Wilson Sonsini Strengthens Energy and Climate Practice with Addition of Finance Veteran Stan Renas
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a leading global law firm recognized for its work with technology, life sciences, and high-growth enterprises, today announced the addition of Stanford (Stan) Renas as a partner in its Energy and Climate Solutions (ECS) practice. Based in New York, Renas brings nearly 30 years of experience advising multinational corporations, financial institutions, and energy companies on complex financial structures—including project finance, structured finance, derivatives, and trade finance. His appointment further deepens the firm’s bench of talent serving clients at the intersection of finance, technology, and the clean energy transition.
“The accelerating energy transition has created enormous opportunities—and complexities—for our clients,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “Stan’s arrival strengthens our ability to provide strategic, multidisciplinary guidance across finance and energy markets. His expertise in structured finance, commodities, and derivatives, combined with his industry relationships, makes him an invaluable resource for clients seeking innovative financial and monetization strategies to support their growth.”
Renas joins Wilson Sonsini from Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he advised clients across the energy, oil and gas, metals, and industrial sectors on all aspects of financial transactions. His practice spans the full lifecycle of complex deals—from initial structuring and negotiation to execution and closing. He has extensive experience advising on borrowing base facilities, renewable energy project finance, intermediation facilities, tolling structures, and structured commodity transactions.
Throughout his career, Renas has built a reputation for helping clients navigate sophisticated capital markets and structured products. He is well-known in the collateralized loan obligation (CLO) market, where he has advised on both broadly syndicated and middle-market structures. His practice also covers securitization and asset repackaging transactions, often designed to provide liquidity and flexibility for energy and infrastructure projects.
Beyond his work in structured finance, Renas represents a broad spectrum of clients—including global banks, insurance companies, derivatives dealers, and end users—in connection with commodity-linked instruments, credit derivatives, total return swaps, and repurchase agreements. His experience extends to domestic and international receivables securitizations, supply chain and vendor financing, factoring, and trade finance transactions. Through this diverse background, Renas has developed deep insight into how financial engineering can unlock value across the energy ecosystem, from traditional resources to renewables.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Wilson Sonsini, a firm whose legacy includes pioneering legal structures that have become foundational to financing renewable energy projects in the United States,” said Renas. “The firm’s Energy and Climate Solutions team operates at the forefront of both finance and innovation—helping clients structure and execute transactions that not only meet their business goals but also accelerate the global transition toward a more sustainable energy economy.”
Renas noted that the convergence of finance, policy, and technology is reshaping how companies approach capital allocation in energy and infrastructure. “The sector is no longer defined by silos,” he added. “Clients are seeking integrated legal solutions that bring together project finance, structured products, and regulatory compliance. Wilson Sonsini’s cross-disciplinary model and deep understanding of emerging technologies—from renewables to carbon capture—make it uniquely positioned to help clients succeed in this evolving market.”
At Wilson Sonsini, Renas will work closely with the firm’s national Energy and Climate Solutions group, which advises clients on renewable energy project development, energy storage, carbon markets, climate tech innovation, and sustainable infrastructure financing. The practice supports clients ranging from startups and developers to large corporates and investors, bridging the gap between technological innovation and the capital needed to scale it.
Renas’s addition reflects the firm’s broader strategic commitment to expanding its capabilities in energy transition finance and sustainable investment. As global demand for clean energy accelerates and investors seek resilient, long-term assets, legal and financial innovation has become critical to enabling deployment at scale. With his deep experience across both traditional energy and next-generation financing structures, Renas is expected to play a key role in advising clients on complex transactions that align capital markets with decarbonization goals.
“Stan’s understanding of how financial mechanisms can drive the clean energy transition is exactly what our clients are looking for,” added Clark. “Whether it’s structuring renewable energy portfolios, enabling sustainable commodity trading, or helping institutional investors navigate new climate-related instruments, he will bring tremendous value to our practice and to our clients globally.”
Renas’s work has earned recognition from several leading legal and industry publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Law360, where he has been cited for his expertise in structured finance and derivatives. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing, recognizing his thought leadership in financial law and innovation.
Renas holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University. His combination of technical legal acumen, deep industry knowledge, and proven dealmaking capability positions him to help Wilson Sonsini’s clients navigate the rapidly changing landscape of global energy finance.
With his appointment, Wilson Sonsini continues to expand its presence in the financial and energy sectors, reinforcing its reputation as a firm at the forefront of advising companies that are redefining the future of energy, technology, and climate solutions.
