Energy & Renewables

With Scotland at the forefront, the UK is leading the way in renewable energy, supported by strong government backing and a commitment to climate goals for 2045 and beyond. Scotland is recognised globally for its innovation and leadership in the sector and MFMac’s team of renewable energy lawyers is proud to have advised key players behind some of the most significant energy projects driving this transformation.

Delivering new energy and driving value

Our Energy & Renewables team of 40 lawyers brings deep sector knowledge and over 30 years’ experience delivering projects across the UK. We advise developers, generators, landowners, funders, network operators, supply chain providers, public bodies and commercial power users.

We’ve supported some of the UK’s most significant renewable and grid infrastructure projects, spanning wind, solar, hydro, BESS, nuclear, energy from waste, district heating, EV charging and transmission networks.

Our experts cover the full project lifecycle – from land, planning and environmental, regulatory and grid, to funding, construction, operation, employment, disputes and corporate structuring. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

The firm is extremely competent and efficient.

Chambers and Partners

The many complexities in our case were expertly handled by the team. They were extremely diligent in their response to us and the quality of the service was superb.

Chambers and Partners

I appreciate their depth of specialist knowledge and their willingness to engage meaningfully with professionals in our team. We always get excellent service and a quick response.

Chambers and Partners

Its responses are prompt, thorough and follow up proceeds quickly.

Chambers and Partners

The MFMac team is excellent in reacting and always easy to reach on the phone.

Legal 500

Nick Jones is always responsive and gives excellent advice and speedy execution. I can rely on his judgement and negotiation and this makes my business a lot easier.

Legal 500

The experience of the team working on our projects is excellent. Their attention to and understanding of our needs and requirements goes over and above that of other firms. They are innovative in their approach to problem solving for us.

Legal 500

Ability to call on partners/experts across planning/property/M&A/energy if unusual queries come up.

Legal 500

They are always very prompt and responsive to queries as soon as things come up.

Chambers and Partners

MFMac is a long-established firm with an excellent reputation.

Chambers and Partners

A responsive, proactive and able team, who are pleasant and easy to deal with and explain matters in simple terms without cutting corners.

LEGAL 500

Being given not only legal support, but also business support, really sets MFMac apart from other lawyers with whom we have worked in the past.

LEGAL 500

The firm is extremely competent and efficient.

Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2025

Their personal attention is exceptional - the partner responsible for our projects, Nick Jones, is always available and willing to work to our timescales.

Chambers and Partners

MFMac are able to offer a personalised service with both senior and junior team members being very accessible. The team has strong experience in the renewable energy sector and such experience is being retained and passed down well to the junior lawyers.

LEGAL 500

The Energy sector group at MFMac have been particularly skilled at bringing their range of expertise to bear on a project quickly and efficiently, and we have been able to lean on their specialist knowledge during a testing time for the sector.

LEGAL 500

They're approachable, responsive and easy to work with - like a colleague down the corridor. They set themselves apart by providing us with imaginative ways of approaching the challenges we've faced, which has saved us time, money and effort on what is a major project, and by being open and transparent.

LEGAL 500

The firm provides very pragmatic advice tailored to the needs of the organisation. The lawyers have a very collaborative way of working to respond quickly to the demands of the transaction.

Chambers and Partners

MFMac provides excellent levels of communication on timescales which they always meet.

Chambers and Partners

MFMac provides clear, concise advice and has the breadth of experience in the team.

Chambers and Partners

The firm have the flexibility to think beyond the conventional.

Chambers and Partners

MFMac has an excellent in-depth understanding of the industry.

Chambers and Partners

Partnership across the project lifecycle

We understand what it takes to bring an energy or renewables project to life.

  • Funding

    Funding

    • We provide advice at every stage of financing and refinancing to support project viability
    • We carry out funding reviews and bankability assessments to help attract investment
    • We support equity investment transactions and joint venture arrangements.
  • Feasibility

    Feasibility

    • We conduct title checks and land referencing to confirm ownership and access rights
    • We review planning policies and permissions to identify risks early
    • We offer advice on grid connection options, corporate structuring and overall project bankability.
  • Pre-construction

    Pre-construction

    • We prepare option agreements and secure other land rights needed for development
    • We help obtain planning permissions and other statutory consents
    • We support clients through compulsory purchase orders and Public Inquiries
    • We advise on grid connection and grid sharing agreements
    • We draft off-taker agreements and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
    • We assist with private wire agreements for direct energy supply
    • We manage consultant appointments and related contracts.
  • Construction and operation

    Construction and operation

    • We draft and negotiate construction contracts tailored to the project
    • We prepare agreements for plant and equipment procurement
    • We support the setup of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contracts
    • We advise on procurement strategies and ensure regulatory compliance
    • We help meet health and safety obligations
    • We provide guidance on employment law and immigration matters
    • We resolve disputes related to planning, real estate, construction and commercial issues.
  • Project extension

    Project extension

    • We extend land rights to support continued project operation
    • We manage renewals and extensions of planning and other consents
    • We modify and extend grid connection agreements as needed
    • We handle disputes related to re-powering and operational changes.
  • Sales and acquisitions

    Sales and acquisitions

    • We advise on project disposals and acquisitions, including mergers and acquisitions
    • We support equity investment and joint venture structuring.
Project profile

SSE: ASTI & Pathway 2030

MFMac advised SSE on the property, planning and construction aspects of its ASTI and Pathway to 2030 programmes–two nationally significant infrastructure initiatives supporting UK and Scottish climate targets.  

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  • Project profile

    ITPEnergised

    Advised the shareholders of energy consultancy ITPEnergised on the sale of the company to SLR Consulting, a private equity-backed leading global sustainability consultancy.

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  • Project profile

    Re-Power

    Advised Re-Power Energy in relation to its inaugural project to install its patented solar PV canopy at a rapid EV charging hub in Glasgow.

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  • Project profile

    Biogas in Aberdeenshire

    Advised SLF Realisation Fund Limited on its >£10 million sale of two biogas plants to a sustainable infrastructure fund.  

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  • Project profile

    Realise Energy Services

    Advised onshore wind engineering specialist Realise Energy Services in obtaining a significant investment from London-based private equity firm Rockpool Investments.

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  • Project profile

    Thistle Wind Partners

    Thistle Wind Partners are developing Ayre Offshore Windfarm as part of Scotwind. MFMac is dealing with the onshore cable connection, securing land rights and preparing the CPO Notice. This project will use innovative floating foundation turbines and is set to contribute more than 1GW of renewable energy to the network (which is expected to produce enough power for 1.4 million homes).

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  • Project profile

    Scottish wind farm

    MFMac acts for one of Europe's largest renewable generators and have recently completed all option agreements for a multi-landowner 50MW onshore windfarm in Scotland, enabling our clients to comfortably meet the NESO Gate 2 Milestone.

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  • Project profile

    Welsh wind farm

    MFMac advised the owners of a 16MW onshore wind farm in Wales on all real estate aspects of its bank refinancing. Prior to the refinancing, we acted for over a decade on all real estate aspects of the wind farm, from initial due diligence to negotiating and completing the option agreements, leases and all ancillary documents required at various stages of the project.

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  • Project profile

    SSE Energy Solutions

    MFMac advised SSE Energy Solutions on its acquisition of Aegletes III Holdco Limited, a UK-based operator of a 13MW commercial rooftop solar PV portfolio, enabling SSE to expand its clean energy offering. The deal, completed with support from MFMac’s multi-disciplinary legal team, included a strategic partnership with Ortus Energy to develop a 130MW rooftop solar pipeline, helping UK businesses access solar solutions with no upfront cost via long-term power purchase agreements. MFMac continues to advise SSE on the rollout of commercial rooftop sites across Great Britain.

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Energy & Renewables Insights
Energy & Renewables

Navigating the curtailment of Onshore Wind

The political heat is rising on renewables, with recent reports suggesting onshore windfarms in Scotland were paid not to produce 37% of forecasted output in Q1 - Q2 of 2025. 


Find out more
Offshore wind farm with multiple turbines spread across calm ocean waters under a clear blue sky, with a ship visible in the distance on the left.
Energy & Renewables

Hydrogen could define Scotland’s energy future – if the law keeps pace

Hydrogen could power Scotland’s energy future, but legal clarity is key. The sector promises exports, jobs, and net zero progress, but investor confidence is shaky. Capital-heavy projects need risk-sharing frameworks and government support to become viable. With the right legal structures, Scotland can lead the global hydrogen transition.

Read More
Energy Project
Energy & Renewables

Crunch time for UK renewables: CFD auction closes amid grid uncertainty

Today (27 August 2025) the window closes on the UK Government's make-or-break Contracts for Difference (CFD) allocation round for renewables. 

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Solar Panels
Energy & Renewables

Bridging the gap: Why Scotland needs a clearer metric for renewables and environmental protection

Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions are accelerating – and rightly so. With vast natural resources and world-leading targets, the country is well-placed to lead the global energy transition. However, as large-scale developments ramp up, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, questions are growing about the impact on the natural environment.

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Cross-Border and International Services

Managing cross-border deals, effectively

As well as advising on deals spanning the whole of the UK, we frequently manage the Scottish aspects of UK-wide cross border deals, collaborating seamlessly with lawyers from England and other jurisdictions. Our team possesses the experience and capacity to handle the largest transactions in the Scottish market efficiently and within tight deadlines.

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Our Energy & Renewables team

With a team of 40, our legal team is large enough to handle any energy or renewables project.

  • David McGuire

    Partner

    David is co-lead of MFMac's Energy & Renewables Group and sits on the Energy Law Sub-Committee of the Law Society of Scotland. He is a commercial property expert with a strong focus on renewable energy and advises developers, landowners and network operators on projects including onshore and offshore wind, solar, hydro and EV charging.

  • Bonar Mercer

    Partner

    Bonar is a corporate transaction lawyer and co-lead of MFMac's Energy & Renewables Group. He specialises in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, investment deals and joint ventures within the renewables and energy services sector. Known for his strategic insight and collaborative leadership, Bonar regularly leads multi-disciplinary teams through complex, cross-border transactions. In 2023, he deepened his industry expertise during a nine-month secondment with a UK-listed energy and renewables company.

  • Emma Carmichael-Stewart

    Legal Director

    Emma regularly advises clients on all real estate aspects of energy projects south of the border and provides real estate advice to a range of energy clients on wider corporate and banking transactions.

  • Billy Kay

    Partner

    Billy has particular expertise in funding and refinancing renewable energy projects and regularly advises on the Scottish funding aspects of cross-border and international transactions.

  • Isobell Reid

    Partner

    Isobell regularly advises clients on all planning and environmental matters relating to their energy projects and has extensive experience in compulsory purchase and necessary wayleaves under the Electricity Act 1989.

  • Mike Barlow

    Partner

    Mike regularly advises clients on professional appointments, building and engineering contracts, collateral warranties, bonds and guarantees during the construction, operation and repowering of projects.

  • Gail Watt

    Legal Director

    Gail is a legal expert in rural property and regularly advises landowners and developers across a wide range of technologies, She also sits on the Law Society of Scotland's Energy Law Reform Committee.

CSR Spotlight

Sustainability in action

We operate from energy-efficient offices (BREEAM “Very Good”), hold the ISO 14001 accreditation and prioritise low-carbon travel, digital collaboration, and local, sustainable suppliers. Our paper-light, recycling-focused approach and carbon-neutral delivery partners reflect our commitment to reducing environmental impact – aligned with the values of Scotland’s renewables sector.

Caring for the Environment

Make an Enquiry

From our offices we serve the whole of Scotland, as well as clients around the world with interests in Scotland. Please complete the form below, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

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