Brian C. Harms is a trusted advisor to energy clients on critical and complex transactional matters. Brian provides strategic advice and is able to provide straightforward and creative solutions to risk allocation issues.
For almost 20 years, Brian has been an energy transactional partner in the firm’s Atlanta office, focusing primarily on energy and renewable energy project development and finance as well as on the trading, hedging and marketing of energy products.
Brian has represented energy companies in a variety of matters from larger and more complex financings, project development and acquisitions to procurement, construction and services contracts to a niche practice in the energy trading and derivatives fields.
In collaborating with clients, Brian blends technical understanding and practical advice based on his deep experience to enable his clients to take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges.
Representative Matters :
- Provided strategic reorganization and tax advice and extensive due diligence to a public utility holding company and its independent power provider subsidiary in the reorganization and potential sale of a portfolio of solar assets totaling over 26 projects and 1,600MW.
- Counseled a public utility company in preparing its renewable energy RFP and evaluating and negotiating related documentation (including PPAs, build transfer agreements and EPC agreements). Provided strategic and drafting advice as to acquisition, construction, operation and ancillary documentation.
- Counseled a municipal utility company with respect to evaluating and negotiating a power purchase agreement related to a biomass-fueled power plant.
- Counsel for a public utility company in the sale of a portfolio of energy trading assets. The representation included drafting and negotiation of the purchase and sale agreement, ancillary documentation and closing of the transaction.
- Counsel to public utility companies in connection with their annual RFP processes in Illinois for the purchase of capacity, energy and renewable energy certificates and the long-term purchase of a bundled renewable energy product.
- Counsel for independent power providers, utilities, equipment manufacturers, industrial interests and other companies for financial derivatives involving interest rate swaps, equity swaps and foreign exchange transactions.
EDUCATION :
- Cornell Law School, J.D., Law and Economics Scholar, John M. Olin Foundation, 2000, Lead Articles Editor, Cornell International Law Journal
- Denison University, B.A., 1997
BAR ADMISSIONS : Georgia
Professional and Community Involvement :
- State Bar of Georgia
- North American Energy and Developing Products Committee, International Swaps and Derivatives Association
- Contracts and Legal Education Group, International Energy Credit Association
- Energy Bar Association
Cost
Rate : $$$