Member Article

Law firm paves way for key energy appointments

Lawyers at Stockton-based Archers Law have advised commercial agriculture entrepreneur Derek Noble on his board appointment to one of the fastest growing firms in the anaerobic digestion (AD) sector.

Mr Noble, who has led a series of successful farming and fuels businesses, has been appointed a Director at JFS & Associates Ltd, bringing a wealth of experience to the company.

The Tees Valley law firm facilitated Mr Noble’s appointment, which will see him take a shareholding in the business and provide invaluable guidance, experience and insight as JFS engages with farmers across the country.

From its Stokesley base, JFS is on course to build, own and operate more than 25 AD and biogas plants within the next five years.

He said: “My career in agriculture and energy has spanned almost 50 years and I was keen to become involved with a business in the renewable energy sector.

“With JFS, I have found a team that shares my passion and enthusiasm for agriculture and renewable energy.

“There was an instant synergy and I am confident that JFS will become extremely successful within this important sector in no small part to the competence and dedication of the executive directors and the team here.”

Mr Noble was managing director of a subsidiary of Rank Hovis McDougall and then founded and led oil distributors Noble Fuels for nearly 30 years. He has been a client of Stockton-based Archers Law for over 20 years.

JFS, which was started by Peter Johnson and Matthew Flint in 2011, has already developed two AD facilities at farms in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, and in Cumbria, that take manures, slurries and silage and convert it into electricity to power hundreds of homes.

David Adams, an associate who specialises in corporate and commercial deals at Archers Law, said: “Derek is extremely respected within the agriculture and renewables sector and we wanted to make sure the conditions were right for our client to join the board.

“It was important to strike a balance where our client’s interests were protected while creating an environment for relationships to develop and the business to flourish.”

Matthew Flint, Director of JFS & Associates, added: “Derek brings an incredible amount of experience running agricultural and energy businesses and dealing with farms and farmers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .