Bevan Brittan enhances energy management team

Leading commercial law firm Bevan Brittan has made a significant enhancement to its energy and resource management (ERM) expertise with the recent appointment of corporate lawyer Nick Fothergill as a specialist partner. Joining from Weightmans, Fothergill brings extensive experience in supporting renewable energy and resource management projects. Over his 18-year career, he has advised clients on a multitude of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, and commercial contracts, alongside private equity and general company law. Fothergill’s specific focus has spanned the wind, solar/battery, and energy from waste sectors, both onshore and offshore.

Based in London, Fothergill is poised to contribute substantially to Bevan Brittan’s growing ERM offering. His hire follows the arrival of Perveen Akhter, a construction and infrastructure partner who has joined the firm’s Birmingham office. Akhter will also specialise in providing support for major energy projects, including the construction aspects of carbon capture and solar initiatives.

Commenting on his move, Nick said “This is a great time to be joining a first-class team with market-leading technical skills. I am looking forward to helping my new colleagues at Bevan Brittan provide top-class support to our clients, at a time when private and public bodies need advice on energy matters more than ever.” Nadeem Arshad, Partner and Head of Energy & Resource Management at Bevan Brittan, expressed his enthusiasm, stating “Nick’s arrival is terrific news for the business at a very exciting time. We are seeing increasing demand for our services from existing and new clients in both the private and public sector, where energy and resource management projects alike are becoming more complex.”

Arshad further highlighted Fothergill’s “huge amount of experience, expertise and talent” and noted the importance of his arrival alongside Akhter, reinforcing the firm’s ability to support energy and resource management clients as they strategise for the future. Bevan Brittan’s ERM team comprises 18 specialist partners and boasts over 25 years of experience in advising on energy, resource management, and infrastructure projects. In the past year, the firm has successfully handled more than 100 transactions related to energy, project finance, and PFI initiatives. This includes advising prominent UK energy and resource management company, Viridor, on the development of an Energy Recovery Facility as part of the substantial £2.1 billion Tees Valley Waste Management PPP.

The firm’s expertise extends across renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, district energy, strategic energy partnerships, hydrogen, and data centres, providing clients with deep sector knowledge and market-leading insight. Last year, Bevan Brittan reported a 12th consecutive year of revenue growth, achieving a turnover of £86.7 million for 2024/25, reflecting a 14% increase from 2023/24.