I am a lawyer based in London ,a partner of Faegre Drinker and a leader of the International Practice
London and Birmingham
Joined September 2011
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Gary Laitner retweeted
So British 🇬🇧 electricity costs 57% more than the EU 🇪🇺 average and nearly three times the US 🇺🇸 price.
Yet only £335 of an average £948 electricity bill represents wholesale electricity. Another £214 funds networks and £170 funds government policies.
Successive governments have loaded infrastructure, environmental and social costs onto electricity bills rather than progressive taxation, making the cleaner fuel exceptionally expensive while encouraging households to keep using gas.
Gas remains the other major problem: it supplied 31% of UK electricity in 2024 and frequently sets the wholesale price. Britain therefore gets the worst combination:
🔥 continued exposure to international gas shocks;
🔥 renewable and social-policy costs concentrated on electricity;
🔥 expensive and delayed grid expansion;
🔥 a pricing system allowing gas to influence the value of cheaper power.
The industrial consequence: a quarter of manufacturers have moved activity abroad or are considering doing so. That turns energy policy into an economic-security issue, not simply a household cost of living story.
The answer isn’t abandoning renewables. It is getting policy costs off electricity bills, reforming marginal pricing through two-way fixed contracts, accelerating grid connections and using a social tariff to protect vulnerable households.
More North Sea licences cannot repair this structure.
Gary Laitner retweeted
Hey @OptimaxUK can you do a consultation?
Every time I go past your Bristol Road, Birmingham branch my eyes get really sore staring at the way you've neglected the at risk @HistoricEngland Grade II listed Corinthians Conservatory. Can you advise when you'll fix it!? – at Birmingham, England
Gary Laitner retweeted
Martin
Can you work your magic again please.
Bins on Harborne Walkway and Woodbourne Road overflowing again. Surely we can do better than this?
Gary
Gary Laitner retweeted
Yesterday, our Bank, Finance, and Regulation Practice Group convened in Charlotte for insightful discussions and networking opportunities ahead of our North America Regional Conference. Thank you to all who joined and a special thanks to Womble Bond Dickinson for hosting.
Gary Laitner retweeted
The Lex Mundi General Counsel Summit has wrapped up after two days of insightful discussions on "GeoDisruption: Balancing Gigawatts, Gigabytes, and Gigapowers." Legal leaders explored how geopolitical shifts, energy transitions, and generative AI are reshaping corporate strategy.
Gary Laitner retweeted
Cheers to another successful Minneapolis M&A Conference!
Many thanks to everyone who helped make #MinneMAC24 a success — from our esteemed speakers to those working behind the scenes.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
P.S. Don’t forget to water your plants 🌱
Gary Laitner retweeted
Thank you to all panelists, attendees and @FaegreDrinker colleagues who made our M&A conference in Minneapolis a success! Looking forward to next year’s conference on September 16, 2025! #MinneMAC24 #mergersandacquisitions
Cheers to another successful Minneapolis M&A Conference!
Many thanks to everyone who helped make #MinneMAC24 a success — from our esteemed speakers to those working behind the scenes.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
P.S. Don’t forget to water your plants 🌱
Gary Laitner retweeted
Rarely does a businessman change the world like Ratan Tata did.
His vision led Tata to acquire JLR in 2008, a decision that was - and still is - crucial to our region’s economic success.
JLR - & the WM - would not be what it is today without Ratan. We will forever be indebted.
Gary Laitner retweeted
We are we locked into Gove’s savage cuts to @BhamCityCouncil? The equal pay figure is now disputed. We have a new govt now. Surely we can do something different? This is madness.
Gary Laitner retweeted
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre @BirminghamRep has appointed former regional mayor Andy Street @andy4wm as the new chair of its board. Full story: westsidebid.co.uk/2024/10/03…
Gary Laitner retweeted
Form Save Birmingham Youth Service: “new proposals for the youth service will see the loss of 44 jobs. 37 of these will be youth support workers that are vital in running youth clubs and activities across our city.”
Gary Laitner retweeted
For many Birmingham youngsters, it’s our community libraries that provide that safe, quiet and warm space for them to study. We cannot allow @BhamCityCouncil to destroy our valued community resources. @BrumLeader @BrumLabour theguardian.com/politics/202…
Gary Laitner retweeted
I was in #libraryofbirmingham yesterday at 6pm. The main ending library had closed at 5 but the study areas were still packed with young people who were hard at work.
For many Birmingham youngsters, it’s our community libraries that provide that safe, quiet and warm space for them to study. We cannot allow @BhamCityCouncil to destroy our valued community resources. @BrumLeader @BrumLabour theguardian.com/politics/202…
Gary Laitner retweeted
Inspiring on one hand, but also very sad that youngsters and their teachers have to demonstrate to save their much -loved, well used library from closure. Please continue to lobby local politicians to halt this destruction across the city.
Gary Laitner retweeted
At the heart of neighbourhoods are schools and libraries, so not surprising to see so many young people making their voices heard to the passion shown by community against the proposed closure of Harborne Library. #BirminghamPassion is all about learning and culture.
What a fantastic turnout today. Hundreds of people came to @BhamCityCouncil consultation at Harborne Library including over 100 primary school children, every one opposing its closure @PreetKGillMP @Harborne_Jayne @Cllr_suleman @BrumLeader
Gary Laitner retweeted
I've learned this over many years. Council officers really dislike and disdain local people who protest to save libraries. That is because it undermines what they are telling their councillors.
It's daft because those people are actually their best allies in promoting libraries
Great response from Harborne today to the threat to our library. Over 400 came , including 100 primary school pupils and teachers. Let’s continue to press our local representatives for their support. @PreetKGillMP @Harborne_Jayne
Gary Laitner retweeted
“We don’t just have to stand by quietly while decisions are made for us.”
Everyone’s voice is important in the fight for our vital public libraries. Thank you @GuardianBooks & @ella_louise_c for sharing our story of library-love, zines, community & pushback ❤️🔥 @BrumLibraries
Jonathan Coe and Kit de Waal among 35 writers of ‘protest zine’ defending threatened Birmingham libraries theguardian.com/books/2024/s…
