offshore wind

Offshore Wind

Our specialist construction team has market leading expertise in the offshore wind sector.

HFW's maritime heritage means we are at the forefront of offshore construction and engineering projects.

Over the past decade we have advised on the world's largest offshore wind farms by turbine count and turbine size, as well as on new technology projects such as suction bucket jacket foundations and 66kV cabling. We regularly advise on foundations (fixed bottom and floating), cabling and turbine packages.

The depth of our experience in this sector extends to advising on 70% of the UK's offshore wind farms, and globally on projects in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany, Taiwan, USA and Australia.

Our lawyers are always available around the clock. HFW has 20 offices around the world making our specialist construction team well placed to support the international growth of offshore wind projects, both in terms of legal expertise and commercial awareness, as well as sector insight.

We understand the commercial and technical risks associated with the procurement, construction and decommissioning of offshore wind projects. We know how to best manage these risks in the contract and during project delivery, as well as knowing how these risks can manifest in disputes and how to resolve them efficiently and cost effectively. This understanding gives us the edge against our competitors.

Our work in this sector includes:

• Contract Negotiation. We regularly support or lead the negotiation of contracts for multi-contracting or balance of plant packages. We have advised on FIDIC, LOGIC, NEC and bespoke contracts.
• Procurement Advice. We advise on all aspects of the procurement of offshore wind projects, including compliance with procurement regulations.
• Project Advice. We are the trusted advisor supporting clients with the successful delivery of projects, providing prompt, commercial and cost-effective legal support, and for some projects fulfilling a project counsel role.
• Disputes. We have unparalleled dispute experience, from claim preparation, mediation, adjudication, through to full court or arbitration proceedings. Typical disputes that we advise on include issues arising from design, unforeseen ground conditions, marine warranty surveyors, defects, extension of time and time-related cost claims (whether prolongation, or out of sequence disruption claims). 

We are ranked by the leading legal directories for our offshore wind work who comment:

“The HFW team is strong in the area of maritime and offshore projects. It has a well versed and experienced team which provides insightful, well-reasoned and instructive legal services in these areas.” (Legal 500, 2022)

“They have an enviable track record relating to offshore renewable projects and have been shown to have provided good advice on particularly complex matters.” (Legal 500, 2022)

“I worked with HFW last year on a complex renewable energy scheme. The case was far from straightforward, but the HFW’s team’s attention to detail was second to none.  From the initial guidance and advice through to the hearing, they provided a clear and cogent case strategy, communicating very clearly with the entire team. This seemed to me to be a much more hands-on approach than their competitors.” (Legal 500, 2022)

"HFW is particularly active in the UK offshore wind sector; the firm's construction team regularly represents a variety of industry players across the full range of their project lifecycles, from procurement to construction." (Legal 500, 2019)