Energy and Cleantech INDUSTRIES

The world’s focus has turned to developing and implementing clean, renewable and efficient energy technologies. Investors, entrepreneurs and long-established companies are rushing to be at the forefront of these clean technology solutions. And as quickly as the cleantech industry is evolving, so are the opportunities and the challenges. You need a law firm that keeps up with these changes and has the expertise to help your company navigate the complex—and critical—aspects of bringing your cleantech idea to market.

While technology waves of the past have followed a pattern of venture capital funding to public offerings to perhaps an acquisition, cleantech companies will likely face a much more complicated path. What’s so different? Just a few new challenges cleantech companies face include:

  • Funding requirements that are beyond the scope of traditional venture capital investments: Whether funding comes in the form of strategic collaborations, project finance or government funding, we have the expertise to help you fund your enterprise. We can help you tap into available government funding to support your enterprise.
  • Keeping up with constantly evolving government regulations: Our nationally recognized regulatory and government affairs lawyers know how government works and can counsel you on complex regulatory issues including climate change, carbon regulation and trading, and other environment and energy-related matters.
  • Increasing importance of university or federal laboratory support of innovation: With our vast expertise in negotiating licensing agreements, including agreements with some of the country’s top universities, we can help simplify the process of going from idea to development, while protecting your stake in your IP.
  • Ensuring that you are taking advantage of complex and changing tax credits and incentives: Many companies, from startup to Fortune 500, can benefit from these tax laws. Let WilmerHale’s nationally recognized tax practitioners help you take advantage of all the available tax incentives.

WilmerHale’s Energy and Cleantech lawyers have decades of experience in the traditional energy, renewable energy and emerging technology industries. Whether you are a startup or public company, seeking assistance in obtaining venture capital investment or government funding, building your first commercial plant, or seeking guidance on complying with energy and environmental regulations, WilmerHale’s lawyers can assist you every step of the way.

The world’s focus has turned to developing and implementing clean, renewable and efficient energy technologies. Investors, entrepreneurs and long-established companies are rushing to be at the forefront of these clean technology solutions. And as quickly as the cleantech industry is evolving, so are the opportunities and the challenges. You need a law firm that keeps up with these changes and has the expertise to help your company navigate the complex—and critical—aspects of bringing your cleantech idea to market.

While technology waves of the past have followed a pattern of venture capital funding to public offerings to perhaps an acquisition, cleantech companies will likely face a much more complicated path. What’s so different? Just a few new challenges cleantech companies face include:

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Contacts

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Bain, Mick

Mick Bain

Co-Chair, Corporate Practice Group

Co-Chair, Energy and Cleantech Group

+1 617 526 6158 (t)

michael.bain@wilmerhale.com

Kalpin, Mark C.

Mark C. Kalpin

Co-Chair, Energy and Cleantech Group

+1 617 526 6176 (t)

mark.kalpin@wilmerhale.com

Buckland, Peter

Peter Buckland

Vice Chair, Corporate Practice Group

Co-Chair, Emerging Company Practice

+1 650 858 6036 (t)

peter.buckland@wilmerhale.com

Publications & News

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March 1, 2016

Technical and Scientific Experience

Our ability to provide superior legal representation to technology companies is greatly enhanced by the academic and industry experience of our lawyers in a wide variety of technical and scientific fields.    

February 11, 2016

Selected 2016 M&A Transactions

In 2015, we advised clients throughout the United States and Europe on more than 75 M&A transactions providing guidance in areas including corporate, securities, antitrust and tax. Since 2004, we have participated in more than 1,200 mergers and acquisitions with a total value in excess of $500 billion, ranging from sales of VC-backed companies to multibillion-dollar global mergers.

February 11, 2016

Selected 2016 Public Offerings and Rule 144A Placements

In 2015, we handled nearly 50 public offerings and Rule 144A placements raising approximately $20 billion, for leading companies in life sciences, technology, financial services, communications and other industries.

November 23, 2015

BIA Finalizes Reforms for Obtaining Rights of Way on Indian Lands

On November 19, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published a final rule that makes sweeping changes to the process for obtaining rights of way for proposed oil and gas pipelines, electric transmission lines, railroads, roads and other infrastructure projects on Indian lands. This is the first update of BIA’s right-of-way regulations in more than 30 years. The revised rule aims to expedite and clarify the BIA right-of-way process for project developers, as well as to support the interests of Tribes and individual Indian landowners. The rule update was announced earlier this month at the 7th Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. The rule is scheduled to go into effect on December 21, 2015.

November 18, 2015

JUVE Ranks WilmerHale Lawyers and Practice Areas in Germany

JUVE, a prominent legal publication in Germany, highly recommends WilmerHale in several practice areas.

November 12, 2015

Interior Announces Blueprint for Renewable Energy and Transmission Development on Public Lands in the California Desert

Earlier this week, the Department of the Interior announced the federal component of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), an innovative landscape-scale plan that identifies areas best suited for utility-scale renewable energy development on more than 10.8 million acres of public lands in the California Desert.

November 11, 2015

FERC Extends Comment Period on Proposal to Expand Reporting Requirements for Power Market Participants

On September 17, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed a rule requiring wholesale electricity buyers and sellers (participants in markets run by Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) or Independent System Operators (ISOs)) to file information on each of their “Connected Entities”—even if those connected entities do not participate in the ISO/RTO markets. This is a potentially significant step in FERC’s efforts to expand its investigative and enforcement capabilities.

October 29, 2015

Park Square, EY and WilmerHale Release 16th Annual Tech and Life Sciences Compensation and Entrepreneurship Study

According to an executive compensation study of private businesses released today, non-founder C-suite executives at life sciences and healthcare companies saw their cash compensation increase by 3.3 percent year-over-year, while comparable executives at private technology firms experienced an average increase of 3.5 percent.

July 15, 2015

Final Deal Reached on Iran Sanctions Relief

On July 14, 2015, the United States and its P5+1 negotiating partners, together with Iran, announced the final terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

June 30, 2015

Supreme Court Rejects EPA Rulemaking Process for Power Plant Emissions Standards

The US Supreme Court held yesterday that the Environmental Protection Agency unreasonably failed to consider costs when it made the initial decision to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants from power plants.