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Energy, Infrastructure and Construction

Matheson LLP'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 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

Our Team

Our dedicated team of regulatory, M&A, development and financing lawyers work closely with specialists across the firm in the environmental and planning, litigation, commercial real estate, corporate governance, tax, asset management and finance and capital markets teams to guarantee full-service support.

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 EIC market leaders in the most prestigious international legal directories (Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000).

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.

Deal Highlights

Energy, Natural Resources and Utilities Regulatory and Advisory Experience

Our recent 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.
  • Advising 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. 

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Project Development Experience
  • 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.
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising a sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
  • Advising Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three.
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising Energia on the development of its entire pipeline of solar parks.
  • Advising 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.

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Large-Scale Mixed Use and Office
  • 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).
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising a lender on the Charlemont Street Housing and Mixed Use Development.
  • Advising Workday on its EMEA HQ letting and fit-out works for the largest single-office leasing transaction in the European market in recent years.
  • Advising 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).
  • Advising 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).
Project Finance Experience
  • Advising a sponsor on its bid for the Dublin Family Courts Complex PPP.
  • Advising lenders on the financing of a number of Irish data centres operated and developed by K2 Data Centres (a Kuok Group Company).
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising Plenary Europe as sponsor on its bid for the Irish Social Housing PPP – Bundle Three;
  • Advising 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.
  • Advising lenders (comprising Bank of Ireland and ING Bank NV, London Branch) on the financing of the M7 / M8 Portlaoise Motorway PPP.
  • Advised 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.
  • Advising Iridium and its affiliate Dragados on their interests in the M1, M7 / M8, N25 Waterford Bypass, N25 New Ross Bypass and M11 motorway PPPs.
  • Advising 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.
  • Advised 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.

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Energy and Infrastructure M&A
  • 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.

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Accolades

"The lawyers are very good in the detail and at interpreting different codes and legislation."
Projects: Chambers Europe 2025

"It is an experienced group with the ability to anticipate issues."
Projects: Chambers Europe 2025

"The Matheson team is very well embedded in the infrastructure sector in Ireland and has a great depth of experience to draw upon from a long history of projects."
Projects: Chambers Europe 2025

"Matheson offers a big and knowledgeable team that covers all needs."
Projects: Chambers Europe 2025

"Matheson is very responsive and commercially minded."
Projects: Chambers Europe 2025

“The lawyers on the team are highly skilled and always deliver on project deadlines. Their advice is accurate, clear and comprehensive. The team assist us in progressing complex matters, driving the best possible outcome for our company in any negotiation. Their support is highly valued, and we lean on them for their in-depth industry experience. Their knowledge of construction law and practice is second to none.”
Construction: The European Legal 500 2025

“The construction team at Matheson are market leaders in Ireland. They are my go-to practice for assistance in this jurisdiction. I always have the utmost confidence in Matheson's advice as I know it will be on point, well-considered, commercial and delivered on time.”
Construction: The European Legal 500 2025

"The lawyers' service is very slick and always on time. I have complete confidence in their subject-matter expertise and their ability to think commercially."

Construction: Chambers Europe 2025

"Matheson’s energy and natural resources team is characterised by their commercial awareness, excellent technical knowledge, and responsiveness. They consistently provide valuable legal advice and support promptly and have an unrivalled understanding of their clients’ needs"
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"The Matheson team was able to deliver fast and top-notch work in a challenging deal environment for a competitive international bidding process involving offshore wind assets. They worked closely with our teams and provided seamless input as part of the broader legal team covering multiple jurisdictions. The team knows and abides by high international standards of quality and service. "
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"Our experience with Matheson has been excellent. Their availability, engagement, and quality of partners and associates are fantastic. We will work with Matheson in any future project for renewable energy in Ireland."
Legal 500 2023 Energy & Natural Resources: The European 2024

"In the M&A context, I love how collaborative Matheson is with all other parties at the table. They work extremely well with our US counsel, as well as opposing counsel, which makes transactions more efficient and less costly to complete."-Commercial, Corporate and M&A: The Legal 500 2023

"Matheson LLP provides incredibly timely and commercial legal support on the construction documentation and power purchase agreement negotiation. Their knowledge of the market and market norms/trends is incredibly helpful."
Energy & Natural Resources: The European  Legal 500 2023

"Excellent communication. Fantastic commercial acumen. Matheson has become a trusted adviser to our firm.”  PPP/PFI: IFLR1000 2023

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Business and Finance ESG Awards 2023