A team from the Bristol office of international law firm Osborne Clarke has advised on another renewables deal as it continues to build a solid reputation in the fast-growing sector.
The team worked with long-standing private equity investment client Foresight’s solar fund and JLEN Environmental Assets Group on their acquisition of the Clayfords energy storage project in Scotland. 
Clayfords holds the development rights to build a 50MW lithium-ion battery storage plant in Aberdeenshire which will be connected to the Scottish Hydro Electric Power distribution network.
The project, which was sold by Intelligent Land Investments (ILI), is fully consented, construction-ready and is expected to start commercial operations in the final quarter of 2024.
The Osborne Clarke team was led by partner Chris Yeo and also included associates Hannah Stevens and Jay Eng (corporate), associate Shraiya Thapa (projects) and associate Ben Doeh (tax).
Chris Yeo, pictured, said: “We’re delighted to support Foresight and JLEN in this transaction, which further highlights investor commitment to back projects supporting the energy transition.”
Last month the same team advised specialist alternative asset manager Gresham House on its acquisition of two UK energy storage projects and last year it worked with Foresight on three grid-scale acquisitions, including the 50MW Blackpark energy storage scheme in Scotland.
Osborne Clarke, which employs more than 700 people at its Bristol office, has an established position as one of the leading UK law firms advising on renewable energy projects and transactions.
It is supporting clients on projects to procure, fund and develop the sustainable infrastructure, buildings and land use of the future.
A team from Glasgow-headquartered Harper Macleod, led by Omar Ali and Peter Ferguson, advised on the Scottish law aspects of the transaction.
Formerly known as John Laing Environmental Fund, JLEN has a portfolio of 37 assets in onshore wind, solar, hydropower, waste and bioenergy as well as anaerobic digestion and battery storage. The plants are located across the UK, France, Spain and Sweden and have a combined capacity of roughly 360 MW.
