Experienced low carbon, energy and renewables lawyer Christian Hellmund has joined Clarion as a partner as it continues to expand its commercial and IT law practice, adding the energy sector to its specialisms.

Specialising in national and international energy, renewables, waste and infrastructure projects, Christian joins from a global law firm where he held the role of head of renewables. In 2006, prior to undertaking his legal training, Christian spent two years as associate counsel at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) in Zurich.

Over the last 14 years, Christian has advised on a range of national and international energy and infrastructure projects such as electricity and gas generation, transmission, distribution and supply, low-carbon and renewables projects, including solar pv, onshore wind, wave and tidal, battery storage, energy from waste and bioenergy. He advises project developers, investors, energy companies and utilities, public authorities and manufacturers.

Christian has spent considerable time advising National Grid Gas Plc's gas transmission and distribution business, Scottish Power's energy management team and Drax Power's fuel procurement and trading team while being there on secondment.

Partner Matthew Hattersley, who leads the commercial law team, comments: “With his strong credentials and outstanding expertise advising on low carbon, renewable energy and energy regulation issues, Christian enables us to add new service lines in the energy space, complementing our commercial offering and building on the firm’s strategy of expanding the specialisms we offer to clients.”

Christian adds: “I am excited to be joining an ambitious, growing firm with a great internal culture and excellent existing client base. Heading up Clarion's energy and renewables sector, I am looking forward to assisting the firm's clients to structure and deliver low carbon energy projects in order to achieve ambitious governmental climate change targets and overcome energy regulatory challenges.

“This is an exciting time in the energy and renewables sector, particularly given the current climate of change which presents a great opportunity to alter the ways in which we generate, distribute and use energy to drive down carbon emissions, creating a cleaner and healthier environment while also reducing costs and ensuring energy security.”

Picture: Matthew Hattersley (left) Christian Hellmund (right)