Claire Lawrie

The Crown Estate has a £16 billion portfolio which includes land, the seabed and real estate in urban centres across the UK.

As Head of Energy, my role is to translate the integrated energy strategy into delivery and outcomes. Responsibilities are to take a portfolio approach to decarbonising real estate, promote renewable energy on strategic land and urban developments and form greater linkages between onshore and offshore energy.

Projects underway include:

• Decarbonising prime real estate in central London. Progressing the feasibility and concept design (technical, commercial, financial, legal, developer partnerships, government relations) of a district energy network across 90+ buildings
• Setting strategy and market analysis of onsite renewables (across sectors wind, solar, battery storage and EV charging). Driving understanding of the market, business models, economics, potential partnerships and the role of the Crown Estate of co-locating energy supply and demand
• Shaping the feasibility study to pilot onsite renewables at three of the largest assets in the portfolio - two shopping centres and a visitor building in Windsor
• Advisory on utility scale renewables and microgrids for onshore using strategic land and a pipeline of urban developments
• Advisory on organisational effectiveness and capability strengthening of the Marine business to future proof the business to improve performance and deliver upon its strategic objective of managing the seabed

Senior Partner who led the strategy practice for energy and natural resources in the UK, specialising in strategy, transformation and transactions. Responsible for market making, practice building and leading several projects with clients:

Example client projects include:

• Advised major utility on the international expansion and transformation their renewables business across Europe and Japan
• Enhanced performance of the upstream portfolio for a global energy company across 10 countries through asset optimisation. Utilised analytics to drive continuous improvement in operations, costs, and asset reliability
• Supported the UK Energy Institute in publishing The Statistical Review of World Energy, analysing and publishing one of the world's most comprehensive set of global energy data
• Conducted a market due diligence to inform a global conglomerate to acquire an energy services company

Senior Partner who led the energy practice in corporate finance and business transformation across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Responsible for market making, practice building and leading several projects with clients:

Example client projects include:

• Advised leading renewable energy developer on offshore wind strategies, securing successful bids and acquisitions
• Provided due diligence and advisory on the acquisition of a solar company
• Guided a global network organisation of ~100 mayors in analysing ways to develop 24/7 carbon-free electricity through city-level decarbonisation
• Advised global mining company on decarbonising shipping within their supply chain operations
• Provided strategic options to the UK government regarding the future of an oil refinery
• Supported global energy trader in navigating EU climate regulations and the implications for their gas, power and renewables portfolio
• Conducted a detailed market analysis for a major energy trader on oil refinery portfolio decisions, evaluating upgrade, transform or sale options
• Assisted downstream energy company with market positioning and government engagement strategies in Africa and Latin America.

Senior Partner in advisory and led Oil & Gas across Africa, India, and Middle East and Energy in Africa. Responsible for market making, practice building and leading several projects with clients. Directed project delivery for energy clients in strategy, transactions, and transformation.

Example client projects include

• Advised global energy company on business continuity and risk management during organisational restructuring and legal entity rationalisation
• Guided capital project improvement for a £1bn+ upstream energy investment for global energy company
• Restructured largest business unit for an upstream independent to enhance capital project performance, increase local content and improve organisation effectiveness
• Provided transaction support for a national oil company selling offshore oil fields through the transaction process, valuation, marketing and bid evaluation
• Reviewed and redesigned the operating model for a national oil company across upstream and downstream divisions
• Facilitated Board sessions on strategy and strategy development for a national oil company
• Provided strategic advice to a government department on enhancing market structure and incentives for renewable power generation

Associate Principal in Energy and Materials practice. Responsible for leading several strategy and transformation projects with clients. Example client projects include:

• Advised a global oil and gas firm on designing and delivering a standardised performance management approach across 15 countries
• Guided a petroleum ministry on how to reduce imports of petroleum products and achieve self sufficiency by enhancing refinery reliability and performance at a national oil company
• Established a robust safety and operational risk department at a global energy major following an oil spill incident
• Provided market analysis and the investment case to a major investor for constructing one of the world's largest oil refineries
• Advised the UK government on trade relations with India, enhancing opportunities across sectors
• Developed sustainability and local content strategies for a global mining company.
• Recommended business model changes to an upstream independent to optimise operations

Senior Executive in the Resources practice, responsible for market making, practice building and leading several projects with clients. Directed project delivery for energy clients in strategy and transformation. Example client projects include:

• Advised global energy company on value optimisation and post-merger integration of £6 billion acquisition of upstream assets, oil sands, refineries and retail
• Directed project management for the UK's largest upstream asset swap between two energy majors up to change of operatorship
• Guided national oil company in developing corporate strategy and global expansion plans.
• Supported market entry strategy for global energy company, shaping a differentiated country offer
• Developed sustainability and local content strategy across three major upstream operations and supported delivery in operations