About

Before moving in-house in 2011, Olivier Kodjo thrived for 10 years at law firms including Coudert Brothers, Lefèvre Pelletier & associés, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Dentons. During this private practice experience Kodjo built up expert skills in M&A and corporate finance, both of which have proven crucial to the tasks he now performs in his group head of legal role at Solairedirect. Kodjo’s first in-house role at Solairedirect saw him take charge of the legal aspects related to cross-border acquisitions, equity finance and project finance transactions for developing, constructing and operating solar photovoltaic plants. His low corporate risk approach, business acumen and ‘clear cut way of getting deals done’ is needed as his department try balancing new deals whilst closing deals that are still ongoing. Kodjo advises on the project finance, legal structuring and negotiations on equity investment in portfolios of photovoltaic projects by infrastructure funds and strategic investors. In one of the company’s most recent deals, Kodjo negotiated a financing agreement with multilateral financing entities and development finance institutions for assets throughout the United States, Latin America and India. Following the recent integration of Solairedirect into the Engie Group, Kodjo has been promoted to group head of legal. Here he is in charge of legal services through all business segments and geographies ensuring legal compliance with internal governance principles as well as Engie Group policies. He is described by his peers as ‘meticulous, smart, discrete and a pleasure to work with’.