energy & clean-tech
Energy & Clean-Tech Specialty
Represent leading energy and clean-tech companies from start-up to public company to M&A.
Industry Expertise
Broad range of industries, including advanced battery, ethanol and other biofuels, fuel cell, energy efficiency, energy storage, solar and wind energy.
Highly Experienced in Emerging Companies
Our lawyers have organized several thousand emerging companies.
Complex Transactions
Extensive work with energy and clean-tech companies in wide range of transactions, including:
- American Power Conversion from formation through IPO
- Acumentrics in wide range of corporate and technology matters
- Ethanol Boosting Systems in patent and other intellectual property matters
- 3i in investment in Konarka Technologies
- Braemar Energy Ventures in investment in new technology for carbon sequestration
- @ventures in investment in Powerit Holdings
- Ziff Brothers in investment in Advent Solar
- John Hancock Financial Services in investment in Caithness Energy
Transaction Powerhouse
High level transactional experience to assist energy and clean-tech companies in all financing needs through all stages of growth:
- Venture financings with proceeds over $5 billion
- Public company securities offerings with proceeds over $16 billion
- Mergers and acquisitions with value over $41 billion
- Senior and mezzanine financings with proceeds over $20 billion
(since 2000)
Preeminent in Energy Project Finance
Long-standing premier practice in financing energy projects:
- $425 million hybrid limited recourse financing of 535MW power plant in Rhode Island
- $900 million LNG liquification plant in Trinidad
- $78 million financing of natural gas pipeline in North Carolina
- $200 million financing of electricity generating station in Brazil
National Utilities Practice
Our lawyers have represented a significant number of utilities and energy companies, or the underwriters or purchasers of their securities, including the following:
| Central Maine Power Company | Public Service Company of New Hampshire |
| Eastern Enterprises | Sierra Pacific Resources |
| El Paso Energy | Sierra Pacific Power Company |
| Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company | TransCanada Pipeline Company |
| Nevada Power Company | Tucson Electric Power Company |
| NSTAR |
We have been involved, on behalf of utilities or underwriters, in a full range of sophisticated financing transactions for utilities, including the following:
- $290 million issuance of common stock for utility holding company
- $3.6 billion of mortgage bond issuances in 144A and registered offerings, and as collateral for other financings
- solicitation of consents from holders of $257 million of mortgage bonds to amend restrictive covenant in utility mortgage indenture
- $989 million registered induced conversion of convertible notes into common stock for utility holding company
- $500 million offering of medium-term notes of utility under Rule 144A
- $320 million registered tender offer for mortgage bonds of utility
- $345 million registered exchange offer of premium income equity securities and subsequent registered remarketings of related notes for utility holding company
- $950 million of secured revolving credit facilities
- $300 million 144A private placement of convertible notes and subsequent registered exchange offer
- $200 million of accounts receivables purchase facilities for utilities
- $218 million of tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of utility
- $113 million of Section 3(a)(9) exchange offers of common stock for debt for holding company
Full Range of IP Services
Full range of services in all energy technologies, including strategic IP counseling; patent prosecution; trademark prosecution; copyright protection; and trade secrets and unfair competition counseling. Sophisticated IP due diligence for investors and acquirers. Decades of litigation experience in IP disputes.
World-Class Licensing Capabilities
Among most experienced and knowledgeable technology licensing lawyers in US.
Broad Environmental Experience
Highly experienced in complex environmental, regulatory and land-use issues.
National/International Reach
Technology company transactions across US and abroad.
Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Major sponsor of MIT programs: Entrepreneurship Center; Venture Capital Conference; Private Equity Symposium; Technology & Entrepreneurship Forum; $100K Competition; Deshpande Center; MIT Energy Conference
Founding Sponsor: New England Energy Innovation Collaborative
Sponsor: New England Clean Energy Council
National Recognition
Nationally recognized in areas important to energy and clean-tech companies:
- Represented private equity spnosor in "Green/Environment Deal of The Year" in 2009 (M&A Advisor)
- Ranked in top 30 “Most Active Law Firms” worldwide based on number of private equity and venture capital deals negotiated and closed in 2009. (Private Equity Analyst)
- Named “Go-to-Firm” in M&A and IP in 2008 (Corporate Counsel)
- “Buyout Deal of the Year” award for 2005: Choate represented private equity seller (Buyouts Magazine)