Dr. Christian Knütel

Dr. Christian Knütel

Partner
Hamburg

Email christian.knuetel@​hoganlovells.com

Phone +49 40 419 93 167

Fax +49 40 419 93 200

LanguagesEnglish, Italian, French, German, Spanish

Practice groupCorporate & Finance

Recommended lawyer for Project Finance and Development Practice

Best Lawyers Germany, 2013–2015

Dr. Christian Knütel advises on national and international energy and infrastructure projects, particularly in the field of offshore wind; his advice covers all project phases - from project development and the relevant contracts for  works, supply and services to project financing. He works closely with the Regulatory, Banking, Litigation/Arbitration and M&A practice groups and coordinates international projects with foreign colleagues.

A particular focus of his work, which has been growing for years, is on project-related claims management and advice on project-related litigation, including representation in DAB, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings in Germany and abroad, again with a special focus on offshore wind. Clients appreciate, among other things, Christian Knütel's technical expertise, his reliable assessment of the prospects of success of legal disputes as well as his negotiating skills and assertiveness.

In addition to various other publications on project and energy/infrastructure topics, Christian Knütel is co-editor and author of the "Legal Handbook Project Financing and PPP" (2nd edition 2008) and author of the chapter on project contracts for offshore wind farms in the standard text book on legal issues relating to plant construction "Legal Handbook Plant Construction", 2nd edition Munich 2020.

Christian Knütel is honorary General Counsel of the World Forum Offshore Wind (www.wfo-global.org).

Awards and recognitions

2018-2019

Public Sector: PPP
Legal 500 EMEA

2018-2019

Real Estate and Construction: Construction (including construction litigation)
Legal 500 EMEA

2018-2019

Banking and Finance: Project Finance
Legal 500 EMEA

2019

One source describes Christian Knütel as purposeful and pragmatic. He acts on both domestic and cross-border projects, with a particular focus on offshore wind farms, offering expertise in project financing and regulatory issues, as well as representation in disputes.
Chambers Europe

2018/2019

Recommended lawyer for the energy sector: Transactions/Financing
JUVE Handbook

2018

Extremely savvy lawyer who thinks along with his client and has a great problem-solving attitude, according to one impressed interviewee. Market commentators also note his expertise in technical contracts, equity agreements and financing issues.
Chambers Europe

2018

Christian Knütel gives the right advice.
Legal 500

2017

Christian Knütel has a broad knowledge and plenty of project expertise.
Legal 500

2015

Clients say: He performed an absolutely outstanding job of getting people on board. He is excellent at keeping calm under intense pressure, especially during negotiations, where he did a really great job.
Chambers Europe

2014 – 2020

The US publisher Best Lawyers ranks Christian Knütel among the best lawyers in the field of project financing and development.
Best Lawyers

2014

Clients praise his ability to understand the business we do and also to drive things forward and give correct advice.
Chambers

2019-2020

Banking and Finance: Project Finance, Germany, Recommended
Legal 500 EMEA

Education and admissions

Education

Second State Exam in Law, Berlin, 2001

Dr. iur., University of Hamburg, 1999

First State Exam in Law, University of Hamburg, 1997

University of Rome, 1995

University of Freiburg, 1994

Memberships

DIS Deutsche Institution fur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit

WFO - World Economic Forum Offshore Wind Energy e.V.

Related industries

Energy and Natural Resources Diversified Industrials

Related practices

Infrastructure, Energy, Resources, and Projects Litigation Services

Related areas of focus

Automotive Regulatory Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Supply Chain Hogan Lovells Taiwan Desk PPPs (including P3 and PFI) and Government Contracts Project Finance, DFI, ECA, and Sovereign Wealth Finance Rail

Representative experience

Representation of employer on dispute with contractor on failed installation of offshore wind foundations incl. on the enforcement of claims against CAR and PI insurances and certification agencies

Represent OEM in DAB proceedings and mediation regarding several claims and counterclaims on delays, interferences and approx. 10,000 alleged faults of turbines of a major offshore windpark in Germany

Representation of several sea cable manufacturers in the defence against claims based on alleged serial defects in certain cables and accessories

Representation of a sea cable manufacturer in an ICC arbitration regarding allged serial faults

Representation of a turbine manufacturer in a DAB proceeding relating to the conditions for an extension of a service agreement

Representation of an OEM in connection with several serial faults of wind turbines relating to several offshore projects in Germany

Representation of an international BoP contractor on claims management in connection with an EPCI agreement for over 100 offshore wind foundations in the UK

Advising Northland Power on the development of a 1,000 MW Hai Long offshore wind farm in Taiwan incl. drafting and negotiation of turbine supply, BoPI, offshore and onshore substation supply agreement

Advising Merkur Offshore on the development of the 400 MW Merkur offshore wind farm in Germany, including profect financing and drafting and negotiation project agreements

Advising an international developer on the tender of EPCI contracts for offshore and onshore installations for an offshore wind farm in Poland

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