Michael Burns is a partner in our corporate practice and our global co-head of energy
Michael leads our energy and infrastructure M&A business in EMEA and has over 20 years' of experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital raises and joint ventures with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors.
He began his career advising energy majors on M&A transactions in the conventional energy space and, in the last 10 years, his practice has developed so that he now also advises both strategics and private capital funds and developers on M&A and capital raising in the energy transition (including biogas, hydrogen (blue and green/green ammonia), CCUS, SMRs, renewables, battery storage), circular economy, digital (towers, fibre and data centres) and transportation sub-sectors of energy and infrastructure.
Michael is recommended as a Leading Individual in Legal 500, is regularly quoted in the media, has published chapters in leading energy and infrastructure textbooks and is a member of Chapter Zero, The Directors' Climate Forum.
Examples of transactions on which Michael has advised include:
Energy, energy transition and energy infrastructure
- GIC on its strategic investment, alongside global investment firm Carlyle, in Eneus Energy to support the development of a 14GW+ pipeline of green hydrogen/green ammonia projects
- Mitsui on its investment in Storegga Geotechnologies, the lead developer of a major Carbon Capture and Storage ("CCS") project to reduce the UK's carbon footprint in support of the country's net zero emissions targets
- IBMS, a biogas to hydrogen developer on its investment by Lazard Asset Management to create the platform Bio4gas
- Brookfield on its $1.87bn acquisition of the East-West Pipeline from Reliance
- an energy major on the joint venture arrangements for the development of green hydrogen projects in Europe
- a Japanese investor on a proposed investment in an energy trading optimisation company
- a major European infrastructure fund on a circular economy investment and platform creation
- an Asian energy company on the development of a floating wind project
- a bidder on the proposed acquisition of a stake in National Grid Gas
- New Energy Technology on an equity investment in electrolyser manufacturer Supercritical
- ESB (the Irish energy company) on the acquisition of the supply business So Energy, including the management rollover
- a major infrastructure fund on a bid for Aurora, the Finnish power distribution network operator
- Northleaf Capital on its acquisition of the Douglas Terminal in Belgium
- Macquarie Capital on the formation of the Navigator Terminals platform
- ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK Line on the establishment of their global LNG bunkering joint venture
Digital Infrastructure
- Brookfield on the acquisition of Wireless Infrastructure Group
- Brookfield on the acquisition of a portfolio of UK towers from Cellnex
- a global infrastructure fund on a proposed fibre investment in Germany
- a sovereign wealth fund on a proposed fibre investment in the UK
Michael Burns' client-first approach is second to none. He proactively offers advice and solutions to problems which help clients achieve their objectives on time. He's very client-focused, helpful and deal-focused. CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS UK, 2023, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES: OIL & GAS
Legal Updates
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Funds Insider | Issue 6
20 Jul 2022 Funds Insider | Issue 6
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energy transition
18 Feb 2022 A change of direction for utility regulation in the UK?
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oil & gas update
26 May 2021 Apache v Esso: the English High Court provides guidance on the UK oil and gas decommissioning regime