Energy, Infrastructure and Construction
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Construction team is the largest dedicated energy, infrastructure and construction practice in the Irish market.
Matheson’s Energy, Infrastructure and Construction (EIC) team is the largest dedicated team of its kind in the Irish market and advises on the development, operation, financing, purchase, sale and regulatory aspects of all large-scale energy, infrastructure and construction projects in Ireland.
Our lawyers are uniquely positioned to advise clients on the opportunities and challenges presented by large-scale infrastructure, energy and construction projects, with specialised experience in permitting, contract negotiation, risk allocation, development structuring, project and acquisition financing, transactional matters, corporate law and governance matters and day-to-day operational and regulatory advice.
This group is the largest dedicated practice of its kind in the Irish market and our lawyers are consistently mandated on the most high-profile, complex and high value transactions in both the domestic and cross-border markets. Both our teams and our lawyers are ranked as market leaders in the most prestigious international legal directories (Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000).
Our team‘s experience and in-depth knowledge spans the following sectors:
- Renewables
- Social Infrastructure
- Commercial and Residential Development
- Offshore and Maritime Infrastructure
- Digital Infrastructure
- Power
- Transport
- Industrial Facilities
- Energy Storage
- Mining
- Waste
- Water
- Oil and Gas
Experience Highlights
Energy and Infrastructure M&A
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Energy and Infrastructure M&A
Our experience includes advising:
- Kanadevia Inova, on the agreement to acquire the operator of the Dublin Waste to Energy Facility (Encyclis Ireland Operations Limited) and on its major upgrade of this state of the art WtE facility.
- Octopus Renewables, one of the largest owners and managers of renewable energy assets in Europe, on its significant minority stake, and follow on investments, in Simply Blue Group, a marine project developer focused on early stage floating wind projects.
- A major Irish all-island utility company on its joint venture partnership for the co-development of off-shore wind projects.
- Cellnex on the sale of its Irish business, which is Ireland’s largest telecoms tower company.
- Asterion Industrial Partners on its acquisition of an 80% stake in the National Broadband Plan for Ireland.
- AMP Capital on the sale of the assets of the Irish Infrastructure Fund for sale, comprising controlling stakes in the Speed Fibre Group (Magnet Networks, Airspeed and Enet) and the Convention Centre Dublin PPP project.
- GLIL Infrastructure on its acquisition of the 453MW Rathcool Wind Energy Portfolio, which provides around 11% of the Republic of Ireland’s installed wind capacity.
- Hanwha Energy Corporation on the sale of its majority stake in the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Ireland, one of the largest such installations in Europe.
- RAIM on its acquisition of Celtic Roads Group (Waterford), the operator of the N25 Waterford Bypass PPP toll road concession PPP, with co-investment backing from IST and Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure.
- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) on its acquisition of a majority stake in Elgin Energy, comprising a portfolio of 15 GW of solar PV and battery assets.
- Highfield Solar and ib vogt on the sale of two solar parks (capacity 282MW).
- Octopus Renewables on its acquisition finance and construction of the 250MW Ballymacarney solar project (Ireland’s largest solar park).
- EDF on its acquisition of a portfolio of eight solar projects with over 100MW of capacity.
- Waterland Private Equity on its acquisition of Irish-based turn-key cable installation and termination business, MTM Engineering, and bolt-on transactions comprising the MTM acquisition of CET Connect and ATSS Ventures.
Data Centres
Read MoreData Centres
- We have extensive experience advising data centre developers and owners on their development, construction and operation, including advising on all energy, environmental and permitting for data centres in Ireland as well as on their energy procurement and trading arrangements.
Energy, Natural Resources and Utilities
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Energy, Natural Resources and Utilities
Our experience includes advising:
- MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals in relation to its Corporate PPAs with Keppel DC REIT.
- Octopus Renewables on its acquisition, development and project financing of the Ballymacarney and Harlockstown solar projects (aggregate capacity of 250 MW).
- EirGrid on various complex offshore electricity arrangements.
- Bord na Móna on the development of various wind farms and energy storage facilities throughout Ireland.
- EirGrid in relation to a number of its electricity interconnector projects including its joint venture with Réseau de Transport d’Electricité SA for development of the Celtic Interconnector.
- Highfield Energy (a solar developer) in relation to a Corporate PPA with Meta (formerly Facebook) in relation to two of Ireland’s largest operational solar parks (combined installed capacity of 276 MWp) and advising Highfield with its partners Ib Vogt and Aura Power on the sale of these solar parks.
- Hanwha on the establishment and financing of a 200MW BESS project in the mid-west region of Ireland.
- Rabobank as lender in relation to its financing of two large-scale Irish solar parks (currently under development).
- Microsoft in relation to a portfolio of Corporate PPAs in respect of a significant portfolio of renewable projects being developed by Energia, Power Capital and Statkraft.
- One of Europe’s largest solar park contractors on its EPC and O&M contracts for 400MW+ of Irish solar parks.
- Sponsors and Lenders on over 2.5GW renewable and conventional power plant developments. This includes over 1.3GW of onshore wind farm developments.
- 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.
- The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the drafting of the RESS and ORESS Terms & Conditions (providing a unique legal adviser insight into the fundamental design and operation of RESS and ORESS, Ireland’s renewable electricity subsidy scheme).
- Sellers and Purchasers on the sale and / or acquisition of major energy and infrastructure assets in recent years, including Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate and Ireland’s largest oil storage terminal at Bantry Bay in County Cork.
- 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 ExxonMobil, CNOOC and Woodside Energy.
- A large international utility on a range of electricity market contracts – including supply agreements and power purchase agreements (including corporate PPAs).
- Statkraft on its acquisition of a battery storage project in the south-west of Ireland.
- A large international energy developer on its acquisition of a large solar development portfolio.
- A number of large multinational technology companies and renewable energy developers in relation to the drafting and negotiation of corporate power purchase agreements (including the first to be announced in the Irish market) and on renewable energy procurement strategies, trading structures and related agreements.
- A number of offtakers on their entry to the gas and power markets as well as all of their electricity and gas trading and sale contracts.
- 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.
- A number of the largest global mining companies on their Irish assets.
Project Finance
Read MoreProject Finance
Our experience includes advising:
- Bord na Mona in relation to its development and project financing of
- the 105MW Derrinlough windfarm;
- the 75MW Cloncreen windfarm; and
- the Cloncreen Battery Storage Project.
- A bidder on all aspects of its bid on Dublin Metrolink.
- A sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
- Lenders on the financing of a number of Irish data centres operated and developed by K2 Data Centres (a Kuok Group Company).
- Rabobank as lender to Ib Vogt / Highfield on the development and financing of four Irish solar farms (Rathnaskilloge, Gaskinstown, Clonin North and North Arklow) with a combined generating capacity of around 280MW.
- Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three.
- Real Assets Investment Management on the financing of the operational N25 Waterford Bypass PPP demand risk toll road.
- Irish and international lenders and sponsors on the project financing and refinancing of over 1GW of renewable energy assets in Ireland.
- A large international conglomerate and its local Irish partner 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).
- Sponsors and lenders on four out of the five Schools Bundle PPPs.
- Lenders on the project financing of a number of CCGT power generating stations.
- Lenders (comprising Bank of Ireland and ING Bank NV, London Branch) on the financing of the M7 / M8 Portlaoise Motorway PPP.
- Lenders on the distressed restructuring of an Irish social infrastructure PPP as a result of the collapse of a major UK-based contractor and operator.
- Iridium and its affiliate Dragados on their interests in the M1, M7 / M8, N25 Waterford Bypass, N25 New Ross Bypass and M11 motorway PPPs.
- A multinational fuel storage, refining, retailing and transportation company on its stake in Ireland’s first motorway service areas PPP as awarded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
- A leading lender in relation to the provision of facilities to Center Parcs Ireland Limited for the purpose of building Ireland’s first Center Parcs facility in Longford.
Project Development
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Project Development
Our recent experience includes advising:
- Offshore wind developers, investors, lenders and contractors on permitting, joint ventures and ‘stress testing’ of regulatory applications for over 2GW of Irish offshore wind capacity to be delivered over the next 5-10 years.
- Bremore Ireland Port on the development of a new deepwater multi-model port north of Dublin to serve amongst other things as an offshore wind O&M support facility.
- Asterion on its acquisition of 80% of the National Broadband Plan project, a €3 billion State intervention to deliver high speed broadband (primarily by FTTH) to all underserved homes and business in Ireland, along with on-going advice on the operation and roll-out of the National Broadband Plan.
- A sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
- Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three.
- JJ Rhatigan & Company on its successful bid (and preferred bidder negotiations) with Macquarie Capital for the Higher Education PPP – Bundle One to design, finance, build, operate and maintain new educational facilities at six higher level education campuses across Ireland.
- Energia on the development of its entire pipeline of solar parks.
- Rabobank as lender to Ib Vogt / Highfield on the development and financing of four Irish solar farms (Rathnaskilloge, Gaskinstown, Clonin North and North Arklow) with a combined generating capacity of around 280MW.
Large-Scale Mixed Use
Read MoreLarge-Scale Mixed Use
Our recent experience includes advising:
- Ballymore-Oxley on all legal aspects of their development of Dublin Landings and Connolly Quarter (both high density urban core residential, commercial and retail with capex circa €300 million).
- Acting on behalf of US developer in relation to a residential, retail and hotel / student accommodation development in Dublin (capex of €1 billion).
- Hines on all legal aspects of its development of a new town at Cherrywood in Dublin (to include transport and utility infrastructure, residential, commercial and retail elements) as well as Hines’ other mixed use high density developments in Dublin.
- The sponsor in relation to all aspects of the Greystones Harbour PPP project, including the development of a new harbour and marina coupled with commercial and residential development.
- A lender on the Charlemont Street Housing and Mixed Use Development.
- Workday on its EMEA HQ letting and fit-out works for the largest single-office leasing transaction in the European market in recent years.
- An American biopharmaceutical company on the construction aspects of an agreement for lease of a new office building and the subsequent fit out of space in Blanchardstown (approx. 61,820 square feet) (capex €32 million).
- An American software company on the construction aspects of an agreement for lease of a new office building and the subsequent fit out of space in Dublin 1 (approx. 61,820 square feet) (capex €27 million).
News and Insights
Accolades
“Matheson is very responsive and commercially minded.”
Projects: Chambers Europe
2025
Our Team
Garret is a partner and head of both Matheson’s Energy, Natural Resources and Utilities Group and Projects and Infrastructure Group. Garret is also a member of Matheson’s ESG Advisory Group.
He advises on all aspects of energy, natural resources, utilities and infrastructure projects and project financing, from PPPs to privately-financed electricity and gas 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.
Conor is a partner in Matheson’s Energy, Infrastructure and Construction Group.
Conor advises on large-scale infrastructure, construction and energy projects, with specialised experience in contract negotiation, risk allocation, development structuring, financing, transactional matters (including due diligence and transaction document negotiation), corporate law matters and operational advice (including regulatory issues and operational problem solving).
Conor’s primary focus is on development and transactional projects (greenfield and brownfield), particularly concessions, PPPs, debt-financed and similar private sector-led development structures. Conor works with clients such as funders, sponsors, contractors and operational teams.
Owen is a partner in the Energy, Infrastructure and Construction Group.
He advises on project development, project financing, energy M&A and energy regulatory matters.
He has experience advising on all types of energy projects, including wind (onshore and offshore), solar, energy storage, biomass, hybrid projects, renewable gas and conventional generation.
George is a partner in the firm’s Corporate M&A Group. In over 25 years of practice, he has advised on many of the most significant and complex Irish corporate transactions across a range of industry sectors.
George is listed as a leading corporate lawyer across a range of publications including IFLR1000, Chambers Europe and The Legal 500.
Nicola Dunleavy is “not only a skilled lawyer but also has strong emotional intelligence”.
Nicola Dunleavy is a partner in Matheson’s Disputes and Investigations Group, with a broad commercial litigation, investigations and arbitration practice. In 2021 she was appointed by the Irish Government as a Senior Counsel.
Nicola is represents clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, including arising from mergers and acquisitions and EU law, and in constitutional litigation. Sectors include technology and telecommunications, pharmaceutical, chemicals, food and drink, waste, water, energy, mining, and transport.
Enda Garvey is a Partner in Matheson’s Corporate M&A Group, he specialises in international and domestic public and private M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions.
Enda has extensive experience advising on many of the most high profile acquisitions and investments made by energy and infrastructure investors and international private equity funds in Ireland in the past 10 years.
Enda also advises a number of domestic and international corporate clients on their corporate transactions and investments in Ireland, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure and agri-food and beverage sectors.
Rhona Henry is a partner in Matheson’s Energy, Infrastructure and Construction Group.
Rhona’s expertise is in the build out of multiplex developments in leading developer roles, capital projects (both owner and owner / occupier led), construction / development financing, public-private partnership construction specialism, together with a regulatory advice practice. Rhona is mandated by the largest developers, investors and financiers operating in Ireland.
Muireann is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department.
She advises a range of Irish and international clients, including financial institutions, corporate borrowers, developers, investors, government departments and state bodies. Her practice encompasses all aspects of syndicated and bilateral lending, to include project finance, real estate and development finance, corporate and acquisition finance, and green and sustainable finance.
Project finance is a particular focus of Muireann’s practice, and she has advised many of the prominent financial institutions and sponsors in the energy and infrastructure market. She is also a regular speaker and panellist at industry events.
Prior to joining Matheson, Muireann practised at another large Irish law firm where she was also a partner.
Ruadhán is a partner in Matheson’s Disputes and Investigations Group, with a broad commercial litigation, arbitration and permitting and environmental / ESG practice.
He advises clients on the avoidance, management and resolution of a wide variety of disputes including in connection with commercial, real estate, construction, tax and competition matters. For permitting and environmental matters he supports clients in bringing projects through the entire life-cycle, from concept through to operation and disposal (including advising on surrender / closure requirements or sales as appropriate). He has also advised on permitting and environmental issues in some of the largest transactions in Ireland in recent years.
Kate is a partner in the Competition and Regulation Group.
Prior to joining Matheson, Kate worked at a Magic Circle law firm in London.
Kate’s competition practice involves advising clients on merger control, behavioural competition issues (including investigations of alleged collusion and abuse of dominance), State aid, the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, Foreign Investment Screening regimes & public procurement competition issues.
Cillian is a partner in the Commercial Real Estate Department at Matheson and is a member of the CRE Secured Lending and Insolvency Group at Matheson.
He is an accomplished and commercially focused lawyer and practises in all aspects of commercial property law.
Cillian advises both domestic and international lenders on all property aspects of real estate security from the taking of security through to the enforcement of same. He also has considerable experience in general commercial property work including acquisitions and disposals and commercial landlord and tenant work.
David O’Mahony is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department.
David has extensive experience advising in relation to secured and unsecured lending transactions, bilateral loans, real estate finance, syndicated loans, debt restructuring, receivables finance, project finance and fund finance.
He currently acts for several leading Irish and international banks and financial institutions, non-bank lenders and a wide range of corporate borrowers.
Hilda is a partner in the Commercial Real Estate Department at Matheson, with extensive experience in transactional and advisory work across all sectors.
Her experience includes sales and acquisitions; commercial leasing including retail, office and industrial leasing; development projects in respect of office, industrial and data centre buildings; and landlord and tenant matters.
