Philip Vernon

Ashurst

As the spectre of climate change looms large, the City’s infrastructure lawyers are on call more than ever before. One such partner is Ashurst’s Philip Vernon, an energy and project financing expert, who is advising the UK Government on an all-important carbon capture project to support its net zero programme. There have been other critical mandates from the regulators, with Vernon primed to advise Ofgem this year in relation to the UK’s new nuclear programme. He is also set to lend a hand to Ofwat on a significant £1bn project to upgrade the water supply in North West England.

Greater regulation of water and energy supplies, in addition to increasing environmental pressures, means Vernon’s services will be in high demand this year. Covid-19, too, has kept him busy, as he counselled the Department of Transport on support for the aviation industry, including arrangements for essential “airbridge” passenger services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.