Valerian von Richthofen

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

Valerian von Richthofen

Energy, infrastructure and resources

Dr Valerian von Richthofen is an Energy lawyer in our Dusseldorf office.

Valerian focuses on advising national and international clients on all regulatory challenges arising from the transformation of the energy sector to net-zero. He works for clients from energy-intensive industries, developers, investors, utilities and asset-managers.

His core focus is on energy regulatory law, but he also has vast experience in advising clients on energy supply contracts (also PPAs), emission trading schemes, on state aid law and energy sector-related public law aspects. He is often involved in M&A transactions and projects in the energy sector (energy generation and distribution infrastructure, hydrogen infrastructure, battery storage, also data-centers). Valerian also has a substantial track record in representing clients in administrational and complaint proceedings against the authorities as well as in civil, administrative and tax court proceedings, in particular special appeal proceedings before the Higher Regional Courts and the German Federal Court of Justice.

In 2015 Valerian was seconded to one of the leading energy traders in the European energy market.

Professional experience

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Education

Law degree at the University of Bonn
Legal clerkship at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court of Hamburg with stages in particular at a boutique law firm specializing in energy law in Berlin, the German Embassy in Manila, Philippines, the Hamburg Port Authority and in the field of energy law/M&A at a major international law firm.
Doctorate at the University of Cologne (magna cum laude)

Admissions

Attorney at law 2014

Representative experience

Advising bp on the acquisition of GETEC Energie GmbH, an internationally operating energy service provider
Advising a company in the steel industry in connection with the climate protection contracts funding programme for the decarbonization of steel production*
Advising numerous companies in the energy-intensive industry (in particular paper, chemicals, plastics, steel) on regulatory issues in connection with energy generation, procurement and consumption, in particular in connection with the energy transition and decarbonization
Advising numerous energy-intensive companies and energy suppliers on electricity and gas price brakes
Representation of a company in the energy-intensive industry in energy law abuse proceedings as well as in complaint and appeal proceedings before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court*
Advising a leading BESS developer on all issues relating to the operation of BESS (up to 60 MW output installed), in particular grid connection, construction cost subsidies, capacity bottlenecks in the grid system and marketing strategies
Advising a German municipal utility on the planning and construction of a PEM electrolyser to supply hydrogen buses in local public transport, in particular on all energy law issues such as the optimization of electricity procurement costs (self-supply from CHP plant) and the so-called GHG-quota (THG Quote)
Advising a German developer of climate-neutral commercial real estate and business parks on all regulatory issues in connection with the construction and operation of electrolysers, in particular the requirements to produce green hydrogen in accordance with the criteria in RED II/III
Advising a German Utility on the feed-in of hydrogen into the gas grid and the transfer of GoOs for hydrogen to other energy sources, in particular heat.

*before joining NRF

Rankings and recognitions

JUVE Handbook 2023/2024 (recommended for energy law)
JUVE Handbook 2022/2023 (“Very pleasant collaboration”)
JUVE Handbook 2021/2022 (“affinity for technology (…) advises in energy law competently and pragmatically”)
Legal500 Germany 2023 (“well-versed in energy tax law and in representing clients before regulatory authorities and courts”)
Legal500 Germany 2024 (“very high level of expertise and extensive industry experience; practice-orientated and communicative”)
Best Lawyers Germany 2025 - recognised as Best Lawyer in Energy Law
Leaders League 2025 (recommended for energy & environment)

Publications

Assmann/Peiffer, BeckOK EnWG, Commentary on Para. 22 subseq. Germany Energy Industry Act (EnWG), Verlag C.H.BECK, since 2021
Baumann/Gabler/Günther, German Renewable Energies Act (EEG), Commentary on Para 3, 97-99 EEG, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2020
The risks of climate protection agreements, guest article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 12 June 2023
Liability in the Production of Unconventional Gas Reservoirs using hydraulic fracturing technologies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2016

Memberships and activities