Overview

The challenge

Achieving net zero emissions will require significant additional change to the way we travel. In decarbonising the sector, we will need to use transport fuelled by alternatives to fossil fuels, in addition to unlocking the potential of new technologies to create demand-led, sustainable journeys.

The Government has published its Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which sets out its policy to achieve decarbonisation by 2050. It is far-reaching and to achieve the aspirations set out in the Plan, change is required across all modes of transport. Shifts will also be needed for wider planning, development and regeneration policies, which will all require buy-in from and collaboration amongst a variety of stakeholders. 

How we can help

We work across the whole transport sector – highways and roads, rail (passenger and freight), aviation, marine and ports. Our client-base is broad and includes funders, technology developers, operators, regulators and public bodies. This provides us with a holistic understanding of the sector and its opportunities for decarbonisation, such as innovation in transport methods, how transport is fuelled, changes in personal travel choices and the logistics of how goods are distributed.

We work in close partnership with our clients, advising on transport innovation, the development of alternative fuels (including hydrogen and fuel cells), and transport infrastructure. We also advise on the use of new technologies. These are increasingly required to capture data that informs strategic business and government policy on how best to shape our transport network for the future, and continue meeting passenger and commercial demands.

We are seeing changes in infrastructure development across all transport modes, including the introduction of zero carbon buses and cars (including autonomous vehicles). Existing infrastructure challenges in rail are helping to shape future requirements for rolling stock and we advise clients on alternative forms of traction (including battery).

We provide strategic thinking and commercial insight to help deliver tailored solutions to meet client aspirations, ranging from pilot projects and individual supply arrangements to fully integrated (turnkey) projects.

What we do

Our transport law expertise includes:

  • Multi-modal transport solutions – transport hubs, rail-air through ticketing, terminal and port network integration
  • Highways, rail, airports and ports – infrastructure and operations
  • Digitalisation and new technology – including the digital railway, passenger information screens and autonomous vehicles
  • Developing modal and multi-modal regulation – from proposals for rail franchising and open access, bus partnerships to European rail packages and safety
  • Corporate structuring – including the creation of Highways England and the governance of Northern Ireland transport
  • Finance
  • Public and private sector interfaces
  • Research and Development
  • Infrastructure

Our partnerships  

We are well connected and sit on key industry groups. We participate in a number of bodies including:

Experience

Advising numerous waste to fuel developers and alternative fuel suppliers on all aspects of their businesses, including the end of waste regime and the GB low carbon fuel regimes including the renewable transport fuel obligation.

Advising the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles on the design and delivery of the Rapid Charging Fund Advising ESB on the roll out of Electric Vehicle infrastructure across Birmingham.

Advising Octopus Group on funding EV Jaguar I-PACE vehicles at Heathrow Airport and advising on an innovative finance option for ‘pay as you drive electric taxi solution’.

Advising the Mayor of London’s Energy Efficiency Fund, managed by Amber Fund Management Limited, in connection with a loan to a leading London taxi fleet to fund 30 LEVC TX vehicles the flexible pay-per-mile mechanism managed by Zeti Limited.

Advising FirstGroup on a number of Electric Bus and charging infrastructure projects, including the financing arrangements for its fleet of electric buses.

Advising Great Western Railway on the contracts required for the trial of a battery-powered train.

Advising clients such as FirstGroup, Octopus, Statkraft, ESB, Moixa, Gravis and Zenobe in relation to matters including EV, hydrogen, compressed natural gas and green gas charging and refuelling infrastructure, waste fuels, alternative powered trains and electric and green gas powered buses.

Advising a UK transport operator on its framework arrangements (manufacturing supply agreements) for the procurement of hydrogen buses.

Meet the team
Brioney Thomas

Brioney Thomas Partner

  • Head of Transport
  • Asset Finance and Asset Backed Lending
  • Commercial
Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson Partner

  • Infrastructure
  • Procurement and State Aid
  • Transport
Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth Dunn Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Real Estate
Ian Tucker

Ian Tucker Partner

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Procurement Disputes
  • Procurement and Subsidy Control
Julian Boswall

Julian Boswall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Keith Beattie

Keith Beattie Partner

  • Projects
  • Aviation
  • Defence
Philip Beer

Philip Beer Partner

  • Real Estate
  • Transport
  • Energy and Utilities
Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis Director

  • Projects
  • Rail
  • Transport
Lucy Pegler

Lucy Pegler Partner

  • Technology and Communications
  • Data Protection and Cybersecurity
  • Outsourcing
Brian Wong

Brian Wong Partner

  • Rail
  • Highways and Road Transport
  • Judicial Review and Public Law

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