Dirk Michels is a leader in the Firm’s Cleantech and Alternative Energy practice group. He advises publicly traded and privately held U.S. and international cleantech and IT companies in corporate and financing matters.
His work on behalf of cleantech companies, particularly those focused on renewable energy, includes the full range of corporate and strategic advice, as well as assistance with all aspects of project development and financing, complex debt and equity financing, and securing of public grants. He has developed and negotiated corporate and project agreements for many companies engaged in concentrated and distributed renewable energy projects – from power purchase agreements, to construction contracts, debt and equity financing agreements and agreements related to renewable energy and carbon credits.
In his more than 15 years of practicing law in Germany and California, Mr. Michels has advised his clients in venture funding, private equity, M&A and project financing transactions with a total value exceeding multiple billion dollars internationally.
Mr. Michels continues to maintain close ties to the business community in his native Germany. He has been at the forefront of cross-border solar and wind projects involving collaboration between U.S., German and Canadian companies. Further, since 2006, he has represented the City and State of Hamburg, Germany to the U.S. West Coast as one of approximately 35 HamburgAmbassadors worldwide, an honor bestowed upon him by the Mayor of the City and Governor of the State of Hamburg.
In 2011, Mr. Michels was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the “Top 25 Clean Technology Lawyers in California” for his work in project finance.
Prior to joining a firm in California, Mr. Michels practiced as a lawyer in Hamburg, Germany for several years. He is on the Board of Directors of various privately held companies, and a member of the Board of Advisors of both Ecosystem Ventures (Silicon Valley, California) and Provider Venture Partners (Stockholm, Sweden). He is also a member of the EBA Renewable Energy Committee and the EBA Finance and Transaction Committee.