Garret is a "very considered and measured guy" who is "able to always ensure continuity in the work," adding: "It’s always constructive to work with him."
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2020
Expertise
Garret is a partner and head of both Matheson’s Energy and Natural Resources Group and Projects and Infrastructure Group. Garret is also chair of Matheson's ESG Advisory Group.
He advises on all aspects of projects and project financing, from PPPs to privately-financed electricity, oil, and gas field developments and privatisations as well as electricity, gas and telecommunications network infrastructure. Garret specialises in particular in the areas of electricity and gas market regulation and trading. Garret’s experience also includes project development, M&A and financing in the conventional and renewable electricity sectors as well as the mining and upstream / downstream oil and gas sectors.
Garret is consistently listed as one of Ireland’s leading Energy lawyers, including in leading legal international directories such as Legal 500 and Chambers Europe. He is a frequent speaker at energy and infrastructure conferences and regularly contributes articles to specialist publications. Garret is listed in Energy Ireland’s "Who's Who in Irish Energy" (Energy Ireland Yearbook 2017, 2018 and 2019).
Energy and Natural Resources
Some of Garret’s more recent experience highlights include advising:
- Seller and purchasers on the sale and / or acquisition of major energy and infrastructure assets in recent years, including over 3GW of electricity generating assets (of which over 1GW are renewable generators), Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate and Ireland’s largest oil storage terminal at Bantry Bay in County Cork.
- Sponsor and Lenders on over 2.5GW renewable and conventional power plants developments. This includes over 1GW of onshore wind farm developments since 2015.
- Advising a State-backed investment fund on its funding of the acquisition of over 130MW of Irish wind generating facilities in advance of the first ever public listing of an Irish renewable energy investment vehicle.
- EirGrid and SONI on all aspects of the I-SEM project which is the new wholesale electricity market arrangement for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Matheson’s role involved drafting and advising on the new trading rules, the new capacity market code, the new grid code, the new trading rules for the day ahead and intraday markets in I-SEM as well as drafting amendments to EirGrid’s operational agreements necessitated by I-SEM.
- Vermilion Energy Inc.’s acquisition (valued at over €1 billion) together with a Canadian pension fund of Shell’s interest in the Corrib gas project. We have advised Vermilion Energy Inc. since 2008 when they first invested in the Corrib gas project. We are also retained by major international players in the market such as CNOOC, ExxonMobil and Woodside Energy.
- A large international conglomerate on the development of a 200MW Battery Energy Storage System project in the mid-west region of Ireland (this is the one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe).
- A number of large multinational technology companies in relation to the drafting and negotiation of corporate power purchase agreements (the first to be announced in the Irish market) and on its renewable energy procurement strategy and trading structures and agreements.
- A large multinational company on the sale of an energy supply company in respect of a 37MW Irish wind farm to a large international technology company, including the negotiation of a REFIT-subsidised corporate PPA (the first in the Irish market).
- Partners Group (UK) Limited, a global private equity firm, on its acquisition of an interest in the Greenlink Interconnector, a project to construct a 500MW subsea electricity interconnector between Ireland and Great Britain.
- Irving Oil on the acquisition of Tedcastles Oil Products Unlimited Company and its associated subsidiaries.
- One of the largest Irish wind farm portfolio managers on various matters in connection with the introduction of the new wholesale electricity market arrangement for Ireland and Northern Ireland (I-SEM), including the re-drafting and negotiation of all of its existing PPAs and the structuring, development and drafting of a complex trade facilitation agreement in the context of I-SEM.
- TRIG, a closed-ended investment fund, in relation to the Irish law aspects of its £300 million IPO, listing on the London Stock Exchange. This was the largest flotation of a dedicated UK-based renewable energy company and raised £300 million, which is being used to acquire a 276 MW portfolio of 18 operational wind and solar parks in Ireland, the UK and France, from Renewable Energy Systems Limited and InfraRed Capital Partners.
- One of the largest thermal generators in Ireland on a wide variety of matters, including interface with its lenders, trading agreements and a complex outsourcing agreement in respect of gas trading services.
- One of the leading global mining companies in relation to their Irish assets.
Projects and Infrastructure
Some of Garret’s more recent experience highlights include advising:
- the ACS Group (including Iridium Concessions and Dragados) on transport infrastructure projects (including PPPs) in Ireland.
- Exolum Aviación on all aspects of its successful tender for the design, build and operation of new aviation fuel terminal and pipeline infrastructure at Dublin Airport under a long term services concession agreement with airport operator daa plc.
- A large international conglomerate on the development of a 200MW Battery Energy Storage System project in the mid-west region of Ireland (this is the one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe).
- the National Broadband Ireland project company (backed by Granahan McCourt investments and other investors) on its successful bid to design, finance, build and operate a high speed broadband network serving over 1 million people across Ireland (one of the most ambitious and wide-reaching State-backed broadband interventions in the world).
- General Electric Company on all of its Irish infrastructure and power assets, including over 300MW of wind generation and a large independent CCGT thermal generating station.
- Partners Group (UK) Limited, a global private equity firm, on its acquisition of an interest in the Greenlink Interconnector, a project to construct a 500MW subsea electricity interconnector between Ireland and Great Britain.
- Lenders to the largest ever higher education PPP undertaken by the Irish State. The TUD Grangegorman PPP acts as one of the centrepieces of the Government's policy of making Ireland's education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.
- John Sisk & Son on the development, construction, financing and restructuring of the Greystones Harbour PPP (and associated residential and commercial elements) with Wicklow County Council which was one of the largest and most complex mixed use development PPPs ever undertaken in Ireland.
- Caterpillar Inc in relation to its tender to Irish Rail for the largest locomotive overhaul the State railway operator has undertaken in decades.
- Vermilion Energy as the operator of the Corrib offshore gas field and terminal. Our team has been closely involved in this project, Ireland’s largest offshore energy project to date, since its inception.
- Numerous international sponsors, lenders, contractors and operators on Operational PPPs in the road, education, healthcare and justice sectors on an ongoing basis.
- Irish and international lenders and sponsors on the project financing of over 800MW of renewable energy assets in Ireland over the past few years alone.
Garret Farrelly is a L500 Green Ambassador
The Legal 500 EMEA Green Guide 2024
Garret Farrelly is winner of the Energy Leader Award 2023
Business Energy Achievement Awards 2023
Garret Farrelly is winner of Energy Law 2023
European Legal Awards 2023
Garret Farrelly is winner of Energy and Natural Resources Law 2023
Lexology Client Choice Award 2023
"Garret Farrelly has a great understanding of our business and the wider industry. He is always helpful and provides strong advice."
Projects and PPP: Chambers Europe 2023/ Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2023
"He has very good knowledge in the energy market and Irish regulations."
Projects and PPP: Chambers Europe 2023/ Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2023
Garret Farrelly is winner of Energy Law 2022
European Legal Awards 2022
Garret Farrelly is winner of Energy Law 2022
Lexology Client Choice Award 2022
"Very good knowledge of the sector and of our business. If not his area of expertise, he always has a colleague who can assist."
IFLR 1000 2022
"Conor Blennerhassett and Garret Farrelly have a hands-on approach and are very knowledgeable in the field."
The Legal 500 2022
“Garret Farrelly, Owen Collins and Sean Scally are all very competent, pragmatic and responsive.”
The Legal 500 2022
“Garret Farrelly and Owen Collins are both great to work with. They are knowledgeable, great communicators and very responsive. They share responsibility on the team to help manage work to a budget and ensure continuity of service."
The Legal 500 2022
He is extremely responsive to his client's needs and will give commercially astute advice based on deep experience in the renewable energy field,"
Chambers Europe 2022
Garret has a “deep knowledge of the sector and a pragmatic approach to advising clients on commercial and legal issues.”
IFLR 1000 2021
Garret is “responsive, knowledgeable, expert in his field" and provides "excellent communication.”
IFLR 1000 2021
Garret provides “availability, understanding of the issues, commercial advice.”
IFLR 1000 2021
Garret Farrelly provides "insightful and timely analysis"
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2021
Garret Farrelly is "commercially astute and reads situations quickly."
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2021
Sources who have "worked closely with Garret Farrelly" are "very impressed with and confident in his industry knowledge, commerciality and work product."
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2021
'When working with Garret and his team we know we are in safe hands receiving quality advice whereas our experience with other practices has not been as positive.’
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2021
Garret Farrelly brings a strong core understanding of all aspects of energy project delivery. He has a wealth of experience of regulatory matters and is always pragmatic and solution focused.’
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2021
Sources state that Garrett is a "very considered and measured guy" who is "able to always ensure continuity in the work," adding: "It’s always constructive to work with him."
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2020
Garret Farrelly is singled out by impressed clients as a "strong negotiator." .
Projects: Chambers Europe 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a leading individual.
Projects and PPP: European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a leading individual.
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly provides a "personalised service, and has a very good understanding of clients’ needs and expectations. Very knowledgeable and sound advice."
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a Market Leader
IFLR1000 2020
Garret Farrelly is recommended.
European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a leading individual.
European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a leading individual.
European Legal 500 2020
Garret Farrelly is named ‘Highly Regarded’
IFLR1000 2020
Garret Farrelly is named a leading individual.
Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2019
Garret Farrelly is described as “always approachable, contactable and prioritised helping and supporting our company”.
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2019
Garret Farrelly is "very professional with deep knowledge of the sector and provides prompt response."
IFLR1000 2019
“Garret Farrelly is one of the most impressive energy lawyers I have worked with, and my deals and role require me to work with lawyers from around the globe”.
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2018
Garret Farrelly receives plaudits from clients for his "in-depth knowledge of the industry" and for "his excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills."
Chambers Europe 2017
Garret Farrelly is "the
best energy lawyer in the Irish market".
IFLR1000 2017
University College Dublin (BCL)
Qualified as a solicitor in Ireland
Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising)