Dutch energy giant Essent is holding a review of its advisers in a process that looks set to see Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer reappointed as its lead corporate counsel.

Essent, which is the Netherlands' biggest utility company with annual revenues of €6.3bn (£4.3bn), has invited more than 30 firms to submit pitches.

Local heavyweights De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek and Nauta-Dutilh were invited to pitch but, like a string of other firms, are facing conflict issues because they advise Essent's rivals.

Allen & Overy's (A&O's) respected Amsterdam arm is out of the running to be considered as a corporate adviser owing to its association with rival energy company Nuon, which has also called in De Brauw in the past.

It is understood that conflicts could also be an issue for Clifford Chance and local leader Loyens & Loeff, as both firms have advised other Dutch energy companies.

Rival partners also say Freshfields' stranglehold on the company's big-ticket work has made some firms hesitant to get involved.

Notable deals Freshfields has advised Essent on include the sale of its cable-television operator, Essent Kabelcom, to private-equity firms Warburg Pincus and Cinven Group for €2.6bn (£1.8bn), in August.

Essent has also held merger discussions with local rival Nuon, an A&O client.

One partner close to the company said: "It will be interesting to see the outcome of the review. Many of the big companies in the Netherlands do not have legal panels but they are becoming more common."

The review comes as the Netherlands faces the implementation of an energy bill that would see companies broken into publicly-owned networks and private supply companies in an attempt to boost competition.

The booming European energy market's consolidation has provided plenty of work for law firms, with notable examples including the ongoing battle to acquire Spanish energy giant Endesa, which has seen a raft of firms including Cravath Swaine & Moore, Uria Menendez and Freshfields bag advisory roles for rival bidders.