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Michel Chatelin

Partner
Partner Eversheds Sutherland

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Languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, German and French

In the Netherlands Michel heads the competition & regulatory practice and co-heads the Eversheds Sutherland Energy group. He is specialised in EU, anti-trust, commercial and energy law and has a special focus on energy transition and renewable energy projects. He holds a degree from Leiden University in Dutch, International Public, and European law and spent two years working in the EU (energy) law practice in Brussels.

Michel advises both national and international clients, as well as governmental bodies and utilities, and has a very wide experience in the renewable energy sector and ESG related matters. He also helps companies with commercial contracting, competition compliance and procurement matters.

Michel is frequently asked to speak at energy conferences, seminars, and courses and publishes on a regular basis. 
He is vice-chair of the supervisory board of the Amelander Energie Coöperatie and member of the steering committee of Sustainable Ameland. of the legal and tax committee of the trade association Holland Solar, and of the Dutch competition law association and Dutch Energy law association.
Michel is actively involved with the 2tokens Foundation on the development of use cases for clean energy tokens - activities supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and the European Union.

Michel is consistently acknowledged by both the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories as being a leading practitioner in his field. Chambers & Partners comments that “he is admired by clients for his ingenuity as a practitioner” and that “he is a proactive adviser who looks beyond the legal framework to complex and fast developing topics relating to the solar sectors”. Michel has been recognised as a Global Leader Energy – Renewables 2023 by Who’s Who Legal.

  • Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) on the acquisition of a 50% stake in the offshore wind farm Borssele1 & 2 located in the Netherlands
  • large scale developments of ground mounted solar in the Netherlands by a joint venture between two developers. Eversheds Sutherland is assisting in the entire pipeline of ground mounted solar projects in the Netherlands from permitting, construction, project financing and divestment (with largest project up to now of 136 MW) 
  • a consortium of investors with regard to the acquisition of the largest floating solar installation in Europe
  • the developers in a development of a solar plant (solar plant) with complexities amongst others related to a closed electricity grid (including regulatory issues including application of an exemption with the ACM), one connection and transport agreement for two solar plants, merger into one SPV, including transfers of subsidies, permits and ground positions. We advised on all project documents and the project financing
  • on an acquisition from a Dutch utility of a wind farm in the Netherlands by a Belgian fund. Extensive negotiations on the PPA and Balancing Services Agreement, which were extraordinarily complex
  • the Enterprise Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs on the issue of awarding (state owned) locations for renewable energy projects to private initiatives. This resulted in a study involving key stakeholders like the Ministry of Infrastructure’s department responsible for managing state properties including highways and waterways, as well as the association of municipalities and the energy cooperatives sector
  • one of the largest international renewable energy utilities on agreements for large ground mounted and roof mounted solar projects
  • a market leader in the maritime sector active on the towage market on an international antitrust and merger control clearance following an international joint venture

Michel is frequently asked to speak at energy conferences, seminars and courses. His publishing credits include:

    • Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law series, Energy Law, Climate Change and the Environment, 2021, chapter on Solar Energy in Europe.
    • Chambers practice guide 2019, public procurement in the Netherlands
    • RVO, Combining solar panels with electric vehicles
    • RVO, Obtaining locations for renewable energy projects
    • Markt & Mededinging, Netherlands competition law magazine, author several contributions regarding competition law cases
    • Canadian Institute of Resources Law, The European Energy Charter
    • Examining the issues across Europe - A country-by-country guide to commercial agents
    • RVO Brochure on combining solar panels with electric vehicles
    • RVO Brochure on obtaining locations for renewable energy projects

    Consistently ranked for Competition and Energy in a range of legal directories including Chambers & Partners, and Legal 500. Most recent rankings include:

    • Chambers Europe 2023, Energy Regulatory
    • Legal 500 Europe 2023, Energy Regulatory
    • Legal 500 Green Guide EMEA 2023
    • Who is Who Legal: Energy 2023

    He holds a degree from Leiden University in Netherlands in International Public and European Law and a post graduate degree Competition & Economics from Erasmus University. Michel is admitted to practice law in the Netherlands. He recently completed courses for supervisory directors with Hemmingway. 

    Michel Chatelin

    Partner

    Partner Eversheds Sutherland

    Michel Chatelin

    Partner

    Partner Eversheds Sutherland

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