Business

Expansion and growth for Mills Selig’s climate and energy team

The Mills Selig climate and energy team - Aveen McGahon (trainee solicitor), Adrian Kerr (partner), Anna-Marie McAlinden (partner), Glenn Watterson (partner) and Conor Mulligan (solicitor)
The Mills Selig climate and energy team - Aveen McGahon (trainee solicitor), Adrian Kerr (partner), Anna-Marie McAlinden (partner), Glenn Watterson (partner) and Conor Mulligan (solicitor)

BELFAST law firm Mills Selig has expanded its climate and energy team with the recruitment of Aveen McGahon as a solicitor when she qualifies in September.

It comes after the team at Mills Selig (www.millsselig.com) delivered one of its most prolific years within the climate and energy sector.

Led by partners Anna-Marie McAlinden and Glenn Watterson, the climate and energy team has a particular specialism in wind, solar, anaerobic digestion and battery storage projects and advises clients on a wide range of legal matters relating to such projects including set-up, commercialisation, and investment/divestment.

In the past year alone the team has worked on transactions totalling more than £160 million, and its clients include The Electric Storage Company, BSI Wind Ltd., 3T Power Limited and Alpha Real Capital.

As well as this, projects delivered by the team in the field of renewable energy during this time equates to the sufficient power generation for over 200,000 homes.

Anna-Marie McAlinden and Glenn Watterson have more than 20 years of specialist knowledge and experience within the industry. Coupled with that, both partners hold additional legal expertise that complements the energy sector.

Anna-Marie is one of the leading partners within Mills Selig’s commercial property team while Glenn is a partner within the corporate team with a special interest in both technology and intellectual property.

This broad set of skills allows them to offer comprehensive advice for projects from conception to completion, with an eye to future changes for example, green tech.

Anna-Marie McAlinden said: “This is a critical time for the planet, the devastating impact of climate change is starting to reveal itself with more ferocity and at an alarming rate. It is clear the climate emergency is real, and now. But there are hopeful signs that we are reacting at all levels of society. Northern Ireland now has a new Climate Change Act with a net zero target (for most sectors) by 2050, and a new Path to Net Zero Energy Strategy.

“Many of our clients have been delivering on emission reduction projects both here and elsewhere in Europe for many years and are already making a difference. The recent climate legislation (and the policies that will hopefully result from it) should be a driver for even more businesses to deliver projects that will help to reduce emissions. With so many years advising at the helm of this sector, we will be well placed to continue to guide businesses operating in this sector as it expands and develops.

“The projects we are working on can be vast, are usually complex, but all are quite extraordinary in their own right. When engaged on these projects we offer our clients a full team approach, which often includes legal guidance from across Mills Selig, ranging from construction to banking, to litigation and beyond.”

She added: “In the context of the growth of this sector and the critical need for a more renewable energy development, the recruitment of Aveen is key and something we are extremely pleased with.

“Aveen will be one of a very small pool of lawyers in this country who will be trained as an expert in this specialist field at this pivotal time. Our team is expanding as our client needs expand, and we aim to continue on this trajectory as we go forward.”