Shakespeare Martineau—trio of legal directors

Shakespeare Martineau has grown its energy and utilities practice with three new legal director hires.

Bhikhu Samat (pictured left) will be working in the firm’s energy and utilities regulatory team, while Daniel Clarke (pictured centre) and Matthew Harris (pictured right) will be specialising in real estate energy.

Bhikhu, who will be based in London but working with clients nationally, has joined Shakespeare Martineau from Eversheds Sutherland, where he spent a large part of his career advising Thames Water on a wide range of commercial, procurement and regulatory matters.

In his new role, Bhikhu will be helping support the growth in the firm’s water practice, which currently includes three of the country’s water and sewerage undertakers. He will also use his utility and public sector procurement experience to strengthen the firm’s wider procurement law capabilities across its national client base.

Bhikhu said: ‘I am delighted to have joined Shakespeare Martineau and to have been given the opportunity to work with such a highly experienced energy and utilities team. With my extensive water industry experience, I am looking forward to developing the firm’s offering to the sector, supporting its existing and future water and energy clients.’

Daniel has joined the firm following more than two years at DLA Piper, where he advised FTSE 100 companies, funding institutions, private developers, statutory undertakers and government bodies with portfolio management, investment and dealing with the real estate elements of corporate restructuring across the energy, life sciences and industrial sectors.

In his new role, Daniel will be working collaboratively across the firm’s various practice areas, with a particular focus on real estate development, renewable technologies and infrastructure in the energy sector.

Daniel, who is based in Birmingham, said: ‘The firm has been working with key players in the field for many years—well before some law firms acknowledged the increased significance of the energy sector and the importance of the UK government’s proposals around renewable infrastructure and associated legislation.

‘With this in mind, Shakespeare Martineau is well placed to understand and sensibly steer in this rapidly evolving sector, advising its clients on key regulatory changes under proverbial microscope, which are due to keep lawyers in the sector stimulated for many years to come.’

Matthew, who will also be based in Birmingham, has joined the firm following more than nine years in Eversheds Sutherland’s real estate team, where he was a trusted legal advisor to clients in the water, electricity and renewable energy sectors.

In his new role, Matthew will focus on helping developer clients deliver complex renewable energy and flexible energy projects, providing strategic and transactional advice on land rights and real estate matters. He will also advise utility companies on their land portfolios, networks and projects.

Matthew said: ‘I was impressed by the calibre of the clients Shakespeare Martineau has in the energy space, as well as its commitment to the sector. The firm is ideally positioned to support clients with their decarbonisation agendas and will provide a great platform for the development of my career in the coming years.’