Christopher Czarnocki > White & Case LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The ‘extremely experienced and user-friendly’ team at White & Case LLP has ‘excellent market knowledge’ and versatility across financial products, both from a UK and US law governed perspective, and is consequently a favourite among lenders and borrowers to advise on complex cross-border financings. On the creditor side, in spite of his senior status, Jeremy Duffy ‘gets his hands dirty on every deal he manages’, and outside of his leveraged finance sweet-spot also regularly handles broader global loans work (including corporate lending), increasingly utilising ESG/sustainability-lined metrics. ‘On top of the latest industry trends’, Shane McDonald is also a favourite among lenders, regularly working on large-cap syndicated facilities, both from an acquisition, as well as infrastructure and general corporate lending perspective. Christopher Czarnocki is also a key member of the team by dint of his balanced lender and borrower credentials in the emerging markets space, in particular.

White & Case LLP has deep roots in emerging markets finance work, which includes high-end structured trade and commodity finance transactions. Acting for bank creditors, traders/offtakers, exporters, sellers; sovereigns and state-owned owned entities such as national oil companies, the firm has a presence across the full spectrum of transaction structures. Debt finance partners Christopher Czarnocki and James Hardy lead the group. Emerging markets specialist Hardy advised borrowers AGP Worldwide Operations GmbH and AGP Group on a $250 million secured loan financing. Czarnocki  acted for Ghana’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Energy in the $750m monetisation of royalties payable to the state by companies operating in the gold commodity sector, achieved through the assignment of rights to such royalties to special purpose vehicles which will be listed on the Accra and London stock exchanges.

At White & Case LLP, clients appreciate ‘the exceptional combination of competence, expertise, responsiveness and friendliness which provides for an outstanding client experience‘. The firm is active in emerging markets across the globe in work streams as diverse as project finance, bond issuance, corporate transactions and sovereign-related advisory work. ‘Particularly important is their deep bench of EMEA experienced US counsel‘, among them US-qualified debt specialists Melissa Butler and Ian Clark, who work closely with English debt finance experts James Hardy and Stuart Matty. Clark handled a major liability management transaction for the the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. Project development and finance partner Mark Castillo-Bernaus, international finance partner Jason Kerr. Banking partner Christopher Czarnocki, energy partner Philip Stopford and head of the Africa group Mukund Dhar are also heavily involved in emerging market transactions. Senior associate Judith Olloh is highly recommended for energy, infrastructure and project finance. EMEA Head of Project Development and Finance Michael Watson worked with Butler and a strong team of associates to assist Sweihan PV Power Company with the refinancing of the Noor Abu Dhabi solar PV plant through $700m in green bonds. Mining and metals partner Rebecca Campbell is ‘commercially and technically brilliant‘.

White & Case LLP is active in a range of complex projects, transactions and disputes in Ghana. Led by senior partner Mukund Dhar, the team has a wealth of experience in advising clients in the power, oil and gas, infrastructure, mining and metals, water and wastewater treatment sectors. The group is also strong in advising transport, pharmaceutical and real estate sector companies. Dhar heads up the Africa interest group in the firm, and is recognised for his expertise in project development and finance matters. Joshua Siaw acts for corporates, governments, banks and other financial institutions in cross-border project development and finance transactions in Africa. Christopher Czarnocki is a key name for handling debt and equity finance transactions.