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Cripps Jonathan

Jonathan Cripps

Partner - Head of Projects, Energy & Infrastructure & Head of Energy Transition sector

Jonathan helps clients on energy transition and infrastructure projects, successfully guiding them through complex infrastructure and sustainability challenges.

D +44 20 7809 2084
M +44 788 510 1285

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Awards and Recognition

"Jonathan Cripps is one of the top project lawyers in the city. He has excellent emotional awareness as well as technical detail."

"Jonathan is one of the best lawyers in the field of infrastructure. He understands the context as well as the legal aspects of the deal."

Chambers and Partners UK 2026

"The team is headed up by one of the most experienced and skilled individuals in the sector: Jonathan Cripps. The team is itself growing in capability. The team is easy to work with - and is client-focused."

The Legal 500 UK 2026

"Jonathan is a brilliant and fabulous lawyer. He is always responsive, very quick to respond and comprehensive in advice. His reasonable costs and understanding of value cannot be faulted."

"Jonathan is a great lawyer, he always put himself in his clients’ shoes and thinks about how to get them solutions. He is easy to deal with and has vast experience and excellent contacts."

"Jonathan provides strong backup for the team and offers well-considered counsel to clients."

Chambers and Partners UK 2025

"Jonathan Cripps is highly experienced in the field and creates and maintains long term relationships with clients."

"Jonathan Cripps is always approachable and responsive."

The Legal 500 UK 2025

Biography

Language - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales

As head of our Energy Transition area of focus, Jonathan leads on the delivery of our strategy to provide a full range of energy transition services across the energy, transportation and trade, and the built and natural environment sectors to support our clients on the achievement of their energy transition, net zero and sustainability goals. Jonathan heads an international team of energy transition lawyers from across all the jurisdictions we operate in.

Jonathan also leads the London based Projects, Energy and Infrastructure team. As part of this, he advises on all forms of clean energy (including solar, wind, energy from waste, electric vehicles, geothermal, direct air capture, hydrogen and nuclear) and wider energy transition projects.

Within the broader infrastructure market, Jonathan has extensive experience in both economic and social infrastructure projects, including road and rail, schools, hospitals, prisons, courts and all forms of government accommodation. This includes advising on project finance, PFI, PPP and similar structures where he helps sponsors, lenders and procuring authorities achieve their commercial objectives.

Jonathan has advised on major projects in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

With over 30 years of experience, Jonathan ensures that clients can confidently tackle the complexities of energy and infrastructure projects and secure their goals.

Experience

  • NextGen AssetCo Limited

    We advised Hitachi Rail Limited on the establishment of a joint venture vehicle ("NextGen") with FirstGroup PLC to finance the purchase and leasing by NextGen of up to 1,000 electric bus batteries valued at c.£100 million. This novel transaction was awarded ‘Innovation of the Year – Europe’ by Infrastructure Journal.
  • Hitachi Rail Limited

    We advised Hitachi Rail Limited on their strategic acquisition of Omnicom, a leading provider of digital rail infrastructure monitoring equipment, from Balfour Beatty. Leveraging our multidisciplinary expertise across rail infrastructure, M&A and technology, we ensured that the transaction delivered Hitachi's commercial objectives.
  • Calderdale Hospital SPC Ltd

    We advised this PFI project company on the reconfiguration of the entire site at Calderdale Royal Hospital. This is a complex redevelopment that includes new clinical buildings and a new multi-storey car park, as well as the need to deal with multiple stakeholders within a project finance framework.
  • Enviroo Project Co Limited

    We advised Enviroo Project Co Limited on the development of a new plant that focuses on producing food-grade polymer from recycled plastic bottles. The facility represents a significant step forward in sustainable manufacturing and recycling, and aligns with Enviroo's strategic goal to innovate within the environmental sector.
  • Semperian PPP Investment Partners

    We advised Semperian on the acquisition of a minority stake in Merseyside Energy Recovery Holdings ("MERH"). MERH works with Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority to manage and operate an energy-from-waste ("EfW") plant and transfer station. The electricity generated at the EfW facility supplies both heat and power to nearby users.
  • Transport for London Pension Fund

    We advised TfL Pension Fund on the acquisition of the Wadlow wind farm near Cambridge from DIF Capital Partners. The wind farm, operational since 2012, has a capacity of 26MW and comprises 13 turbines. This acquisition aligns with the TfL Pension Fund net zero target and commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
  • Civis PFI/PPP Infrastructure Fund

    We advise numerous PFI project companies within Civis's UK portfolio, including recently Worcestershire Hospital SPC Limited, Exchequer Partnership Limited, Focus Education (Newcastle) Limited and Calderdale Hospital SPC Limited. The projects span a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education and government accommodation such as the HM Treasury Building. Our work ranges from refinancings, variations to services, change of control, handback and dispute resolution.

  • East African Port Project

    We are advising the developer in respect of a port development in East Africa. We are providing support on all aspects of the development, including in relation to third party equity investment into the project company. This is a vitally important development and will help improve the economic outlook of the area.
  • Semperian PPP Investments Partners

    We advised Semperian on the refinancing of a PFI hospital project in Fife, Scotland. Aviva Investors provided a £210 million loan and replaced the eight previous lenders.

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