Former Energy Secretary Ed Davey has taken up a new role as a renewable energy consultant at a law firm.

He has been given clearance by the Cabinet Office to start private work with Herbert Smith Freehills.

The Liberal Democrat minister lost his parliamentary seat in the general election earlier this year.

He will advise the company’s Global Energy Group on “thought leadership development” in the energy and climate change sectors, “providing a unique understanding of past, present and future UK and EU energy policy”.

The law firm’s global energy team provides advice from the consenting and planning process through to the construction, financing, operation, maintenance and refinancing or sale of energy assets.

Mr Davey said: “I’m thrilled to be working with one of the world’s leading law firms in the energy sector. My work in government confirmed how rapidly global energy policies, markets and technologies are developing and therefore the need for investors and industry to have the best legal and policy advice.

“Without these, we won’t foster the level of business confidence needed during the world’s unprecedented and unpredictable energy transition.”

Yesterday the Labour Party announced Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, as the new Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary.