The projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure team at A&O Shearman possesses broad expertise across transactional, regulatory, and contentious matters. Project finance expert Driss Bererhi regularly advises lenders and sponsors on large-scale debt financings, demonstrating comfort across the spectrum of renewable energy generation and storage assets. Focused particularly on the energy transition, public and environmental law head Romaric Lazerges brings a wealth of expertise on regulatory, public law, and contentious mandates. Energy group lead Alexandre Ancel acts for leading energy companies and private equity firms on significant M&A deals and equity investments. Other key contacts include project finance expert Amine Bourabiat and regulatory specialist Arthur Sauzay.

Ashurst LLP’s ‘truly first class’ projects and energy transition department is highly sought-after by leading global financial institutions and energy groups on project development and financing mandates. Project finance team co-lead Mark Barges counts leading domestic banks among his clients, regularly assisting in the financing and refinancing of operational and under-development clean energy assets. Tom Longmuir, also co-leading the project finance team, brings further expertise on the lender side of deals, particularly concerning the financing of renewable energy and electricity projects in emerging markets. A key contact across African markets, Yann Alix complements longstanding experience in the mining sector with expert knowledge of the development and financing of green and conventional energy assets.

The energy practice at Clifford Chance offers banks, investors, and energy developers and operators leading insights within the clean energy space. Infrastructure practice lead Benjamin De Blegiers is a standout advisor on corporate and M&A matters concerning renewable energy and EV infrastructure assets. Daniel Zerbib is an expert on project, debt, and equity financing mandates, particularly in the on- and offshore wind and battery power sectors. A public and energy law expert, Gauthier Martin assists major global lenders and sponsors on regulatory, structuring, and strategic issues impacting innovative and critical energy transition projects. Paris renewable energy group co-founder Delphine Siino Courtin brings deep expertise on clean energy financings in West Africa.

The ‘innovative and talented expert team’ at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is regularly entrusted by lenders and sponsors across the green and conventional energy segments to advise on large-scale and innovative mandates. Rebecca Major heads the energy, natural resources and infrastructure department, bringing a wealth of experience concerning the acquisition, disposal, and operation of global hydrocarbon assets. On project development matters, Mathias Dantin is a key contact, providing expertise on regulatory and public law questions which impact the development and commercialisation of power, e-fuels, and natural resources assets. The team possesses particular strength across African markets, including Bertrand Montembault on conventional energy operational matters and Nina Bowyer on green power project development.

Linklaters’ ‘agile’ energy sector team offers lenders and sponsors a deep bench of experts on complex, cross-border, and high-value financing and M&A mandates. Bertrand Andriani heads the practice and, alongside Justin Faye, regularly advises lenders on project financing matters, particularly concerning the construction and operation of landmark battery gigafactories. François April brings further experience within the green infrastructure space, demonstrating a stand-out engagement on complex sponsor-side financing and refinancing mandates. Stephen Le Vesconte is a key contact on global deals, with deep expertise acting for lenders, project companies, and state authorities in the debt and equity financing of renewable, alternative, and conventional energy assets. Samuel Bordeleau specialises in M&A and investment matters in the renewable energy and electricity segments.

White & Case LLP is regularly entrusted by leading global energy players on transactional, project development, and regulatory matters. Boasting ‘very in-depth technical knowledge’, Amaury de Feydeau co-heads the project development and finance department and is a specialist in the renewable energy and battery gigafactory segments. De Feydeau regularly advises major global and domestic lenders and sponsors on high-value and significant project finance mandates. Energy and infrastructure expert Jean-Luc Champy also co-heads the team, bringing a wealth of public and energy law expertise, particularly in the offshore wind sector. A further key contact is Nicholas Macheras, who expertly advises lenders on project development, finance, and construction mandates regarding African conventional and renewable energy projects. François-Guilhem Vaissier left the firm in March 2024.

Standing out for its ‘technical expertise, commitment, and creativity’, the energy and power team at Asafo & Co. boasts leading advisors across the mining and natural resources segments. Practice head and managing partner Pascal Agboyibor is an expert on project development, transactional, and contentious matters regarding power generation, energy infrastructure, and mining assets across Francophone Africa. Bob Bastos specialises in the natural resources sector, focusing his practice on the structuring, negotiating, and development of mining projects. Offering a strong renewables sector engagement, Simon Ratledge regularly advises investors and sponsors on energy project M&A and finance.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s projects and energy team offers leading domestic and global clients incisive expertise on transactional, regulatory, and contentious matters across the energy sector. Boasting longstanding experience in the African conventional and alternative energy markets, Barthélemy Faye heads the team and assists major public and private-sector clients in financings, commercial agreements, and project development matters. The firm bolsters this expertise with a standout presence in energy sector disputes, with international arbitration specialist Laurie Achtouk-Spivak regularly representing sovereigns in contentious matters concerning investment treaties and commercial agreements.

DLA Piper’s energy department possesses deep expertise on project development, transactional, and regulatory matters within the energy transition. Practice co-head Ruxandra Lazar is regularly entrusted by France- and Africa-based corporates, energy companies, industry associations, and state bodies on public law and regulatory matters in the natural resources space. Jérôme Pentecoste brings further experience in public law mandates and assists major domestic energy operators concerning the development and regulation of renewable energy assets. Eric Villateau acts for lenders and sponsors in high-value and complex project and bond financing mandates concerning domestic and cross-border renewable energy and battery projects.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP brings a breadth of talent to innovative and critical transactional, project, and contentious matters across the energy landscape. The energy group bolstered its strength in April 2024 through the hire of Christine Le Bihan-Graf and Laure Rosenblieh from De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, who together represent major domestic and global energy distributors, suppliers, and consumers on business-critical contentious and regulatory matters. Olivier Fille-Lambie regularly assists major domestic lenders in the financing of domestic and foreign renewable energy and biogas companies and projects. Also notable is Xavier Doumen , who advises leading energy companies on M&A and investments in the energy transition space.

The energy team at Watson Farley & Williams LLP ‘brings a commercial approach, availability and flexibility’ to major domestic and global renewable energy operators and investors. Laurent Battoue complements his regulatory and public law expertise with an acute familiarity with energy bids and transactions, the electric mobility sector, and electricity sale strategies; longstanding banking specialist Laurence Martinez-Bellet acts for sponsors and lenders on portfolio and project financings in the renewable energy sector; and corporate expert Thomas Rabain advises on M&A, investments, joint ventures, and project agreements concerning clean power generation and transmission assets.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s energy and infrastructure practice pairs ‘great creativity and a deep understanding of complex subjects’, making it a stand-out advisor to energy operators, investors, and concessionaires on high-value mandates. Projects expert Amir Jahanguiri heads the team and is regularly entrusted by leading domestic infrastructure clients on development and financing matters in the electricity and heat spaces. A key contact for ‘clear and effective advice’ in the energy and electricity segments, Antoine Bouzanquet acts for lenders, investors, and sponsors in the development and financing of domestic renewable generation and storage assets.

Bird & Bird’s energy and infrastructure team regularly assists leading global corporates, sponsors, and lenders in impactful mandates which support the growth of renewable energy solutions across emerging markets. Sibylle Weiler is a key contact on regulatory and project development matters, assisting global energy solutions players regarding impactful renewable energy facilities. A further key contact is Boris Martor, who acts for global power developers, operators, and investors on development, finance, and commercial contracting matters concerning renewable energy assets.

The multidisciplinary energy team at CMS Francis Lefebvre assists major global energy developers and operators on significant contentious and advisory matters essential to the development of innovative projects. Heading the regulatory energy law practice, Aurore-Emmanuelle Rubio is an expert on project development and contentious matters concerning renewable and conventional energy projects. In the renewable heat and electricity segments, environmental and renewable energy practice head Céline Cloché-Dubois is a key contact, assisting clients on project permitting, planning, and regulatory matters.

The ‘agile and creative’ energy and infrastructure practice at Gibson Dunn is regularly entrusted by energy transition project developers and operators on high-value corporate, commercial, and financing mandates. Darko Adamovic is a key contact in the electric mobility sector. Adamovic regularly assists electric vehicle charging station developers and operators on corporate, M&A, competitive, and project and equity financing mandates.

The finance and projects team at Pinsent Masons LLP brings ‘efficiency, responsiveness and pragmatism’ to complex and high-value transactional and projects mandates concerning renewable energy and green infrastructure assets. Eran Chvika demonstrates legal expertise and an ‘excellent understanding of the energy sector and its challenges’ in his advice to global power developers and operators, assisting on M&A, project development and financing, and contentious matters.

Characterised by its ‘expertise, professionalism and availability’, the energy, natural resources and infrastructure team at Simmons & Simmons acts for major global lenders and sponsors in the realisation of landmark projects. Yves Baratte heads the team and regularly advises major European banks and energy companies on the development and financing of significant wind and solar power projects. Baratte is also an expert on the African natural resources sector, assisting major mining companies and sovereign actors in project development, corporate, and contentious matters.

Focusing its advice on impactful energy, infrastructure, and natural resources projects, Trinity International LLP provides clients ‘extensive legal, commercial and geopolitical knowledge’ across African markets. Project finance expert Pierre Bernheim is regularly entrusted by major energy companies and sovereigns on the development and financing of impactful solar and hydropower projects. Marianna Sédéfian is a further projects expert, assisting in the financing and construction of renewable energy assets. Natural resources sector expert Lucien Bou Chaaya acts for major African mining companies on corporate and strategic matters.

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