/Passle/69038f535e183f94cf091320/SearchServiceImages/2025-12-15-23-27-56-054-6940997c6b04b88e2d8d72f1.jpg)
Introduction The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) recent lease accounting standards (ASC 842) are impacting toll agreements...
This browser is not actively supported anymore. For the best passle experience, we strongly recommend you upgrade your browser.
Akin Gump
VW
Vanessa Wilson
Partner, Akin Gump
Washington, D.C., United States
About me
Address: Washington, D.C.: Robert S. Strauss Tower, 2001 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1037
Areas of Focus: Projects & Energy Transition; Capital Markets; Corporate; Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances; Mergers & Acquisitions; Private Equity Transactions; Project Acquisition & Disposition; Project Debt & Equity Finance; Project Development; Tax Structuring & Equity Financing
Biography:
Vanessa has more than 20 years of experience advising on energy transactions. She counsels on mergers & acquisitions (M&A), financing and development transactions for energy infrastructure funds, energy development companies, tax equity investors, lenders, utilities and transmission owners.
With a focus on clean energy and decarbonization, Vanessa works primarily with green technologies, including:
- Utility-scale, distributed and residential solar
- Onshore and offshore wind
- Energy storage
- Biomass
- Hydropower
- Hydrogen and other renewable fuels.
Vanessa’s practice covers energy M&A (including the sale or purchase of projects, portfolios and platform companies), project finance (including traditional construction and term loans, tax equity investments, Rule 144A offerings, holdco and term loan B facilities) and joint ventures (JV).
Vanessa regularly advises commercial and industrial companies in the procurement of renewable energy and renewable energy credits pursuant to corporate power purchase agreements (including virtual and physical transactions). She also negotiates engineering, procurement and construction agreements as well as storage service agreements.
Her experience also includes natural gas-fired power generation, natural gas pipelines, transmission systems, liquefaction facilities and other energy-based transactions.
Previously, Vanessa served as U.S. chair of the energy and natural resources sector group at another international law firm.
Representative Work:
- Represented both Fiera Infrastructure Inc., an affiliate of Fiera Capital Corporation, and Palisade Infrastructure Group in the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of Amp U.S. Primary Holdings Inc., a U.S.-based renewable energy generation and battery storage business and the related financing.
- Representing National Grid with respect to various RFPs associated with the upgrade and expansion of transmission systems in support of New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
- Represented Sonnedix, the international renewable energy producer, in the execution of a power purchase agreement for the 110 megawatts (MW) Solar Fountain project with Guzman Energy.
- Advised Shell New Energies in the acquisition of solar platform company Savion.
- Counseled RenewCo in the formation of U.S. subsidiary and the acquisition of a 1.5 gigawatts (GW) pipeline of utility-scale solar projects and 500 MW of battery storage projects from Virginia-based developer Beaufort Rosemary.
Credentials:
Education: J.D., Tulane University Law School, 1994 (summa cum laude); B.A., University of New Orleans, 1991
Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, 2004
Clerkships: U.S.C.A., 5th Circuit
Recognitions:
- Chambers USA, Nationwide Projects: Agency Financing Practice, Band 2, 2021.
- The Legal 500 US , Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power, 2023-2026, "Leading Partner," 2025-2026; Energy Transactions: Electric Power, 2025-2026; Project Finance, 2025.
- IFLR1000 , Rising Star, Banking and Finance, 2014-2024.
- IJGlobal , North America Energy Storage Deal of the Year, Electrodes Holdings Portfolio Battery Storage Project Financing, 2017.
- Power Finance Magazine, North American Portfolio Power Deal of the Year, Continental Wind Portfolio Power Project Financing, 2013.
- Project Finance Magazine, Power Deal of the Year and North American Single Asset Power Deal of the Year, Astoria II Power Project Financing, 2009.
Affiliations:
- Founding Board Member and Former President, Greater New York Chapter, Women’s Energy Network.
Insights:
- Akin Attorneys Co-Author Article Examining Regulatory Considerations for Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements (July 24, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/akin-attorneys-co-author-article-examining-regulatory-considerations-for-renewable-energy-power-purchase-agreements
- Akin Secures Top Rankings in The Legal 500 US 2026 (June 10, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/akin-secures-top-rankings-in-the-legal-500-us-2026
- The Impact of the ASC 842 Lease Accounting Standards on a Toll Agreement for Stand-Alone BESS (December 15, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/the-impact-of-the-asc-842-lease-accounting-standards-on-a-toll-agreement-for-stand-alone-bess
- Projects & Money Special Invitation 2026 (December 11, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-sustainability/projects-and-money-special-invitation-2026
- Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Corporate PPAs (November 25, 2025 ): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/navigating-the-evolving-landscape-of-corporate-ppas
- Trends in the US Corporate PPA Market – Direct Energy Procurement by Commercial and Industrial Buyers Has Become a Necessity Rather Than an Election (November 6, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/trends-in-the-us-corporate-ppa-market-direct-energy-procurement-by-commercial-and-industrial-buyers-has-become-a-necessity-rather-than-an-election
- Akin Secures Top Rankings in The Legal 500 US 2025 (June 12, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/akin-secures-top-rankings-in-the-legal-500-us-2025
- Energy Policy Priorities for the 119th Congress and Trump Administration (November 8, 2024): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/energy-policy-priorities-for-the-119th-congress-and-trump-administration
- Akin Advises Climate United Fund in its $31 Million Financing for Scenic Hill’s Solar Energy Project (October 11, 2024): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-climate-united-fund-in-its-dollar31-million-financing-for-scenic-hills-solar-energy-project
- The Legal 500 US 2024 Recommends Numerous Akin Practices, Lawyers (June 12, 2024): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/the-legal-500-us-2024-recommends-numerous-akin-practices-lawyers
- RNG & SAF Special Invitation (June 4, 2024): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/blogs/speaking-energy/rng-and-saf-special-invitation
- Semafor Quotes Vanessa Richelle Wilson on Potential Consolidation in Solar Industry (March 8, 2024): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/semafor-quotes-vanessa-richelle-wilson-on-potential-consolidation-in-solar-industry