Sidley Austin has hired green energy lawyer Greg Lavigne from Allen & Overy to bolster the firm’s energy and infrastructure practice.

Lavigne joins as a partner in the firm’s New York office, bringing with him expertise across the renewables, alternative energy and energy transition markets. He regularly advises private capital lenders and private equity sponsors on a range of related transactions, including M&A, tax equity, joint ventures and project finance deals for investments such as recycling facilities, electric vehicles and clean fuels.

Cliff Vrielink, global leader of Sidley’s energy, transportation and infrastructure group, said: “Greg’s in-depth understanding of the energy transition and renewable energy market will further enhance our top-ranked energy practice.”

Lavigne spent just under three years as a partner at Allen & Overy, having previously spent five years at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, just over two of them as partner. He also had earlier spells as an associate at Chadbourne & Parke, Frost Brown Todd and Pecker Shaffer & Williams.

Nancy Chung, managing partner of Sidley’s New York office, said: “We are excited to expand our energy practice. Greg’s experience in structuring and negotiating project finance and tax equity investments is in high demand from leading strategic and financial investors in energy, and his addition will help us expand our footprint in this area.”

Lavigne’s arrival follows Sidley adding a five-lawyer team from Weil Gotshal & Manges to bolster its energy, transportation and infrastructure practice in London back in March, which included partners James MacArthur and Ed Freeman.

An A&O spokesperson commented: "Greg Lavigne has left Allen & Overy. We would like to thank him for the contribution that he has made during his time at the firm and wish him all the best for the future.”

Other firms have also been moving to expand their energy benches in recent months. In September, Clifford Chance made a twin energy partner hire from Latham & Watkins in London and Dubai with the arrival of Craig Nethercott and Chirag Sanghrajka. Also in September, Hogan Lovells added a corporate infrastructure and energy team from Dentons in Berlin that included M&A specialists Dr Thomas Dörmer and Dr Tim Heitling.

And despite losing Lavigne to Sidley, Allen & Overy also added to its US energy coverage in August with the arrival of energy transition specialist Kfir Abutbul from Paul Hastings in Houston.