Cleantech -- Solar Energy

Morrison & Foerster has led the way in the Cleantech sector for decades, representing clients in related industries for more than 30 years. The firm has counseled key solar investors and innovators, as well as emerging and established solar companies with the vision and capability to help meet the world’s increasing energy demands, while also decreasing factors contributing to climate change. We have expertise advising companies in both the photovoltaic and concentrated solar thermal domains in the United States and overseas. We also have unique experience in China, representing PRC-based solar companies in their acquisitions, financings, and investment activities.

Morrison & Foerster provides advice to address solar industry-specific challenges. We can help you:

• Realize financial benefits from the proper use of investment tax credits from federal, state, and regional entities for construction, and from the use of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to improve your profits.
• Site solar plants by working with local or state regulatory agencies and help you to obtain the appropriate permits and environmental review for facilities.
• Respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from energy-serving entities (for both base-load and peak) and negotiate power purchase agreements.
• Obtain interconnection with, and transmission from, the energy output of your solar facilities.
• Navigate the rules and regulations involved in the California Solar Initiative and other regional or national initiatives.
• Negotiate rooftop leases, solar facility sales agreements, and solar purchase power agreements to be used with end users.

Morrison & Foerster provides a wide range of more general legal services that are informed by our specific experience with solar technologies and companies. For example, we can:

• Help emerging and privately owned solar companies succeed at every stage of development from initial business formation, to raising venture capital financing and achieving a successful exit through a sale, public offering, or merger.
• Advise publicly listed solar companies (and their boards of directors and committees) on a full range of securities laws and related matters, including the disclosure and regulatory obligations of the SEC, national exchanges and associations, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other corporate governance matters. 
• Guide you on capturing the full value of your intellectual property, trade secrets, trademarks, and other innovations, by offering among other services, overall intellectual property portfolio management and strategy.
• Assist you in creating a reliable and flexible supply chain and distribution network by negotiating strategic licensing, manufacturing, supply, services, and customer agreements.
• Help you scale and grow by advising you on strategic alliances, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and other capital-raising activities.
• Defend your firm’s interests through our best-in-class litigation, arbitration, and mediation services and protect the full value and competitive advantage of your assets, revenue, and income – including your intellectual property (e.g., patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets), securities, capital structure (e.g., stock options, equities, debt), environmental position (e.g., carbon credits, land use), and more.