Energy

Today, our world and our future depend on reliable and economically produced energy, whether from traditional extraction, renewable generation or advanced technological development.

Companies involved must meet this critical demand through a focus on inventive business performance and continuous operational effort. We help enable this by providing structured corporate, commercial, legal and administration support across the energy sector.

We have extensive experience advising governments, sponsors, developers and suppliers, as well as the energy industry within the EU, UK, Africa and US.

Our experience enables us to advise clients from the very start of a project, from acquisition, financing, construction, regulation, commissioning to connecting to the grid.

The Energy Team is headed up by Geraldine Noel, a registered barrister in England, Wales, Ireland and Malta, whose interests span all forms of energy, corporate structuring and project finance.

We support emerging ventures in renewables, battery storage, battery charging, electric vehicles, energy-from-waste, hydrogen, carbon capture, data and alternative technologies.

The liberalisation of power-markets is a global trend that has resulted in increased competition and market complexity. While this leads to greater opportunities within the renewable sector, it also means an abundance of new legislation and regulations as regulators look to control new technologies.

Our lawyers have extensive experience in assisting companies involved in the invention of new technologies, from advising on regulatory aspects, to undertaking transactional work on behalf of such clients.

Our experience includes development, building, financing, M&A, sales and investment in a wide range of renewable energy and related projects.

These include energy storage facilities, utility-scale, distributed and domestic solar, onshore, offshore, floating wind turbines, biomass, and other technological advancements.

We provide advice on tax, as well as environmental, real estate, intellectual property, employment, dispute resolution and arbitration concerns.

Our services cover traditional oil and gas, as well as emerging renewable energy markets.

Our lawyers have substantial experience with various energy, utilities and infrastructure projects, and a proven track record not only in Europe but also around the world.

Our lawyers often work across multiple advisory teams, including corporate, intellectual property and project finance, to advise on, and undertake transactional energy work.

In the traditional oil and gas sector, we have worked on projects across all segments of the energy sector, including upstream, midstream, downstream and infrastructure.

Our energy sector expertise includes:

• Project Finance and Investment: Securing funding from private investors, capital markets, and institutional backers, including structuring financing for large-scale energy infrastructure.
• Corporate and Commercial Structuring: Advising on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), buy-outs, and establishing the optimal corporate framework for your energy business in Malta and the EU.
• Regulatory and Compliance: Navigating the complex web of local and international energy regulations, including licensing, planning, environmental consents, and grid connection agreements.
• Contractual Agreements: Drafting and negotiating key project documents, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), development agreements, and construction contracts.
• Intellectual Property: Protecting and defending valuable technological innovations, patents, and trademarks within the energy sector.
• Dispute Resolution: Representing clients in energy-related disputes, including litigation and arbitration, to protect their commercial interests.
• ESG Advisory: Assisting companies in developing and implementing robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies to ensure compliance and enhance corporate responsibility.

We are particularly well versed in assisting clients with obtaining project finance, whether from individual or corporate investors, capital markets or institutional backers, such as the European Investment Bank.

The energy sector can be a minefield of commercial energy contracts and disputes, energy regulations, licence conditions, renewables, as well as infrastructure and the planning process. This includes development consent orders, local content rules and regulatory enforcement/energy investigations.

Our goal is to help our clients navigate the most important issues they face to achieve success through the most exciting opportunities available to them.

Increasing focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) value is transforming the oil and gas industry.

As fossil fuels continue to play an essential role in the world’s energy supply, we are here to assist in overcoming the complex problems of the decarbonisation transition, paving the way for a greener future.

We can assist with navigating not only European ESG rules, but also ESG regulations in different jurisdictions, ensuring that all projects comply with the applicable regulations. We can also advise and draft ESG policies to ensure governance adherence, whether for your company and project, or for partners and contractors.

As a leading law firm based in Malta, Acumum is strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Our deep understanding of both Maltese and EU energy legislation provides clients with a distinct advantage. We combine global industry experience with local regulatory insight to help clients successfully launch, finance, and operate their energy projects. Our team is committed to providing practical, commercially-focused legal advice that drives innovation and sustainable growth in the energy sector.