Michelle has been active in the energy industry since the liberalization of the market started in 1998. She works at the level where public affairs and strategic legal advice meet, providing her clients with guidance and assistance through (politically) sensitive issues and projects, towards creative and innovative solutions. She advises companies, regional authorities, and special interest groups throughout the energy sector’s chain of production, transport and supply, with a focus on the energy transition process. This includes renewable energy projects (biogas, wind, heat, and solar energy), infrastructure, tariff regulation, subsidies, and enforcement.

In addition, Michelle represents clients in administrative and civil proceedings in cases covering a wide array of topics. Some of these include permits, exemptions, enforcement decisions, and damages and compensation for (un)lawful government acts.

She lectures, is a published author and frequent public speaker. Michelle is consistently recognized as a leading energy and regulatory lawyer in the legal directories, such as Chambers Europe and Legal 500.

In 2018 Michelle was appointed deputy judge for the Court of Rotterdam in the Administrative Law sector.

Industry focus

• (Sustainable) energy
• Industrial sector
• Government
• Construction and real estate

Areas of expertise

• Constitutional and administrative law
• Energy

Experience

To illustrate Michelle’s practice:

• Advising new entrants to the Dutch energy market;

• Advising branch organisations on the drafting of legal views on the draft of the Collective Heat Supply Act (Wet collectieve warmtevoorziening);

• Advising on transactions concerning onshore wind energy and charging stations for electric cars (regulatory overview, due diligence);

• Advising a municipality on the development of a heat and cold storage project;

• Advising and litigating on the valuation of energy infrastructure;

• Advising an energy company on consumer protection standards of the The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM);

• Drafting legal views on draft decisions on the basis of the Government Information (Public Access) Act (Wob);

• Advising a developer of solar energy projects on the duty to connect of the regional grid operator;

• Advising on the compensation scheme for damage with regard to the connection of wind energy farms at sea;

• Advising a provincial authority on the sustainability of heat networks;

• Litigating for an educational institution regarding a reduction in the annual subsidy.
  

Awards

• Ranked Lawyer in Chambers Europe 2022 Energy & Nat ural resources, Regulatory (Band 2): "She has very good practical experience in the energy market and the regulatory frame thereof, and has very useful contacts in the field of energy."
• Ranked in Who’s who Legal Global Guide 2021 Energy- Oil & Gas, Power/Electricity Renewables:"Michelle de Rijke is a notable name in the Dutch market, endorsed for her impressive experience within the energy sector which spans over 20 years."

• Leading Individual, Legal 500 2022, Energy, Regulatory: ‘Michelle de Rijke is an excellent energy lawyer with good knowledge of all aspects of the markets we are operating in.’ ‘Michelle de Rijke as a leading expert in the field of energy regulation.‘ ‘Michelle de Rijke has shown a deep and thorough understanding of state-of-the-art and upcoming regulations including the dilemma’s being faced politically.‘ ‘Michelle de Rijke is very accessible and always open to new ways of looking at a problem.‘

• Legal 500 2022 Energy: Regulatory (Tier 2): ‘I see Van der Feltz as (one of) the leading firms when it comes to knowledge about regulations on the energy market.‘ ‘Their in depth knowledge on both the current and upcoming legislation enabled us to create a truly future-proof solution for our project.‘
• Legal 500 2022 Environment and Planning (Tier 1): ‘Van der Feltz has shown not only in depth knowledge of specific (fields of) laws and regulations, but also the ability to integrate insights from various fields into their advice.‘ ‘They have shown the ability to provide a structured overview of applicable regulations and the ways in which they interconnect.‘

Professional associations

• Chief Editor of the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Energierecht (Dutch Journal for Energy Law)
• Board member of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Energierecht (Dutch Energy Law Association)
• Member of the Administrative Law Committee of the Haagse Orde van Advocaten (Bar Association of The Hague)