James is a commercial and projects lawyer, working in the green energy sector for almost 10 years across technologies including wind, solar, and green hydrogen. James spent three years in-house before returning to practice with Shoosmiths, and provides clear, to-the-point advice focussed on his clients’ objectives and commercial “big picture”.

James advises widely on all commercial matters, including B2B and B2C commercial contract terms, and has experience delivering critical commercial contracts for green energy clients at critical stages of the realisation of new capital projects, including:

  • manufacturing (including TSAs, EPCs, and electrolyser supply contracts)
  • maintenance (both long and short term, whether or not supported by performance guarantees)
  • energy offtake (including on- and off-site PPAs and hydrogen fuel offtake agreements)
  • strategic partnerships (including commercial partnership agreements, framework contracts, joint ventures, and transitional services)

James also advises on legal compliance and matters of energy regulation related to businesses in the green energy space.

James joined Shoosmiths after working for three years as senior legal counsel at ITM Power, the Sheffield-based AIM-listed manufacturer of green hydrogen electrolysers. Over three years in-house James advised the business on key sale, maintenance, and supply contracts, and provided legal support on key strategic projects, including the establishment of a hydrogen mobility joint venture as well as three complex equity investment rounds totalling almost £500m.

James previously worked for seven years in the energy and infrastructure team at DLA Piper in Leeds, and for a year in the charities and social economy team at Wrigleys Solicitors in Leeds.

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