Expertise on developments in the clean energy sector have earned Bristol-headquartered national law firm TLT a place on utility SSE’s new legal panel.
TLT joins four other new firms on the nine-strong panel, which formerly begins its mandate next month. The panel is made up of firms ranging from those in the ‘magic circle’ of City practices to smaller specialised ones. 
International law firm Osborne Clarke, which has a major office in Bristol, was on SSE’s inaugural five-year panel but does not have a place on its replacement.
TLT will deliver real estate services including planning advice to SSE.
The appointment follows an extensive application and review process that began last September. Some 40 firms applied to be included in the regulated competitive tender process.
TLT said its appointment clearly illustrated the firm’s “market-leading sector specialism and strong real estate services offering”.
TLT’s successful application to the panel was led by the firm’s head of clean energy and real estate, partner Maria Connolly. 
Maria, pictured, said: “The appointment to SSE’s legal panel is a fantastic demonstration of the strength of our clean energy sector team and real estate group. We are looking forward to working with SSE to help fulfil its ambition to provide the UK with an ever-more sustainable energy network.”
SSE deputy general counsel Stuart Waddell added: “The key objective in establishing the new panel was to appoint firms that not only deliver excellence in service, but which also reflect SSE’s values and support our ambition to deliver the low carbon infrastructure needed to help the UK reach net zero emissions.
“We had significant interest in the panel and believe that we have found a strong combination of firms to support the SSE businesses.”
SSE said the diversity of the firms included reflected a mix of full-service and specialist advisers required by it, covering commercial, property and contentious areas of work in the company’s regulated and unregulated businesses in the UK.
The appointment of the new legal panel is set against the backdrop of SSE’s recent sale of the energy services business to Bristol-based OVO Energy and the increased alignment of its wider business strategy to focus on low carbon assets and infrastructure.
The other new firms on the panel are Dentons, DLA, Linklaters and MacRoberts, who joins previous panel members Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Freshfields and Gillespie Macandrew.The new panel runs until March 2023.
