Sophie Linnell is a Director in our Infrastructure & Energy team. With over eight years of experience advising on complex energy and infrastructure projects, Sophie is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading experts in grid connection strategy. Her practice spans renewable energy developments, construction and operational contracting, and regulatory reform, with a particular focus on enabling the energy transition through innovative grid solutions.

Sophie’s expertise lies in advising lenders and developers on onshore wind, solar PV, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). She is known for her strategic insight into GridCo structures, private networks, and grid sharing models, and has supported clients through the uncertainty of grid reform during NESO’s consultation process whilst awaiting approval from Ofgem on the final Gate 2 methodologies. Her strengths include navigating regulatory uncertainty, structuring finance agreements around evolving the Gate 2 methodologies, and delivering commercially sound solutions for clients operating in the energy and infrastructure space.

Experience:

• Advised a lender on the construction bridge financing of a wind farm in Scotland, advising on NESO’s final recommendation to Ofgem on grid reform and how this may impact the CUSC grid connection agreement. Sophie also advised on the grid sharing and GridCo structures the sponsor was considering to allow for future project extension or third party grid sharing.
• Advised a lender on the financing for an early-stage battery storage portfolio, structuring the facility agreement around NESO Gate 2 methodologies to mitigate grid reform risks and protect lender interests.
• Advised a renewable energy developer on the likely repercussions of removing the co-located BESS element from their solar development and the likely impact on their grid connection offer.
• Advised a lender on a grid sharing matter which involved setting up a new GridCo for the novation of the existing grid connection and the entry into a tripartite grid sharing agreement to allow two UK neighbouring solar farms to share the grid connection.
• Led on the drafting of a UK and Irish set of EPCs for a storage and solar developer. The EPC was based on FIDIC Yellow Book, amended to include standard FIDIC Silver Book positions.

Memberships / professional associations:

• Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales