Christof Federwisch

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer), Partner

Energy & Infrastructure
Regulatory and Governmental Affairs
Environmental Social and Governance

Christof Federwisch

Christof Federwisch specialises in power generation plants and energy infrastructure and has been advising financial investors, energy corporations, project developers and banks on the imple-mentation, acquisition and financing of projects for years. Christof also advises ministries at state and regional level on an ongoing basis in relation to the regulatory framework for power generation plants and energy infrastructure.

Projects

  • Federal Republic of Germany: Advising the German government in arbitration proceedings initiated by STRABAG before the arbitral tribunal of the World Bank (ICSID) in which alleged claims are being brought under the Energy Charter Treaty in connection with regulatory framework for offshore wind farms in Germany
  • Iberdrola Renovables: Advising on the acquisition, planning and construction of offshore wind farms in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (OWP Wikinger, Baltic Eagle and Windanker)
  • SL Nature Energy Group: Providing the group with ongoing advice and representing it in permit procedures objection proceedings and legal actions relating to onshore wind farms in North Rhine-Westphalia
  • MET Holding: Advising on the takeover of the gas storage business of Gas-Union GmbH, a subsidiary of the Leipzig-based gas group VNG
  • DNV: Representing the company in three legal actions in connection with delays in establishing grid connection systems for offshore wind farms
  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: Advising the ministry on the draft German Act on the Phase-out of Coal-fired Power Plants and on the conclusion of a public-law contract between the Federal Republic of Germany and energy utility companies
  • Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing as well as Regional Councils in Kassel, Gießen and Darmstadt: Representing the authorities in a large number of judicial re-view proceedings and in appeal proceedings before Kassel Higher Administrative Court in connection with coordination of the further expansion of wind energy in the State of Hessen
  • Iberdrola Renovables: Advising on the development of ground-mounted PV projects on an industrial scale in Germany
  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: Advising and representing the ministry on the legislative package intended to reorganize responsibilities for nuclear waste disposal and setting up a government fund in the form of a public-law foundation
  • Etzel-Kavernenbetriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (EKB Storage): Advising the natural gas cavern operator on obligations under the German Energy Industry Act and German Regulation on the Determination of Critical Infra-structure under the BSI Act
  • Swisspower Renewables: Advising on the acquisition, planning and construction of wind farms in Germany
  • H2-Mobility: Advising the industrial consortium on setting up hydrogen filling station infrastructure in Germany
  • EDF – Electricité de France: Advising on the planning and construction of a modern gas and stream turbine power plant in Brandenburg

Distinctions

  • “very capable, pragmatic and focused problem-solving”, client in JUVE Handbook (2021)
  • “Fast, well-grounded advice and good pragmatic support”, JUVE Handbook (2020)
  • “Christof Federwisch is especially visible when it comes to advising energy utilities and authorities on renewable energy projects”, client in Chambers Europe (2019)
  • Sources praise his “sound knowledge of the client and his great balance between a legal approach and a commercial approach”, Chambers Europe (2018)
  • Listed as one of the best energy lawyers in Germany, Best Lawyers (2021)
  • Regularly listed as one of the leading energy lawyers, Who’s Who Legal Germany
  • Regularly recommended as lawyer for energy, environmental and planning law , JUVE Hand-book
  • Regularly recommended as lawyer for Energy: Regulatory and Energy: Renewables, Chambers Europe
  • Regularly recommended as lawyer industry focus energy, Legal 500 Germany

Career

  • Studied law at Humboldt University of Berlin
  • Trained as an industrial management executive (company degree and training program at Siemens AG, Berlin)
  • Experience abroad: internship in Washington (USA)
  • At Noerr since 2002
  • Admitted to the Frankfurt Chamber of Lawyers