Getting through a catch 22: the legal field and the future of infrastructure

In an article a few months ago, Oebergs' Senior Partner Björn Öberg highlighted a complex issue for the legal profession: infrastructure projects are difficult ventures which require much legal experience to succeed. At the same time, these projects are too costly to be the training grounds for legal practitioners who want to gain necessary experience. How can we foster the next generation of savvy legal professionals for future infrastructure challenges in light of this catch 22? In an interview, Oebergs' associate Christian Humble shares his view on the matter.


What kind of infrastructure challenges do you think will require the most attention and know-how from legal practitioners during your career ahead?
We are seeing an increasing demand for new legal solutions for the generation of solar power, which is forcasted to grow in the future. Swedish wind power is also attracting much interest, both in Sweden and abroad. As a number of IT giants have successfully invested in Swedish wind farms in recent years, chances are that many more will follow. Lastly, we are witnessing a surge in the demand and production of hydropower, and different applications for it in both industry and transportation. I think that this is only a start and that we will see more of this development in the coming years. 

How would you describe your journey in this legal field up until this point?
It has been fast-paced, demanding and rewarding. I have worked alongside the best and the brightest legal professionals, partners, and clients in the fields of rail, wind power, solar power and energy grids. The process has required much hard work, but the outcomes have been very gratifying. It is a pleasure to assist in large-scale projects which lead to the betterment of society.

How can the next generation of legal professionals gain necessary expertise of infrastructure projects, at the same time as infrastructure projects ought to be handled by experts?
This legal area concerns issues which are not covered in regular legal training, and where empirical, practical experience is key. Fortunately, I have been surrounded by very experienced mentors who have provided me with knowledge for my own professional skillset. This is not the case for everyone - Sweden does not have many legal practitioners with experience of renewable energy for example - but this kind of mentorship is essential to train the next generation of legal professionals.

In his interview regarding PPP, Björn Öberg recommended the legal field to gain experience from observing successful projects. Is this something you would recommend aspiring legal professionals to do in terms of infrastructure?
Observational studies of success and failure are useful, but not exhaustive. In my experience, being actively engaged in projecs is the golden standard when it comes to gathering true knowledge about them.