Energy, project finance and PFI

Partner

Senior Partner & Head of Energy

Paul Hill is a partner in the Banking and Finance team principally based in Birmingham and he also serves as the sector head for Energy and Infrastructure at Browne Jacobson. Since joining Browne Jacobson in 2019 Paul has made a real impact in the West Midlands market, not only through integration into the commercial community but also through building and developing client relationships. He has also been able to leverage strong interconnections between the West Midlands and London. He has advised on a number of high profile deals including: (1) Rcapital Partners in connection with their portfolio of debt/equity investments in new and existing businesses; (2) Blazehill Capital (and certain founder investors) on the set up of a new alternative lender; (3) Quilam Capital in connection with their portfolio debt/equity investments in new and existing businesses; (4) IB Group in connection with their corporate refinancing and subsequently the raising of CLBILS finance; (5) PBE Group on a multi-jurisdictional holdco corporate financing; (6) NatWest in connection with the provision of a revolving credit facility to a UK university; and (7) LDC in connection with their successful exit of Addo Food Group to European private equity firm PAI Partners. Within the energy and infrastructure sector, Paul has utilised his strong connections, reputation and capability to bring together the breadth of experience across the wider firm to provide a strong fully packaged offering in this area. This has culminated in a stream of high profile work, including advising on some of the highest profile recent infrastructure acquisitions in the UK market and has secured a number of collaboration opportunities in the sphere with large UK City and US white-chip firms. Selected highlights in this sector include advising: (1) First Sentier Investors in connection with their successful c £1 billion acquisition of energy-from-waste assets from SSE plc and  their subsequent acquisition of the entirety of the Wheelabrator UK EfW business from Macquarie; (2) a global asset manager in respect of their proposed purchase of Suez’s UK recycling and recovery business; (3) PBE Group on a multi-jurisdictional holdco corporate financing; (4) AFC Wimbledon on the debt/equity financing and construction of their new football stadium; (5) Manchester County Council in connection with a District Heating Project; (6) Oxford University Trust in connection with a hospital PFI; (7) Performances Birmingham on the financing and redevelopment of Symphony Hall; (8) Homes England on a variety of and (9) Derby County Council on the termination of the Derbyshire EfW Waste Project. Paul has also secured a UK panel appointment for Hydromine Inc, a sustainable energy company focussed on the power plant origination and investment, on-boarded Sculptor Capital, a global alternative asset manager, as a client of the firm and has been involved in a number of panel tenders for large FTSE companies.

Partner with over ten years experience of advising on a number of complex and innovative infrastructure and project finance transactions, including a number of PFIs, PPPs, joint ventures, outsourcing and M&A deals across a diverse range of sectors, both within the UK and overseas. James has particular experience in the health sector and in secondary market PFI transactions. Clients include Amber Infrastructure, International Public Partnerships, Transmission Capital Partners, Calvin Capital and Care UK.

Director

Partner

Partner

Partner

Zoe is a partner in the construction team specialising in non-contentious (contracts) advice. She has almost 20 years of experience in advising UK and overseas construction and infrastructure, property, and commercial related projects. Zoe has a particular specialism in energy projects and has advised various stakeholders on a variety of public and private projects. She is highly experienced in creating legal frameworks for complex deals and developments, including construction interfaces with funding, property / leasing issues, corporate restructures, and agreements with interested third parties /stakeholders. She is also well versed in the nuclear sector, having advised on several Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply contracts for Hinkley Point C and now Sizewell C. Zoe’s advice covers a range of Head Contracts, EPC Contracts (including FIDIC, NEC), O&M and Supply Contracts. She also advises on interfaces between project contracts and the pass-through of risks, responsibilities and obligations to best protect the client. Zoe joined Browne Jacobson in 2022 after working for leading international law firms Reed Smith, Baker & McKenzie and Nabarro in London and Singapore, followed by national firm Clarke Willmott on her return to the UK. Zoe has an MSc in Construction Law from King’s College, London and spent over five years in practice in Asia.