Lawyers from the Bristol headquarters of TLT have advised Bristol Energy, the loss-making company set up in 2015 by the city council, on the sale of its residential customer base and brand.
Ethical energy firm Together Energy, based in Clydebank, Scotland, paid £14m for the assets in a deal that maintains services to its 155,000 residential customers and secures the jobs of 110 frontline workers based in Bristol. 
A further 50 Bristol Energy staff will also transfer to Together Energy and a consultation regarding their future employment will start as soon as the customer transfer is complete.
TLT also advised Bristol Energy on the £1.34m sale last month of its 4,000 business customer accounts to Nottingham-based Yü Energy.
The Together Energy deal required expertise from the firm’s clean energy and employment specialists to deal with specific issues, including the TUPE of Bristol Energy staff.
The TLT team was led by corporate partner Antonia Silvestri with support from associate Henry Male, solicitor Hannah Wilson and employment partner Esther Smith.
Bristol Energy managing director Allan Booth said: “TLT advised on two concurrent transactions for the sale of Bristol Energy, one of which was a complex hybrid of asset sale and IP, with significant TUPE considerations. 
“Both buy side and sell side had public sector shareholdings, which inevitably added a further level of complexity and public scrutiny.
“The TLT team were integral to the successful outcome and, as leader of the team, the ability to trust the TLT team and delegate to them was for me a great help.
“Antonia and the TLT team are all first-class professionals, but more than that, the strength in depth and flexibility are second to none.”
Antonia Silvestri, pictured, added: “The challenges faced by energy suppliers are well known, and it is great to have been part of the solution that delivered certainty to the customers and the employees of Bristol Energy.”
Bristol City Council Deputy Mayor and cabinet member for finance, governance and performance Cllr Craig Cheney said: “Throughout this process it has been really important that we find a buyer who will not only offer a good deal for Bristol but also shares similar values.
“We are therefore delighted that Bristol Energy has been acquired by Together Energy which has proved committed to do the very best for its staff, customers and the environment.”
Together Energy offers 100% renewable, dual-energy tariffs for up to a three-year fixed term. The business has grown from start up four years ago to achieve a £145m turnover, employing 160 people with more than 185,000 customer accounts.
Bristol Energy was set up by Bristol City Council in 2015 as a national gas and electricity company. The idea was to build a sustainable energy company with social value at its heart. But while it grew its portfolio of 100% green renewable energy to 74 contracts with independent, renewable generators, the council was forced to pump £35m into it to keep it afloat as its loses piled up.
