Member Article

Leeds law firm advises John Laing on wind farm deal

The Leeds office of international law firm Addleshaw Goddard has advised John Laing on a deal that will see a major onshore wind farm delivered.

John Laing, the specialist investor and manager of infrastructure assets, is acting as sole equity provider on the nine turbine facility, which will generate enough energy to power more than 11,000 homes.

The Addleshaw Goddard team, led by legal director Paul Dight, included experts across the business in departments including energy, property, construction, corporate and project finance, planning and tax.

Mr Dight said: “We were delighted to be involved in this transaction, which has had its fair share of complexities.

“Project finance deals such as this one are not all that common so it is very satisfying to have advised John Laing.

“The deal is also good news for the Yorkshire advisory community as this transaction was driven from this region, further demonstrating our strengths and capabilities.”

NordLB is providing a long-term debt package for the wind farm, which is being constructed at Burton Wold, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, and is expected to be fully operational by August 2014.

John Laing is 100% investor in the facility after working with developer First Renewable to acquire the project from the landlord shareholders in June.

Planning permission for the site was granted in August 2012 and the project has been developed by First Renewable since that time.

A team from DLA Piper in Leeds advised NordLB.

John Laing was represented by Yorkshire-based director Simon Parrish and manager Sue Peart.

Ross McArthur, managing director, renewable energy for John Laing, added: “We are delighted to have achieved financial close on Burton Wold extension wind farm and look forward to working with our partners to help deliver clean, renewable electricity to communities across the UK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .