A cross-discipline team from law firm DLA Piper has advised National Grid Electricity System Operator Limited (NGESO) on its separation from National Grid for sale to the UK Government, becoming the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

NESO will now act as a public entity, designated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as the independent system operator and planner as enabled by the Energy Act 2023. It will ensure the ongoing management of power supply and demand in the UK and play a vital role in supporting the country’s transition to net zero.

Dan Cowley, legal director at DLA Piper leading on the matter, comments: “NESO’s separation from National Grid to perform this critical and transformative role for the UK Government marks a milestone not only for NESO, National Grid and DESNZ, but for the UK’s energy industry as a whole, and its journey to net zero. The complex deal drew on experience spanning a number of our practice areas, and our market leading energy transition group, collaborating closely with each other and the team at NESO to help deliver this positive outcome.”

The DLA Piper team, as led by Cowley and senior associate Gurj Tiwana, spanned the firm’s IP and Technology, Corporate, Real Estate, Employment and Pensions, and Finance teams, with primary advisors comprising: Jennifer Dale, Kurt Davies, Martha Pownall, Charlotte Swain, Cameron Fraser and Steven Condie of its IPT group; Freddie De Bois, Sara Lauria and Robert Newman of its Corporate group; Lisa Hodgson, Emma Phillips, Scott Rorke, Ben Miller, Bethan Odey, Charis Fergusson, and Eilidh Moncrieff of the Employment and Pensions group; Monique Sutherland and Rachel Williams of its Real Estate group; and, Stephen Bottley and James Watson of its Finance group.