Christine Fernandez Owen

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Chicago
United States
T:+1 312 964 7748
Austin
United States
T:+1 512 474 5201
Chicago
United States
T:+1 312 964 7748
Austin
United States
T:+1 512 474 5201
Christine Fernandez Owen

Christine Fernandez Owen

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Biography

Christine Fernandez Owen advises developers, owners, operators and service providers of wind, solar and energy storage projects in matters involving real estate, title insurance, environmental diligence, negotiation of commercial contracts used in the development and construction of renewable energy projects and diligence in support of acquisitions and financing of renewable energy projects.

Christine has more than 13 years' experience in the renewable energy industry. In addition to serving as a Shareholder of a boutique renewable energy law firm, she also has held positions as a utility scale wind developer and as assistant general counsel at one of the world's largest developer/owners of renewable energy projects. There, she served as lead counsel for the solar business unit, advising on all legal matters affecting the development, construction, operation and maintenance of utility-scale solar energy projects, as well as diligence and negotiation of definitive agreements for acquisitions and divestitures of solar projects.

Previous to her entry into the renewable energy field, she was an associate in the environmental practice group of a large law firm and advised on and litigated environmental issues.


Professional experience

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  • JD, with honors, The George Washington Law School, 2002
  • BS, Environmental Engineering and Policy, University of Michigan, 1997
  • Illinois State Bar
  • Texas State Bar
  • Represented renewable energy developer in connection with the real estate diligence for the acquisition of a 600 MW solar energy project in development in Texas, followed by further land assembly and title curative actions.  
  • Represented a global renewable energy developer in connection with the diligence and acquisition of a 400 MW solar energy project in development in Illinois.
  • Represented a prominent nationwide renewable energy developer in connection with the land assembly and title review for multiple solar energy projects in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
  • Represented a prominent nationwide renewable energy developer in connection with the brownfield land assembly for a solar energy project in Illinois.
  • Represented a prominent nationwide renewable energy developer in connection with the complete management of the land assembly, title review and policy procurement for a carport solar project in California.
  • Represented a prominent renewable energy developer in the negotiation of a template lease with a major retailer for battery storage projects in California, New York, and Texas.
  • Represented a global renewable energy developer in connection with real estate diligence for the acquisition of 14 utility scale solar energy and battery storage projects in development across 10 states.
  • Represented a global renewable energy developer in connection with real estate diligence for the acquisition of 14 utility scale solar and wind energy projects in development and operation across 6 states.
  • Represented a global operations and maintenance provider in the negotiation of a template O&M agreement to provide services for a portfolio of utility scale solar energy projects in the Midwest.
  • Represented a global renewable energy developer in the divestiture of two utility-scale wind energy projects in Texas. 
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024
  • Structuring Solar Leases: Negotiating Liability, Obligation, End of Term, and Other Key Provisions, January 2024
  • Drafting Site Control Agreements for Renewable Energy Projects: Due Diligence, Threshold Considerations, Unique Terms, November 2023
  • Adjunct Professor of Clean Energy Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Fall 2023
  • Panelist, Energy Panel: Pathways to Net Zero, Texas Environmental Superconference, State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources, August 3, 2023
  • Renewable Energy Land Agreements, EUCI, May 2021
  • Renewable Energy Land Agreements, EUCI, November 2020
  • Structuring Solar Leases: Negotiating Liability, Obligation, End of Term, and Other Key Provisions, Strafford Live Webinar, July 2020
  • Developing and Financing Wind Energy Projects: Contract Provisions, Protecting Developer and Landowner Interests, Strafford Live Webinar, June 2019
  • Endangered Species and Risk Management - Mitigation and Risk Management, Renewable Energy Law, UTCLE, Austin, Texas, January 2019
  • Illinois Solar Energy Association, Member
  • Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE, formerly Wowe), Member
  • WRISE Chicago, Board Member, 2019-2021