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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance
James Thornton

James Thornton

Senior Associate

Senior Associate
James Thornton

James is a Senior Associate in the Construction Group at Clifford Chance, specialising in the procurement, development and financing of major energy projects. He has a particular focus on renewable energy projects, advising sponsors, lenders and purchasers in the wind, solar and battery storage sectors.

James is based in Singapore, having previously practised in the UK. He is admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales.

  • the ECAs and lenders in relation to the construction contracts on the Hai Long 2A, 2B and 3 offshore wind farm projects in Taiwan
  • the sponsors in connection with the procurement of the Formosa 4 offshore wind farm project in Taiwan
  • Eni and Red Rock Power on their joint bid in the ScotWind offshore leasing round*
  • Red Rock Power on the turbine supply agreement and balance of plant (BoP) contract for the 67MW Benbrack onshore wind farm in Scotland*
  • the developer on the turbine supply agreement and service and maintenance agreement for a c. 80MW onshore wind farm in Scotland*
  • a major utility in relation to the drafting of its template turbine supply agreement for use on onshore wind projects in the UK*
  • Railpen on its purchase of the under construction Tralorg onshore wind farm from BayWa and its purchase of a 90% stake in the operational Carraig Gheal onshore wind farm from GreenPower (including due diligence on the PPA with a utility offtaker)*
  • European Energy on the purchase of a portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects in the UK, as part of their wider purchase of a c. 100MW cross-European wind and solar portfolio from Vattenfall*
  • Scottish Equity Partners on its purchase and subsequent sale of a portfolio of onshore wind assets across the UK and Ireland*
  • RWE on regulatory issues on the Gwynt y Môr, Awel y Môr and London Array offshore wind
  • SSE on the development of its first battery storage project in Salisbury, England, including negotiating the EPC Contract and operation and maintenance arrangements with Wärtsilä*
  • SSE on the development of its 150MW Ferrybridge battery storage facility in the UK, including the split package construction and operation and maintenance arrangements with Sungrow and OCU Services*
  • SSE on the purchase of the rights to a 320MW battery storage facility in the UK and subsequent negotiation of the construction and operation and maintenance contracts*
  • SSE on the purchase of a multi-site project, consisting of c. 400MW of battery storage and 170MW of solar PV, including on the regulatory issues involved*
  • SSE on the development of its first utility-scale solar project, advising on all project documents, including the EPC Contract*
  • Tesco on a number of corporate power purchase agreements to source electricity from onshore wind and solar projects in the UK* Renewable Energy Project of the Year at the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards 2021
  • Nissan on the negotiation of a power purchase agreement with a developer for the supply of electricity from a 20MW solar farm to be constructed at Nissan’s UK headquarters, including the relationship with other renewable generation to be constructed on-site*
  • Forterra on the negotiation of a 15-year bankable PPA to purchase electricity from a Lightsource BP solar farm in the UK*
  • a French multinational in relation to the development of solar PV projects in the UK*
  • a number of new entrants to the UK market in relation to the joint development of solar and battery storage projects in the UK with existing participants in the market
  • a number of new entrants to the UK market in relation to the joint development of onshore wind, solar and battery storage projects in the UK with existing participants in the market*
  • a renewables developer in relation to the regulatory framework for co-located solar PV and battery storage projects in the UK*

 

  • Onsite Solar
    Tesco on the procurement of on-site solar panels and biogenerators at its stores across the UK, including in relation to power purchase agreements*
  • Nissan on the negotiation of a power purchase agreement with a developer for the supply of electricity from a 20MW solar farm to be constructed at Nissan’s UK headquarters, including the relationship with other renewable generation to be constructed on-site*
  • Glasgow Airport on the procurement of the largest airport-based solar farm in Scotland*
  • a global asset manager on its EPC and operation and maintenance arrangements for solar panels to be installed on a number of its sites across the UK*

Energy-from-waste/ biogenerators

  • the individual sellers on the negotiation of a share purchase agreement for the sale of the 60MW Lostock energy-from-waste plant in North West England to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners*
  • Tesco on the procurement of on-site solar panels and biogenerators at its stores across the UK, including in relation to power purchase agreements*

Hydro

  • the lenders on the refinancing of a portfolio of 11 hydro projects in Scotland, including on the grid, construction and offtake arrangements in place*

Wind Farm Radar Mitigation

  • each of Scotland’s major airports (Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, Aberdeen Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport) on radar mitigation agreements, governing the mitigation of the effects of onshore and offshore wind farms on the airports’ radar systems*

News and client work

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Contact details

Career and qualifications

  • University of Cambridge (BA Law) 2013
  • Trainee Solicitor at CMS UK 2015
  • Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2017
  • Associate at Pinsent Masons 2017
  • In-house Counsel at SSE 2022
  • Joined Clifford Chance 2023

Professional bodies

  • Member, British Chamber of Commerce