Nationally recognised, Bristol-based law firm Burges Salmon, has been won the 2009 Lawyer Award Infrastructure/ Energy Team of the Year.

Competition for the award was fierce, but the win against seven other shortlisted finalists – Linklaters, Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance, Pinsent Masons, Shearman & Sterling, Addleshaw Goddard and Sullivan & Cromwell – highlights Burges Salmon's pre-eminence in the sector.

The submission was based on the biomass project completed last year for Helius Energy Plc - the team advised Helius throughout the project's life cycle, from inception to the subsequent successful sale of the development and operation rights to the 65MW biomass plant in Stallingborough, NE Lincolnshire. In doing so, it drew on the wealth of renewable energy experience in its environment, construction, property, banking and corporate teams, to complete one of the UK's largest biomass plants to date with a build out cost estimated at £200million.

The development of biomass power stations, through the Government's Biomass Strategy,  is crucial if the UK is to meet its renewable energy targets, whilst renewable energy itself is essential to help the UK deal with the energy shortage and security of supply issues currently being faced. Biomass is renewable with generally low carbon characteristics, hence viewed as an untapped resource, use of which the Biomass Strategy seeks to expand through sustainable development, and delivering higher energy yields through promoting innovation and low-carbon technology.

The Strategy also identifies biomass as a means of bringing positive environmental benefits and enhanced ecosystem health, delivering climate change and energy policy goals, reducing CO2 emissions, and achieving a secure and affordable fuel supply.

In addition Burges Salmon has advised on numerous other projects within our broad environment and energy practice in the past 12 months including wind, nuclear and water:-

• Acting on one of the UK's largest onshore wind projects, the 66MW Fullabrook wind farm
• Advising Prenergy Power on its 350MW biomass power plant at Port Talbot
• Advising International Power on acquiring a portfolio of UK wind farm development projects
• Advising the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the successful conclusion to the £387 million sale of the first tranche of UK nuclear build sites - Bradwell, Oldbury and Wylfa 
• Advising Costain Limited on being awarded a £397 million Greater Manchester waste project

To find out more about their experts, visit the Burges Salmon website at http://www.burges-salmon.com/

For further information on the firm and how they can assist you, please contact Ross or Ian:

Ross Fairley

+44 (0) 117 902 6351

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Ian Salter

+44 (0) 117 939 2225

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Burges Salmon regularly runs topical environmental and energy themed webinars, as well as issuing regular legal briefings. If you wish to receive news of these events or the publications please contact:-
Paul Kitson +44 (0) 117 939 2212 - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it