

Justin Stolte & Ashley Nguyen

Sheppard Mullin

Kathryn Shurin

"Doing M&A and project finance law requires each of us to be a jack-of-alltrades but also a specialist in energy. Learning how to do all of that in a coherent way can take time, but it makes you a better lawyer because you learn how to get comfortable with all sorts of issues."

— Walter Alarkon , Orrick

"It is … mind-blowing … the amount of expertise we have in our group, from transactional to regulatory to litigation to restructuring to tax, and the various sectors of the energy space in which that expertise lies, from renewables and alternative energy to conventional power to oil and gas to biofuels to liquified natural gas." 

— Kathryn Shurin , Sheppard Mullin

"More importantly than formal classes, independently develop your knowledge of the energy industry—from reading newsletters and articles to listening to energy podcasts. Even to this day, I seek out new tools and secondary resources, including many offered by Latham. Demonstrate to clients that you can converse with them about their businesses and you’ll differentiate yourself quickly."

— Justin Stolte , Latham & Watkins

"As energy transaction attorneys, our typical day involves negotiating and drafting transaction and ancillary documents, reviewing project documents relating to a renewable energy project, such as power purchase agreements and construction agreements, and managing and coordinating with other experts and local counsel in bringing the transaction to close."

— Geoffrey Lorenz and Cheng Jean Liang , Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Advice from Vault Law

The Top Five Law Firms for Clean Tech/Renewable Energy

The Top Five Law Firms for Clean Tech/Renewable Energy

By Travis Whitsitt

Practice Area Insights: How Clean Tech Attorneys Chose Their Practice

Practice Area Insights: How Clean Tech Attorneys Chose Their Practice

By Vault Law Editors

What’s Hot, or Not, in 2023

What’s Hot, or Not, in 2023

By Rebecca King-Newman