Lauded for its ‘great knowledge of project financing’, the team at Clifford Chance routinely advises on the financing of energy and infrastructure projects in France and overseas. Chloé Desreumaux, Nikolaï Eatwell, Anthony Giustini, Gauthier Martin, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, David Préat and Daniel Zerbib share leadership of the practice. Additional key contacts include Corinne Duvnjak, who handles project development and finance transactions across Europe and Africa, and ‘exceptional lawyer’ Sohini Kar-Purkayastha, who garners client praise for her ‘pragmatic approach, technical expertise and solution-oriented mindset’. A recent mandate of note saw the group advise on the financing of the refurbishment of the Lobito Railway Corridor in Angola.

The ‘highly qualified, dynamic, innovative’ team at Linklaters is a strong choice for project structuring and financing work alike. Core areas of expertise include transportation, oil and gas, renewables and telecoms financings.  Bertrand Andriani steers the group; his broad practice takes in project finance, insolvency and corporate restructuring. Also noted are François April, who focuses on the energy, infrastructure and mining sectors; Stephen Le Vesconte, who deals with project development, financing and M&A; Africa group lead Justin Faye; and ‘high-flying team leader’ Samuel Bordeleau, who specialises in the development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects in France and abroad.

The ‘very complete and competent’ team at White & Case LLP is frequently called upon by investors, lenders, developers, operators and public entities seeking assistance with the financing of domestic and international projects. Core areas of expertise include renewables, oil and gas, telecoms, transportation and social infrastructure. Leadership of the practice is shared between Amaury de Feydeau, who is particular experienced in telecoms infrastructure financing; and Jean-Luc Champy, who handles public law, project development and PPP. Quirec de Kersauson, who specialises in public contractual issues, and the project finance-focused Tsveta Pencheva are also noted. François-Guilhem Vaissier left the firm in March 2024.

A&O Shearman houses a project finance group that garners client praise as 'truly multidisciplinary' and offering 'a complete range of all types of financing'. The team has substantial sectoral expertise with regards to oil-and-gas, mining, transportation, and infrastructure. Leadership of the practice is shared between the 'commercial and efficient' Driss Bererhi, Romaric Lazerges (public law and regulatory matters) and Alexandre Ancel (energy matters). Lachlan Poustie and the 'committed, available, pro-business' Amine Bourabiat are additional key contacts.

The 'very solid' team at Ashurst LLP is frequently called upon by commercial banks, multilateral financial institutions, project sponsors, infrastructure funds, corporates and governments seeking assistance with energy and infrastructure project financing mandates, both domestically and internationally. Leadership is shared between Mark Barges and 'excellent dealmaker' Tom Longmuir, both of whom are well-versed in the financing and development of transportation, oil-and-gas and renewables projects. Cédric Gamambaye Dionmou and Samia Khennous are additional key contacts.

The practice group at DLA Piper is well-versed in advising sponsors, investors, corporations, financial institutions and regulatory bodies on the financing and development of renewables, oil-and-gas, waste-to-energy, social infrastructure and transport projects. Leadership is shared between infrastructure PPP specialist Eric Villateau; and Jérôme Pentecoste, who has particular experience in renewable financings. Recent months have seen the team advise on the financing of energy recovery facilities for waste management in the Toulouse metropolitan area; and the financing of a photovoltaic energy storage station in Nouvelle-Calédonie.

July 2023 saw Gibson Dunn welcome a team of project finance lawyers from Linklaters. The group, which is lauded for its 'rigorous professionalism' and 'extensive sector expertise', is well-placed to advise sponsors, lenders, multilateral institutions and governments on the financing of projects in the electric mobility, renewables, digital infrastructure and transportation sectors. Darko Adamovic steers the practice and specialises in the financing of domestic and international projects, as well as M&A transactions in the infrastructure and energy sectors.

The team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is routinely instructed by lenders, sponsors and borrowers for its experience advising on project structuring and financing. Particular areas of expertise include renewable energy and power, oil-and-gas, mining, transport infrastructure and telecoms projects. Leadership of the team is shared between Michaël Armandou and Régis Oréal. Armandou draws on notable experience advising on energy and infrastructure financings in Europe and Latin America, while Oréal is highly specialised in the financing of renewable energy projects.

Lauded as ‘very hardworking, hands-on’ and ‘responsive’, the project finance team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is well-placed to assist governments, sponsors, contractors and lenders with project development and financing transactions involving the energy, power, telecoms, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Amir Jahanguiri, who is lauded for his ‘deep and broad experience’, steers the practice and specialises in the private and public infrastructure projects. Also noted is the ‘very responsive and always attentive’ Antoine Bouzanquet, who is active on financings involving energy transition, telecoms and transportation infrastructure.

Asafo & Co. is well-placed to advise on project finance and development mandates across the African continent that take in mining, oil-and-gas, power, renewables and infrastructure projects. Foreign governments, sponsors and investors routinely feature on the group's client roster. Simon Ratledge steers the practice and assists major development banks, commercial lenders and sponsor groups with a variety of financings. Managing partner and co-founder Pascal Agboyibor is an additional key contact and draws on extensive experience in financings relating to energy, infrastructure, mining and agriculture.

The practice at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is known for its experience handling domestic and international project financings involving the infrastructure, mining, oil-and-gas and renewables segments. Mining and power companies and sovereign and state-owned companies regularly look to the group for support. Practice lead Barthélemy Faye specialises in the financing and development of energy and natural resources projects across Africa. A recent mandate of note saw the team advise the Institut Pasteur de Dakar on the development and financing of a large-scale manufacturing facility for the vaccines in Senegal.

The 'innovative' practice group at Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP is well-placed to handle the financing and development of energy and infrastructure projects on behalf of sponsors, lenders and contractors alike. The team is co-led by energy and transport infrastructure project finance specialist Bruno Cantier and Olivier Fille-Lambie, who primarily advises French commercial banks and domestic and multilateral development institutions on financing mandates. A recent matter of note saw the team advise the African Export-Import Bank on the signing of a €200m credit facility agreement in favour of the Republic of Cameroon.

Noted for its ‘responsiveness, knowledge of the sector, quality of advice' and 'availability', the team at Dentons has experience acting on PPPs, private finance initiatives and concessions in the transport, utilities and energy sectors. The practice is co-led by domestic and international PPP specialists Jean-Marc Allix and Marc Fornacciari, the latter of whom is noted for his 'very extensive knowledge of the sector'.

The project finance team at Pinsent Masons LLP advises clients on renewable energy and infrastructure projects both in France and internationally. The ‘very competent, responsive’ Eran Chvika steers the practice and has particular expertise with regard to the financing of wind, solar and biomass portfolios. Charles Bressant focuses on assisting developers, banks and investors with project development and financing.

The team at Trinity International LLP handles a range of financing arrangements for energy and natural resource projects, acting on behalf of commercial banks, development finance institutions, export credit agencies, sponsors and developers. The group, which has particular experience advising on African mandates, is co-directed by Pierre Bernheim and Marianna Sédéfian, whose collective experience is centred on the renewables, mining, oil-and-gas and natural resources segments.