Sophie Yule-Bennett
Canterbury,UK
Summary
Driven competition lawyer and organisational leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. Energy markets and demand flexibility specialist. Dedicated to building policy and governance ecosystems that foster inclusive, low-carbon smart energy innovation. Successful track record convening diverse stakeholders around data-driven solutions, to unlock Net Zero value flows for often-excluded groups.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Director of Policy and Governance
Energy Unlocked
04.2024 - Current
- Currently leading a consortium of innovators to deliver Flexibility Guidance and a Solar Strategy for 7 West London Boroughs, to scale up electrification and decarbonisation. Designing strategies and tools to build capacity, while mitigating grid constraints and inequities arising from rapid data centre demand growth. Coordinating stakeholder outreach and engagement to interrogate economic, relational and technical barriers. Responsible for overall project management and delivery, in partnership with the Greater London Authority and West London Alliance.
- Secured UK Strategic Innovation Fund funding on behalf of a NGO and climate tech start-up consortium to direct a 'CarbonFlex' Discovery stage project with UK Power Networks and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Successfully completed the UK's first real-world carbon flexing trial delivering 15% carbon savings and positive feedback from social housing tenants. Led project management, stakeholder engagement and co-authored a policy roadmap and webinars.
- Ongoing strategic analysis and thought leadership on smart grids and AI in energy, including data centre demand and applications of AI in energy systems and services. Presented on AI governance, equity and inclusivity in expert panels at the International Energy Agencies AI in Energy Summit (Dec 24) and EU Sustainable Energy Week (June 25).
- Active member of ACER's Flexibility Needs Assessment EU Expert Working Group, the UK Energy Demand Research Centre's Policy Co-Production Panel, and the Green Energy Foundation's Knowledge Community on Fair Participation of Energy Network Costs.
Senior Advisor
Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
01.2021 - 04.2024
- Oversaw demand-flexibility and inclusive innovation strategy within the EU power team, delivering two seminal reports, The Joy of Flex (2022) and Flex-ability for All.
- Delivered strategic and technical advice to UK, EU and global energy and environmental NGO partners, funders, regulators and governments to advance policy advocacy, thought-leadership and litigation.
- Securing philanthropic grants through proposals and maintaining relationships with funders.
- Built capacity and knowledge through webinars, workshops and advisory boards.
- Gave expert evidence to UK Parliament and regulatory inquiries.
- Pursued an organisational and programmatic focus on equity, diversity and inclusion.
Consultant, Governance and Power Programmes
European Climate Foundation
05.2016 - 11.2022
- Advised on the need for an NGO governance strategy for energy market decarbonisation to supplement litigation and policy work.
- Provided technical evidence to support litigation on fossil fuel subsidies and State aid investigations.
- Explored opportunities for 'Dieselgate' environmental litigation and consumer class actions.
- Provided strategic advice on grant proposals and reviewed grantee reports.
General Counsel and Executive Director, Consultant
Tempus Energy Technology Ltd
06.2014 - 08.2022
- As part of executive team, secured £5m investment through crowdfunding.
- Corporate governance responsibilities including Board duties and reporting.
- Negotiated regulatory hurdles to establish GB supply business and smart energy services.
- Led in-house work on State aid legal challenges and UK judicial review on energy capacity market subsidies.
- Submitted oral and written evidence to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Select Committee and the Competition and Markets Authority.
- Coordinated campaigns on market opening, fossil subsidies and climate innovation.
- Stepped in as acting head of communications and people teams. Coordinated corporate re-brand and values exercises.
- Managed and mentored legal and communications staff and apprentices from the Government Apprentice Scheme.
Consultant, Strategic Litigation and Energy Policy
ClientEarth
08.2014 - 12.2021
- Provided technical and strategic advice to support litigation and advocacy on State aid, energy markets and demand-side resources.
- Drafted policy consultation responses on electricity market reform, energy costs, climate innovation and green investment.
- Prepared philanthropic grant applications for strategic litigation.
Senior Associate
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP
London
12.2011 - 05.2014
- Advised project finance investors and developers on regulatory implications for renewable energy projects and infrastructure.
- Supervised legal trainees and junior associates.
- Advised on energy and competition law, planning and judicial review.
- Drafted development consent orders for wind farms.
- Ad hoc advice on telecommunications, water and transport.
- Public speaking including client pitches, industry training and conferences.
- Contributed to energy periodicals and co-authored two chapters of UK Trade and Investment's “Investor's Guide to the UK” 2012/13 and 2013/14 editions.
Solicitor, Energy Markets and Renewables
Department of Energy and Climate Change
09.2008 - 12.2011
- Advised Ministers and policy officials on legal implications of policy proposals, legislation and international agreements.
- Supported Treasury Solicitor's Department with energy judicial reviews.
- Drafted legislation and saw it through Parliamentary process.
- Key projects: EU Third Energy Package (including regulatory independence requirements); Offshore Electricity Transmission, Transmission Network Access Reform; and Electricity Market Reform.
- Other matters: Fluxys C-241/09 case (gas transmission); trespass and oil pipelines, clean heat; electricity and gas licences, consumer rights and competition (including Citiworks C-439/06 - third party access to distribution networks); petroleum and gas storage licensing; electric vehicles; planning consents and demand-side incentives.
Trainee Solicitor
Department of Trade and Industry
06.2006 - 08.2008
- Legal Training Contract involving four six-month placements: insolvency; employment; immigration and prison service litigation - judicial review (secondment to Treasury Solicitor's Department); and upstream energy (oil and gas, coal health litigation).
- Prior internship in corporate governance taking what became the Companies Act 2006 through Parliament and assisting investigation officers with corporate criminal investigations.
Education
Legal Practice Course -
The College of Law
2006
Law Degree LLB (First Class) (Hons) -
University of Warwick
2005
Skills
- Energy markets regulation
- Competition and public law
- AI and climate
- Strategic litigation
- Equity and inclusion
- Climate-tech innovation
- Leadership and management
- Legislative drafting
- Parliamentary evidence
- Corporate governance
- Fundraising
- Public speaking
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Workshop facilitation
Timeline
Director of Policy and Governance
Energy Unlocked
04.2024 - Current
Senior Advisor
Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
01.2021 - 04.2024
Consultant, Governance and Power Programmes
European Climate Foundation
05.2016 - 11.2022
Consultant, Strategic Litigation and Energy Policy
ClientEarth
08.2014 - 12.2021
General Counsel and Executive Director, Consultant
Tempus Energy Technology Ltd
06.2014 - 08.2022
Senior Associate
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP
12.2011 - 05.2014
Solicitor, Energy Markets and Renewables
Department of Energy and Climate Change
09.2008 - 12.2011
Trainee Solicitor
Department of Trade and Industry
06.2006 - 08.2008
Legal Practice Course -
The College of Law
Law Degree LLB (First Class) (Hons) -
University of Warwick
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