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Stefan Schmitz is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, based in its London office. His practice focuses on renewable energy, particularly wind and solar energy. Stefan has been advising developers, investors, banks, manufacturers, utilities and government entities in the renewable energy market for almost ten years. His work include mostly projects in Western and Central Europe, and the US, but also in Latin and Central America and Africa.
Stefan has authored a number of articles including: "Financing PV Projects", in Energy and Environmental Project Finance Law and Taxation, Oxford University Press, June 2010; "Developing and Financing the American Wind Market" Euromoney (October 2008); "Paying for Wind: Costs and Considerations of Financing Wind Energy Projects" North American Clean Energy (September/October 2008); "Project Financing for Wind" Renewable Energy World (March/April 2008); "Wind financing deals coming of age" Renewable Energy Focus (January/February 2008); "With wind in your sail" Solicitors Journal – 07 (September 2007); "The international renewable energy market: heating up" PLC (October 2007); "Financing PV Projects", The Finance of Climate Change, Risk Books, London (July 2005) and "Financing Large Offshore Wind Farms" Fascination Offshore Report, Hamburg (2003).
Representative Experience
- Advise a large investment bank on a 200 MW wind project in the US
- Advise an Austrian Wind Project developed on the acquisition of several wind projects in the US and Brazil
- Advise a wind turbine manufacturer on restructuring, financing and commercial agreements
- Advising the developer of a 20 MW off-shore wind project in Ohio
- Advising a large German wind developer on a portfolio of wind projects in Europe and Latin America
- Advising a large German wind developer on a portfolio of wind projects across the US
- Advising the developers of two 50 MW wind projects in Costa Rica
- Advising the developers and sellers of a 50 MW portfolio of wind projects in Germany and France to an international investor
- Advised the buyers of a 150 MW wind project in Brazil
- Advised the governor of the State of Michigan, US on the state’s renewable energy legislation
- Advised a bidding consortium for a 1,500 MW wind energy projects licence in Portugal
- Advised the EPC provider to a 400 MW solar project portfolio in Western Europe
- Advised the developer of a 20 MW wind project in the UK
- Advised an international wind turbine manufacturer on M&A related questions about the take-over of a competitor
- Advised an international wind turbine manufacturer on a $130 million loan facility
- Advised the developers and sellers of a 50 MW portfolio of wind projects in Germany to a London based IPP
- Acted as banking counsel for a 6 and 8 MW wind energy project in Germany
- Acted as banking counsel for a 40 MW wind energy project in Germany
- Advised the EPC provider on a 11 MW photovoltaic (PV) energy project in Germany
- Acted as banking counsel on a 5 MW geothermal project in Germany
- Advised the potential purchaser of several 5 MW geothermal projects in Germany
- Advised a North American PV inverter manufacturer on its commercial agreements in EMA
- Advised an international PV module manufacturer on sales, EPC and O&M agreements projects in Spain
- Advising the developer of a 30 MW wind farm in Kenya.
Education
- Christian-Albrechts-University, Doctor of Laws (PhD), 1996
- Cambridge University, Magdalene College, Master of Laws (LLM), 1993
- Christian-Albrechts-University, 1st State Exam in Law (JD), 1991
Languages Spoken
- English
- German
