Baker McKenzie LLP

Banking & Finance

José A. Morán serves the Global Steering Committee of the Firm's Projects Practice Group and Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Practice Industry Group, and is the past chair of the Firm's Global Projects Practice Group, which consists of over 200 lawyers who work on large energy, mining and infrastructure projects and financings. The Legal 500 United States has recognized José from 2011 - 2016 in the area of project finance and in prior years in the areas of corporate & finance and real estate & construction.

Additionally, José has been recognized by the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Chambers & Partners global guide in the area of Projects. José is noted for his projects work with Spanish clients including in project financings noting that: "His projects work forms part of his broad banking and finance practice" and receives warm praise from interviewees, with one client reporting: "He's always available. He always hears us and gives us the best approach."

José was named to A Word About Wind's 2022 Top 100 Legal Power List. The Legal Power List ranks the top 100 lawyers that exert the most influence on the wind industry globally, through the deals they work on and the advice they provide. In 2021, José represented a large infrastructure fund in a transaction that was awarded "Deal of the Year" by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) at the IFLR Americas Awards 2021. Further, in 2020, José represented the lead underwriters in a bond offering transaction that was awarded the 2020 Infrastructure Journal "Global Award for North American roads category". In 2019, José led the representation of a USD 3.59 billion acquisition that was awarded the 2019 "Outbound Deal of the Year" at the 14th annual China Law & Practice Awards.

José has been trained as a lawyer under a civil law system and a common law system.

José is a lecturer at Loyola University School of Law's comparative law seminar on legal systems in the Americas, and a visiting professor at Northwestern Law School as a lecturer in the project finance class. He was the vice chair of the Banking and Financial Services committee of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolutions. Prior to joining Baker & McKenzie, José practiced law in Madrid, Spain and in New York, with the law firms of Gide Loyrette Nouel and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, respectively.  Further, José has also worked at the Madrid and Barcelona offices of Baker & McKenzie as part of the Firm’s Associate Training Program.

Amid a changing global energy market, his work includes acquisition and divestiture of power project assets for both financial and strategic parties. Both on behalf of project sponsors and lenders, José has led moving complex projects through development, project financing and operation.

José represents clients in numerous high-value deals, including one recognized by Thomson Project Finance International as “the largest merger and acquisition deal in Latin America.” José has a particularly strong expertise in multi-tiered financing structures and cross-border transactions, including intercreditor arrangements and workouts. José has also been lead counsel on limited recourse project financings, using traditional bank debt, leveraged leases and Rule 144A capital markets issues. And during project development, he has successfully managed complex siting, permitting and transaction issues.

José has assisted many international companies, including utilities and IOC’s in their acquisitions of solar, wind and battery storage portfolios, in operation and development across the U.S. (in 5 RTO zones) and Canada. A number of those transactions included post-closing funding as construction of the projects from the portfolio are completed. Further, José continues to assist these clients on the due diligence updates and additional financings (including tax equity financings) and closings on an ongoing basis. José brings knowledge of critical issues, concerns and drivers of energy matters, providing tailored, specialist advice that addresses the particular complexities of doing business in the industry.

English, Portuguese, Spanish

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